Soak up the energy and vibrancy of this rejuvenating oasis to recharge for upcoming months with specially design holistic wellness program hosted at this magical oasis of pure tranquillity.
We would like to invite you to join a small group, maximum 8 guests to ensure individual care and attention both in classes and during the 5-Days in general at the tranquil sanctuary in Morocco, March 14-18, 2020
10% off the full price Early Bird by 1st February 2020, £1,110 thereafter.
ABOUT THE RETREAT
Located just a short drive from Marrakech airport is a hidden gem of Morocco, which provides an ideal environment for rejuvenation, insight, and healing. This Sanctuary is a wonderful, sacred space where guests and students alike can come and discover nature’s gentle, yet powerful, assistance in personal transformation.
Join this beautiful retreat to heal and reconnect with nature and to rejuvenate your body and mind. It will leave you feeling inspired, strengthened, and peaceful, with tools and techniques you can use long after this trip. Our primary focus will be to rediscover and cultivate inner peace through gentle movement, sound baths, self-care techniques and meditations. We will start with foundation practices so no previous experience is required. Just bring along sincere willingness to stretch your body and mind, while exploring the interplay of discipline and joyful spontaneity.
Peace is preinstalled in our original nature and can be recovered anywhere and anytime.
Still, being in beautiful, tranquil surroundings can calm and ground our overactive mind, which is especially helpful at the beginning of our self-healing journey. In the Sanctuary we get in tune with nature as we rise and sleep with the sun. It's a wonderful opportunity to get back into a natural rhythm and restore the nervous system. Our self-healing practice will be assisted by exquisite, nourishing food, which is an important part of this experience.
A city break like this provides a precious opportunity for us to step back from the busy lives we lead and to get perspective on the bigger picture of our journey through life. A retreat such as this allows us to be free from the responsibilities, commitments and day-to-day structures that reinforce our acquired mind, making space for the experience of quiet being rather than restless doing.
This is when the shift happens...
THE VENUE & VIBES
Sanctuary Slimane is a safe haven for plants, animals & humans, dedicated to sustainable living. This is a private initiative promoting ecology, healthy living, non-violence, lifelong learning and hospitality.
Beautifully situated against the backdrop of the mighty peaks of Morocco's High Atlas Mountains and just ten kilometres south east of the vibrant and bustling souks of Marrakesh, you will find Sanctuary Slimane, safely tucked away off the route to Ouarzazate.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Every day will be dedicated to healing and you can choose which activities resonate with you the most.
Daily flow includes sunrise exercises, self-massage, dynamic and passive meditative practices, sound baths and fire ceremonies at the sunset. You can also jump into a pottery or permaculture class. If you wish, you can take an afternoon off and enjoy the pool or a traditional in-house hammam.
'As if you’ve transcended to another world.'
'Ultra cool'
'As if you’ve transcended to another world.'
'Ultra cool'
MORNING QIGONG
Gentle movements combine meditative and physically active elements and are a basic exercise system within Chinese medicine. Qigong, sometimes called Daoist Yoga, can be described as a mind-body-spirit practice that improves one's mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage, sound, and focused intent.
Anyone of any age or physical condition can do Qigong!
Our primary focus is on cultivating stability, flexibility and coordination.
MEDITATION
The meditative practices we will use are mainly associated with the Chinese philosophy of Daoism (Taoism), including concentration, contemplation and visualisations, but also self-inquiry.
Their purpose is to get in touch with the internal landscape of emotions, thoughts and limiting beliefs. Reconnecting with intimate parts of ourselves, within a non-judgmental space of loving awareness, restores a profound sense of wholeness and radiates innocence.
QI SELF MASSAGE
Recycling stress and negativity.
Since everything is energy and vibrates at different frequencies we can confront negative emotional energy through a Daoist way of inner alchemy. Rather than seeking to destroy it or to dump it out, we can use techniques to transform dense or stuck Chi/Qi into positive, free moving, lighter frequencies which are in harmony with the great universal flow of energy. From the state of inner peace, we can find the way of being well not only with ourselves but also with other people, and with our environment.
Through out this retreat you will learn a simple routine of energetic massage techniques used by Daoist masters to maintain their health and youthfulness. Using our own internal energy to dispel blockages, transform negative emotions, relieve stress and strengthen vital organs we can easily revitalise ourselves.
SUNSET FIRE CEREMONY
Agnihotra is a healing fire ritual derived from the Vedas, an ancient body of knowledge recorded in Sanskrit. It is from this body of knowledge that the ancient science of fire purification originates. In those almost completely forgotten times, special fire ceremonies were performed by many ancient cultures across the planet, including the Hopi Native Americans, Mayans and Shamans of Siberia.
It is a process of purifying ourselves and the atmosphere through a specially prepared fire, which is performed at the sunset.
The beneficial effects of Agnihotra help to reduce stress, improve overall health and give one increased energy. This simple, yet powerful, tool is used across the planet by people from all walks of life, with amazing results that help to transform their lives and heal the planet.
Gong BATHS
During this sound experience, therapeutic instruments are played in a manner designed to relax, rejuvenate, and take the listener on a journey of self-discovery and inner exploration. The sounds promote deep relaxation, peace and an expansion of consciousness, as well as opening the body’s entire energetic system. While there are periodic loud or intense swells of sound, the tones are generally in the medium range of volume and intensity to offer the greatest amount of harmonics and variances in the sounds.
'Luxe coccon - the gons are extraordinary.'
GROUP CIRCLE
Know your tribe. We are all here equally, in need of healing and are equally innocent.
The group circle provides a safe, non-judgmental space for sharing your heartaches and stories in the spirit of total acceptance and unconditional forgiveness. Communicating with words, songs, touch, or in any way you feel comfortable, allows you to connect in the truth of our essence.
SHINRIN YOKU
Being in nature. Walking slowly. Breathing deeply, while consciously opening all your senses.
This is the healing way of Shinrin-yoku Eco Therapy, developed in Japan, that became the cornerstone of preventive health care. The medicine of meditative being in nature.
CERAMIC CLASSES
Let’s connect with Mother Earth and play in mud!
If man was made of clay, what made clay of man? The clay has a way of teaching you about life. It is pernickety and changeable.
Take a masterclass in shaping a piece of your soul to enter this three dimensional world. Under the watchful eye and guidance from a pottery master you can make anything from a musical instrument, like ocarina, to a tea cup for your next tea ceremony.
Whatever masterpiece you make, it stays with you!
INTRO TO PERMACULTURE
The majestic Sanctuary that will host our healing journey is based around the principle of permaculture: working in conjunction with nature, not against it.
Permaculture is the ethical, scientific and synchronistic design of natural systems to ensure a sustainable philosophy of living. It also aims to facilitate abundance for the future of humanity by producing all the food and materials it needs on a local scale. At its core, permaculture is simply the collaboration of humans and nature in action.
During a short, interactive workshop, lead by our wonderful host, you can learn directly from the land what it’s all about. To leave your own mark in this “Garden of Eden”, you will receive a pot (named after you) and a wide selection of seeds to start a new cycle of life.
The stay at the Sanctuary also includes free access to:
SWIMMING POOL
TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN HAMMAM
TENNIS COURT
Our wellness program focuses on cleansing both the mind and body through a vegan, Ayurveda and Five Elements inspired menu. The majority of the ingredients come from our vast gardens and are grown here organically with respect to nature; prepared and served with love. A delightful, vegan/vegetarian menu is put together to treat us to three amazing meals a day, as well as superfood smoothies, black, green and herbal teas, and juices.
We cater for any food allergies, nut allergies, gluten intolerance, or any specific additions to your meals.
All meals are vegetarian, but not gluten free; however we are more than happy to provide gluten free and vegan options.
The menu is protein rich, very well balanced and super healthyWHEN
Start: March 14, 2020 at 12pm
End: March 18, 2020 at 4pm
PRICES:
£ 200 off For couples sharing a bedroom. Total: £910 per person
£ 1,110 Your own lovely double bedroom with your own bathroom
£ 200 off For couples sharing a bedroom. Total: £910 per person
£ 250 off shared accommodation in a massive and very comfortable tent that has 4 double bedrooms.
The bathroom and shower is shared. Total: £860
The bathroom and shower is shared. Total: £860
10% off the full price Early Bird by 1st February 2020, £1,110 thereafter
£ 250 off shared accommodation in a massive and very comfortable tent that has 4 double bedrooms.
The bathroom and shower is shared. Total: £750
Apart of your 5 nights accommodation priced per person inclusive of tax, bed linen, bath towels, hand soap & housekeeping service the cost also includes:
The car transfer from and to the airport in Marrakech
Three delicious meals a day
Herbal local teas, coffee, and filtered water throughout the day
Qigong lessons
Meditation classes
Ceramic & permaculture workshops
Sound baths
Fire ceremonies
All the tribal gatherings
Wifi in the communal area
Full use of the swimming pool, tennis court and in-house, traditional hammam
THE WEATHER
March is an excellent time to be planning a retreat to Morocco since this month marks the beginning of springtime here. Spring is a beautiful time of year, and many argue the best time to visit Marakesh. Temperatures grow warmer during the day, but are generally tolerable in most places.
The temperature in March grow warmer during the day, with average daytime temperatures of 25°C, depending on the area of the country you visit. Nights are still chilly, though, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 15°C degrees so you will still want to be prepared with long sleeve shirts, light sweaters, and light jackets when we will be out after the sun goes down.
THERE IS MORE
Based on previous experience, most people who come to this magical space wish to extend their stayafter seeing the rapid healing changes in their body and mind.
There is so much to see and taste in Marrakech’s old town and the Sahara is just around the corner, as are the magnificent Atlas Mountains. If you would like to stay longer with us and maybe explore the neighbourhood, please let us know.
ONE TO ONE THERAPY
If, perhaps, you would like to work on a specific issue, a treatment plan can be tailored to assist your healing process. Please note that this option is available outside of the five day retreat so you can have my full, undivided attention. For dates and details, please contact me via email: daoslavo@gmail.com
NOTHING IS SOMETHING WORTH DOING
Staying longer at the Sanctuary to practice not doing can also be arranged.
THE REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY
30% deposit is required at time of booking with final payment due 30 days before arrival.
All deposits are non refundable.
Cancellations made 0 – 30 days before the start date of your holiday will be entitled to a 0% refund.
Cancellations made 31 – 60 days before the start date of your holiday will be entitled to a 50% refund.
If you wish to take one afternoon or morning off from the classes and head anywhere to explore, we will arrange for a taxi to collect you and bring you back safely.
THE PLANNED DAY OUT/OFF
On March 16th, we are planning a day out for you to visit the medina/old town.
Morning Qigong practise and breakfast served as usual, then we will leave the Sancturary to head to Marrakech.
For anyone visiting Marrakech for the first time, the old town’s colourful, heaving medina is a must, even if it is geared towards tourism. Snake charmers coax swaying cobras from reed baskets, red and blue dressed water carriers pose for tourists and an array of local delicacies sizzle on open grills in Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
You can take Yin approach chilling with traditional mint tea and visiting hammams
OR
step into Yang by haggling in the souks that sell vibrant textiles, hand painted ceramics, je, lanterns, wares silver tea-trays and tea glasses, filigree metal lanterns, tajine pots, handmade articrafts and a million other things.
Maybe a bit of both?
These are the headline attractions of Morocco's vibrant capital, but scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find that the best things to do in Marrakech have a contemporary feel to them too. Bespoke riads rub shoulders with carpet traders within the walls of the Medina—the city’s old town—while, a bit further afield, there are up-and-coming neighbourhoods that have a distinctly French feel to them.
We will be dropped off at the agreed location close to medina entrance and collected at the same place.
Dinner will be served once back at the Sanctuary.
PRICE
£1,110 which includes the full program fee, 5 days accommodation (each bedroom has been individually design and come with a private bathroom, anytime access to hammam, swimming pool, tennis court, ceramic workshop, 3 delicious meals a day and healthy snacks, tea, coffee, juices etc transport from and to the airport in Marrakech.
