ČESKÝ KRUMLOV
De Dear fellow yogis,
It’s time to start making plans for the summer and I hope some of you will join me at my first yoga retreat in the most beautiful corner of the Czech Republic. Český Krumlov is a medieval town that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and I promise you that you will fall in love with it immediately! It is small and intimate, yet it has the second largest castle in the country, about eighty restaurants and taverns, a great arts and crafts scene, many tempting shops, the lovely Moldau River you can dip your feet into as you sip a good pint of what Czechs are most famous for, and virtually no traffic. I know it like the palm of my hand so I hope to be a good guide.
The Krumlov panorama at its best ACCOMMODATION We will be staying at a spacious guest-house called Axion (www.axion.cz)
about 1km from the town. Quoting from their website:“Pension Axion offers accommodation on a beautiful spot in the peaceful
area of Český Krumlov (Unesco) as well as the Protected
Landscape Area Blanský les. It offers an ideal place for both accommodation and
recreation in breathtaking nature with a number of pristine deep forests and is
within an easy reach of the historical centre of Český Krumlov, historical
monuments of the South Bohemian region, rich cultural life and ideal conditions
for sport activities. Our pension offers comfort in newly equipped interiors, a
restaurant
with a fireplace or a romantic dinner on our terrace under the bright sky
covered with stars.”
View from Axion YOGA We will have two yoga sessions each day, an active one in
the morning (2 hrs) focusing on building strength, flexibility and stamina, and
a slower one in the evening (1.5 hrs), where we will experiment with body
awakening, alignment, Pranayama and restorative yoga. It would be great if you
could bring your own mat, but I will make sure to have mats and some props
available. We have several options as to where to practice: there is a nice
indoor gym, a terrace and open space outside with a fantastic view. Those of
you who want to learn about and practice meditation can join me in the morning
before the first session. If the weather permits, we might even go meditate in
the forest and enjoy the sunrise. 
Some other things you will get an opportunity to experience:
OTHER FUN STUFF
· Visiting the city of České Budějovice (provincial capital of Southern Bohemia) and the Hluboká castle
· Canoeing and/or rafting (beginner-friendly, too)
· Swimming in the lovely Lipno Dam
· Hiking
·
Aromatherapy,
shiatsu or reflexology massages (for more information, please contact me and I will send you a catalogue)
· Czech cinema (there will be a Czech film playing every night – I plan to select only the best!)
You are of course free to do whatever you please… all these
activities, including yoga, are optional. My goal is not to micro-manage your
free time but to offer you some choices and show you a bit of my beautiful
country.
FOOD There will be smoothies and a light snack first thing in the
morning before our practice, and we will have either a brunch or a dinner at
the guest-house, depending on what we will be doing. As we will spend a good
portion of the day out, I wanted to give you the opportunity to try some of the
local cuisine in the countless and inexpensive places around town. Having said
that, I would like to make our menu at Axion healthy and vegetarian, but if you
absolutely must have meat more than once a day, please let me know and I will
see what I can do. If you decide to stay in the guest-house for the day, there
will always be the basics such as bread, cheese, yoghurt, fruit and vegetables at
your disposal.
We start on Friday evening, 1 August and finish on Friday, 8
August. The easiest way to get to Krumlov is by flying from Stansted airport to
Linz, Austria,
and then taking a 90-minute shuttle ride over the border to Krumlov. Your best
(and cheapest) bet is to fly with Ryanair and you can expect to arrive in
Krumlov around 6:30 p.m.
DATES AND HOW
TO GET THERE
HOW MUCH?
The cost of the retreat is £480.00 per person. If you’d like to travel with your family or friends who are not interested in doing yoga, I can offer a discounted price for them. Day-care for children during the time of yoga classes will be provided.
Included in the price are:
-- Shuttle bus to
and from airport (if arriving on Friday) -- 7 nights
accommodation
-- All yoga classes
-- Local transport costs (except for your own journeys)
-- A healthy breakfast, one large meal a day plus snacks, drinks and fruit available at all times
-- Expenses for all mentioned activities (entry tickets, boat hiring fees etc.)
-- One shiatsu or reflexology massage or an aromatherapy treatment with consultation (with the option to book more)
Krumlov's main square DEADLINE
I will be accepting applications until 15 May, 2008 and will need
a deposit of £200.00 (cheques or cash only, please). The capacity of the
guest-house is twenty people but I would like to have no more than fifteen yogis
so that I can pay attention to all of you, so book early, please! After you
sign up, I will send you a questionnaire so you can tell me exactly what you
like and need. Please email me at barbarahelis@yahoo.com.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Namaste,
Barbara