ENERGETIC. RESTORATIVE. INSPIRATIONAL. HEALTHY.
Yoga for all
Every morning we start our retreat days with Yoga tailored to each and every one of our guests. All levels of experience are welcome - from beginners to intermediate to advanced - and Cristina has a Masters degree in Ashtanga Yoga and is familiar with all levels. If Yoga sounds frightening call it “stretching” of you prefer, a fundamental part of a healthy body and mind is being flexible. A rigid body gives a rigid mind and vv. The nervous system responds immediately to Yoga and Pranayama (breathing) practice. You can feel it!
Every session brings you to your body, your own nature. And as any living form, when listened to, it feels safe and relaxed and it will start telling you more. You will get to know your best friend, respect it and understand it better in just over a week. We end the class with Pranayamas, the perfect preparation for a flowing meditation. It will all make sense, come and give it a try.
A second yoga session can be provided for those who want more. We're easy. We don’t see yoga as a work-out but as a work-in. As such it will always aim for the meditative state of Dharma it was meant as.
“Unique, enchanting and beautifully remote, Olive Retreat leads you to a hidden gem nestled in the mountains of Andalusia”
“When Cristina touched my neck it was like a river of stress ran off me.”
“I have done yoga for 8 years but realised I had not really done yoga. Thanks to Cristina’s teaching I can now feel for real. What a difference!”
“When all the years of practice arises like an inherent truth from your own body, by the touch of Cristina’s finger tip, a domino effect ripples through every bone and muscle and everything makes sense.
This is the best I’ve ever done. I promise to bring this home to my students too.”
A flexible body (and mind) is a healthy body (and mind)
Yoga is a lot about a healthy Vagus Nerve, the brain-gut connection. Your digestion will get better and so will your other organs. But that’s far from all. It’s about intuition, evolution, our role in this universe, and more. It’s huge! If you want it to be.
Yoga enhances the detox process in all parts, in natural and healthy ways. The method we use to guide you through it is a unique Olive technique we call “Feel for Real”, which we use in all we do. It allows you to put the awareness where it needs to go. Yoga becomes meditative, meditation becomes Yoga, just as it was meant to be and as described in early Tantra, 5000 years ago and in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 3500 years ago, and even before that.
Over time, into our time, Yoga has drifted away from being intuitive and meditative to become physical exercise using yoga poses, far away from fresh air and nature where it’s meant to be done. That’s great but it’s not all. In any case, any yoga is better than no yoga.
“Practice is EVERYTHING, on the mat and after.”
We share O·Yoga
Cristina, schooled in the Ashtanga Mysore and other traditions, with more than 25 years of practice and teaching, will be guiding you and making sure the few subtle correctional pointers don’t disturb your flow. She shares her yoga with you and her teaching is a subtle interaction and connection. Her long time practice has given her a sensitivity to bodies and she intuitively knows what each body wants (hence needs) but might be afraid of letting in. Here is where breath work saves lives.
Pranayams can save lives
Pranayamas are breathing exercises or work as it’s called today, nothing more, nothing less. It’s interesting that we have to teach people how to breathe, but we do. Our society has not focused on breathing and we often need to re-learn how to best use our lungs and heart. This is very important, because it’s the connection to your life force (Prana or Qi in Chinese medicine, Tonalli in Aztec means life energy/vitality) and “breathing” is the same word as in Sanskrit for life. The heart is a harmonising organ that emits a rhythm, a vibration unique to each soul. When it gets too much stress or trauma it de harmonises. Our practice gets it back to harmony.
Thailand, Khao Tao beach 5 minutes from the O·shram
You can use your breath to either excite or calm you. It’s the direct source to your mood and hormones. We use ancient tantric and yogic methods and your health results talk for themselves. You just have to try it. Breathing is life, life is breathing, and anything that enhances your Prana will make you more alive. Like Prana the breath can connect you to your body and your body to your mind, then to your environment and ultimately to the universe and its Creator, the best way to get calm, sharp minded and creative.
The best Yoga practice is done in silence and meditative. It connects all of you to all of that, is called Meditation and breathing is the key to unlock it.
“This has been the most wonderful experience and journey I will cherish for a long time. You are all very good at what you do and have changed my life in such a positive way.
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Meditation for everyone
The meditation that follows the Yoga is done in the best possible setting: a more flexible and vital body filled with fresh oxygen, in clean air and with the songs of nature.
Nothing is required (not even a specific sitting position), nothing is wrong or judged (not even a short meditation), if the mind wanders we follow (we don’t judge, comment or talk back at it). Meditation is for each and everyone of us an individual internal process, yet in class we do it together. The dynamic is always different doing yoga and/or meditation in a group or alone. In those cases you will feel the connection with others.
A few helping words will guide you the first time. Don’t worry, you’ll love it as well, and if you want more about meditation or read about our Creative Meditation here.
You're precious. We know that, do you know that?
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“...when I understood that we are really only sending and receiving at service to the universe...”
“I have had the most enlightening week.”
“All I can say is a miracle has happened!!! Just overwhelming what I have learned and gained.”
“The staff, the food, the place! Absolutely A-MAZING!”
