Sharon Jones
Yoga. You've seen what it's done for celebs like Madonna and Geri. You bought the Barbara Currie DVD from Amazon and did it every Sunday in your living room. Your little blue mat has survived from being lobbed in to the back of the cupboard, unlike all your other fitness fad equipment. It's crept in to your gym schedule and now you're doing it three times a week with your mate and saying Shanti to anyone who'll listen.You love the benefits, and enjoy it's trendy status, but would you go on a yoga holiday? Or is that only for the serious, lentil-eating, tree-hugging types?
Well, Tiscali sent Sharon Jones off to Italy on a yoga holiday to find out . . . .
Yoga is big business these days. Thanks to some dedicated high profile followers, it's lost it dreary hippie image and is now somewhat of a fashionable lifestyle choice. It's cool to do yoga, and with its many variations from Bikram yoga, which you do at 100 degrees, to hybrids like yoga boxing, there's something for everyone and the same applies to holidays. If you go online and search for yoga holidays you'll find a whole host of places offering breaks where you can do yoga and unwind. You can stay in the UK or travel to far-flung lands to get bendy. The choice is yours.
Sunflower Retreats is a Leicester based firm that specialises in week-long holistic breaks to Italy. Set in the beautiful Sabina Mountains, Casperia is an ancient medieval town that is an hour away from Rome. It's in the region of Lazio, which is close to Tuscany and Umbria. Surrounded by olive groves, tree-covered mountains, this hill top village is the perfect setting for a relaxing break. The scenery is breath-taking and because the area is barely touched by tourism you really feel that you've got access to something special.
Lucy Bremner is the founder of Sunflower Retreats, which she and her husband have been running for four years. And at the age of 33, she's got an impressive CV, with over 15 years of yoga experience, a shed load of holistic qualifications (from massage to chakra balancing) an extremely well stamped passport (she spent many spent years in India) and a young toddler (whom she gave birth to in half an hour without any drugs), she's an inspiration to most. Her ethos behind the holiday is simple, she just offers a glimpse in to yourself for a week.
Hatha yoga is the backbone of the holiday, but it's an optional activity. It's perfect for beginners or experienced yogis and Lucy is a gentle teacher. Mats are provided and the surroundings are perfect for a 90 minute session. You will feel quite invigorated afterwards and ready to face the day ahead. Other activities that you can do range from horse-riding in the mountains, excursions to ancient villages, to visiting a natural sulphur spa. Bicycles are included with the price of your break and there are a number of routes which make for a decent cycle. Unfortunately, the week I went, the bikes were a little worse for wear and could have done with a bit of TLC, especially to the tyres and breaks which are essential for those hilly roads.
Sunflower Retreats also offer a range of therapies. You can have anything from a simple facial, a shiatsu massage or acupressure to an enligtening Chakra Balancing session. They are all reasonably priced but they are not too different from what you would expect to pay here, so don't expect any bargains just because you are abroad. All are carried out by qualified professionals and are definitely worth the experience if you fancy trying something new.
There are two types of accommodation on this holiday. You can stay in the self-catering house, which are based on six people sharing or you can stay in the hotel. Be warned though, if you are not an early riser, think twice about staying in the house. You might not appreciate being woken up by the church bells ringing furiously at six thirty in the morning. Whatever you choose, breakfast is included in the price, but for those who have to cook, there is a local supermarket where you can buy good Italian staples, like cheese, bread and wine. There are a few local restaurants too, where you can eat a delicious pizza for around £2. And for an extra £5, Sunflower Retreats will taxi you to and from the places that are a little far away without sufficient transport.
For such a short holiday, you can certainly get a lot done or not it's entirely up to you. Doing yoga outside on the terrace, with a postcard view of the mountains and the sun beaming down on you is certainly a memorable experience, as is the horse-riding through the most beautiful countryside.
If you fancy a spot of yoga, with a dose of pampering, great food and stunning scenery, than Sunflower Retreats is for you. You will return home refreshed and relaxed, with a whole new outlook on how you see yourself. The holistic approach is most definitely encouraged and the only essential you need on this holiday is an open mind. And if you still think this isn't for you, next year, Lucy is planning on opening another retreat in the gorgeous region of Tuscany. Now I bet most would not say no to that.