Name: 8 days Ashtanga and Vinyasa Retreat in Greece
Item: 8 days Ashtanga and Vinyasa Retreat in Greece
Author: Joanna Vladescu

Joanna Vladescu

Joanna first started practicing yoga in a studio near her house in Athens.
Unwilling and unable to miss any class, she knew that she had found her way into a beautiful practice, both on a physical and mental level.
In her early years, she did ballet and modern dance and has a degree in Economics.
Her thirst for knowledge does not stop at Economics. Joanna continues to seek advanced training which has lead her to attend workshops hosted by first generation teachers of the Ashtanga Vinyasa lineage including: David Swenson, Eddie Stern, Chuck Miller, Kristina Karitinou, Rolf Naujokat, David Garrigues, Manju Jois, Regina Ehlers, Laruga Glaser.
Additionally, she has completed three teacher trainings in Ashtanga and one in Vinyasa Yoga.
She is dedicated to the Ashtanga practice, practicing for most of the days of the week. She likes to inspire people to adopt this therapeutic method of self-transformation and self-discovery.
She is funny, caring, inspiring and gives her full attention to the students.
Part of the year you will find Joanna acting as leading teacher trainings in South Goa, India and other months teaching in beautiful Greece which she adores. Joanna’s hands-on adjustments will get you into postures that you wouldn’t imagine you were able to.

Martin Sittek
Martin started his yoga experience in 2009 once he realized that it brings him peace, relaxation and healthy balance to his otherwise sedentary and stressful corporate lifestyle of then.
Starting first with traditional Hatha yoga classes, he later transitioned to more dynamic styles of Vinyasa yoga.
He slowly discovered a need for deeper understanding of other aspects of Yoga and that led him to quit his job and traveling to India in pursuit of an overall practice of all aspects of yoga.
He never looked back.
After first completing his 200 TTC with Sampoorna Yoga School in Goa, that gave him a solid foundation to his self-practice, he continued his learning throughout his travels by attending another 200-hour Yoga training at Kaivalya Yoga School at Mahadevi Ashram in Guatemala.
The art of adjustment he learned in his TTC with renowned Yogi Kamal Singh of Tattvaa Yoga Shala in Rishikesh. This year he completed his 40hours Teacher Training Course with David Swenson in Naples, Italy. David is one of only handful of Westeners to have learned the full Ashtanga system including all of the asana sequences and pranayama as originally tought by K. Pattabhi Jois. He participated in workshops with David Robson at Purple Valley in Goa, India. Martin teaches yoga in the Czech Republic. Some months of the year he teaches Primary Series and Alignment and Adjustment classes in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher training programs of Sampoorna Yoga School in India. He continues his studies with certified teacher Regina Elhers in India.
Needless to say, Martin mostly learned from his daily practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga which he has been maintaining for past years. The practice is his best teacher.

Kythnos Island is known for its magnificent coastline of sandy and pebble spread bays. Spread over 100 km, it is a miracle how this island continues to evade mass tourism. Kythnos truly is Cyclades’ hidden gem, however, can be reached in just 90 minutes from Athens’ port by ferry.

The retreat welcomes all levels of practitioners. Whether we see ourselves as beginners or advanced in our practice, we all have something to learn.
You will start your morning practice with Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. Have experience with the sequence? Then feel free to self-practice and receive hands-on adjustments from the second teacher. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a precise set sequence, a dynamic form of yoga which produces heat in the body in order to purify it. Its main focus is on the breath and movement linking. It is considered a moving meditation as the students draw themselves inwards through the use of drishti, bandhas and breath. It is not necessary for you to be familiar with the sequence, guided classes are also a great way to start Ashtanga yoga, as everyone breathes and moves together. Prepare to sweat though.
Modifications will be given throughout the class and there will always be two teachers in the morning classes, one to lead and the other offering adjustments.This way, irrespective of experience, all students feel supported in their practice.
You will also have some free time to relax by the infinity pool, swim in the nearby sea, have a massage, or explore the island. There will be three workshops in the afternoon exploring and covering the major aspects that lay underneath the Ashtanga Yoga system. Two afternoons will be dedicated to Vinyasa Yoga, one class will be dedicated to restorative yoga in order to tune into the parasympathetic system and cool down. There is always space to explore the group's needs. One afternoon will be free. (for you either to self practice, ask the teachers for any questions, maybe work on things you have seen in class or want to explore)

Accommodation:
K4 Kastellas Villa is located within five minutes' walking distance from a serene and secluded beach . Four spacious individual villas sprawl in smooth slopes just a breath from the sea. Each one of them has a unique Cycladic style overlooking the infinity pool and the Aegean Sea. All of them were carefully selected to match the hotel's aura and land positioning.
Each villa is 100 square meters and has an open space living room, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room, and one fully-equipped kitchen. One of the bedrooms has a double bed, one bedroom has twin beds, and the third has a double bunk (one bed on the bottom and one bed on the top). Each villa can host a maximum of five people.
The ancient remnants of the small castle that used to be on the top of the hill add a sacred sense in the wilderness of the surroundings. The highlights of the retreat center are the beach of Kastellas, the infinity pool and the breathtaking shala. (open-air yoga studio)

Testimonials:

Joanna Vladescu is one of the finest teachers I have ever met. She taught her classes from the heart with a beautiful energy and passion, they were expertly paced, flowing from one asana to the next. Her enthusiasm was truly special. Thanks to Joanna, I came out of this retreat with a better appreciation for yoga and my body. This was my first retreat with Joanna, but it definitely won't be my last. A truly special place for a retreat. (Suna Guven, Kythnos retreat 2017)

I met her in Goa in India and Joanna is such an enthusiastic Ashtanga Teacher!!! very trustworthy, with right leading and adjustments and knowledge. I trust her completely and was assured my safety when I got her adjustments, and I could deepen my poses very much. I learned so many things from her and really wanted to keep learning from her. I really hope my chance to learn more from her and know. (Keiko Miyazaki)

Joanna is excellent yoga practionare and my favorite yoga teacher! A patient,cheerful and always prepared teacher !! Take her classes! (Raphaela G)

8 days Ashtanga and Vinyasa Retreat in Greece

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