Hydra Self-Sufficiency Women's Retreat

My beloved fellow woman,

Questions: Why do you need to retreat? Where do you need to retreat? How would you like to retreat?

Answers: Answer these questions to yourself first and then read my ideas about our gathering to figure out if I can assist you in YOUR process of living with presence. There is nothing that other people can do to you or for you. Loving ones can only be your assistants in your doing and in your being. I'm glad to have found my assistants, so I speak from experience.

Self-Sufficiency in the title refers to the freedom you have to choose the lodging, restaurant, tavern or home cooked food, day of arrival and departure of your choice and so much more. Let me be your assistant in the process, giving you my best recommendations regarding everything from hotels to museums and day-trips, alongside my personal favorites on the island and in Athens. Happy to assist you with your Athens stay as well and reveal the hidden gems I have discovered in the heart of the city through the years. This way we can build your stay around the price range you prefer, while avoiding the touristic traps. Render yourself a co-organizer of this experience and together we’ll create the space you need to feel supported, heard and seen. Moreover each woman will get some private time with me, for massage, sound bath or both. As I’ve mentioned before, the idea here is that different people have different needs, but most importantly, different people have different needs on different days. Whether you resonate with any of that or not, give yourself a chance to coming one step closer to a more present You, since together we may find a better way anyways. As long as we set this intention out there.

Inspiration: Womanhood has provided a solid safety net in my life since I was a child, starting with my relationship with my sister. I love men. But right now I need to understand the woman in me more than ever, since my masculine side is way more mature. Society teaches us to cultivate almost exclusively male qualities, to be productive and efficient, strong only in areas that our productivity is needed and good looking only on the outside. Who teaches us that we have to be equally beautiful within? Or that the opposite of strength is softness and not weakness? Oh! And the opposite of efficient is slow/self-paced/flowy. These are examples of the feminine & masculine qualities within us, that should go hand in hand and one should not overshadow the other. Let’s work on that life project together. Our tools will be practices that for some of us are soul-fueling: yoga, concentration/meditation, sound baths, Thai massage, hiking, cooking, hanging-out or hanging…in, sharing, walking, observing change or NO change (still an observation), swimming, spending time in nature, breathing consciously.

Indicative Schedule: Please allow me to refer to “meditation” as concentration from now on and I’ll explain in detail why, when we get together (or text me to learn in advance). Concentration & guided concentration will be practiced in all sessions, so I won’t write it down every time to avoid repeating myself. Plenty of tea-time and abundant hand-picked herbal tea after each gathering, for the ones who wish to spend more time together (optional). All sessions are actually optional. If for some reason you feel like skipping one, go ahead and do your thing. I am your assistant and also your supporter in your choices. Happy to give alternatives. Or simply rest if that feels right for you.

Private massage and sound healing sessions will be spread amongst the 7 days.

Day 1:
• Afternoon: 1st women’s circle to get to know each other a little bit. Gentle yoga practice (for the weary traveler).
Day 2:
• Morning practice
• Evening restorative practice and sound bath
Day 3
• Morning practice
• Late afternoon: “Cooking the Greek way” workshop. Did you know there is a Greek way to hold a knife? A pretty dangerous one actually!! Meal together, so we enjoy the goodies we cooked together
Day 4
• Morning practice & Greek style after-practice breakfast
• Hike/walk probably to one of the monasteries. We will decide the route (not the destination…) & level of difficulty together
Day 5
• Morning outdoors concentration
• Late afternoon: Thai massage workshop (part I). We offer a complete massage therapy to our partner under my constant guidance. I will be demonstrating at all times. Then you can take that basic knowledge back home and spread joy to your loved ones.
Day 6
• Morning practice
• Late afternoon: Thai massage workshop (part II). The giver of the massage becomes the receiver.
Day 7
• Free morning OR day trip to the neighboring island of Spetses (30 minutes away by boat). Possibility to rent quads (1 per 2 people) and drive all around the little island. Meditation & chanting in a unique beach-cave, so the echo of our silence and of our voices hits the rocks and returns back to us multiplied and cleansed. Another option is the tour of the island of Hydra by boat. May the women of the group decide. These activities are not included in the price.
• Evening closing circle on board. Sunset boat tour, so we watch the sun setting in the sea while enjoying our drinks.

What is included in the price?
• Constant guidance regarding organizing your entire trip & 24/7 support of any sort while in Hydra & Athens and in Greece in general. Happy to share my insights about other places I have visited in Greece.
• All group practices
• Private massage & sound bath session based on your individual needs
• All workshops
• 1 home-cooked lunch
• 1 home-cooked breakfast
• Hike
• Sunset boat tour
• 35% off ferry tickets from and to Hydra and from and to all the other Saronic islands
• Discounts at my favorite tavernas & restaurants
• Discounts for certain fun activities
• Handmade Greek organic products as gifts, brought to you straight from the producers, for you to take home

So, this is gonna be a private women's only gathering, with maximum 5 participants, to make sure everyone's needs can be met to the highest possible degree. Here is an indicative daily schedule to give you an idea of what our time together may look like, but expect everything to be different (order-wise) since the activities will be defined by the energy of the group on the specific day.

Ideal for:
• Solo female travelers since the retreat setting is gonna create a supported safe space
• Every woman that needs to share with other women and release prejudice about our own kind
• Every woman that needs distraction-free introspection time and/or alone time
• Women that come to Hydra with family or friends and need time to themselves for part of the day

Cancelation Policy:
• A deposit of 50% of the total amount is required to secure your spot
• The amount is fully refundable if canceling 45 days before the first day of the retreat
• Cancellations 44 to 30 days in advance are eligible for a 50% refund
• Remaining balances have to be paid 29 days before the first day of the retreat

This is a gift from you to you, so feel free to create it.
May we join this gathering as individuals and may we leave with one heart.

From my heart to yours,

Namaste
Maria