From the 27th July – 1st August 2025
Arillas, Corfu (Greece)
Spend your holidays bathing in the healing mantras and the greek sun
We are happy you’re here because we guess you’re ready to connect to your heart, to give it some space in your life, to listen and express with joy, its love and wisdom.
There is no greater gift to this world.
Join us on a Heart-opening gathering where you can immerse yourself in the healing and uplifting power of mantras and Heartsongs.
In our daily lives, it’s easy to feel stuck in routines and having to face your challenges alone without a supportive space where you can rise up and connect with your true being.
That’s why Susana and I created this retreat, to nourish our souls and bodies with music, healthy food, yoga, and community in the beautiful, calm Greek island vibes of Corfu.
Take this chance to open and free your heart to reconnect with your freedom, joy and happiness.
What is this retreat about?
Imagine..
You are looking out through the olive trees at the beautiful warm sunset, while surrounded by harmonious, uplifting Heartsongs and Mantras of peace, as you sink into the silence that follows.
You can hear the bird’s calls responding and your mind flashes through this day gone by where your heart sings.
You’ve practiced yoga with an inspiring teacher, eaten a healthy life-giving breakfast with like-minded and open-hearted people.
Then you’ve expressed your voice, tuned and harmonized your emotional body to achieve a state of equilibrium and silence that you only remember feeling as a child…
It’s natural and effortless to be here and now and all the stresses that once plagued your mind seem so trivial.
Now is the time more than ever to look beyond, now is the time to grow, to move on and remember your vision, to reconnect with yourself through the heart and therefore reconnecting to your purpose in this life.
What’s so magic about this retreat is that we get to take that journey together, over the 6 days we form a heart-family and that’s really what transforms.
That’s what gives us the momentum to re-orientate and create our own destiny.
What you will take with you after this retreat..
After 6 days immersed in the healing powers of the Mantras and sacred sounds and experiencing the incredible benefits of singing and exploring your voice you will:
- Feel more grounded and connected to your Heart, as you were able to give space to listen your emotions in a safe environment.
- Find emotional stability and be more calm and relaxed as you have been immersed in nature, inspired by its beauty and connected with its rhythms.
- Connect to your natural voice, as you explored and found different ways of expressing your emotions.
- Get inspired to make a positive change in your life, as you will hear your Heart crystal clear!
- Meet like-minded people where easily can become friends for life, as you shared from a deep level in a loving atmosphere of understanding and non-judgement.
The Location
Our group will be hosted at the beautiful Corfu Buddha Hall, a place for meditative arts in the town of Arillas. We will be the only ones in the centre so that will help us to unwind and have a safe space to let go.
Located on top of a hill, this venue set has stunning 360 views to the sea and mountains with a special peace and beauty that surrounds it to support and inspire us in our days together.
The closest beach villages of Arillas and Agios Stefanos are about 3km away.
Activities
Here is a list of all the practices you will be enjoying during the retreat:
Chanting circles
The benefits of chanting are incredible, as it has a positive effect on our mental, physical, and emotional health and harmony.
Chanting mantras and singing together is one of the most powerful and effective ways to connect with your heart, and although science is now beginning to recognise its benefits, the practice is ancient and universal.
When chanting every day like on this retreat, one can experience a state of peace and a connection to the wisdom of the heart that can give us the nourishment from within that is directly applicable to you, your life, and for where you’re at within yourself.
The healing happens by itself without the need to go into problems from the past or worries of the future. The mantras help to resolve and dissolve those blockages without the need to “rationalize” or regress.
It’s a gentle process, where there is no pushing, no confrontation, as it’s done in the joy of singing.
Chakra Voice Activation
An amazing experience of emotional harmony and stability, simply using focused awareness and your own voice. The outcome is a deep sense of peace and fulfilment.
The Chakra Voice Activation is an explorative practice that is based around singing the Indian Swar scales of Sa Re Ga Ma… and using your conscious awareness to focus on the chakras, channeling emotional energy through them to come into a connection with our natural voice and our authentic self beyond the filters of the mind.
Through this practice, you will tap into your own emotional body and feel all the positive emotions of love, peace, wisdom even bliss from within to begin your self-healing journey in emotional harmony, regardless of your outer experience.
This practice which we call “The Morning Practice“, brings a great sense of connection, and fulfillment and helps us lose our dependency on things that come and go for our happiness.
Yoga
Coming home into the body, home to the Self, tune in and find your own way and rhythm of yoga.
One year more, we will have Audur Bjarnadottir as our yoga teacher. Her lifetime experience as a professional dancer and yoga teacher is backed up with an ability to make even an absolute beginner feel equal as her multidimensional classes offer, the yogi and non yogi, a wonderful multi-style, morning stretch, dance, meditation or whatever else she plucks from the ether.
Her lightness and wisdom will touch the heart and bring positive affirmations to your day.
Sound Journey
Embark on a journey with the sound frequencies of the flute and Crystal bowls that travel straight to the heart and work their way up to open our minds to the higher realms of existence.
Susana and Kevin use the mystical sounds of the shakuhachi flute and crystal singing bowls to create a deeply transformative sound space. These vibrations will guide you into a state of deep relaxation and meditation, activating the body’s natural ability to heal and and return to balance.
The ethereal sounds of the shakuhachi transport you to an inner stillness, while the resonant tones of the Alchemy crystal bowls will harmonize the subtle energies of the body, releasing tension and promoting an expansive sense of peace. This combination of frequencies will help to release accumulated stress, enhance mental clarity, and elevate your personal vibration, connecting you with a deep sense of well-being and presence.
Each session is a unique journey where the frequencies will act as a balm for the body and spirit, allowing your energy to flow freely, creating space for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra or deep relaxing yogic sleep is like putting the body to sleep while your mind will stay focused and awake.
Yoga Nidra can be practiced by anyone. It provides a window into yourself and offers a space to explore what you need in the moment, as well as an opportunity to work on releasing any long-held emotions without “diving into it” completely—meaning without feeling the emotion so completely that you become overwhelmed.
It holds immense benefits for all those who struggle to let go, those who suffer from lack of sleep, trauma, burn-out, and anxiety. It is also highly beneficial and holds great healing power for anyone who wants to experience a deeper sense of peace and re-connect more profoundly with themselves.
Dance
A great way to be in touch with yourself in the moment, to experience joy and playfulness, to confront limited judgments of your unique expression that holds you back from being you freely.
Throughout our retreat, usually when we feel we need to move, we will dance together.
The beauty of this retreat is that we form a bond from all the chanting that dissolves that self consciousness and we can really let go. We will dance freely and in a fun way.
Beach Time
This has proved to create the perfect balance between the practices we do together and time to really unwind and integrate in the beauty of nature.
Every day, after lunch we have free time for you to relax, at the pool or enjoy the beach.
For those of us who are feeling social, will also have a designated place on the beach where our group gathers to connect and deepen friendships, but it’s also a moment to enjoy some “solo time” if you need to.
Schedule
The retreat starts on Sunday, July 27th 2025, with breakfast at 9.00 am
It will end on Friday, August 1st 2025 after our last evening circle (so please make sure not to leave Corfu earlier than Saturday morning)
Daily Program (subject to changes)
8.00 am – 9.00 am: Morning Yoga
9 am: Breakfast
10.30 am – 1.00 pm: Group activities
(Aum Meditation, Chakra toning, Chanting, Sound Journey, Dance or Yoga Nidra)
1:30 – 3.00 pm: Lunch
3.00 – 7.30 pm: Free beach time & dinner
8.00 – 9.30 pm: Chanting Circle
Price
SUPER EARLY BIRD
Until 31st of January 2025
805 €
EARLY BIRD
Until 30th of April 2025
885 €
STANDARD PRICE
From the 1st May
950 €
What is included?
What is not?
About Corfu
Meet the Facilitators
Kevin James & Susana
Audur Bjarnadottir
Ale Namita (Michaela Schieber)
What previous participants say about our retreats
“The way of the heart isn’t just a title for a retreat, it is exactly what it is all about. A deep journey of self-reconnection with the heart and of sharing it with others’ hearts. In chanting circles profound feelings arise, singing together helps to release and let go, be it with tears or with untainted dancing, and when you experience such joyful freedom, you can only feel gratitude to be alive and to live a moment worth a lifetime, bowing down to feel the way of the heart.”
Ilaria Scarso ( The Way of the Heart 2024)
Our philosophy
What we've found is that the combination of chanting mantras, doing yoga, having a sense of community, enjoying relaxing time, eating healthy and immersing in nature for several days is the perfect recipe to facilitate a true positive transformation within yourself.
We respect each participant for who they are and where they are at, simply offering support, with the freedom for they to choose, because we recognise that each of us grows in our own way and in our own time. We just provide the best we can to help you grow.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Practical information
How do I register?
Here are the steps in order to register:
- Complete the form to book your place here.
- After you submit the form, we will email you the details for the first payment.
- Once we receive your first payment, you will receive a confirmation, securing your place.
- Arrange your accommodation and your flight to Corfu and back home, as well as the transfer from the Airport to Arillas.
- Make the last payment on arrival at Corfu Buddha Hall on the 27th July (395,- €).
Do I have to know “how to sing”?
If you can talk, you can sing 🙂
Many have joined our retreats with blockages in their voice and have achieved the wonderful and rewarding experience of finding their natural voice.
We will always be singing together so you can feel a safe, free and open space to find your unique expression in your own time and the “morning practice” will provide you with tools to be able to express freely, and improve your vocal skills.
By the end of the week, we will all be singing like angels.
Recommended items to bring
Loose and light clothing, torch (if you have), mosquito repellent, driving license (in case you want to rent local transportation), water bottle, hat (in Arillas there are few shops with a good selection as well), sun cream.
Can I travel alone?
Of course! A lot of the people who participate in our retreats come alone. It is a great opportunity to meet like minded people with similar interests and are in the same vibration. We have so many friends from retreats who are friends for life.
Booking your accommodation
If you would like to receive help with finding the right accommodation you can write an email to accommodation@corfubuddhahall.com, check out www.arillas.com or Green Corfu at www.greencorfu.com. You can send an email to Alex and Christina at Green Corfu to get their free-of-charge accommodation help service.
Cancellation fees
Sometimes plans change – in such circumstances, the following charges apply to cover costs already incurred with the processing of your booking: 50% charge of the first payment applies if a booking is canceled before June 1st, 2025. After this date no refund is possible, but you may transfer your booking to another person.
Getting to Corfu and Arillas
Because it is Holiday season we recommend to book your flight to Corfu International airport (CFU, near Corfu Town) as early as possible.
Once you arrive to the island, there are several ways to get to Arillas or Corfu Buddha Hall, either by taxi or car.
By taxi
They are the easiest and most common way to get here.
If you take a taxi at the airport, the cost varies between 65-85 € each way.
However, we highly recommend you book your taxi in advance, as in high season you might have to wait a few hours before you can actually get one. Also, not all the taxi drivers will know where to go.
You can contact any of these companies:
- Corfu Taxi Kontogeorgis:
email – nikoskontogeorgisa01@gmail.com
Phone: (+30)693 222 6130 - Tria Adelphia :
website: www.tria-adelphia.com - San Stefanos Travel:
https://san-stefano.gr/tranfers
By car
You can also rent a car (about 350 € a week) and have it delivered to you at the airport. The drive from the Airport to Buddha Hall takes about an hour.
Language
The retreat is held in English.
Final recommendations
As Arillas is a small touristic town and this retreat is taking place during the high season, in order to find easily accommodation, we strongly recommend booking both the retreat and your accommodation well in advance to secure your stay more easily.
We also recommend (if it’s possible for you) to give yourself one or two extra days in Corfu after the retreat to enjoy the sweet feelings of the previous days, to integrate them and to slowly come back to “reality” 😉
