Turkey Retreat
23rd - 29th June 2024
How do you fancy escaping with me in June for a week of sun, yoga, culture, new friends, fun and delicious food?
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Our location for this wellness adventure is the stunning Ephesus Retreat, a private hillside yoga and wellness centre with outstanding views of the Aegean region, just 50 minutes south of Izmir. It is literally one of the most beautiful retreat centres I've ever laid my eyes on.
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You’ll be treated to beautiful accommodation and nourished with fine Mediterranean food. Alongside daily yoga classes there will also be plenty of free time to relax, excursions to delight in the local culture and opportunities for treatments.
Our Home​
For thousands of years, seekers and artists have been called to this area to find wisdom and knowledge, mystery, and inspiration. Five natural lakes, extensive forest areas, fertile fields and extensive vineyards give this region a divine touch and form the ideal setting for rest and relaxation, situated in the midst of history and heritage of different cultures. The city of Ephesus was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNSECO in 2015, where the ancient goddess Artemis (influenced by the Anatolian goddess Cybele) was worshiped.
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Our home for the week is a beautiful retreat centre with brand new facilities wonderfully situated on the slopes 400 meters above the ancient city of Ephesus and offers a breath-taking panoramic view of the Aegean region and the best possible sunsets you could ask for. It is a place of sheer beauty, inspiration and relaxation. The retreat centre is less than an hour away from Izmir international airport and there will be group transport arranged for those who want it.
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Surrounded by old trees and olive groves, you can find a variety of room options available, each offering a fine balance between modern and cozy and promising an immersion in nature. Each room comes with an en-suite, air conditioning, wifi, towels and a hairdryer as well as a kettle with a selection of tea and coffee.
Room options vary from tree house, bungalow, double, triple and quadruple rooms.
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The Plan​
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Each day you will be treated to two yoga practices, one in the morning to get your juices flowing before breakfast and one in the late afternoon to balance things out before dinner.
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Between that, the time is largely yours to enjoy either side of our mouthwatering lunch, so you can relax around the swimming pool, go on a walk, take a trip to the beach or treat yourself to one of the many treatments on offer.
On two days we'll break the regular schedule and head out after breakfast to really get to experience the beautiful place we're in.
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Excurison 1: The ancient city of Ephesus, founded around the 10th Century BC is just a short drive from our retreat. It was the most important city in Asia Minor and housed the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world. One day we’ll have a trip to visit to the old town, grab a local lunch and gain an idea of ​​the history it carries.
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Excursion 2: We'll head out on a hike from the venue, lasting between 2-3 hours towards the picturesque village of Sirince, where we will then enjoy wine tasting with some traditional Turkish fruit wines. From there you'll have time to explore, have lunch and then we will get picked up and driven home in time for dinner.
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The Food​
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The food and drinks in the restaurant and at the bar (yes, there’s a bar) are carefully selected to stimulate your energy and lay the foundation for health. Inspired by traditional Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, the kitchen team combine local fish, meat and dairy products with seasonal and local fruits, vegetables, Aegean herbs and olive oil in a symphony of the senses. Great care and consideration are taken in providing you with delicious and wholesome meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vegan and vegetarian options will also be available. Menus can also be adapted to individual needs such as allergies and special diets.
As a conscious venue, attention is paid to sustainable cultivation and therefore all products come from the retreats own cultivation, local suppliers or from the region. Various fruits and vegetables are grown organically, directly on the property, eggs are from the venues own chicken farm and they also have their own olive oil production.
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The Yoga
There will be two daily yoga classes. The morning practice will be a dynamic and energising vinyasa practice followed by a soothing yin a mindfulness practice in the evenings, which will also include journaling, visualisation activities and group discussions.
Each day we will work with a different philosophical theme, in both the morning and evening practice, so you can really immerse yourself into the focus for the day.
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If practicing with me for 7 days wasn't already exciting enough, We are spoiled with not just one, but two beautiful spaces to practice in during the week. First ‘Kybele’, an extraordinary, light-flooded pavilion, located on a terrace with an open view of the mountains, the sea & the endless expanse of the Turkish Aegean coast. The Second practice space ‘Gaja’ located in the main house is a little smaller but incredibly beautiful with direct connection to the sun terrace and equipped with an open fireplace.
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Common Questions Answered
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Do I need to have a certain amount of yoga experience?
No not at all. Yoga is for everyone and the way that I teach is all about the experience of yoga not about how much of a pretzel you can get into or if you know what ekapadakoundinyasana is.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely! The great thing about a retreat is that you’re guaranteed to meet people, it’s the perfect balance of having time for yourself and getting to connect with likeminded people.
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Is it just for women?
Not in the slightest. Whilst I regularly have more women on my retreats, these retreats are open for everyone.
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If you have any other questions, queries, concerns or simply want to discuss anything that’s involved send me a message and I’d be more than happy to chat!
Included
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- A seven day yoga experience
- Six nights’ accommodation
- Two daily yoga classes
- Three delicious meals a day
- Two excursions
- Towels and complemantary toiletries
- Full use of retreat space including the pool
- New friends, great conversation and lots of laughter
Not Included
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- Flights
- Airport transfer (although I will help arrange this)
- Lunch during the excursions
- Optional massages
Booking and Prices
Early Bird Price
(Available until 31st December )
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Quadruple Shared room: £825
Triple Shared room: £925
Double or Twin Shared room: £1095
Private room: £1295
Standard Price
(All bookings made from 1st January)
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Quadruple Shared room: £925
Triple Shared room: £1025
Double or Twin Shared room: £1195
Private room: £1395
Prices are listed per person. A £350 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. Payment plans are available. Lets chat about it.
For all bookings and enquiries, please contact me directly at sammy@sammyrainbowfurnival.com or simply click below
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This was a total pleasure! Retreat with someone like Sammy, you feel so held throughout. The experience she has as a facilitator, and as a teacher, is so wide and warm. I would recommend this to anyone, from newbie to well seasoned, from happy to depressed - it gave everyone so much! Huge thank you Sammy for creating such an amazing space
Josephine, Yoga Teacher, 2023
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