Holidays by Date

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT1

  SAT 30 - SAT 7 JUL 2018

  £675.00

  Book

• Yoga for Every Body

  Marina Sossi

  Mosaics

  Roz Wates

  Find Your Voice

  Claire Healy

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Comedy Improvisation & Creativity

  Dave Bourn

  Mindfulness for Health

  Steve Smith

  Alexander Technique

  Judy Hammond

  Turn Your Life into Words

  Stephen Clarke

Yoga for Every Body Whatever shape you are in. Wherever you are in your life right now... Yoga will accept you exactly as you are. Marina's yoga course welcomes everyone; whether you are a total beginner or experienced yogi. The focus will be on finding simple ways to incorporate physical practise and yoga philosophy into everyday life and feel supported happy and healthy. This experienced and sensitive teacher will guide you to greater clarity in asana, pranayama and meditation and a more intimate relationship with your body and a more unified self. Yoga with Marina runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa. Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Marina Sossi Marina Sossi is a qualified Yoga teacher, artist & international gypsy. She is dedicated to the creative, spiritual life of service; performing and teaching all over the world and generating transformative artworks and experiences for everyone. An established teacher with a unique style Marina communicates the ancient teachings of Yoga with her own creative flair; bodywork, breath, meditation & movement become an integrated weave of practices accessible to everyBODY. Marina is a holistic coach, socially engaged artist and creative facilitator, who has worked with health professionals, creatives & athletes as well as people coping with learning difficulties, mental illness, addictions & imprisonment. Marina trained for 3 years with the British Wheel of Yoga under the guidance of Derek Thorne, founder of Yoga Living following the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. Her studies include Theravada Buddhism, Relational Gestalt, Thai yoga massage and butoh dance. Yoga with Marina will help you become stronger and more flexible; creating a greater sense of harmony: physically, mentally and emotionally. Marina is keen to share practical tools and advice on how to easily incorporate Yoga into busy lifestyles.  “I believe Yoga is a discipline of awareness, leading to integration. Engaging in a more intimate relationship with the Self, we become empowered and are able to embrace positive change; breaking free from aspects that no longer serve us.”

Mosaics In this course you'll learn how to make a mosaic that you can take home with you. It's fun, creative, absorbing, and very sociable: an ideal activity for those hot summer days! We'll cover classic mosaic styles, and students will gain a thorough grounding in skills and techniques, although the emphasis of the course is on individual creativity. Both beginners and experienced mosaicists are welcome on the course.

Roz Wates Rosalind Wates is an experienced mosaicist, renowned for her public art projects up and down the UK. She works in a variety of styles and materials, mainly by commission: her clients range from film stars and billionaires to public bodies and local communities. Although versed in traditional mosaic techniques, Roz constantly explores the creative possibilities of the medium to produce new work. As well as producing mosaics, Rosalind also teaches and has carried out TV and radio work. Her book, The Mosaic Sourcebook, has been translated into several languages and is sold worldwide.

Find Your Voice Description to come...

Claire Healy Claire Healy is an actor, musician and songwriter who has worked in many facets of theatre both in the UK, Ireland and Australia. She has a BA in Music Theatre from the Ballarat Arts Academy. Claire toured southern Australia in ‘King Lear’ and as Juliet in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with Ozact, and played Karin in the new Australian musical ‘Give My Regards to Broady’ at Theatreworks. In the UK, Claire toured extensively with Frantic Theatre Co. in their one-man variety shows. She has also taken her whimsical cabaret to venues around the UK, Ireland and Australia. She was named the #1 Cabaret according to twitter (ThisIsCabaret) for ‘Flamboyant: Like a Flame, but Buoyant’ at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013 and had sellout shows of ‘Playdough Face’ at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014. Claire has written music for theatre, most recently for the Irish national tour of ‘Low Level Panic’ directed by Justin Martin (Billy Elliot, The Audience) and was Assistant Director for the workshop of ‘The Black Balloon’ at The Bush Theatre in London. She is also one half of the cabaret duo ‘Strangely Flamboyant.’

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Comedy Improvisation & Creativity This will be a very gentle and enjoyable introduction and exploration of improvisation skills and developing your own creativity. The TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway can elicit feelings of ‘how do they do that’ but its something ANYONE can learn. We are all already improvising every moment of our lives as individuals. We can learn how to be creative and spontaneous together building and expanding on each other’s ideas. Although most performance improvisation tends to be comedy, the skills required are useful in any kind of creative process, communication, and life in general. This course explores those skills and importantly you do not have to be funny to try it! The emphasis is on learning the principles that heighten creatively, teamwork and removes the block we place on ourselves and did we mention its lot of fun too.

Dave Bourn Dave is currently the resident improvisation tutor at University of West London and the Court Theatre Training Company as well as running improv modules at The Giles Foreman Centre for Acting and The Actors Centre. He also provides workshops on improvisation and creativity, communication and effective teams in the business arena and is a member of the applied improvisation network – an organisation that explores applications of improvisation beyond the theatre. Dave has directed shows by Stephen K Amos, Felix Dexter and Phil Nichol. The last of which was nominated for the Perrier award. He also directed and collaborated with Laurence Clark on the highly praised show Inspired, commissioned as part of the Olympics. He has written for many comedians and sketch shows and has projects currently in development with Channel 4 and Radio 4. Dave is also the owner of The Funny Side comedy clubs.

Mindfulness for Health Mindfulness for Health   Mindfulness is cultivating the quality of being awake, present and accepting of this moment's exprience - which has a transforming potential on how we are with ourselves, how we are with others and how we are with stressful, difficult and challenging situations. The course explores the key concepts, skills and strategies covered on the popular Mindfulness-based courses available today and will be delivered in a friendly, supportive, light-hearted manner making them both fun and transformational. Drop-in Meditation Morning meditation class will be an opportunity for both beginners and experienced meditators to practice together starting with a little gentle mindful movement. Instruction and guidance will be on offer for less experienced participants with an opportunity to ask questions.  A lovely way to start the day.

Steve Smith Steve has worked in both the Private and Public Sector as a Personal Development Coach as well as working as a Counsellor.  Before becoming a Mindfulness Teacher he spent several happy years working as a professional Yacht Skipper and RYA Sailing Instructor, including several seasons at Atsitsa.  He is an Associate Breathworks Living Well Trainer and is is one of the core teacher training team at Breathworks.  He delivers a range of Mindfulness courses - working with the general public, within the Health sector, the workplace and within schools and universities. Steve's first experience of mindfulness and meditation came over 20 years ago while searching for a "cure" for his own chronic pain condition. Following this he went on to train as a Breathworks Trainer and now uses the techniques taught on these programmes on a daily basis to help manage his own health condition and the stresses and complexity of modern life.

Alexander Technique Alexander Technique A highly experiential, user-friendly introduction to the concepts and practices of the world renowned Alexander Technique - the gentle, natural way to refine the way we use our bodies in everyday life and in the gym, movement and dance classes, sports, singing, playing an instrument, driving, riding a bicycle. Side effects are very positive - a great antidote for depression, anxiety, insomnia. And it's terrific fun learning in a group. Transformational Movement In just a few days we can benignly change our postural and movement patterns so that we feel and look better, and learn simple but highly effective movements to practise all through life to maintain muscle tone and good alignment. Course content will include movements inspired by Pilates, tai chi/chi qong, yoga and dance, always placing the Alexander principles of safe use of the spine and joints at the heart of the work. In addition, Judy will be pleased to offer Greek dance and/or Egyptian dance as evening activities.

Judy Hammond Judy Hammond, B.Ed., ANATD, MSTAT, has been teaching Alexander Technique for thirty years and for a similar time has been practising yoga, Pilates and tai chi/chi qong. She has teaching qualifications in classical ballet and folk and classical Egyptian dance, and has choreographed, directed and performed in many dance events. She loves to combine her skills and experience to offer very practical, enjoyable movement and alignment classes, where people can see and feel themselves and others making positive changes quickly and easily.

Turn Your Life into Words You might want to write about your whole life, a single relationship, a road trip, your job or your personal take on any experience you've ever had. You can express all this in a memoir, novel, rap, poem, article, blog or any other collection of published words. Whatever your goals, there are some core things you have to consider – your angle, scope, voice, genre and audience. This course will help you to decide what you want to write and how to go about it.

Stephen Clarke Stephen Clarke has turned (or rather twisted) his life in France into six bestselling novels (A Year in the Merde, Merde Actually, Dial M for Merde, etc), as well as writing history books such as 1000 Years of Annoying the French, travel and opinion articles for UK and foreign newspapers, magazines and websites, and has a regular column in France magazine about being a Parisian. He has also co-written a sitcom and play (in French) for Radio France, adapted his novel The Merde Factor for the stage, and written and performed a words-and-music show about Anglo-French history. Stephen tutored a creative writing course at Atsitsa in 2015, and has given talks at different writers' groups in Paris, as well as mentoring a creative writing student at the University of London.

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT2

  SAT 7 - SAT 14 JUL 2018

  £725.00

  Book

• Yoga for Every Body

  Marina Sossi

  Mosaics

  Roz Wates

  Find Your Voice

  Claire Healy

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Comedy Improvisation & Creativity

  Dave Bourn

  Bodywork

  Silke Ziehl

  Digital Photography

  David Babsky

  Life, Dreams & Fiction

  Steve Attridge

Yoga for Every Body Whatever shape you are in. Wherever you are in your life right now... Yoga will accept you exactly as you are. Marina's yoga course welcomes everyone; whether you are a total beginner or experienced yogi. The focus will be on finding simple ways to incorporate physical practise and yoga philosophy into everyday life and feel supported happy and healthy. This experienced and sensitive teacher will guide you to greater clarity in asana, pranayama and meditation and a more intimate relationship with your body and a more unified self. Yoga with Marina runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa. Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Marina Sossi Marina Sossi is a qualified Yoga teacher, artist & international gypsy. She is dedicated to the creative, spiritual life of service; performing and teaching all over the world and generating transformative artworks and experiences for everyone. An established teacher with a unique style Marina communicates the ancient teachings of Yoga with her own creative flair; bodywork, breath, meditation & movement become an integrated weave of practices accessible to everyBODY. Marina is a holistic coach, socially engaged artist and creative facilitator, who has worked with health professionals, creatives & athletes as well as people coping with learning difficulties, mental illness, addictions & imprisonment. Marina trained for 3 years with the British Wheel of Yoga under the guidance of Derek Thorne, founder of Yoga Living following the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. Her studies include Theravada Buddhism, Relational Gestalt, Thai yoga massage and butoh dance. Yoga with Marina will help you become stronger and more flexible; creating a greater sense of harmony: physically, mentally and emotionally. Marina is keen to share practical tools and advice on how to easily incorporate Yoga into busy lifestyles.  “I believe Yoga is a discipline of awareness, leading to integration. Engaging in a more intimate relationship with the Self, we become empowered and are able to embrace positive change; breaking free from aspects that no longer serve us.”

Mosaics In this course you'll learn how to make a mosaic that you can take home with you. It's fun, creative, absorbing, and very sociable: an ideal activity for those hot summer days! We'll cover classic mosaic styles, and students will gain a thorough grounding in skills and techniques, although the emphasis of the course is on individual creativity. Both beginners and experienced mosaicists are welcome on the course.

Roz Wates Rosalind Wates is an experienced mosaicist, renowned for her public art projects up and down the UK. She works in a variety of styles and materials, mainly by commission: her clients range from film stars and billionaires to public bodies and local communities. Although versed in traditional mosaic techniques, Roz constantly explores the creative possibilities of the medium to produce new work. As well as producing mosaics, Rosalind also teaches and has carried out TV and radio work. Her book, The Mosaic Sourcebook, has been translated into several languages and is sold worldwide.

Find Your Voice Description to come...

Claire Healy Claire Healy is an actor, musician and songwriter who has worked in many facets of theatre both in the UK, Ireland and Australia. She has a BA in Music Theatre from the Ballarat Arts Academy. Claire toured southern Australia in ‘King Lear’ and as Juliet in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with Ozact, and played Karin in the new Australian musical ‘Give My Regards to Broady’ at Theatreworks. In the UK, Claire toured extensively with Frantic Theatre Co. in their one-man variety shows. She has also taken her whimsical cabaret to venues around the UK, Ireland and Australia. She was named the #1 Cabaret according to twitter (ThisIsCabaret) for ‘Flamboyant: Like a Flame, but Buoyant’ at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013 and had sellout shows of ‘Playdough Face’ at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014. Claire has written music for theatre, most recently for the Irish national tour of ‘Low Level Panic’ directed by Justin Martin (Billy Elliot, The Audience) and was Assistant Director for the workshop of ‘The Black Balloon’ at The Bush Theatre in London. She is also one half of the cabaret duo ‘Strangely Flamboyant.’

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Comedy Improvisation & Creativity This will be a very gentle and enjoyable introduction and exploration of improvisation skills and developing your own creativity. The TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway can elicit feelings of ‘how do they do that’ but its something ANYONE can learn. We are all already improvising every moment of our lives as individuals. We can learn how to be creative and spontaneous together building and expanding on each other’s ideas. Although most performance improvisation tends to be comedy, the skills required are useful in any kind of creative process, communication, and life in general. This course explores those skills and importantly you do not have to be funny to try it! The emphasis is on learning the principles that heighten creatively, teamwork and removes the block we place on ourselves and did we mention its lot of fun too.

Dave Bourn Dave is currently the resident improvisation tutor at University of West London and the Court Theatre Training Company as well as running improv modules at The Giles Foreman Centre for Acting and The Actors Centre. He also provides workshops on improvisation and creativity, communication and effective teams in the business arena and is a member of the applied improvisation network – an organisation that explores applications of improvisation beyond the theatre. Dave has directed shows by Stephen K Amos, Felix Dexter and Phil Nichol. The last of which was nominated for the Perrier award. He also directed and collaborated with Laurence Clark on the highly praised show Inspired, commissioned as part of the Olympics. He has written for many comedians and sketch shows and has projects currently in development with Channel 4 and Radio 4. Dave is also the owner of The Funny Side comedy clubs.

Bodywork With playfulness we will explore, in a lighthearted manner, with pieces of string, with massage, with a partner, our love for - or hate of - boundaries, our desire for connection with others, our thoughts about relationships, and above all our deep need to be respectful to ourselves. We will discover that we know a lot - if only we listen to our body - and we will rediscover the joyous part of ourselves, hopeful, passionate and very much alive!

Silke Ziehl Silke Ziehl is a body psychotherapist working with the Entelia Institute in Munich and London, and the Open Centre (London) who sees her work as exploring how to achieve a more balanced and joyful way of living. Silke runs groups in self-development and body-awareness, and trains people to become bodyworkers and body psychotherapists with heart and soul. She sees her work as exploring with people how to reconnect to their bodys deep knowing and to a non-judgmental and joyous way of being.

Digital Photography David Babsky will show you how your photographs could be twenty times better! "Why do photos in magazines and online look better than mine?" is a common question, and the answer is "Because people who took those photos knew a few more tips about how to use a camera". He will guide you through all the buttons on your camera. In a friendly atmosphere you can take pictures and discuss them afterwards. Everyone can take great pictures every time after this fun and informative course. What people say about David and his course: Great course - a pleasure to take time to learn and practise in such an inspiring setting. Great teacher - David gave us a valuable set of techniques and insights and the practical tasks where fun and memorable. Thank you!  David was informative, friendly, approachable.  The photographic workshop was extremely helpful. I now have enough information to experiment and enjoy my camera. Excellent. Very helpful. It’s given me more confidence to try different techniques/settings.

David Babsky David, formerly Technical Editor of best-selling Practical Photography magazine, will show you how to get the best from any camera. He knows the How? and What? of every camera, and the When? and How? about taking perfect photos. David will show you how to get the best from any camera, whether it is a pocket point-&-shoot or a professional SLR. He believes that it is not what you use, but how you use it which gives you great photos.

Life, Dreams & Fiction Imaginative ways to tap into the events and experiences, memories and people in your life. Discover new ways of writing about your life and strategies, tips and techniques for turning these into powerful fiction. This course teaches you ways of finding routes through your life and writing about them convincingly and entertainingly. It also encourages practical ways of looking at dreams that will provide ideas for writing.  Very useful for writers of prose, drama and poetry.   Sessions will include: life as story and story as life; the comic and the tragic; creating potent images; selecting the right material; yourself as character and characterising yourself; using dreams; becoming a dream figure; asking the right questions of your raw life material; finding the tone; varying the point of view. By the end of the course you will be a more accomplished writer and teller of your own stories. You may also think of your life differently. What people say about Steve and his course: Really enjoyed this wonderful course. Learned a great deal. I found this compressed course extremely useful. Practical and good theory base well combined. Lots of sensible and helpful/useful tips. Like the mix of humour and literary references. Steve is an excellent teacher. Six hours [at The Grange] is a deceptive offering - whole worlds and possibilities can open up - as they have for me this weekend. From on the spot excercises, discussion and reams of instruction, I will return to my desk inspired and emboldened. Steve paces us through terrains of character, structure, dialogue and theme - a whole toolkit from which to move forwards... Awesome - engaging, thought-provoking - loved it! Thank you so much...

Steve Attridge Steve Attridge has 21 books published, including adult fiction, psychological thrillers, children’s, history, comedy, and two new books ready to go. His novel, The Natural Law, went straight to number one in the Amazon Kindle Singles Bestsellers. He has written a dozen TV Dramas, numerous one offs, TV documentaries, and Feature Films. He has had over 100 TV scripts produced. Twice a BAFTA nominee, he has also won 3 RTS Awards (Best Drama), Best Film Award (GUY X), 2 Writer’s Guild Awards (Billy Webb and The Bill) and TV film awards. He won an Eric Gregory Award for Poetry and a slam poetry award. Nine of his stage plays have been produced and in 2017 he performed an acclaimed one man show, DICK IN SPACE, at the Edinburgh Festival. He has worked as a Writer and Lecturer all over the world, running Masterclasses, short courses and University Courses, including Oxford, Warwick and Sheffield. He ran writing workshops at the New York Public library.

• Greece - Skyros Centre SC2

  SAT 7 - SAT 14 JUL 2018

  £725.00

  Book

• Morning Yoga & Treatments

  Katrina Love Senn

  WL2: Adventures in Comedy Writing

  Logan Murray

  HW2: How to Live a Joyful Life

  Cate Mackenzie

  The Community of Song

  Luke Meredith

Morning Yoga & Treatments Skyros Centre course participants are welcome to attend a gentle pre-breakfast yoga class in the mornings. This class is a great way to start the day. Wear loose comfortable clothing.  Katrina Love Senn teaches Healing Hatha Yoga which is her own signature blend of yoga, breathing, stretching, visualisation, intention and personal enquiry. It helps students to strengthen their body-mind connection, activating richer levels of creativity and spirituality. Katrina's classes draw on her extensive experience teaching at international healing retreat centres around the world. She infuses her yoga classes with kindness, compassion and a sense of play. Her classes are suitable for students of all levels including beginners. For Katrina, yoga is a powerful tool for total transformation. Through the practice of yoga, you give yourself a gift; a safe space to look within, gaining new insights and using these as a chance to see all the answers that reside inside of you. Being on the mat, is a way that you can heal, build strength and find the courage to take a powerful step forward in your life. Yoga can help to transform and shift any area of your life including your health, your career, and even your relationship to self and others. It can help you to get clear on your old stories, default habits, limitations and fears so that you can move beyond them if you choose to.  Yoga gives you a platform to find your edge and play with it, so that you can go beyond that which you thought was even possible, and create a body and life that you dream of!

Katrina Love Senn Katrina Love Senn is an international yoga teacher, healer and author of the ground breaking book 'Losing Weight is a Healing Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Losing Weight Naturally'. On her healing journey, she lost over 60 pounds for good as well as healed a number of chronic health conditions, including asthma, eczema and adrenal exhaustion, with no diets, drugs or deprivation. She is a natural intuitive and has a fun, warm and heart-centred approach to living and life. She infuses her gentle yoga classes with inspiration, love, kindness and encouragement. Based at The Skyros Centre throughout the season, Katrina is excited to offer massage treatments, along with her signature Break-through Healing Sessions. Her massage treatments and healing sessions are based upon how she healed and transformed her own life using a range of gentle healing tools.

WL2: Adventures in Comedy Writing Comedy, like any other art, is a craft. There are tips and techniques to be learnt. Simply put, if you can understand comedy grammar then unlocking the funny ideas becomes easier. From finding your creative inspiration to learning the building blocks of humour, this workshop will help you discover your unique comic voice. Although a writing course, there would be some non-writing exercises designed to encourage the participant’s creativity. There would also be writing games with group feedback and tutor led suggestions to help you hone your comedy writing skills. By the end of the course you will know how to write comedy and will have the confidence to stand up on your own and make a group of total strangers laugh. Not only will you learn some tricks of the trade, you will also gain a greater awareness of the multitude of differing comic styles that the group manifest. These comedy skills aren’t only for the professional; they are also a fantastic way to think outside of the box, hone your communication skills and increase your confidence in everyday life. More importantly, you will laugh loads over the entire course.

Logan Murray Logan Murray is a working comic and award winning director, author of ‘Teach Yourself Stand Up Comedy’, and script consultant for the BBC. He has recently run a series of writing workshops for the Radio Four Comedy Department. He teaches all over the World the Art and Craft of Comedy as far West as Colorado and as far East as Shanghai. Logan has taught many of the comedians, comedy actors and script writers who have appeared on TV and Radio over the past fifteen years, but is far too modest to boast about it here. There is, however, a list of past alumni on his website… His courses offer a unique opportunity to find out what a comedian’s mindset is like and explore his belief that Comedy really is a life skill!

HW2: How to Live a Joyful Life Have you felt that you are not playful enough? Do you feel that you might be lacking a bit of fun? Would you like to be invited into more presence and aliveness? Cate Mackenzie is a trained creative workshop leader, therapist and coach and will teach you how to return to a creative sense of self through dance, communication and writing. She will lead you into a deeper connection with yourself so that you can hear what you really what and what you would like to let go of. You will be taught how to have more joy and how to accept the life you have by becoming more present. You will be taught a deep method of listening called Bridging (developed by Hedy Schleiffer) which will teach you how to begin to clear up issues you may not want any more, connect with the joy in your heart and also learn how to listen really well. This is a course about opening to more fulfillment and happiness and being able to let go of ways of being that may not be useful any more. All this while exploring the spaciousness of joy and play. Testimonial from Maria I am amazed by the depth of love and intimacy that was inspired, taught and shared in this session. I really believe that intimacy is the missing piece in feeling safe and free in any relationship. Here Cate explained with such simplicity and authenticity how to know what our boundaries are, in other words what we want and don't want - our yes and our no. And now to kindly, playfully and easily communicate our preferences. This goes for friendships, work relationships, dating and more.  I personally got clear about how I behave in my business encounters and why this works. She filled in the missing pieces that so often have people freeze and get confused, upset or angry. She offered kind, self soothing and empowering alternatives, suggestions and ways of being when navigating the difficult murky stuff that nobody ever teaches! I know that if this was taught in childhood we would create an emotionally intelligent culture full of love and understanding. I noticed that participants went away with tools to deal with tricky parts of their lives with a new perspective that is centred in heart, presence and authentic self. I am so excited by Cate's work and her teaching methods because I feel they are spot on and really communicate. They offer help and soothing where it is most needed, in the heart, and from this hearty place such beauty is available. Cate is an extraordinary facilitator who is real, honest, authentic and delightfully funny too.

Cate Mackenzie Cate Mackenzie is a Love Coach, Psychosexual Therapist, Couples Counsellor and workshop leader. She has been running workshops to open the heart through creativity in six countries since 1998 and has run workshops for Benefit, Models 1, How To Academy, MTV, Comedy Central and Soho House. She is the Dating Coach for Channel 4's "The Undateables" and has written a love column for Spirit and Destiny Magazine for two years. Her heart paintings have been sold world wide through IKEA and she has been featured in publications such as Psychologies Magazine, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. She is passionate about teaching joy through play and creativity.

The Community of Song We all love singing along to our favourite tunes, and research from various universities has indicated that singalong could be as good for you as yoga (University of Gothenburg), improves mental health (University of London) and actually makes you live longer (Harvard and Yale). This course explores singalong, what particular songs mean to people, and what happens when we share that song - as well as being a jolly old knees-up!

Luke Meredith Luke Meredith, or Mister Meredith, is a cabaret entertainer and compère, and is at the forefront of the revival in piano singalong nights. He performs regularly in London at cabaret and comedy venues, including Proud Cabaret, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Cafe de Paris, Fontaine's and Leicester Square Theatre, and at high profile theatres around the UK from Newcastle Theatre Royal down to Kings Theatre in Portsmouth via Birmingham Old Rep. His last three solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in The Voodoo Rooms have gathered four and five star reviews, while he continues to pack houses with his variety show Magic Faraway Cabaret, now in its 6th year. Luke is also a visiting lecturer at City Lit, where he has taught singing on the accredited drama courses since 2009, as well as daytime courses on Singing for Actors, Cabaret and Musical Theatre. He has a BA Hons in Music Drama and Dance from Birmingham University and a PTLLS from City Lit, and continues to research and develop new vocal teaching techniques. Visit Luke's website here: http://mistermeredith.co.uk “One of the greatest cabaret performers of his generation” Scotsgay “A subversive compère who takes pride in getting the City boys a little hot under the collar“ The Telegraph

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT3

  SAT 14 - SAT 21 JUL 2018

  £725.00

  Book

• Dynamic Drawing and Painting

  Sarah Jane Moon

  Delivering a Song

  Luke Meredith

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Stand-up Comedy

  Kate Smurthwaite

  Your Best Year Ever

  Andrew Risner

  Massage, Reflexology

  Virginia Evangelou

  Book Under the Bed (WL)

  Julia Bell

  Yoga for Every Body

  Marina Sossi

Dynamic Drawing and Painting Dynamic Drawing & Painting is a course suitable for everyone from the experienced professional to the total beginner.  We will start with drawing from observation in order to gather visual material and begin the process of relating to the subject matter. Paying attention to composition, scale, mark making and narrative we will then proceed to work with our initial sketches and drawings to produce work that engages both gesture and expression. The aim is to create visually rich drawings and paintings that capture something of a place or scene as well as the temperament of the artist.  We will work with a variety of subject matter through the week. We will also discuss the work produced in an encouraging and supportive setting in order to learn from each other and reflect on progress.  Sarah Jane is a patient and enthusiastic tutor with an approach that recognises and celebrates individual creativity.

Sarah Jane Moon Sarah Jane Moon is a painter who specialises in portraiture and figurative painting. She also enjoys painting still life and landscape and is passionate about colour.  She is based in London and has exhibited in the UK and abroad, with organisations such as The  Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, New English Art Club and the New Zealand Portrait Gallery.  Sarah Jane teaches regularly at The Heatherley School of Fine Arts at both advanced and beginners levels and also runs holiday courses in France.  Her approach to teaching painting and drawing is encouraging and aims to build confidence and individual creative expression. She is interested in narrative and the expressive potential of paint and drawing media.  You can see examples of her work at sarahjanemoon.com

Delivering a Song Delivering A Song Performing a song is more than just remembering where to match the notes to the words. Sometimes it’s not even about that! Learn all the tricks of the trade, finding the sense of a song and the best way to deliver that to your audience. We’ll cover dramatic and vocal techniques and how to combine the two. We’ll be looking at comedy songs, ballads and uptempo numbers and how to bring out the best in them – and in you! Whether you want to wow them on stage or just be more confident when you do your turn at the party, this course will help you on your way. There will be solo singing within the group and plenty of tutor feedback, with a mini-showcase at the end hosted by yours truly.

Luke Meredith Luke Meredith, or Mister Meredith, is a cabaret entertainer and compère, and is at the forefront of the revival in piano singalong nights. He performs regularly in London at cabaret and comedy venues, including Proud Cabaret, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Cafe de Paris, Fontaine's and Leicester Square Theatre, and at high profile theatres around the UK from Newcastle Theatre Royal down to Kings Theatre in Portsmouth via Birmingham Old Rep. His last three solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in The Voodoo Rooms have gathered four and five star reviews, while he continues to pack houses with his variety show Magic Faraway Cabaret, now in its 6th year. Luke is also a visiting lecturer at City Lit, where he has taught singing on the accredited drama courses since 2009, as well as daytime courses on Singing for Actors, Cabaret and Musical Theatre. He has a BA Hons in Music Drama and Dance from Birmingham University and a PTLLS from City Lit, and continues to research and develop new vocal teaching techniques. Visit Luke's website here: http://mistermeredith.co.uk “One of the greatest cabaret performers of his generation” Scotsgay “A subversive compère who takes pride in getting the City boys a little hot under the collar“ The Telegraph

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Stand-up Comedy Learn the skills and techniques employed by professional comedians to engage an audience, get them on your side and have them rolling in the aisles. We will cover writing techniques, stage presence, keeping an audience in check, building performance skills and even try out some of our material to the rest of the group! No experience necessary and you don't have to already "be funny". The skills you'll learn are transferable for business presentations, wedding speeches and any public speaking. Or maybe you'll want to start a whole new career! Comedy Improvisation: Drop-in Class Get your creativity on the go with high energy interactive games that will have you thinking on your feet and laughing out loud.

Kate Smurthwaite Kate Smurthwaite is a stand-up comedian, comedy writer and teacher. Kate has performed around the UK and the world touring her solo shows and working at comedy clubs large and small. She has appeared on over 1000 TV and radio shows from Question Time to Breaking The News and has written for Have I Got News For You and BBC 3's BAFTA-winning The Revolution Will Be Televised. She has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Cosmopolitan and Stylist. Kate has been teaching comedy and improvisation for eight years at City Academy, City Lit and Silver Comedy and her ex-students have appeared on TV and won major awards.

Your Best Year Ever Your Best Year Ever With a warm heart and a twinkle in his eye, Andrew will guide you through multi sensory processes and games to help facilitate you to determine how and what your Best Year Ever will look and feel like. Then, layer upon layer, he will work together with you to literally transform you into the person who can confidently create, pursue, and maximize those dreams. You will leave with a clear picture of what your best year ever will look like together with tools and strategies of how to implement it once at home. A complimentary coaching session will be available after the course for anyone completing the workshop. Comedy Improvisation Anyone can improvise if they allow themselves to play. Improvisation IS NOT about being the smartest, being the funniest or being right. It is about accessing the creativity that already exists within us. During this course we will learn how to have fun simply by following a few basic techniques that allow anybody to let go and have fun. Improvisation is an attitude, a way of behaving that allows one person, or a group of people, to innovate and create instantly by using their own sense of trust, truth, acceptance and creativity.  Anyone can improvise if they allow themselves to play. Improvisation IS NOT about being the smartest, being the funniest or being right. It is about accessing the creativity that already exists within all of us.

Andrew Risner Andrew Risner is a leading trainer, facilitator and coach who has been leading transformational workshops since 2001. He is an as empathic and sensitive facilitator who is able to create and maintain an atmosphere of trust and respect and brings a wealth of fun and insight to his workshops. His programmes help individuals fully realise the dormant resources within themselves, whilst helping them raise self-awareness and self-belief. As well as being an NLP Master Practitioner and certified hypnotherapist, Andrew spent time as a member of the magic circle and stand up comedian. What people say about Andrew and his courses: Achieved a lot in a short time. Andrew is an excellent facilitator. The ‘How to Have Your Best Year Ever’ course certainly gave me much food for thought, the feeling that we’re not alone and the courage to move forward. Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Andrew is lovely and kind. Much food for thought.  Andrew was an excellent facilitator and very approachable. The course was more intense than anticipated but well worth doing.

Massage, Reflexology Aromatherapy Massage - This course explores the ancient healing arts of aromatherapy and massage, related to how they promote health, well-being and relaxation.  Through the application of essential plant extracts, combined with a wide variety of relaxing massage techniques, we will create a truly sumptuous and blissful experience, and gain not just a skill, but a gift to share.  Reflexology & Foot Massage - Dating back Millenia, reflexology is a healing system based on the theory of reflex points in the feet which link to all areas of the body.  Treatment has proven numerous health benefits and promotes wellness on many levels, especially preventative.  In conjunction with a soothing foot massage, a session is profoundly relaxing and rejuvenating, both to give and receive.

Virginia Evangelou Virginia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with over 35 years in the health, wellness and beauty industry, in England, Canada, Thailand and Greece.   A certified teacher and practitioner of complementary therapies and Reiki Master, she has created, taught and examined courses for private schools, worked in upscale spas and private practice, provided consultancy services, and been published in the U.K and U.S.   Currently employed by the City of Toronto in the Long Term Care division, she provides complementary therapies as part of a multidisciplinary health care team, and sits on several health, wellness and palliative care committees.   Virginia has been both a facilitator and resident therapist with Skyros, and returns this summer for her 17th year.

Book Under the Bed (WL) Book Under the Bed Have you always harboured a desire to write, even written a book but never taken it any further? This is an opportunity to dust off your ambition and find some new motivation and inspiration through a mixture of exercises and group workshops. Designed for people at all stages of the process from beginners to professionals seeking new ideas. This course will inspire, challenge and offer useful tips on crafting irresistible, engaging prose.

Julia Bell Julia Bell is a novelist and Course Director of the successful MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck in London. She is the editor of the bestselling Creative Writing Coursebook. Her latest novel, The Dark Light is published by Macmillan. She also writes poetry, short stories and is a keen street photographer. You can find out more at www.juliabell.net

Yoga for Every Body Whatever shape you are in. Wherever you are in your life right now... Yoga will accept you exactly as you are. Marina's yoga course welcomes everyone; whether you are a total beginner or experienced yogi. The focus will be on finding simple ways to incorporate physical practise and yoga philosophy into everyday life and feel supported happy and healthy. This experienced and sensitive teacher will guide you to greater clarity in asana, pranayama and meditation and a more intimate relationship with your body and a more unified self. Yoga with Marina runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa. Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Marina Sossi Marina Sossi is a qualified Yoga teacher, artist & international gypsy. She is dedicated to the creative, spiritual life of service; performing and teaching all over the world and generating transformative artworks and experiences for everyone. An established teacher with a unique style Marina communicates the ancient teachings of Yoga with her own creative flair; bodywork, breath, meditation & movement become an integrated weave of practices accessible to everyBODY. Marina is a holistic coach, socially engaged artist and creative facilitator, who has worked with health professionals, creatives & athletes as well as people coping with learning difficulties, mental illness, addictions & imprisonment. Marina trained for 3 years with the British Wheel of Yoga under the guidance of Derek Thorne, founder of Yoga Living following the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. Her studies include Theravada Buddhism, Relational Gestalt, Thai yoga massage and butoh dance. Yoga with Marina will help you become stronger and more flexible; creating a greater sense of harmony: physically, mentally and emotionally. Marina is keen to share practical tools and advice on how to easily incorporate Yoga into busy lifestyles.  “I believe Yoga is a discipline of awareness, leading to integration. Engaging in a more intimate relationship with the Self, we become empowered and are able to embrace positive change; breaking free from aspects that no longer serve us.”

• Greece - Skyros Centre SC3

  SAT 14 - SAT 21 JUL 2018

  £725.00

  Book

• Morning Yoga & Treatments

  Katrina Love Senn

  WL3: Fictional Forms

  Emma Claire Sweeney

  HW3: Visioning Your New Life

  Dina Glouberman

  The Power of Laughter

  Ailon Freedman

Morning Yoga & Treatments Skyros Centre course participants are welcome to attend a gentle pre-breakfast yoga class in the mornings. This class is a great way to start the day. Wear loose comfortable clothing.  Katrina Love Senn teaches Healing Hatha Yoga which is her own signature blend of yoga, breathing, stretching, visualisation, intention and personal enquiry. It helps students to strengthen their body-mind connection, activating richer levels of creativity and spirituality. Katrina's classes draw on her extensive experience teaching at international healing retreat centres around the world. She infuses her yoga classes with kindness, compassion and a sense of play. Her classes are suitable for students of all levels including beginners. For Katrina, yoga is a powerful tool for total transformation. Through the practice of yoga, you give yourself a gift; a safe space to look within, gaining new insights and using these as a chance to see all the answers that reside inside of you. Being on the mat, is a way that you can heal, build strength and find the courage to take a powerful step forward in your life. Yoga can help to transform and shift any area of your life including your health, your career, and even your relationship to self and others. It can help you to get clear on your old stories, default habits, limitations and fears so that you can move beyond them if you choose to.  Yoga gives you a platform to find your edge and play with it, so that you can go beyond that which you thought was even possible, and create a body and life that you dream of!

Katrina Love Senn Katrina Love Senn is an international yoga teacher, healer and author of the ground breaking book 'Losing Weight is a Healing Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Losing Weight Naturally'. On her healing journey, she lost over 60 pounds for good as well as healed a number of chronic health conditions, including asthma, eczema and adrenal exhaustion, with no diets, drugs or deprivation. She is a natural intuitive and has a fun, warm and heart-centred approach to living and life. She infuses her gentle yoga classes with inspiration, love, kindness and encouragement. Based at The Skyros Centre throughout the season, Katrina is excited to offer massage treatments, along with her signature Break-through Healing Sessions. Her massage treatments and healing sessions are based upon how she healed and transformed her own life using a range of gentle healing tools.

WL3: Fictional Forms This course caters both to those building the foundations of their fiction and those wishing to redesign their work. We will explore different approaches to structuring narratives, seeking the methods best suited to the stories we want to tell. We will begin by looking at the storytelling models pioneered by the Ancient Greeks before moving on to the subversive approaches to these strategies favoured by some recent short-story writers and novelists. By the end of this week of creative labour, we will have constructed blueprints for completing drafts and structural redrafts of our work. What people say about Emma and her course: Surpassed my expectations - great coverage. Emma was wonderful. I made so much more progress than I expected. Learnt a lot more than I expected to in terms of practical technique.

Emma Claire Sweeney Emma Claire Sweeney is the author of award-winning novel, Owl Song at Dawn, which is inspired by her sister who has cerebral palsy and autism (Legend Press, 2016). She is also co-author of the internationally acclaimed non-fiction book, A Secret Sisterhood: The hidden friendships of Austen, Brontë, Eliot and Woolf, which she wrote with her own friend, Emily Midorikawa, and includes a foreword by Margaret Atwood (Aurum Press, 2017).  Emma has won Arts Council, Royal Literary Fund and Escalator Awards, and has published in the likes of the Paris Review, Smithsonian and TIME, as well as most of the British broadsheets.  She designed and currently teaches both City University’s Novel Studio and New York University London’s creative writing course, as well as co-running SomethingRhymed.com – a website on female literary friendship.

HW3: Visioning Your New Life Are the winds of change blowing in your life? What are they whispering? Are you willing to listen? If so, this course is for you. You may be feeling burnt out, stressed, or stuck. Or you may be confronting crisis or change. Either way, such times demand that you step forward into a bigger picture of who you are and where you are going. An interesting spiritual tradition says that when we are living our everyday lives in an everyday way, the soul just rests or even sleeps. But when we are in crisis, or looking for change, or wrestling with something that our ordinary mind doesn't quite know how to deal with, the soul wakes up. And then life begins to move to a whole new level. Is this what you’ve been yearning for? If so, you need to stop, listen to your soul’s whispers, look at what reality is telling you, find out where you want to go, and then get to a Yes. This is what Visioning Your New Life will help you do. Saying Yes is a commitment to take whatever is brewing within you and around you into a new behaviour, a new attitude, or a new way of life. An unqualifiedYes sets the next stage into motion, opening you to the intuitions, research, actions, and persistence in the face of difficulties that make it possible to vision and create your new life. In this course we will be working with imagery and visualisation to: Recognise the catalyst that can start you moving in a new direction Get a vision of the future that would be right for you Say Yes Map out the steps to your new future, and take a leap of faith into a new reality. This is also a crash course in working with your ‘genius imagination’ so that you can be your own therapist and wise consultant every day of your life.  Since you are what you imagine, if where you are is not where you want to be, why not learn to imagine better? This course is suitable for complete beginners in imagery and visualisation as well as for those who are experienced in using this approach. Prepare to be surprised. Your images by their very nature don’t always tell you what you expect; rather they will show you what you know deep down inside but haven’t yet told yourself, and they always point the way to transformation. You will be able to emerge from this course with the clarity and confidence to take your next step in life. You will also have a magic box of tools, indeed a new way of thinking, that you can use to understand, protect, and guide yourself, not just during the workshop but for the rest of your life. The course is based on my books, Life Choices, Life Changes, The Joy of Burnout, You are what you imagine and my new memoir coming out in June called Into the Woods and Out Again: A memoir of love, madness and transformation. Don’t forget you can always get free downloads of book chapters or MP3s of imagery exercises, or buy any of Dina's books or MP3s of imagery exercises at www.dinaglouberman.com

Dina Glouberman Dr Dina Glouberman is a world expert in the creative imagination. She is the visionary co-founder of Skyros Holidays, the author of the classic best-selling books Life Choices, Life Changes, The Joy of Burnout and You Are What You Imagine: Three Steps to a New Beginning Using Imagework and an international trainer, coach, speaker and psychotherapist. For over thirty years, she has been a pioneer in creating, teaching, and practicing the use of Imagework, the groundbreaking process that harnesses the imagination to guide our lives and create positive life choices and profound life changes. She is launching her unmissable memoir, Into the Woods and Out Again: A memoir of love, madness and transformation (Sphinx, 2018) in June 2018. To find out more about Dina Glouberman's approach and her books and courses, and to get free downloads, visit her website, www.dinaglouberman.com What people say about Dina Glouberman:  Dina Glouberman is wise and witty and an inspirational teacher. Sue Townsend Dina Glouberman is a home-maker of the spirit. Margaret Drabble When I did your course in Skyros in 1994, I nicknamed you the Yehudi Menuhin of therapy, and your work reminded me of a fabulous painting with a lot of fine brushstrokes. Now I feel you are actually the art gallery itself. Vivienne

The Power of Laughter The Power of Laughter This is a comedy course with a twist. On the one hand a comedy workshop that allows us to explore comedy improvisation, clowning, sketch-comedy and stand-up; on the other hand a journey of personal development. Not only will we play, laugh and have plenty of fun and games as we explore the comedian's craft - we will also use our experiences to strengthen our inner sense of humour and deepen our emotional intelligence.

Ailon Freedman Ailon Freedman is a multifaceted creative arts facilitator who runs workshops in comedy, drumming, yoga and public speaking in both the corporate and personal-development worlds. As a character comedian he has performed around the country as his alter egos Trev the Yogic Builder and Reiki Ron and also produced his own comedy films. Ailon is interested in the therapeutic value of comedy, seeing laughter and play as a wonderful way to help us take ourselves a little less seriously. Visit Ailon's website here: http://www.ailonfree.co.uk

• Greece - Skyros Centre SC4

  SAT 21 - FRI 3 AUG 2018

  £1,295.00

  Book

• Morning Yoga & Treatments

  Katrina Love Senn

  WL4: Life into Fiction, Write Your Novel

  Mez Packer

  HW4: Explore Your Story, Live Life More Fully

  Jamie and Sarah Jauncey

  Life is a Cabaret

  Kate Daniels

Morning Yoga & Treatments Skyros Centre course participants are welcome to attend a gentle pre-breakfast yoga class in the mornings. This class is a great way to start the day. Wear loose comfortable clothing.  Katrina Love Senn teaches Healing Hatha Yoga which is her own signature blend of yoga, breathing, stretching, visualisation, intention and personal enquiry. It helps students to strengthen their body-mind connection, activating richer levels of creativity and spirituality. Katrina's classes draw on her extensive experience teaching at international healing retreat centres around the world. She infuses her yoga classes with kindness, compassion and a sense of play. Her classes are suitable for students of all levels including beginners. For Katrina, yoga is a powerful tool for total transformation. Through the practice of yoga, you give yourself a gift; a safe space to look within, gaining new insights and using these as a chance to see all the answers that reside inside of you. Being on the mat, is a way that you can heal, build strength and find the courage to take a powerful step forward in your life. Yoga can help to transform and shift any area of your life including your health, your career, and even your relationship to self and others. It can help you to get clear on your old stories, default habits, limitations and fears so that you can move beyond them if you choose to.  Yoga gives you a platform to find your edge and play with it, so that you can go beyond that which you thought was even possible, and create a body and life that you dream of!

Katrina Love Senn Katrina Love Senn is an international yoga teacher, healer and author of the ground breaking book 'Losing Weight is a Healing Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Losing Weight Naturally'. On her healing journey, she lost over 60 pounds for good as well as healed a number of chronic health conditions, including asthma, eczema and adrenal exhaustion, with no diets, drugs or deprivation. She is a natural intuitive and has a fun, warm and heart-centred approach to living and life. She infuses her gentle yoga classes with inspiration, love, kindness and encouragement. Based at The Skyros Centre throughout the season, Katrina is excited to offer massage treatments, along with her signature Break-through Healing Sessions. Her massage treatments and healing sessions are based upon how she healed and transformed her own life using a range of gentle healing tools.

WL4: Life into Fiction, Write Your Novel Week One: Life Into Fiction This course is designed to kickstart your creativity  whether you are just beginning or in the middle of your project. We will use various workshop exercises drawing on experience, memory, imagination and place for inspiration. Through the week we will look at story and style and there will be opportunities to share pieces of your writing in a relaxed and supportive setting. You will also receive plenty of constructive feedback on the work you produce in the sessions and by the end of the week you will have material and ideas for your novel or short story. Week Two: Write Your Novel It's easy to make excuses and let life get in the way of your writing. This week we will concentrate on practice and the anatomy of a novel and explore ways to take your ideas forward with a focus on character, voice, setting and structure. At the end of the week you will have a clear understanding of the technical aspects of novel writing as well as solid strategies to fuel your creative momentum well into the future.

Mez Packer Mez Packer studied Philosophy and Literature at Warwick University and afterwards spent time in Europe singing jazz in bars and nightclubs. She travelled widely in Asia, the Far East and the Caribbean before working for the BBC. Mez is currently a visiting lecturer in Creative Writing at Coventry University and she has published short stories, articles, scripts, songs and two novels: Among Thieves, which was nominated for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and The Game is Altered. She is currently completing her PhD and working on a new novel, set in India and Portugal.

HW4: Explore Your Story, Live Life More Fully Are you thinking about changes you would like to make in your life?  Do you just want time out to take stock and refresh the way you see the world?   Either way, we invite you to explore the stories you tell yourself about who you are and where you come from. They will offer insights which can help you move forward more easily and live your life more fully and joyfully! Our stories give us our sense of who we are (we use 'story' simply as another word for the way we interpret our own experiences) – and we get used to the ones we habitually tell ourselves about our lives.  But sometimes a closer look can be helpful. It can remind us of just how rich they are. It can reveal things we've never seen before. Or it can make us realise there are some we should have let go of years ago. Explore Your Story– in the first of these two weeks we’ll focus on where you have come from and the challenges and opportunities associated with where you are now in your life. Live Life More Fully– in the second week we’ll look at where you’re going, what may be getting in your way, and what will help you get there. Throughout the two weeks we’ll use elements of creative writing, storytelling and other therapeutic tools to bring you deeper insight and awareness. We also use imaginative exercises based around symbols and metaphors, along with visualisations and plenty of time for discussion and simple sharing of your own experiences. The journey will be thought-provoking and sometimes surprising. There will be plenty of laughter, and perhaps a tear or two! We will offer you new and rewarding ways of seeing and being – in a warm, safe and supportive environment for personal discovery.  Our workshops are all about being curious, pushing the boundaries, sharing experiences, learning from each other – and above all, having fun and all the benefit of a relaxing time in the sun in a beautiful place! These two weeks will help you: become clearer about what matters most in your life make more of your natural creativity learn to be kinder to yourself connect more deeply with the people around you discover a stronger sense of purpose live your life more fully and authentically

Jamie and Sarah Jauncey Jamie and Sarah Jauncey are a writer and counsellor respectively. They run The Stories We Tell, a series of weekend and residential workshops, from their home in Scotland and at various locations around southern Europe. www.thestorieswetell.org.uk Sarah was born and brought up in the French Alps. She moved to London in her twenties and spent 25 years running a successful textile design business before re-training as a counsellor. One of her areas of interest is in using symbolism, metaphor and imagery to help people understand their stories. She is a COSCA accredited trainer in counselling skills, and an accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She is also a qualified yoga teacher. www.sarahjauncey.co.uk Jamie is an author, writer and facilitator. Over 30 years he has worked with individuals and organisations large and small in many countries around the world, helping people and businesses to find their voices and tell their stories. He is one of the founding partners of the Dark Angels programme of creative writing courses. He has published several novels and for many years was on the board of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the world's largest celebration of the written word. He is also a musician and he blogs fortnightly at afewkindwords.me   What people have said about The Stories We Tell: “You two are life-changers!”  “Memorable, challenging, rewarding, joyous.” “These courses … have shown me there’s another way to live.”

Life is a Cabaret Whether you only ever sing in the bath or sing regularly in choirs, this is the place for you to have a wonderful time learning glorious harmonies to some well-known and less well-known songs and tunes. Using well-known songs from the Great American Songbook , some harmony singing of world music, and some more contemporary songs, participants will be introduced to different rhythms, phrasing and techniques and given an opportunity to explore and experiment with their vocal range. We will pay attention to breathing and play a bit with improvisation. Those who are interested will be able to explore singing as a performance and a way of communicating with and engaging an audience. This week is a course for all abilities and will be fun and unpressured. You don't need to be able to read music or have any experience of singing in choirs - just come along to enjoy yourself! Participants are invited to let Kate know in advance if they are working on a particular song or want to develop a specific aspect of their singing/performance. What people say about Kate and her courses: For a group with very differing singing abilities we gelled quickly (not least thanks to Kate's integrative approach and abilities) and learned a great selection of jazz/swing/blues songs, including holding the beat and warm up exercises - exactly what I had hoped for. Relaxed, informal, encouraging. Kate is a sheer delight and inspires, instilling confidence. Easy-going, cooperative, fun, very inclusive, integration and motivating, gives you the feeling that you can do it, lots of humour, happy to help in break with questions - much appreciated.  Superb, relaxed, inclusive, fun, warming & well structured without being pressured in any way. Excellent exercies and fun singing. A playful week of good singing together. Did several songs, plenty of harmny and everyone involved equally.

Kate Daniels Singer and songwriter, Kate was also for many years the director of Systemic Psychotherapy training at the Tavistock Centre in London, Kate continues to teach there and in addition has run courses and directed in Skyros for 14 years. Pursuing a creative life is her passion. She studied in Birmingham with playwright David Edgar, has acted and written for theatre and radio and this year she will be launching her third CD as a jazz singer. A recent performance of hers at the Vortex in London was hailed by The Guardian jazz critic as “A classy concert of song-cherishing internationalism”.

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT4

  SAT 21 - FRI 3 AUG 2018

  £1,295.00

  Book

• Painting & Sketching

  Michael Gahagan

  Music & Singing

  Tom Morley

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  The Power of Laughter

  Ailon Freedman

  New Beginnings

  Dina Glouberman

  Massage, Reflexology

  Virginia Evangelou

  Writing from Life

  Monique Roffey

  Yoga for Every Body

  Marina Sossi

Painting & Sketching This course will be suitable for both beginners and the more experienced participants. A variety of drawing and painting medium will be used including watercolour, pastels, pencils, charcoal, and mixed media. All participants will receive personal and artistic support to maximise individual progress. For beginners, and those with little experience, the course will give you a broad introduction to painting and sketching in a supportive setting and cover a range of drawing and painting techniques. For the more experienced participants ,this will give you an opportunity to improve your existing painting, drawing and sketching skills, explore your observational skills and develop your creative drive and individual style. Skyros is an artist's paradise to work in given the light, whitewashed village, colourful flora, and panoramic views of turquoise seas and distant mountains. There will be plenty of inspiration and no shortage of subject matter!

Michael Gahagan Michael is an accomplished artist who paints with various medium particularly watercolour, pastels and acrylics. His subject matter for his paintings is wide and varied including landscapes, seascapes and wildlife. Much of his artistic inspiration comes from his overseas tutoring sessions in Europe including Greece, Spain and Italy. Painting and sketching the dramatic landscapes, seascapes and village life  of  the beautiful Greek Island of Skyros is an artist’s dream. In addition to his artistic background, Michael is also a qualified business and life coach and is passionate about supporting participants to explore their creativity through various approaches that encourage participants to develop artistic skills at their own pace. Above all Michael is keen that participants enjoy their holiday and that their painting experience is engaging, relaxing, enjoyable and fun! Michael’s painting style varies according to his subject matter. He strives to obtain a vibrancy of colour in his landscape paintings using a loose expressive approach; however he is also able to turn his artistic repertoire to detail and precision in his popular wildlife, animal paintings and portraits. His animal illustrations have appeared in numerous articles and books and samples of his artwork can be seen in his web site www.ionaart.com . Michael gives participants the confidence to “have a go” or “brush up” on their existing artistic skills and his course is ideally suited to beginners as well as those with some experience. Participants can enjoy first class art tuition and demonstrations which are integral to them having a memorable and enjoyable holiday.  Michael also hopes that participants return home from a great holiday with a renewed enthusiasm for painting and drawing!

Music & Singing As a kit drummer with Scritti Politti and later a session drummer for the New York/London music scene, Tom learned all he needed to know about popular song structure before immersing himself in World Harmony songs. A session with Tom tends to be an inspiring mix of upbeat get-it-right 3-part harmony songs, ranging from African to Gospel to Polynesian, to looser improvisational exercises where everyone can make mistakes and collectively feel proud of being so darned brave. In public. Basically Tom is a community builder and music is his main tool. Humour always helps, so expect a fair amount of warm-up laughter in all the sessions. Beginners are more than welcome, and musicians will be happy with the raw sophistication of the material. Think of it as joining a band where you can be the front person or one of the backing singers, depending what you feel like on that particular day. Yes, developing any new skill takes courage, vulnerability and discipline but you will not find many safer, or amusing, places to learn about rhythm and singing than in one of these sessions.

Tom Morley Scuba-diver, roller-skater, drummer and facilitator, Tom learned his skills on the road. Singing backing vocals in the Art School band Scritti Politti, while playing drums and driving a battered van around Europe, he got in touch with his multi-tasking side in the late 70s. Graphic designer, flashmob songwriter, Tom now wears a number of hats, all at a slight angle. From Shanghai to Salford, Chicago to Chester and Istanbul to Ipswich you will find rather bemused groups of strangers still singing in 3-part harmony long after he has left. Tom started facilitating both community and corporate music groups 20 years ago and shows no sign of stopping. He is a laid-back evangelist, extolling the power of group singing and its ability to connect people in quite simple but profound ways. And, like all good teachers, he wakes up every morning thinking he is just getting started.

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

The Power of Laughter The Power of Laughter This is a comedy course with a twist. On the one hand a comedy workshop that allows us to explore comedy improvisation, clowning, sketch-comedy and stand-up; on the other hand a journey of personal development. Not only will we play, laugh and have plenty of fun and games as we explore the comedian's craft - we will also use our experiences to strengthen our inner sense of humour and deepen our emotional intelligence.

Ailon Freedman Ailon Freedman is a multifaceted creative arts facilitator who runs workshops in comedy, drumming, yoga and public speaking in both the corporate and personal-development worlds. As a character comedian he has performed around the country as his alter egos Trev the Yogic Builder and Reiki Ron and also produced his own comedy films. Ailon is interested in the therapeutic value of comedy, seeing laughter and play as a wonderful way to help us take ourselves a little less seriously. Visit Ailon's website here: http://www.ailonfree.co.uk

New Beginnings   New Beginnings: Are you feeling stuck or burnt out, facing difficult changes, or simply yearning for something you cannot imagine having? If so, this workshop by Imagework pioneer and Skyros co-founder Dr Dina Glouberman can help you: ·       Recognise the catalyst that will start you moving in a new direction ·       Get a vision of the future that would be right for you ·       Find your way forward to a new beginning The secret is to educate your imagination to bring together the spiritual and the practical - learn to attend to the whisperings of your heart and soul while being grounded in the real world. You will emerge from the workshop with more clarity and confidence to take your next step in life. You will also have a magic box of tools, indeed a new way of thinking, that you can use to understand, protect, and guide yourself, not just during the workshop but for the rest of your life.  Since you are what you imagine, if where you are is not where you want to be, why not learn to imagine better? You have changed my life and helped me to have a second chance at living and being happy. Recent course participant.

Dina Glouberman Dr Dina Glouberman is a world expert in the creative imagination. She is the visionary co-founder of Skyros Holidays, the author of the classic best-selling books Life Choices, Life Changes, The Joy of Burnout and You Are What You Imagine: Three Steps to a New Beginning Using Imagework and an international trainer, coach, speaker and psychotherapist. For over thirty years, she has been a pioneer in creating, teaching, and practicing the use of Imagework, the groundbreaking process that harnesses the imagination to guide our lives and create positive life choices and profound life changes. She is launching her unmissable memoir, Into the Woods and Out Again: A memoir of love, madness and transformation (Sphinx, 2018) in June 2018. To find out more about Dina Glouberman's approach and her books and courses, and to get free downloads, visit her website, www.dinaglouberman.com What people say about Dina Glouberman:  Dina Glouberman is wise and witty and an inspirational teacher. Sue Townsend Dina Glouberman is a home-maker of the spirit. Margaret Drabble When I did your course in Skyros in 1994, I nicknamed you the Yehudi Menuhin of therapy, and your work reminded me of a fabulous painting with a lot of fine brushstrokes. Now I feel you are actually the art gallery itself. Vivienne

Massage, Reflexology Aromatherapy Massage - This course explores the ancient healing arts of aromatherapy and massage, related to how they promote health, well-being and relaxation.  Through the application of essential plant extracts, combined with a wide variety of relaxing massage techniques, we will create a truly sumptuous and blissful experience, and gain not just a skill, but a gift to share.  Reflexology & Foot Massage - Dating back Millenia, reflexology is a healing system based on the theory of reflex points in the feet which link to all areas of the body.  Treatment has proven numerous health benefits and promotes wellness on many levels, especially preventative.  In conjunction with a soothing foot massage, a session is profoundly relaxing and rejuvenating, both to give and receive.

Virginia Evangelou Virginia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with over 35 years in the health, wellness and beauty industry, in England, Canada, Thailand and Greece.   A certified teacher and practitioner of complementary therapies and Reiki Master, she has created, taught and examined courses for private schools, worked in upscale spas and private practice, provided consultancy services, and been published in the U.K and U.S.   Currently employed by the City of Toronto in the Long Term Care division, she provides complementary therapies as part of a multidisciplinary health care team, and sits on several health, wellness and palliative care committees.   Virginia has been both a facilitator and resident therapist with Skyros, and returns this summer for her 17th year.

Writing from Life Writing from Life Using meditations, handouts and exercises, you will be prompted to reflect on aspects of your life and write about and share these insights. Please bring notebooks, sketchbooks, photos and ideas. This is a course designed to provoke the unconscious and to delve into long-term patterns. We will look at the different forms of life writing and how to play with and adapt true stories into fiction or poetry.

Monique Roffey Monique Roffey is an award-winning Trinidadian-born writer. Her forthcoming novel The Tryst, will be published in the summer of 2017. Her novel House of Ashes, 2014, was shortlisted for the COSTA Fiction Award, 2014, as well as the OCM BOCAS Award 2015. Archipelago won the OCM BOCAS Award for Caribbean Literature in 2013 and was shortlisted for the Orion Award 2014.  In 2010, her novel The White Woman on the Green Bicycle was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and the Encore Award. Her erotic memoir With the Kisses of his Mouth caused controversy and critical acclaim in 2011. She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and also a writer in residence at a school in London for First Story.

Yoga for Every Body Whatever shape you are in. Wherever you are in your life right now... Yoga will accept you exactly as you are. Marina's yoga course welcomes everyone; whether you are a total beginner or experienced yogi. The focus will be on finding simple ways to incorporate physical practise and yoga philosophy into everyday life and feel supported happy and healthy. This experienced and sensitive teacher will guide you to greater clarity in asana, pranayama and meditation and a more intimate relationship with your body and a more unified self. Yoga with Marina runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa. Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Marina Sossi Marina Sossi is a qualified Yoga teacher, artist & international gypsy. She is dedicated to the creative, spiritual life of service; performing and teaching all over the world and generating transformative artworks and experiences for everyone. An established teacher with a unique style Marina communicates the ancient teachings of Yoga with her own creative flair; bodywork, breath, meditation & movement become an integrated weave of practices accessible to everyBODY. Marina is a holistic coach, socially engaged artist and creative facilitator, who has worked with health professionals, creatives & athletes as well as people coping with learning difficulties, mental illness, addictions & imprisonment. Marina trained for 3 years with the British Wheel of Yoga under the guidance of Derek Thorne, founder of Yoga Living following the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. Her studies include Theravada Buddhism, Relational Gestalt, Thai yoga massage and butoh dance. Yoga with Marina will help you become stronger and more flexible; creating a greater sense of harmony: physically, mentally and emotionally. Marina is keen to share practical tools and advice on how to easily incorporate Yoga into busy lifestyles.  “I believe Yoga is a discipline of awareness, leading to integration. Engaging in a more intimate relationship with the Self, we become empowered and are able to embrace positive change; breaking free from aspects that no longer serve us.”

• Greece - Skyros Centre SC5

  SAT 4 - FRI 17 AUG 2018

  £1,345.00

  Book

• Morning Yoga & Treatments

  Katrina Love Senn

  WL5: Shaping Your Story, Telling Your Story

  Graeme Simsion

  HW5: Choose Life at Any Risk, Free at Last

  Ari Badaines

  Paint What You Love

  Cate Whittemore

Morning Yoga & Treatments Skyros Centre course participants are welcome to attend a gentle pre-breakfast yoga class in the mornings. This class is a great way to start the day. Wear loose comfortable clothing.  Katrina Love Senn teaches Healing Hatha Yoga which is her own signature blend of yoga, breathing, stretching, visualisation, intention and personal enquiry. It helps students to strengthen their body-mind connection, activating richer levels of creativity and spirituality. Katrina's classes draw on her extensive experience teaching at international healing retreat centres around the world. She infuses her yoga classes with kindness, compassion and a sense of play. Her classes are suitable for students of all levels including beginners. For Katrina, yoga is a powerful tool for total transformation. Through the practice of yoga, you give yourself a gift; a safe space to look within, gaining new insights and using these as a chance to see all the answers that reside inside of you. Being on the mat, is a way that you can heal, build strength and find the courage to take a powerful step forward in your life. Yoga can help to transform and shift any area of your life including your health, your career, and even your relationship to self and others. It can help you to get clear on your old stories, default habits, limitations and fears so that you can move beyond them if you choose to.  Yoga gives you a platform to find your edge and play with it, so that you can go beyond that which you thought was even possible, and create a body and life that you dream of!

Katrina Love Senn Katrina Love Senn is an international yoga teacher, healer and author of the ground breaking book 'Losing Weight is a Healing Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Losing Weight Naturally'. On her healing journey, she lost over 60 pounds for good as well as healed a number of chronic health conditions, including asthma, eczema and adrenal exhaustion, with no diets, drugs or deprivation. She is a natural intuitive and has a fun, warm and heart-centred approach to living and life. She infuses her gentle yoga classes with inspiration, love, kindness and encouragement. Based at The Skyros Centre throughout the season, Katrina is excited to offer massage treatments, along with her signature Break-through Healing Sessions. Her massage treatments and healing sessions are based upon how she healed and transformed her own life using a range of gentle healing tools.

WL5: Shaping Your Story, Telling Your Story Week 1: Shaping your Story This week, we focus on story structure, often the biggest challenge in writing a novel, memoir or screenplay. Do it well, and you have a solid foundation for writing. Without it, you may find yourself a third of the way through wondering ‘is this going anywhere?’. As may the reader! Graeme is a screenwriter as well as a novelist, and screenwriters are structure nuts – so we’ll go there too. You’ll find it useful across all forms of narrative writing. Subject to what the group wants to do and learn, we’ll look at: How a story is structured —acts, scenes, sequences More story elements: dramatic question, turning points, subplots Classic story templates – three acts; hero’s journey, modern variations. Characters and character. Creating your story – top-down and bottom-up How screenwriters do it – ‘doing the cards’ There will be plenty of opportunity to apply these techniques to your own projects – so please come with at least one idea of something you’d like to write or further develop.   Week 2: Telling your Story This week, we work on the second part of ‘a good story, well told’. Subject to what the group wants to do and learn, we’ll look at: ‘Show not tell’ – how that actually works Voice and point of view Bringing characters to life Keeping the reader interested Making it funny, thrilling, moving Themes and meaning: making your point without losing the reader Getting from scene to scene, chapter to chapter Writing convincing (and readable) dialogue Re-writing – getting the most from the editing process A bit about getting published There will be a lot of sharing / workshopping of writing, so bring along ideas of what you’d like to write, and perhaps something you’ve written and would like to improve.

Graeme Simsion Dr Graeme Simsion is a former business and IT consultant, CEO, and occasional researcher who decided at the age of fifty that he wanted to be a screenwriter. Five years of study and a dozen short films and plays later, he had a feature-film screenplay but no producer. So he went back to school—again—and re-wrote it as a novel. The Rosie Project has sold over 3.5 million copies in forty languages and Graeme’s screenplay is in development with Sony pictures. A sequel—The Rosie Effect—is also a bestseller, as are The Best of Adam Sharp (Optioned to Toni Collette at Vocab Films) and Two Steps Forward (optioned to Fox Searchlight with Ellen De Generis to produce) the latter written with his wife, Anne Buist. Graeme is an experienced teacher and workshop facilitator. When he’s not doing book tours or walking the Camino de Santiago, he lives in Melbourne, Australia.

HW5: Choose Life at Any Risk, Free at Last Week One - Choose Life at Any Risk: a group experience facilitated by Ari Badaines Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist STUCK!  Overcoming stuckness, whether in intimate relationships, friendships, career choices etc. which contributes to low self-esteem and a stagnating life, eventually requires entering your ‘Danger Zones’ – the areas you normally avoid because they are perceived as too risky and experienced with anxiety. This workshop focuses on what fears/anxieties, avoidances, procrastinations, painful memories, past failures etc. that hold you in your comfort zone – where life is safe, but unchallenging and boring, without deep satisfaction. In the group, you may choose to risk taking a small step or a giant leap into your danger zones – with probable outcome that life becomes more exciting and you feel more alive. After building trust and safety in the group, Ari provides structures and techniques that serve to heighten awareness and challenge your stuckness. Specifically, using a range of techniques, some centered on action and doing, you may learn to: Become more aware of how you prevent your own success and contentment.  Do what you normally will not do, so that you experience a better outcome. (‘If you always do what you always do, you’ll always get what you always get’.) Be a more honest and integrated self and thereby enjoy the benefit of a deeper connection to yourself and others in the group, and ultimately those who matter most to you. Feel and express emotions (from grief to joy) that have been shut away so as to live fully in the moment, and know the joy of being fully alive and in touch with your own humanity. Week Two - Free at Last: a group experience facilitated by Ari Badaines Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist Ari was considering the nature of his work with groups and Martin Luther King’s famous ‘Free at Last' speech came to his mind.  Ari endeavours to help people free themselves from those thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that plague them throughout their lives and hold them back from living a life truer in meaning, satisfaction, and becoming more open to joyous experiences than what they normally allow. You may be familiar with out-dated voices that tell you, ‘No, you can’t do that!’  ‘Who would want you?’ ‘That is too hard for you to do … you won’t succeed.’  The outcome is that they are ‘stoppers’ and we end up not risking doing what would bring deeper​ life satisfactions.​ How does attending this kind of group help? ​You will have the opportunity to challenge these beliefs; it might come in the form of expressing those fears and discovering that other group members don’t perceive you in the same way that you have imagined You may challenge yourself to do what you normally won’t do such as risking being more open to and with others, and experiencing the positive outcomes of such a change.   You may decide to do some work on these issues where you examine the roots of your thoughts and self-perceptions, and with the support of others, discover a more refreshed and refreshing you and experiment with more effective and satisfying ways of being who you really are.  You may find solutions through identifying with other people’s issues and their resolutions.  In truth, though, it is very hard to put words ​to what for many is a powerful experience which leads to significant change (internal and external). You have to be there to experience it to get the full flavor. People are very practiced at imagining how others perceive us, but these conclusions are too often based on our fears and self-image rather than a more realistic appraisal.  An important element in this group is getting clearer feedback on how we actually are experienced by different people (each, of course may see different facets of you), and for you to give useful feedback to others.  A powerful healing aspect happens when we see that our own negating, self-doubting anxieties are not shared by others and they, in contrast, often have a more enhanced view of us.​ What does Ari do? Ari knows that no group will progress very far if there is not a core level of trust and safety, both in the therapist and other group members, and so in the beginning this is the early focus.  As the group progresses, he listens and watches very carefully for ways to intervene that will help you to free yourself from some of the above-mentioned beliefs and distortions that hold you back. His interventions may come in the form of feedback, suggestions, and empowering you to face and challenge your vulnerable spots – to help to free you from that which holds and drags you back.  The essence of the work, though, is to help you to first discover and then integrate through being and doing, a truer, more acceptable and loved self.  Can you believe that someone will love you so much that they will never leave you? Will you value yourself that much and risk loving a friend/family member/ intimate to the same level? About Ari Ari is a very experienced (probably has by now led over 1,000 groups in over 30 countries) group therapist who is encouraging, supportive, and caring, and also challenging when therapeutically beneficial.  He draws on a range of methods and tools to deepen emotional power and increase the effectiveness of your participation. It is also always your choice as to your level of participation and you are never pressured into anything that you clearly do not want to do. His core philosophy is that we can be different when we begin to perceive ourselves differently and integrate that new view into our way of being and living.

Ari Badaines Ari is a powerful group therapist who is encouraging, supportive, caring and, when necessary, challenging. He strongly believes that it is always your choice as to your level of participation and you can choose to stop your involvement at any time, though it is rare in his groups that anyone takes that option, probably because of the sense of safety, care and support from the group and Ari. Ari has led groups and trainings in over 30 countries, thirty-three years at Skyros and Atsitsa, and has been on the faculty of group training centres in London, Melbourne, and Sydney. He also facilitates training workshops in group therapy for professionals. What people say about Ari and his courses: Ari’s course pushed me further than I’ve been in years of individual psychotherapy. The power of the group was transformational. Ari is a gifted therapist. He takes his work very seriously and has a wonderful ability to bring out the best in people. Ari’s course was superb - extremely competent teacher and full of charm. I found the course extremely effective. Ari is a caring, creative and fun teacher. the group was small and really dynamic and supportive. Visit his website here: http://abadaines.wixsite.com/psychologist-sydney​

Paint What You Love A unique series of liberating watercolor explorations, luxuriating in the materials, finding the beauty in mistakes, tuning-in to inner awareness, develop a positive relationship to our creative selves. Making experiments, and intuitive acts, enrich and inform our understanding of what painting can be. Cate will offer color exploration suggestions, color mixing demonstrations, and invitations to play with color and form, a few traditional techniques to create depth, and effects of light and shadow on forms. Her goal is to share how painting can be a solace, immersed in the light of Skyros. Through experiments, and detachment from results, one can find connection to one's subtler self. Painting offers a way to shift one's frequency, and to connect to the flow. Color and visual stimuli bypass intellect, thereby transcending separation. Paintings are a way to bring one's spirit to earth, via the matter of paint. All levels welcomed and supported, this is a non-progressive series, which can accommodate drop-ins.

Cate Whittemore A professional set painter, realizing backdrops for myriad Broadway productions,  movies, and TV, Catherine has a familiarity with many materials and styles, which fluency informs and inspires her work and her teaching.  Her works embody both classical and contemporary technique, figurative and non-objective imagery.  She loves to find metaphysical meaning in viewing and making visual art. She facilitates creative watercolor courses privately and @ skyros.com. 2014  Botanical Illustration Certificate  Margaret Mee Foundation 2000  Master’s Degree in Drawing & Painting/ U of MN 1982  International Alliance of Stage Employees Membership  1977-79 Apprentice & Teaching Assistant @ The Studio and Forum of Stage Design / NYC 1975  Studio Arts Bachelors Degree / Connecticut College Her work has been collected and exhibited internationally. She has been honored by the support of  numerous artist residencies, including @ La Scuola Di Grafica in Venice, Italy, and The Athens School of Fine Arts in Hydra, Greece. In 2011, she was honored to design a poster for the World PeaceKalachakra of the Dalai Lama in Washington DC.  She is a registered Golden Art Company Artist Educator.   In 2017 she is curating an unusual exhibit at The Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, of the sometimes unlikely processes which important inventions and works of art come into being, entitled “THERE IS A LADDER”.

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT5

  SAT 4 - FRI 17 AUG 2018

  £1,345.00

  Book

• Unity Yoga

  Sevanti

  Watercolour Painting

  Michael Gahagan

  Joyful Choir, Wild Swimming

  Susie Self

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Trapeze

  Deborah Sanderson

  Passionate Living

  Malcolm Stern

  5-Rhythms, Meditation

  Jo Hardy

  The Stories of Your Life

  Alison Habens

Unity Yoga Sevanti's teaching style is flowing and meditative, inspired by many years as a Contemporary Dancer. She shares her love of yoga at a slow pace, integrating organic and natural movement with some stronger, more dynamic expressions. Breathwork is always an integral part of her sessions, which usually end with a deep Yoga Nidra relaxation. Sevanti is passionate about ensuring the accessibility to yoga for all, by offering various modifications, props and adjustments to allow each practitioner to feel supported and relaxed enough to discover freedom and ease within the body. Sevanti also teaches children regularly and loves to work with families. She often introduces Unity Partner Yoga into her sessions, to help deepen the postures and to feel extra support. Sevanti also likes to integrate various styles of massage and healing into her sessions too, to feel further nourished and cared for. All levels of experience and ability are welcomed.

Sevanti Sevanti has been teaching Yoga since 1996, running Retreats since 1998 and established her Yoga Teacher Training programme in 2002. This training runs annually, as does her Holistic Massage Diploma and various Post Graduate Diplomas in Yoga, Reiki and Unity Partner Yoga (which she created in 2002). She has a well established studio in Brighton and is about to open 'The Brighton Centre' in Lewes, East Sussex. Sevanti taught annually for Skyros (often directing) for 10 years previously and is very much looking forward to returning!

Watercolour Painting Painting with watercolour, and sketching will be a main focus of the course. Michael will be helping participants to practise and master watercolour techniques, which will include exploring the creative opportunities that watercolour painting offers the beginner and improver ...trying new techniques, combining water based mediums such as gouache and acrylic and using complementary medium such as pastels. Through sketching this will give participants the chance to see and observe, practise techniques, and start paintings with a preliminary drawing. Skyros is an artists paradise to work in given the light, whitewashed village, colourful flora, and panoramic views of turquoise seas and distant mountains. Michael is passionate about helping individuals develop their artistic skills at their own pace in a supportive and fun environment.

Michael Gahagan Michael is an accomplished artist who paints with various medium particularly watercolour, pastels and acrylics. His subject matter for his paintings is wide and varied including landscapes, seascapes and wildlife. Much of his artistic inspiration comes from his overseas tutoring sessions in Europe including Greece, Spain and Italy. Painting and sketching the dramatic landscapes, seascapes and village life  of  the beautiful Greek Island of Skyros is an artist’s dream. In addition to his artistic background, Michael is also a qualified business and life coach and is passionate about supporting participants to explore their creativity through various approaches that encourage participants to develop artistic skills at their own pace. Above all Michael is keen that participants enjoy their holiday and that their painting experience is engaging, relaxing, enjoyable and fun! Michael’s painting style varies according to his subject matter. He strives to obtain a vibrancy of colour in his landscape paintings using a loose expressive approach; however he is also able to turn his artistic repertoire to detail and precision in his popular wildlife, animal paintings and portraits. His animal illustrations have appeared in numerous articles and books and samples of his artwork can be seen in his web site www.ionaart.com . Michael gives participants the confidence to “have a go” or “brush up” on their existing artistic skills and his course is ideally suited to beginners as well as those with some experience. Participants can enjoy first class art tuition and demonstrations which are integral to them having a memorable and enjoyable holiday.  Michael also hopes that participants return home from a great holiday with a renewed enthusiasm for painting and drawing!

Joyful Choir, Wild Swimming Joyful Choir A chance to sing heartily in an upbeat choir. Music ranges from Susie’s own joyful music with “beat” backing tracks to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah to Mozart. This is a great activity for freeing your soul’s voice, connecting with others and filling you with wellbeing. No pervious singing experience is needed. The choir regularly sings in the sea and creates exciting flash mob events. Wild Swimming A stunning active daily meditation, swimming in a group at a steady pace. The sea at Atsitsa is warm and especially buoyant. Every day we will set out on a new adventure to magical destinations such as an island or under the cliffs. Susie incorporates her Subtle Sound Immersions to heighten the experience.

Susie Self Susie Self ARCM MPhil Cantab is an International singer/composer. She has composed 4 symphonies 3 operas and 6 albums. She has just won a STEAM scholarship to read for a PhD in composition at Birmingham University. Susie has sung solo in the West End and for the opera houses of Lyon, Luxembourg, Salzburg, Strasbourg, Antwerp and The Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Trapeze Deborah will enable you to learn some simple but beautiful trapeze moves tailored to individuals. Participants will be assisted to structure the moves into a simple routine. There will be an opportunity to try some partner work as well as solo static trapeze. It is challenging and fun. You will delight in your success and that of the rest of the group. The course is suitable for children and adults. The course is fine for absolute beginners but best suited to people with a basic level of fitness. However there will be an opportunity to have a go during a one off session which will cater for everybody.  The course will start with a warm up, then we will do some lovely trapeze moves followed by a lovely cool down.

Deborah Sanderson Deborah has worked as a professional actress, director, and aerialist for 25 years. She has performed in both traditional and contemporary circus from Bosnia to the Caribbean. She runs a company that puts extraordinary performers into corporate events, Urban Angels Circus http://urbanangelscircus.com/ She is passionate about outdoor theatre, trapeze and other aerial skills. With a desire to create her own work which combines theatricality and aerial skills lead to the formation of Urban Angels in 2010, Urban Angels http://urbanangelsaerial.com/ which combines concept, theme or narrative with physically challenging work in the air. This work is interested in “What makes people tick”. She also does a great deal of community and educational work through this new organisation. Deborah is focusing on collaborating with other artists and creating work (whether in scale, it is intimate or epic) that relates to the space for which it is created. She used the opportunity to study at Masters level to create solo site specific pieces, Wing & a Prayer and Mariners Journey and a research project supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council to look at performer/festival goer relationships at contemporary music festivals in Europe. She also provides rigging advice and tuition to other companies such as Phoenix Dance Theatres aerial dance piece, Melt.

Passionate Living As children we marvel at the world around us, longing to be grown up and able to taste many gifts in life. Somehow as adults we have learned to shut down and avoid our pain and struggle. Unfortunately and unknowingly, we also close down our passion and joy. This workshop is designed to reawaken our appetite for the richness of life. Using a blend of psychotherapy, sensual techniques, dance, small group exercises, laughter and communication, we will explore and embrace our passionate selves.

Malcolm Stern Malcolm Stern has worked as a group and individual psychotherapist for more than 20 years. He was a co-founder and is Co-Director of Alternatives at St James’s Church in London and runs groups internationally. He is the author of Falling in Love / Staying in Love (Piatkus 2004) and was co-presenter of Channel 4's relationship series 'Made for Each Other' in 2003 and 2004 and sailed on the 'Rainbow Warrior' with Greenpeace in the 1980s. Visit his website here: malcolmstern.com

5-Rhythms, Meditation 5-Rhythms Dance We are all born with the freedom to dance, but for many of us this freedom is buried under the demands of everyday life. 5 Rhythms dance is both a simple and profound medicine that gets us out of our heads and into our body and feet, offering a pathway to deeper self-awareness, acceptance, healing, creativity, sensuality, playfulness, openness and reconnection to our self and to each other. During this course we will learn to listen to trust and love our body more fully, surrendering bit by bit to its unique dance. We will discover our body loves to dance and most probably find ourselves making moves we never knew we could make. Through the dance we release patterns and learn to transform undigested emotions into creative lighter energy. There will be space for sharing experiences, massage, writing, meditations, visualization, and laughter. A great sense of support and connection opens as we witness, and are touched by each other. What you bring will also weave with our journey and there may be time for some individual attention. No previous dance experience is required. Drop-In Courses and Activities 5 Rhythms Community Dance: a drop-in 5 Rhythms session has more of a focus on fun and play. It is a very community-building event and can have any number of themes depending on the needs at the time. e.g. it can be high energy and full on fun, or relaxing gentle and integrating. DJing that can get everyone boogying together.  Morning Movement and Meditation: We will greet the day by welcoming our body, breath and feelings with a period of dance movement followed by a guided mindfulness meditation. We will emerge refreshed and ready for the day! Mindfulness meditation is increasingly popular and especially good for stress reduction and helping you to relax more deeply into your body.

Jo Hardy Jo is an accredited 5 Rhythms teacher offering classes, workshops and intensives in UK Internationally. As a staff member of the School of Movement Medicine she provides in-depth embodied Life Coaching to students. For 25 years she was a psychotherapist, supervisor, group facilitator and trainer in a process oriented, mindfulness based approach. Jo is known to teach with a grounded gentle clarity, good down to earth humour, heart inspiring music and an ability to invite a fine balance of safety and permissive freedom.

The Stories of Your Life Always wanted to write your life story but didn’t know where to start? This course will lead you in a series of fun and interesting life-writing tasks. From your earliest memories, those tales of your school days and siblings, pets and pursuits, through the rites of passage, work and marriage: you will be able to tell about the triumphs and the tragedies on your personal timeline, and see the whole story laid out as a screenwriter might plot the film or a novelist plan the book.  All the sights, sounds and smells of your childhood will be conjured up, while you play with the characters of your real-life friends or foes, and practise technical skills around writing in past and present tense, first or third person. Working in prose, poetry or script, whichever you prefer, we’ll even explore where you got your name from, and experiment with ideas that may have come from dreams. As well as meeting the muse of ancient Greece, our discussions will include possible avenues of publication and routes to readership, and Alison will be able to offer individual advice on your writing during the course. This creative writing class is likely to touch on memories which may be painful: you won’t have to read aloud unless you are happy to. The activities are designed to be comfortable and enjoyable, and will allow you to produce first drafts of short stories, articles, poems or scripts; with the potential to develop a full-length memoir or semi-autobiographical novel based on the story of your life (so far).

Alison Habens Alison Habens is the author of Dreamhouse, a 1990s cult novel based on Alice in Wonderland, which had its ‘coming of age’, a 21st birthday, with Lewis Carroll’s 150th anniversary in 2015. But Alison has written pretty much every day since it was first published, with two further novels, Lifestory and Family Outing in print, and lots of short stories, articles, poems and plays to see on www.alisonhabens.com. Her new novels are a quirky retelling of the St Veronica myth, The True Picture; and a postmodern rom-com, Pencilwood. (Visit www.thetruepicture.co.uk and www.pencilwood.com to find out where she got the ideas from…) Alison is course leader for Creative Writing at the University of Portsmouth, and has a PhD on the subject of ‘divine inspiration’ in literature. She runs a research project called ‘Ink:Well’ – Life-writing for Wellbeing. She lives in an old church on the Isle of Wight, with husband and three children/young adults, and commutes to work by hovercraft.

• Greece - Skyros Centre SC6

  SAT 18 - FRI 31 AUG 2018

  £1,295.00

  Book

• Morning Yoga & Treatments

  Katrina Love Senn

  WL6: Starting Your Novel, Completing Your Novel

  Marina Lewycka

  HW6: Discover Your Life-Calling, Transform Your Life

  Julian Russell

  Your Colour Personality

  Theresa Sundt

Morning Yoga & Treatments Skyros Centre course participants are welcome to attend a gentle pre-breakfast yoga class in the mornings. This class is a great way to start the day. Wear loose comfortable clothing.  Katrina Love Senn teaches Healing Hatha Yoga which is her own signature blend of yoga, breathing, stretching, visualisation, intention and personal enquiry. It helps students to strengthen their body-mind connection, activating richer levels of creativity and spirituality. Katrina's classes draw on her extensive experience teaching at international healing retreat centres around the world. She infuses her yoga classes with kindness, compassion and a sense of play. Her classes are suitable for students of all levels including beginners. For Katrina, yoga is a powerful tool for total transformation. Through the practice of yoga, you give yourself a gift; a safe space to look within, gaining new insights and using these as a chance to see all the answers that reside inside of you. Being on the mat, is a way that you can heal, build strength and find the courage to take a powerful step forward in your life. Yoga can help to transform and shift any area of your life including your health, your career, and even your relationship to self and others. It can help you to get clear on your old stories, default habits, limitations and fears so that you can move beyond them if you choose to.  Yoga gives you a platform to find your edge and play with it, so that you can go beyond that which you thought was even possible, and create a body and life that you dream of!

Katrina Love Senn Katrina Love Senn is an international yoga teacher, healer and author of the ground breaking book 'Losing Weight is a Healing Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Losing Weight Naturally'. On her healing journey, she lost over 60 pounds for good as well as healed a number of chronic health conditions, including asthma, eczema and adrenal exhaustion, with no diets, drugs or deprivation. She is a natural intuitive and has a fun, warm and heart-centred approach to living and life. She infuses her gentle yoga classes with inspiration, love, kindness and encouragement. Based at The Skyros Centre throughout the season, Katrina is excited to offer massage treatments, along with her signature Break-through Healing Sessions. Her massage treatments and healing sessions are based upon how she healed and transformed her own life using a range of gentle healing tools.

WL6: Starting Your Novel, Completing Your Novel 1) Starting your novel You’ve always wanted to write a novel. Maybe you’ve already started. This short course looks at decisions you need to make in the early stages of writing a novel, such as choosing a genre, and choosing the best narrative voice for your book. What do we mean by ‘point of view’ and why is it important in fiction? Then you will need to decide which tense or tenses to use and how to switch between them. Will you have a plot, and if so, how can you make it better? We will look at plot and story structure, Where will your story be set? How to take your readers to your chosen location, and make them want to stay there – well, maybe. Last but not least, you need an interesting line-up of characters. How will you build them and bring them to life? What makes us believe in them and identify with them? With all these decisions in place, we will finally look at crafting the all-important the opening paragraph. Each morning, the session will open with a ‘nuts and bolts’ presentation, allow a creative interlude in which you can work on stimulating exercises, which will hopefully bring to the surface germs of ideas you can later use when you start writing in earnest. Finally we will reconvene to share and discuss what you have written, and help each other to learn how we can improve.   2) Completing your novel Writing a novel is not as easy as it seems. There will be setbacks along the way.  In this short course we will look how to improve your writing habits and how to develop confidence in your writing. We will look at how you can sharpen up your writing style, and make your dialogue sparkle. By now, your characters may have developed minds of their own, and may refuse to go along with the plot line you have laid out for them. Do you need to bring them into line? How do you draw the various threads of your story towards a close? What makes a good ending, that will make a reader come back for your next book? In writing fiction, as in everything else in life, there are dos and don’ts based on custom, fashion, reader’s expectation. These are often obscure and not stated explicitly. It is often hard for a novice writer to know how your book is going to compete in that vast literary marketplace. So in the final session we will also discuss pitching and publication, and different strategies for getting your work out there, and we will allow time for your questions and reflections.

Marina Lewycka Marina Lewycka was born of Ukrainian parents in a refugee camp in Kiel, Germany, in 1946, grew up in England, and now lives in Sheffield, Yorkshire. She was an avid scribbler from childhood, but had to wait until March 2005 when she was 57 years old, for the publication of her first novel, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian. It was short-listed for the Orange Prize, long-listed for the Booker prize, and won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for comic fiction, and the Saga award for wit, and went on to sell more than a million copies.  This was followed by Two Caravans in 2007, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize, We Are All Made of Glue in 2009 and Various Pets Alive and Dead in 2012, and the Lubetkin Legacy in 2015, which was also shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize. She has also written newspaper articles and contributed a number of short stories to anthologies. She was Writer in Residence at Nanyang Technological University in 2017, where she also taught a course in creative writing, and she is currently working on her sixth novel.

HW6: Discover Your Life-Calling, Transform Your Life Week One - Discover Your Life-Calling Find the difference you make in the world “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life…have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Speech Do you long to wake up with a sense of purpose and passion, a clear idea of your strengths and talents and the knowledge of how to put them to the best use? When you ‘Discover Your Life-Calling’, this is precisely what happens. Suddenly, you can begin every day with a clear vision and sense of inner-knowing of who you are and what has deepest meaning for you. You can engage more often with the fun, creative, playful aspects of you which ignite your passion and inspire your soul. Everyone has a Life-Calling and everyone can discover theirs. It will most likely be the thing you are doing already without even thinking about it – the part of you that is so instinctual, so ‘you’ that you barely notice it is there. But when you discover it, when you have clarity about what it is, it can change your life. Discovering your Life-Calling allows you to see yourself in a positive light. Allows the potential of what you can use your strengths and talents for to open out, feel closer, more possible. It helps bring the you that is great to life. Week Two - Transform Your Life In week two we learn how to transform our lives. Paying attention to what is great about you puts your foot on the accelerator of your life. But you also need to take your foot off the brake. Personal transformation involves both.  We will nourish our dreams, our strengths and what is great about ourselves; we will mobilise our psychological resources and see ourselves in a new light. We will also look at what holds us back – our “foot on the brake”. This can include a feeling that we can’t make it happen, lack of self-belief and self-confidence, feeling that we may fail or are unlovable, and fear or other emotions that get in our way. The key is to bring understanding, acceptance and loving kindness to our difficulties so they start to transform. Transformation has three goals: to increase your happiness, success and celebration of life, to heal personal history that gets in the way of living life fully, and to allow ourselves to be nourished be the beauty of life itself. During this week we will draw out what is best in you. We will learn how to heal whatever stops you from moving forward in your life.  Finally, we will help you work out how to have more of what you love in your life after you have gone home from Skyros. We will use group meditations, body-mind exercises and sharing to support the unfolding personal and group potential. We will work with our own personal experience and also with how this reflects the collective experience of being human. In facing our own personal challenges, we act as a representative for all of humanity in facing these challenges – by facing our own difficulties we are pioneers for evolving humanity.

Julian Russell Julian’s passion is helping people make the most of their lives. He has been on his own path of personal exploration for 40 years and leading others on theirs since the 1980s with the Life Talent integrative approach to human development. Today he offers open workshops, on-going groups, and he is an executive coach to leaders in global organizations in Europe, the USA and China. He helped to introduce NLP into the UK and is co-author, with Robert Dilts and Anne Deering, of the book Alpha Leadership – Tools for Business Leaders Who Want More Out of Life (Wiley and Co, 2002). He is a regular speaker at the annual NLP Conference and at Alternatives, Piccadilly. He has run coaching master classes for the Academy of Executive Coaching and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). He is also a former trustee of Re-Vision, a Psychosynthesis training charity; has been a UKCP registered psychotherapist; and is a former board member of the UK Association for NLP (ANLP). He holds a 2nd dan black-belt in Aikido, regularly dances 5 Rhythms and has been a close disciple of a great Buddhist master for over 20 years. Visit his personal development website at  www.LifeTalent.com  and his executive coaching website at www.ppdconsulting.com

Your Colour Personality Do you ever wonder why you behave in a certain way and why others behave in a certain way too? The colour of your personality, which is defined by your date of birth, directly affects your achievements and challenges. By understanding yourself and others from a colour perspective you can enhance your relationships and your life! The Colour Lady herself, aka Theresa Sundt, will be revealing to you this life changing knowledge with much grace, inspiration and little touches of art. Be prepared for the Aha! moment which will bring more harmony in your lives. What colour are YOU?

Theresa Sundt Theresa Sundt is a professional artist and a certified colour therapist. Painting, weaving and collage record Theresa’s journey through this colourful world.   Theresa is an authority on Colour Light Therapy, is a consultant for Bioptron Colour Light Therapy devices and the author of three books The Art of Colour Therapy, Know you Colour Personality and 20 Tried and Trusted Colour Light Treatments.

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT6

  SAT 18 - FRI 31 AUG 2018

  £1,295.00

  Book

• Yoga with Awareness

  Ken Eyerman

  Collaborative Painting

  Cate Whittemore

  The Joy of Singing

  Sarah Warwick

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Performance Art

  Richard Layzell

  Family Constellations, Cuban Salsa

  John Harris

  Explore Aerial Cocoon

  Zoë Cobb

  The Core of Good Fiction Writing

  Lisa O'Donnell

Yoga with Awareness In a focused and yet playful way, experience how Ken integrates Yoga with Feldenkrais. These yoga classes and moving meditation sessions are suitable for all levels, including complete beginners and those who have injuries or are restricted in their movement. The intuitive and spontaneous hands-on approach emphasizes the benefits of using your breath and developing an awareness of your inner process. Holiday participants will learn to use their bodies with intelligence, awareness and efficiency. 'The Eyerman Technique' will ease you into new postures while encouraging you to explore movement in a way that is both developmental and restorative. Ken seeks to work with you, by developing core movement, and helping you tune into the constant flow of life energy essential to maintaining health and clarity of mind. Ken's yoga courses in Atsitsa are included as 'One of the 5 Best Yoga Holidays' on the Healthista website and listed as the 'Best holiday for those with injuries', describing the yoga as 'great for people who want a slower pace, including complete beginners and those who have injuries or are restricted in their movement.' Yoga with Ken runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa.  Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Ken Eyerman With over thirty five years experience, Ken is an American who has worked as a movement therapist, having studied dance and psychology. Previously he worked at the London Contemporary Dance School as bodyworker in residence. Ken is trained in The Feldenkrais Method, Awareness Through Movement and has a busy private practice at Natureworks/ Danceworks in London. As well as regular yoga workshops, Ken offers his Yoga with Awareness holidays internationally and returns to Skyros for his 25th season! He is the author of an inspirational book, Massage and was named as one of the Londons top three masseurs by the Evening Standard. The Ken Eyerman School of Bodywork and Movement is affiliated to the Institute of Complementary Medicine. What people say about Ken and his courses: So, so good. Passionate and inspiring.  Yoga Superb, top class, EXCELLENT. I took Ken’s yoga. I found it superb. I do a lot of different bodywork and Ken’s approach is thoughtful, insightful, tailored to the group with attention to individuals, funny and inspiring. I’ll be using some of his techniques in my own work.

Collaborative Painting Landscape will offer experiments, demonstrations, and invitations to the group to play with color and form, become aware of inner and outer observations, immersed in the magnificent land, sea, and sky of SKYROS. A unique way to experience painting WITH the sea water, and dropped-in colors, allowing the water to become a co-creator. Situated at the water edge, sometimes even submerging the paper, we deepen into observation and process, and find communion with this unspoiled place. Explore and respond to the island’s power, make offerings, in watercolor paint, in earthworks, natural shrines, and other collaborative & private devotional acts. Cate will offer color exploration suggestions, color mixing demonstrations, and invitations to play with color and form, a few traditional techniques to create depth, and effects of light and shadow on forms. Her goal is to share how painting can be a solace, immersed in the light of Skyros. These experiments, and intuitive acts, can enrich and inform our understanding of what painting can be. Through experiments, and detachment from results, one finds connection to one's subtler self. Painting offers a way to shift one's frequency, and to connect to the flow. Color and visual stimuli bypass intellect, thereby transcending separation. Paintings are a way to bring one's spirit to earth, via the matter of paint. All levels welcomed and supported, this is a non-progressive series, which can accommodate drop-ins. Collaboration Co-create a large-scale artwork ~ a mural or a backdrop ~ using classical, hands-on, basic scenery-painting techniques, such as drawing while standing, with chalks attached to long poles, spattering, scumbling, and flogging (erasing) we will collaboratively develop an image, possibly in relation to a ‘show’. All levels welcomed and supported, this is a non-progressive series, which can accommodate drop-ins.

Cate Whittemore A professional set painter, realizing backdrops for myriad Broadway productions,  movies, and TV, Catherine has a familiarity with many materials and styles, which fluency informs and inspires her work and her teaching.  Her works embody both classical and contemporary technique, figurative and non-objective imagery.  She loves to find metaphysical meaning in viewing and making visual art. She facilitates creative watercolor courses privately and @ skyros.com. 2014  Botanical Illustration Certificate  Margaret Mee Foundation 2000  Master’s Degree in Drawing & Painting/ U of MN 1982  International Alliance of Stage Employees Membership  1977-79 Apprentice & Teaching Assistant @ The Studio and Forum of Stage Design / NYC 1975  Studio Arts Bachelors Degree / Connecticut College Her work has been collected and exhibited internationally. She has been honored by the support of  numerous artist residencies, including @ La Scuola Di Grafica in Venice, Italy, and The Athens School of Fine Arts in Hydra, Greece. In 2011, she was honored to design a poster for the World PeaceKalachakra of the Dalai Lama in Washington DC.  She is a registered Golden Art Company Artist Educator.   In 2017 she is curating an unusual exhibit at The Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, of the sometimes unlikely processes which important inventions and works of art come into being, entitled “THERE IS A LADDER”.

The Joy of Singing If you can talk, you can sing! Join this course, run by an exceptional singer with three number one dance hits in the UK, and experience the power of sound and song. Whether you are new to singing, or have some experience, this course will be an exciting journey of vocal discoveries. Using breath, movement, dance, song, improvisation, harmony, toning and more, you will be given the opportunity to sing and create. Free your voice, increase your confidence, enjoy self-expression, ignite your creativity and stimulate healing on all levels. No solo singing required unless desired! What people say about Sarah and her course: Sarah Warwick’s course ‘The Joy of Singing’ was inspirational. I didn’t realise singing could be so healing.  Excellent, exhilarating, energetic, enabling and a brilliant celebration of singing, harmony and group love. Sarah is outstanding - an incredible workshop. Powerful, fun, uplifting! Not what I expected at all but genuinely worthwhile. Sarah was amazing - as always I feel like I came back to myself.

Sarah Warwick Sarah Warwick is a singer, songwriter, teacher, conference energizer & corporate team-builder. She has had ten years of international success, mostly under the stage name Sarah Washington. She has had three top thirty hits in the UK charts and three number 1 dance hits. A highly experienced teacher, she trained with Chris James in the Art of Healing Sound. Sarah is passionate about helping others find their natural voice, and bring joy and healing through song. She facilitates courses in singing and songwriting, and the power of healing sound, and regularly teaches for Skyros. She also regularly runs singing and sound healing courses in China. She has been running her choir, The Singing Hearts, for the last eight years. She has recorded two CDs, one of her own songs Pure Love, and the second CD is of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, in which Sarah has created a haunting and beautiful musical interpretation of the Gibran timeless masterpiece.

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Performance Art Performance Art is for everyone, an adventure in time and space, a fantastical challenge, a chance to discover and celebrate our unique creative selves. In this four-day course we will explore together this special place where many different art forms meet: sculpture, voice, poetry, creative writing, movement, sound and costume, finding an area of interest that is both comfortable and exciting for each person. We can then become playful and mischievous within our chosen fields, collaborate and support each other. We will then be in a position to explore how we can relate to the many spectacular locations in and around Atsitsa and also think about our potential audiences. We will record these unique experiences, memories and achievements through video, photography and sound recording, to take home and treasure, undoubtedly surprising ourselves. Richard is internationally considered an innovator in Performance Art and has taught master classes in this field for many years, all over the world, from Beijing to Birmingham. He is known for his supportive and empowering style of teaching.

Richard Layzell Richard is an award-winning artist who exhibits and performs worldwide. His expertise includes performance art, photography, sculpture, film-making, design, drawing and creative writing. With over 20 years experience in group facilitation, Richard regularly runs workshops in creativity in the UK and internationally. He loves working with groups of all kinds – recent highlights include dancers in Taipei, taxi drivers in Shanghai, students in Prague, learning disabled people in Glasgow and nursery school children in Essex.  He has shown his work at Tate Britain and the South Bank Centre in London. In 2014 he co-directed and designed GLORY, a major commission for the Commonwealth Games at the Tramway in Glasgow. He lectures nationwide, leads a degree course at the University of the Arts in London and regularly works as a mentor to other artists. He has also worked as an artist in business, with the mission to bring more lightheartedness and community spirit to the workplace. He is known for his playful and irreverent sense of humour and for inspiring creative risk taking. He delights in supporting other people to (re)discover and develop their spontaneity and creativity.

Family Constellations, Cuban Salsa Family Constellations This relatively new and unique approach to personal growth looks at issues, challenges, and even aspirations, from a systemic perspective. Family Constellations are a way of representing and resolving personal and Family issues using a supportive group setting to create ‘Living Maps’. These are dynamic snapshots of the systems to which we belong using group members as ‘markers’. Importantly, they illuminate the relationships between the various elements within the system under consideration. From this perspective we are more able to see how things are or were, and to see clearly where we are systemically entangled with people and events, including those that belong to wider familial, historical and cultural contexts. Once a clear picture of systemic dynamics is achieved opportunities arise to restore order and balance with benefits to both the person presenting the issue and other members of their system. For more information visit www.livingmaps.co.uk. Cuban Salsa In this course you will master the basics of Cuban Rueda Salsa - the Cuban social dance. Students can expect to cover the basic steps and turns of Cuban style which transfer to Columbian, LA and Cross Body styles. The course is designed for beginners but refreshers and the more experienced are still welcome to join this fun and invigorating course. John has been teaching partner dances for 18 years and has a gift for teaching how to Salsa and Tango. He has led numerous dance based holidays to Cuba and Argentina and has taught in Spain, Egypt, USA, UK, Ireland and New Zealand. His highly accessible instruction style and natural enthusiasm both inspires and empowers dancers and non-dancers alike.

John Harris John Harris has taught a variety of subjects and held numerous roles for Skyros Holidays over the last 20 years. He has led over 18 Skyros in Cuba Holidays and facilitated Salsa and Tango classes at The Grange, Skyros Centre and Atsitsa. Over the last 12 years he has studied Family Constellations in the UK, Germany and the USA and has facilitated workshops in the UK and abroad since 2006. He is originally from New Zealand and currently resides in the UK with his wife Zoe and son Felix. What people say about John and his courses: John is an outstanding teacher. I came here useless at salsa and now feel confident to dance anywhere. The family constellation course was superb - John is a very talented and insightful facilitator.  Constellation work with John was an unexpected gem! I don’t have enough words to say how good it was.  John is a great salsa teacher and also a very safe, considerate and skilled facilitator in the family constellations sessions.  Family constellations and salsa was exceptional.

Explore Aerial Cocoon Aerial Cocoon Play Using aerial equipment with circus and yoga techniques, this class will be a light touch learning the basics to get up into the cocoon, and play with some moves. We will start always with aerial yoga conditioning and warm ups and progress into learning moves and building confidence being upside down and suspended.  With a focus on health and skills, this class is great for circulation, relaxation and elongation of the spine.  Explore Aerial Cocoon Using aerial equipment with circus and yoga techniques we will move through a progression of positions and sequences to build confidence, look great and have a lot of fun.  Starting with aerial yoga to warm up and build the co-ordination and strength required to move in 360 degrees.  We will move onto circus techniques to tailor make a routine for your abilities, so no mater what level you are at you will leave with a little sequence that you can show off.   It is a great class for beginners or those who want to get deeper into their skills. With a focus on health and skills, this class is great for circulation, relaxation and elongation of the spine. Children aged 11+ can experience Aerial Cocoon

Zoë Cobb Zoë is a movement practitioner with 15 years experience in circus and a life time of yoga.  She trained and performed with the Moscow State Circus and later at National Circus Space in London and has taught all over the world.  She has a playful technique that is available to all levels, bringing her knowledge of anatomy and body awareness to safely guide her students into new places and exploration.  She enjoys teaching and practicing currently in Milan.  To read more including a blog and performance videos, please go to her website: www.mindinmovement.co.uk

The Core of Good Fiction Writing Taught by award winning writer Lisa O'Donnell The Core of Good Fiction is a writing course suitable for beginners and those who wish to develop an existing novel idea. Over the course we will look at the importance of Character and Voice. How dialogue moves your fiction. The importance of Storytelling. We will look at how to write an Opening that hooks your reader. There will be workshops on how experience can shape your work, focusing on the art of description. We will also consider the choices we make as a writer when embarking on our stories. People write for all kinds of reasons, this course isn't just about getting published, it's about finding your authentic voice and giving you the writer the tool to tell the stories deep inside yourself and in a supportive and encouraging community. What people say about Lisa and her course: Really enjoyed writing. Lisa’s one-to-ones were over and above. Really appreciated. Writing teacher very generous and supportive to everyone. Writing with Lisa was wonderful. I discovered my writers voice in the writing course.

Lisa O'Donnell Lisa O'Donnell is an award winning author from Glasgow. She has written two books Closed Doors and The Death of Bees, which won The Commonwealth Book Prize in 2013 and an ALEX Award presented by The American Library Association in 2014. Lisa also writes screenplays and won The Orange Prize for New Screenwriters in 2000. She was also shortlisted for The Dennis Potter Award in the same year. Lisa graduated with an MLitt in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow and also teaches creative writing for Curtis Brown Creative and was a Visiting Lecturer at City London University. She is also a mentor on The Womentoring Project.

• Greece - Skyros Centre SC7

  SAT 1 - SAT 8 SEP 2018

  £725.00

  Book

• Morning Yoga & Treatments

  Katrina Love Senn

  WL7: Life Writing

  Nick Barlay

  HW7: Ignite Your Life and Rise Regardless

  Monique Hohnberg

  Playtime for Grownups

  Alison Goldie

Morning Yoga & Treatments Skyros Centre course participants are welcome to attend a gentle pre-breakfast yoga class in the mornings. This class is a great way to start the day. Wear loose comfortable clothing.  Katrina Love Senn teaches Healing Hatha Yoga which is her own signature blend of yoga, breathing, stretching, visualisation, intention and personal enquiry. It helps students to strengthen their body-mind connection, activating richer levels of creativity and spirituality. Katrina's classes draw on her extensive experience teaching at international healing retreat centres around the world. She infuses her yoga classes with kindness, compassion and a sense of play. Her classes are suitable for students of all levels including beginners. For Katrina, yoga is a powerful tool for total transformation. Through the practice of yoga, you give yourself a gift; a safe space to look within, gaining new insights and using these as a chance to see all the answers that reside inside of you. Being on the mat, is a way that you can heal, build strength and find the courage to take a powerful step forward in your life. Yoga can help to transform and shift any area of your life including your health, your career, and even your relationship to self and others. It can help you to get clear on your old stories, default habits, limitations and fears so that you can move beyond them if you choose to.  Yoga gives you a platform to find your edge and play with it, so that you can go beyond that which you thought was even possible, and create a body and life that you dream of!

Katrina Love Senn Katrina Love Senn is an international yoga teacher, healer and author of the ground breaking book 'Losing Weight is a Healing Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Losing Weight Naturally'. On her healing journey, she lost over 60 pounds for good as well as healed a number of chronic health conditions, including asthma, eczema and adrenal exhaustion, with no diets, drugs or deprivation. She is a natural intuitive and has a fun, warm and heart-centred approach to living and life. She infuses her gentle yoga classes with inspiration, love, kindness and encouragement. Based at The Skyros Centre throughout the season, Katrina is excited to offer massage treatments, along with her signature Break-through Healing Sessions. Her massage treatments and healing sessions are based upon how she healed and transformed her own life using a range of gentle healing tools.

WL7: Life Writing During the course, we will explore approaches to life writing through a combination of examples, discussions and practical exercises to discover forms most appropriate to unique and individual stories. Autobiography? Memoir? Reportage? Family history? Life writing can provide a singular perspective on dramatic events, as well as insight into history, society and the human relationships that underpin them. The writer's intimate connection to the material can add a new and resonant dimension to a reader's experience. Topics will include: finding the universal in the particular; the "I" of autobiographical writing and what it means to be true to someone's story; creating characters and places; descriptive techniques; using voices and dialogue to create scenes; developing acts, arcs and narrative potential through the dynamics of structure and plot; how to use contextual research to add depth and understanding. Life writing is often emotionally and psychologically demanding, occasionally cathartic but always challenging. The aim of the course is ultimately to bring out the stories lurking in all of us and to share them in an open, supportive and participatory environment.

Nick Barlay Nick Barlay is the author of four widely acclaimed novels, Curvy Lovebox, first published by the Black imprint X Press, and Crumple Zone and Hooky Gear. Together, these formed a loose trilogy set in the underbelly of contemporary London. Hooky Gear was mentioned in Granta’s ‘Best of Young British Novelists’ in 2003, and was highly praised by Hilary Mantel until it was realised he was too old to be young. His fourth novel, The Wife of a Man Who, rejected in the UK, became a success across the Channel and was praised as a masterpiece. It is currently available in French only. Barlay was born in London to Hungarian Jewish parents and his first non-fiction book, Scattered Ghosts, is the story of his family over two centuries. It was longlisted for the Wingate Prize 2015. He has also written short stories, award-winning radio plays and wide-ranging journalism, including a long-running series about London for the Times. More recently, he has contributed articles to the online Central and Eastern European News. He regularly teaches creative writing and journalism, as well as Guardian Masterclasses on writing family history. www.nickbarlay.com

HW7: Ignite Your Life and Rise Regardless Are you feeling in a rut with your life? Do you have the same old goals that never happen? Are you yearning for a different kind of life? Do you feel the way you’re living is not congruent with who you really are? Then ‘Ignite Your Life and Rise Regardless’ is for you. You’ll reconnect back to your true source of power and have you living a life that is awake, full of purpose, desire and courage ~ leading a life you love.  The results look like this …   You will create heart-based goals that ignite you to create a future you love, and you will have let go of’ calcified’ and ‘should’ goals that have left you wanting and stagnated. You’ll find your purpose and know how to create a passionate life. Have a strategy mapped out to achieve this.  Learn the common hidden obstacles that stop goals from happening and what to do about it.  Unlock the false beliefs and mental habits that are holding you back. Learn how to use your mind to gear success and abundance in your favor. Know how to be happier in the now regardless of what is going on in your life.  Have a Rise Regardless toolkit for life that you can use to create change in your life whenever you need to.    My method involves the latest scientific backed neuroplasticity techniques, ancient and spiritual wisdom and personal development techniques.    On the Course…   “Calcified” and “Should’ goals unintentionally stagnate you, taking up a lot of time and energy. They also keep you on the same frustrated path. These either will be reworked to be more congruent with who you are becoming or let go of completely. This opens up the future to exciting possibilities. You’ll do special exercises that allow you to access heart-based goals.  Goals change into something passionate and fulfilling. When you allow heart-based goals into your life so many things naturally and powerfully shift. You’ll learn how to create a radical paradigm shift of self trust so you can access your true power and intuition, and learn to back yourself always. People often fall down on executing their new goals or take measures that aren’t always successful. We will create powerful action plans to suit your individual needs. Your internal world/thoughts/beliefs need to match your overarching goals to create the best chance of success of leading a life you love. You will understand how to find false beliefs and mind chatter that holds you back. And you’ll learn step-by-step how to create an abundance mindset that is empowering.  You’ll discover the best way to set boundaries with friends and families, and communicate your new goals so as to get support, rather then causing more problems.  There will be also 2 months of follow up emails from me after the course to help keep you on track and motivated. I intend to create a close community of people on the course so that you can support each after it is over.  It is very important to have like–minded people to support and elevate you. It is my sincere desire to create an experience that opens life up to a new level and fills the participants with possibility, inspiration and inner strength. In essence, a passionate Rise Regardless life.    Testimonials … She’s taught me how to break down the complex challenges into really simple, actionable steps and now I finally feel that I have the tools I need to keep rising regardless. This is really huge for me because in those moments when I’ve felt like throwing in the towel, I hear Monique in my head lifting me up.   I’d absolutely recommend Monique as a teacher. My favourite part of our sessions was that she has a wealth of knowledge that truly amazes me, combined with her genuine kindness she is a great course leader.   I’m excited about how far I’ve come in my business up until this point. Thank you Monique! Christine Agha   “You inspire me. I discovered you right while going down an ugly lane. I’ve been taking steps each day to rise ….. Your #RiseRegardless!” Nyawira Ivy Kariuki   “Monique, Thank you for your inspiration! After 7 surgeries YOU have helped me a lot! Thank you.” Martina Morgan   “Listening to her recent radio interview, I was amazed at how many challenges she had to go through so far in life. Her determination and willingness to overcome each circumstance is not only amazing; but also proof that she walks the talk and rises regardless of what she encounters. A great listening experience, and a lesson in looking at life with positive energy and empowering focus.” Andre Dorian

Monique Hohnberg Monique is the founder of the worldwide phenomenon #RiseRegardless, with over a quarter of a million followers. She says, “It breaks my heart when I see people living a frustrated, unhappy life. It’s so very important to trust yourself, unlock your potential and Rise Regardless.”  Monique first made the decision the live fully when faced with brain surgery at 22. Then many years later Monique lived through 16 years of debilitating illness, 8 of which left her housebound.  Monique says, “I’ve always believed in making the very best of my circumstances. When ill, in bed everyday I couldn’t do much and out of all the options available to me I chose the best. I studied spiritual and personal development texts for 8 months 4 to 5 hours every day in bed.” She was so isolated she also got onto Twitter, as it was an easy way to connect with the world, and started putting her wisdom and insights into tweets. Unexpectedly, things took off. She went from zero to 60,000 followers in her first year, and had her first interview at 20,000 followers.  Now, her words reach 2.5 million people every single month, and every single day someone contacts her telling how much they have helped. “I am now living large in this world, but I had to Rise Regardless when I had nothing. No health, money or career. I’ve done it starting at ground zero.”  You can get her Free Ebook “The Secret to Great Self Esteem” from her website RiseRegardless.com. It teaches you how to have a great relationship with yourself, which is the underlying foundation of living awake, fully and lovingly.  To find Monique on your favorite social media platform just type in #RiseRegardless. RiseRegardless.com Twitter.com/MoniqueHohnberg Instagram.com/MoniqueHohnberg

Playtime for Grownups An opportunity to have some proper fun in a series of drop-in 90 minute sessions. Alison Goldie facilitates games and activities for all Skyros participants that will stimulate your creativity, reacquaint you with your silly side and generate lots of enjoyment.   Expect a mix of improvisation, singing, party games, themed chats, fig-picking while nattering – Alison likes finding the right activity for the people playing, and giving them a space to loosen up and bond with others after working hard on their full courses.

Alison Goldie Alison Goldie is an actor, theatre director, writer and teacher. After graduating from Hull University with a degree in drama she performed in many rooms above pubs, did solo stand-up comedy, played all the female characters in Newman and Baddiel in Pieces (BBC2), then became a travel reporter on The Travel Show (BBC2). She toured the world with the award-winning The Weird Sisters Theatre Company and received huge acclaim for her solo show, Lady in Bed. She has directed plays for Vienna’s English Theatre, and in London’s West End, as well as many fringe and community shows. Alison’s book ‘The Improv Book: Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education and Life’ was published in 2015 by Oberon Books and has received unanimously positive reviews. Alison is also a trained and practising life coach. See Alison's website here: www.alisongoldie.com and www.alisongoldiecoach.com.

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT7

  SAT 1 - SAT 8 SEP 2018

  £725.00

  Book

• Yoga with Awareness

  Ken Eyerman

  Art from the Heart

  Stoney Parsons

  The Joy of Singing

  Sarah Warwick

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Performance Art

  Richard Layzell

  Love What You Do

  Julian Russell

  Explore Aerial Cocoon

  Zoë Cobb

  Your Writer's Voice

  Crysse Morrison

Yoga with Awareness In a focused and yet playful way, experience how Ken integrates Yoga with Feldenkrais. These yoga classes and moving meditation sessions are suitable for all levels, including complete beginners and those who have injuries or are restricted in their movement. The intuitive and spontaneous hands-on approach emphasizes the benefits of using your breath and developing an awareness of your inner process. Holiday participants will learn to use their bodies with intelligence, awareness and efficiency. 'The Eyerman Technique' will ease you into new postures while encouraging you to explore movement in a way that is both developmental and restorative. Ken seeks to work with you, by developing core movement, and helping you tune into the constant flow of life energy essential to maintaining health and clarity of mind. Ken's yoga courses in Atsitsa are included as 'One of the 5 Best Yoga Holidays' on the Healthista website and listed as the 'Best holiday for those with injuries', describing the yoga as 'great for people who want a slower pace, including complete beginners and those who have injuries or are restricted in their movement.' Yoga with Ken runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa.  Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Ken Eyerman With over thirty five years experience, Ken is an American who has worked as a movement therapist, having studied dance and psychology. Previously he worked at the London Contemporary Dance School as bodyworker in residence. Ken is trained in The Feldenkrais Method, Awareness Through Movement and has a busy private practice at Natureworks/ Danceworks in London. As well as regular yoga workshops, Ken offers his Yoga with Awareness holidays internationally and returns to Skyros for his 25th season! He is the author of an inspirational book, Massage and was named as one of the Londons top three masseurs by the Evening Standard. The Ken Eyerman School of Bodywork and Movement is affiliated to the Institute of Complementary Medicine. What people say about Ken and his courses: So, so good. Passionate and inspiring.  Yoga Superb, top class, EXCELLENT. I took Ken’s yoga. I found it superb. I do a lot of different bodywork and Ken’s approach is thoughtful, insightful, tailored to the group with attention to individuals, funny and inspiring. I’ll be using some of his techniques in my own work.

Art from the Heart This course is for anyone who ever longed to get in touch with their creativity through art. Here is your chance to just do it, to try out new things, explore what you are capable of in a safe and happy atmosphere within a group. Participants will do different exercises designed to draw out their inner artist, getting into the right-side of the brain and connecting with your heart. It's about the doing and the daring to do and discovering what you are capable of. Course will include painting (water-colours and acrylics) drawing, collage, mixed media. Stoney is an experienced facilitator and teaches the Art from the Heart courses from her studio. She passionately believes that we are all creative.

Stoney Parsons Stoney is a professional stained glass artist and teacher. She works and teaches in her lovely studio on the Kent/Sussex border in a country park estate. Stoney has been working to commission for the last 30 years. Her work ranges from commissions in hospitals, schools, restaurants and private residences throughout the UK for, for example Raymond Blanc at his restaurant Le Manoir aux QuatSaisons, Martlets Hospice, Hove, to name but a few.

The Joy of Singing If you can talk, you can sing! Join this course, run by an exceptional singer with three number one dance hits in the UK, and experience the power of sound and song. Whether you are new to singing, or have some experience, this course will be an exciting journey of vocal discoveries. Using breath, movement, dance, song, improvisation, harmony, toning and more, you will be given the opportunity to sing and create. Free your voice, increase your confidence, enjoy self-expression, ignite your creativity and stimulate healing on all levels. No solo singing required unless desired! What people say about Sarah and her course: Sarah Warwick’s course ‘The Joy of Singing’ was inspirational. I didn’t realise singing could be so healing.  Excellent, exhilarating, energetic, enabling and a brilliant celebration of singing, harmony and group love. Sarah is outstanding - an incredible workshop. Powerful, fun, uplifting! Not what I expected at all but genuinely worthwhile. Sarah was amazing - as always I feel like I came back to myself.

Sarah Warwick Sarah Warwick is a singer, songwriter, teacher, conference energizer & corporate team-builder. She has had ten years of international success, mostly under the stage name Sarah Washington. She has had three top thirty hits in the UK charts and three number 1 dance hits. A highly experienced teacher, she trained with Chris James in the Art of Healing Sound. Sarah is passionate about helping others find their natural voice, and bring joy and healing through song. She facilitates courses in singing and songwriting, and the power of healing sound, and regularly teaches for Skyros. She also regularly runs singing and sound healing courses in China. She has been running her choir, The Singing Hearts, for the last eight years. She has recorded two CDs, one of her own songs Pure Love, and the second CD is of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, in which Sarah has created a haunting and beautiful musical interpretation of the Gibran timeless masterpiece.

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Performance Art Performance Art is for everyone, an adventure in time and space, a fantastical challenge, a chance to discover and celebrate our unique creative selves. In this four-day course we will explore together this special place where many different art forms meet: sculpture, voice, poetry, creative writing, movement, sound and costume, finding an area of interest that is both comfortable and exciting for each person. We can then become playful and mischievous within our chosen fields, collaborate and support each other. We will then be in a position to explore how we can relate to the many spectacular locations in and around Atsitsa and also think about our potential audiences. We will record these unique experiences, memories and achievements through video, photography and sound recording, to take home and treasure, undoubtedly surprising ourselves. Richard is internationally considered an innovator in Performance Art and has taught master classes in this field for many years, all over the world, from Beijing to Birmingham. He is known for his supportive and empowering style of teaching.

Richard Layzell Richard is an award-winning artist who exhibits and performs worldwide. His expertise includes performance art, photography, sculpture, film-making, design, drawing and creative writing. With over 20 years experience in group facilitation, Richard regularly runs workshops in creativity in the UK and internationally. He loves working with groups of all kinds – recent highlights include dancers in Taipei, taxi drivers in Shanghai, students in Prague, learning disabled people in Glasgow and nursery school children in Essex.  He has shown his work at Tate Britain and the South Bank Centre in London. In 2014 he co-directed and designed GLORY, a major commission for the Commonwealth Games at the Tramway in Glasgow. He lectures nationwide, leads a degree course at the University of the Arts in London and regularly works as a mentor to other artists. He has also worked as an artist in business, with the mission to bring more lightheartedness and community spirit to the workplace. He is known for his playful and irreverent sense of humour and for inspiring creative risk taking. He delights in supporting other people to (re)discover and develop their spontaneity and creativity.

Love What You Do Do you long to wake up in the morning with a sense of purpose and passion? Does the idea of having a deep inner knowledge of who you are and what is most important to you excite you? Would you love to engage more with the fun, creative, playful parts of you that inspire your soul? Most of us wish to live a life we love: one that has meaning and purpose, in which our passions, talents, values and strengths all flow through both our work and personal life. Imagine what life would be like if you were following a life-long vision that filled you with passion, curiosity and excitement. By the end of Find What You Love, Love What You Do, you will have a deeper and more intimate sense of your Life-Calling; an answer to the question “How will I know I have had a good life?”; and greater passion and excitement about your life and your future. You will have explored and uncovered the deepest truth of your heart, bringing it out into the open to have a chance to shine.

Julian Russell Julian’s passion is helping people make the most of their lives. He has been on his own path of personal exploration for 40 years and leading others on theirs since the 1980s with the Life Talent integrative approach to human development. Today he offers open workshops, on-going groups, and he is an executive coach to leaders in global organizations in Europe, the USA and China. He helped to introduce NLP into the UK and is co-author, with Robert Dilts and Anne Deering, of the book Alpha Leadership – Tools for Business Leaders Who Want More Out of Life (Wiley and Co, 2002). He is a regular speaker at the annual NLP Conference and at Alternatives, Piccadilly. He has run coaching master classes for the Academy of Executive Coaching and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). He is also a former trustee of Re-Vision, a Psychosynthesis training charity; has been a UKCP registered psychotherapist; and is a former board member of the UK Association for NLP (ANLP). He holds a 2nd dan black-belt in Aikido, regularly dances 5 Rhythms and has been a close disciple of a great Buddhist master for over 20 years. Visit his personal development website at  www.LifeTalent.com  and his executive coaching website at www.ppdconsulting.com

Explore Aerial Cocoon Aerial Cocoon Play Using aerial equipment with circus and yoga techniques, this class will be a light touch learning the basics to get up into the cocoon, and play with some moves. We will start always with aerial yoga conditioning and warm ups and progress into learning moves and building confidence being upside down and suspended.  With a focus on health and skills, this class is great for circulation, relaxation and elongation of the spine.  Explore Aerial Cocoon Using aerial equipment with circus and yoga techniques we will move through a progression of positions and sequences to build confidence, look great and have a lot of fun.  Starting with aerial yoga to warm up and build the co-ordination and strength required to move in 360 degrees.  We will move onto circus techniques to tailor make a routine for your abilities, so no mater what level you are at you will leave with a little sequence that you can show off.   It is a great class for beginners or those who want to get deeper into their skills. With a focus on health and skills, this class is great for circulation, relaxation and elongation of the spine. Children aged 11+ can experience Aerial Cocoon

Zoë Cobb Zoë is a movement practitioner with 15 years experience in circus and a life time of yoga.  She trained and performed with the Moscow State Circus and later at National Circus Space in London and has taught all over the world.  She has a playful technique that is available to all levels, bringing her knowledge of anatomy and body awareness to safely guide her students into new places and exploration.  She enjoys teaching and practicing currently in Milan.  To read more including a blog and performance videos, please go to her website: www.mindinmovement.co.uk

Your Writer's Voice This course is for any writer, beginner or more experienced, wanting to develop their authentic personal ‘voice’. We’ll look at finding ideas through memory and imagination and use a range of shared exercises to explore techniques such as characterisation, dialogue, description, style and pace which can be adapted for any genre. The focus will be on enjoyment – and finding ways to overcome the writer’s inevitable internal critic too.

Crysse Morrison Crysse was inspired by a Skyros Writers' Lab session to make a career change and is now a full-time freelance writer. Her two novels were published by Hodder & Stoughton and her short fiction has been widely published and broadcast.  Also very interested in performance poetry and stage drama, she writes and co-produces for Nevertheless Fringe Theatre in her home town of Frome. Crysse is an experienced creative writing tutor and has led creative writing courses and workshops throughout the world.

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT8

  SAT 8 - SAT 15 SEP 2018

  £725.00

  Book

• Yoga Beyond Yoga

  Kenneth Ryan

  Art from the Heart

  Stoney Parsons

  Singing With Soul

  Celestine Walcott-Gordon

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Comedy Improvisation

  Alison Goldie

  The Art of Swimming

  Phil Tibenham

  Abseiling

  Berny Woodward

  Creative Writing

  Crysse Morrison

Yoga Beyond Yoga That, “the essence is at ease, the essence is at ease!”, you will find to be a predominant theme and focus in enjoying the eastern arts with Kenneth. Sessions with Kenneth will include  Yoga (from Energetic through Restful ), Qi Gong, Tai Chi, traditional and contemporary moving meditations. These practices will be adapted, often softened to keep them approachable and to suit your experience and level of ability.  After Meditation, early morning classes will tend to be lively and energetic. Mid-day classes will be slower, having greater technical emphasis. Evening classes you will find to be restful restorative and deeply relaxing. Whether holding  steady, even strong  postures or if you wish and are ready to “jump along” to a more energetic practice,  you can expect to discover great Openness and Energy with ease. Anticipate also the Bliss of being cradled  into a deep relaxed  Awareness of Being... The classes will include: * Relaxing Restorative Yoga * Dynamic Yoga * Yoga Nidra;Yoga of sleep and dream fulfillment * Tibetan Yoga; the fountain of Youth * Traditional and Contemporary Meditations * Restful Awareness; just that * Spirit Circle; contemplating the Epitome philosophical teaching from the Eastern world * Qi Gong/Tai Chi Above are just a number of suggested possibilities. Naturally, the programme will be tailored to suit personal requirements and the collective energy of the group. The Yoga Beyond Yoga programme will be offered as a means of recognition and as a reminder of the ease of being and natural harmonious state which is the natural essence of being. Yoga with Kenneth runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa.  Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Kenneth Ryan Kenneth Ryan is from Galway town in the west of Ireland, although in recent years has spent most of his time abroad; he has travelled extensively. It was during one of his extended trips, during the long warm winter of his first trip to India in 1994 that Kenneth spent much of his time living alone in the tropical forest, at Peace with nature. He has since been inspired to regularly return to the mystical sub-continent and further east for lengthy periods of study and practice at traditional and contemporary schools of Yoga, Tai Chi, Awareness, Massage and Meditation. On retreat Ken interprets these teachings in a form more appropriate to the western mind and lifestyle without compromising the essence of Truth that is Yoga. His style of teaching is often lively, balanced with gentleness of approach. Practical Tantric awareness has been one of the strongest influences along with a deep Love for the more subtle aspects of Hatha Yoga Vedanta philosophy. Kenneth has always placed great emphasis on restful Awareness and he loves to share the many epitome eastern teachings which are simple realisations of the natural state of being.

Art from the Heart This course is for anyone who ever longed to get in touch with their creativity through art. Here is your chance to just do it, to try out new things, explore what you are capable of in a safe and happy atmosphere within a group. Participants will do different exercises designed to draw out their inner artist, getting into the right-side of the brain and connecting with your heart. It's about the doing and the daring to do and discovering what you are capable of. Course will include painting (water-colours and acrylics) drawing, collage, mixed media. Stoney is an experienced facilitator and teaches the Art from the Heart courses from her studio. She passionately believes that we are all creative.

Stoney Parsons Stoney is a professional stained glass artist and teacher. She works and teaches in her lovely studio on the Kent/Sussex border in a country park estate. Stoney has been working to commission for the last 30 years. Her work ranges from commissions in hospitals, schools, restaurants and private residences throughout the UK for, for example Raymond Blanc at his restaurant Le Manoir aux QuatSaisons, Martlets Hospice, Hove, to name but a few.

Singing With Soul Explore, enhance and discover the voice you have as well as working with others to create beautiful tapestries of soulful music. Singing with Soul is about encouraging individuals to express themselves vocally in the truest form. Through relaxed yet focused guidance, singers will have the space to develop their artistry and confidence. Learn exciting, uplifting songs from around the globe including African Gospel/Spirituals, Classic Soul & Jazz Songs plus more. On this course we will cover: Good breath control Intonation and pitch Musicality Navigating range (between chest, middle and head registers) Tone But most importantly – This Is Fun! Evoke an inspiring journey where you can positively enforce the relationship between You, Your voice and Your audience. Enjoy the gift of being able to share through song and vocalise as a soloist and/or within an ensemble, using the tools from this course to further your personal and professional development in and outside of music.

Celestine Walcott-Gordon Celestine is an eclectic soul artist with a velvet voice rich in emotion and experience far beyond her years influenced by some of the great singers of our time. Trained for many years in the art of Traditional African Dance and Drumming, Bristol born Celestine celebrates her Barbadian, Jamaican, African heritage through dance and song whilst giving another perspective on neo soul, leaving audiences hypnotized and unable to resist from joining in. Celestines recording and songwriting journey has seen her work with Gary Barlow (Take That), Cameron McVey (Neneh Cherry) Roni Size, Diane Warren, Wayne Hector and Stargate (NeYo, Rihanna, Mary J Blige, Beyonce) to name but a few. Celestine has gained even more confidence as a songwriter through the independent release of her co-produced debut album “Secret Side”. Performing at some of the UKs most prestigious venues (Royal Albert Hall – Cancer Research, Dominion Theatre, London – Royal Variety Performance and The Grosvenor House Hotel, London – Rainbow Trust Ball, Celestine has honed her craft as a musical performer and dancer supporting and gracing the same stages of some of the biggest names in music (Pee Wee Ellis, Millie Jackson, Mica Paris, Sade, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lionel Richie). Appearing most recently on the acclaimed BBC1 show, The Voice UK 2014, Celestine wowed the judges/coaches and audience with her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence leading to a coveted spot on Sir Tom Jones Team. When not performing, Celestine is a passionate and experienced facilitator of music. Previously working for Wiltshire Music Services, numerous Gospel Choirs and ensembles as a Choir Director, developing and implementing curriculum content for Performing Arts /Music and Music technology courses for Stroud College and supporting education and community projects. Studying at The Bristol Institute of Modern Music in 2009, Celestine earned a BA Hons in Professional Musicianship specializing in Vocals, and a Certificate in Education from UWE as part of her ongoing professional development.

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Comedy Improvisation This cheerful and informative course uses a wide range of games and exercises and covers: unblocking your imagination, storytelling, character-building, status-play, comedy-business, how to enjoy looking stupid and devising skills. Improvisation gives participants confidence and the ability to think on their feet (useful for all sorts of situations). It stimulates creativity and helps unlock the huge range of characters and stories within you that can be used to delight an audience, professionally or in everyday life. It aims to broaden comic and performance skills, motivate mind and body, and release lots of laughter in the process.  Facilitated by Alison Goldie, one of the most experienced improvisers in the U.K. and the author of The Improv Book: Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education and Life (Oberon Books) this is one of the best improv courses you’ll ever do. And it’ll make you look younger, give you a six-pack and attract the person of your dreams.*   *Might be a fib.

Alison Goldie Alison Goldie is an actor, theatre director, writer and teacher. After graduating from Hull University with a degree in drama she performed in many rooms above pubs, did solo stand-up comedy, played all the female characters in Newman and Baddiel in Pieces (BBC2), then became a travel reporter on The Travel Show (BBC2). She toured the world with the award-winning The Weird Sisters Theatre Company and received huge acclaim for her solo show, Lady in Bed. She has directed plays for Vienna’s English Theatre, and in London’s West End, as well as many fringe and community shows. Alison’s book ‘The Improv Book: Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education and Life’ was published in 2015 by Oberon Books and has received unanimously positive reviews. Alison is also a trained and practising life coach. See Alison's website here: www.alisongoldie.com and www.alisongoldiecoach.com.

The Art of Swimming Phil’s teaching methods complement practices such as Yoga and T'ai Chi, as the core of the teaching is based on body awareness and technique. He focuses on unlearning habits that lead to better technique, more efficient, graceful (and faster) swimming. The emphasis is on an engaged approach to swimming, encouraging the swimmer to understand their own interaction with the water. Phil is in the water for the majority of the lesson and offers hands on guidance.

Phil Tibenham Phil has taught the Shaw Method of swimming for 18 years and helped set up and run the ongoing Shaw Method teacher training programme. He holds a full ASA level 2 teachers certificate and a Diploma in Aqua Health and Development. Phil is based at the The Laboratory Spa in Muswell Hill (health club of the year 2013) and also through the Nuffield Health club group. His students range from non-swimmers to competing triathletes, and from the age of 4 to people in their 80s. Phil is a keen Open Water swimmer and recently completed the iconic Dart 10km and Henley to Marlow 14km, Bridge to Bridge, marathon swims. He loves to swim in the Thames in The Cotswolds whenever possible. He finds that the greatest reward from his teaching is helping people take on their own particular challenge and develop a true connection with the water.

Abseiling Take up the challenge and experience abseiling in the stunning scenery and nature of Atsitsa. Berny offers a Greek experience with a difference! From a basic, beginners abseil, to the amazing experiences of tackling sea cliffs, mineshafts and the possible ultimate experience of abseiling directly into the warm, blue sea! Whether with previous experience or a complete novice, here's the opportunity to challenge yourself and achieve the satisfaction of "safely" defying gravity, in a shared, group experience with a very experienced instructor who offers adventure, camaraderie and a diversity of ways to overcome your fears, both actual and analogous. Return back to the UK with spectacular photos and memories of the unique experience of an abseil in the sun!

Berny Woodward Berny holds the UK Mountain Instructors Certificate and has extensive experience having worked in the RAF as an Outdoor Adventure Instructor for over 20 years. He is also a self taught artist and poet.

Creative Writing Before you plan your product, it’s great to explore exercises and tactics to give you imaginative flexibility and more understanding of your own personal authorial ‘voice”. This week will be a chance to look at creating and developing characters, effective scene-setting, using dialogue to move narrative forward, and how to move personal experience in fiction.  You will come away with a portfolio of reusable techniques, ideas to develop into fiction, and the encouragement of a supportive group to continue the process.

Crysse Morrison Crysse was inspired by a Skyros Writers' Lab session to make a career change and is now a full-time freelance writer. Her two novels were published by Hodder & Stoughton and her short fiction has been widely published and broadcast.  Also very interested in performance poetry and stage drama, she writes and co-produces for Nevertheless Fringe Theatre in her home town of Frome. Crysse is an experienced creative writing tutor and has led creative writing courses and workshops throughout the world.

• Greece - Atsitsa Bay AT9

  SAT 15 - SAT 22 SEP 2018

  £675.00

  Book

• Yoga Beyond Yoga

  Kenneth Ryan

  Drawing Impressions

  Kathy Ramsay-Carr

  Singing With Soul

  Celestine Walcott-Gordon

  Windsurfing

  Mark Gunston

  Comedy Improvisation

  Alison Goldie

  Mindfulness

  Michael Eales

  Abseiling

  Berny Woodward

  Short Fiction

  Amanda Smyth

Yoga Beyond Yoga That, “the essence is at ease, the essence is at ease!”, you will find to be a predominant theme and focus in enjoying the eastern arts with Kenneth. Sessions with Kenneth will include  Yoga (from Energetic through Restful ), Qi Gong, Tai Chi, traditional and contemporary moving meditations. These practices will be adapted, often softened to keep them approachable and to suit your experience and level of ability.  After Meditation, early morning classes will tend to be lively and energetic. Mid-day classes will be slower, having greater technical emphasis. Evening classes you will find to be restful restorative and deeply relaxing. Whether holding  steady, even strong  postures or if you wish and are ready to “jump along” to a more energetic practice,  you can expect to discover great Openness and Energy with ease. Anticipate also the Bliss of being cradled  into a deep relaxed  Awareness of Being... The classes will include: * Relaxing Restorative Yoga * Dynamic Yoga * Yoga Nidra;Yoga of sleep and dream fulfillment * Tibetan Yoga; the fountain of Youth * Traditional and Contemporary Meditations * Restful Awareness; just that * Spirit Circle; contemplating the Epitome philosophical teaching from the Eastern world * Qi Gong/Tai Chi Above are just a number of suggested possibilities. Naturally, the programme will be tailored to suit personal requirements and the collective energy of the group. The Yoga Beyond Yoga programme will be offered as a means of recognition and as a reminder of the ease of being and natural harmonious state which is the natural essence of being. Yoga with Kenneth runs twice per day in Atsitsa over four to five days per week. The early morning course is a drop-in course for one hour and runs from around 7.15am Sunday to Thursday inclusive. The second course requires commitment for two hours per day over four days per week. This course begins either on Sunday from 5pm or on Monday from 11.15am depending on the schedule that is decided by the facilitator team in Atsitsa.  Sign up for your favourite courses straight after the Sunday mid-morning meeting when all the course options will be presented to you.

Kenneth Ryan Kenneth Ryan is from Galway town in the west of Ireland, although in recent years has spent most of his time abroad; he has travelled extensively. It was during one of his extended trips, during the long warm winter of his first trip to India in 1994 that Kenneth spent much of his time living alone in the tropical forest, at Peace with nature. He has since been inspired to regularly return to the mystical sub-continent and further east for lengthy periods of study and practice at traditional and contemporary schools of Yoga, Tai Chi, Awareness, Massage and Meditation. On retreat Ken interprets these teachings in a form more appropriate to the western mind and lifestyle without compromising the essence of Truth that is Yoga. His style of teaching is often lively, balanced with gentleness of approach. Practical Tantric awareness has been one of the strongest influences along with a deep Love for the more subtle aspects of Hatha Yoga Vedanta philosophy. Kenneth has always placed great emphasis on restful Awareness and he loves to share the many epitome eastern teachings which are simple realisations of the natural state of being.

Drawing Impressions Course description to come...

Kathy Ramsay-Carr Kathy Ramsay Carr is a professional artist, trained for four years at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, in the 1970’s and then travelled across Canada, to British Columbia, and then went to Mexico City where she worked as a graphic designer and illustrator, becoming Head of Design in the Cultural Institute of the National University of Mexico. Since returning to England in the mid eighties she worked as an illustrator and printmaker, and has now been painting for 20 years. She has exhibited her work in many galleries, in London, Bristol, Cardiff and St Ives as well as supplying paintings for the corporate market and has work in public and private collections. Her evocative landscapes are composed from fragments of memory, always influenced by the elements and their effect in a moment on either the sea or land as the focus of the image, and the corresponding inner emotions associated with that experience. The essence of what she does is to be still and respond to what comes.Through the stillness  comes heightened focus and awareness of the subject. Her paintings express a desire to journey through the imagery she creates; a sense of elevated viewpoint is often present, as if in flight or from a spiritual presence: horizons are rarely fixed, instead they melt into unending distance. Most recently she has been extending her passion for plants into drawing and painting from her own garden, on a large scale, as if seen as a bee. She believes in the power of healing through creativity.

Singing With Soul Explore, enhance and discover the voice you have as well as working with others to create beautiful tapestries of soulful music. Singing with Soul is about encouraging individuals to express themselves vocally in the truest form. Through relaxed yet focused guidance, singers will have the space to develop their artistry and confidence. Learn exciting, uplifting songs from around the globe including African Gospel/Spirituals, Classic Soul & Jazz Songs plus more. On this course we will cover: Good breath control Intonation and pitch Musicality Navigating range (between chest, middle and head registers) Tone But most importantly – This Is Fun! Evoke an inspiring journey where you can positively enforce the relationship between You, Your voice and Your audience. Enjoy the gift of being able to share through song and vocalise as a soloist and/or within an ensemble, using the tools from this course to further your personal and professional development in and outside of music.

Celestine Walcott-Gordon Celestine is an eclectic soul artist with a velvet voice rich in emotion and experience far beyond her years influenced by some of the great singers of our time. Trained for many years in the art of Traditional African Dance and Drumming, Bristol born Celestine celebrates her Barbadian, Jamaican, African heritage through dance and song whilst giving another perspective on neo soul, leaving audiences hypnotized and unable to resist from joining in. Celestines recording and songwriting journey has seen her work with Gary Barlow (Take That), Cameron McVey (Neneh Cherry) Roni Size, Diane Warren, Wayne Hector and Stargate (NeYo, Rihanna, Mary J Blige, Beyonce) to name but a few. Celestine has gained even more confidence as a songwriter through the independent release of her co-produced debut album “Secret Side”. Performing at some of the UKs most prestigious venues (Royal Albert Hall – Cancer Research, Dominion Theatre, London – Royal Variety Performance and The Grosvenor House Hotel, London – Rainbow Trust Ball, Celestine has honed her craft as a musical performer and dancer supporting and gracing the same stages of some of the biggest names in music (Pee Wee Ellis, Millie Jackson, Mica Paris, Sade, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lionel Richie). Appearing most recently on the acclaimed BBC1 show, The Voice UK 2014, Celestine wowed the judges/coaches and audience with her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence leading to a coveted spot on Sir Tom Jones Team. When not performing, Celestine is a passionate and experienced facilitator of music. Previously working for Wiltshire Music Services, numerous Gospel Choirs and ensembles as a Choir Director, developing and implementing curriculum content for Performing Arts /Music and Music technology courses for Stroud College and supporting education and community projects. Studying at The Bristol Institute of Modern Music in 2009, Celestine earned a BA Hons in Professional Musicianship specializing in Vocals, and a Certificate in Education from UWE as part of her ongoing professional development.

Windsurfing Beginners: This course is aimed at complete beginners and covers the basic skills required to learn this exciting sport. The majority of the time is spent on the water. Windsurfing will help improve your coordination, flexibility and strength. The course will challenge you but the emphasis is on enjoyment. You will be encouraged to take intelligent risks and develop an awareness of your environment. During most of the summer you will only need to wear swimwear, though we recommend that you bring your own wet shoes. At the beginning and end of the season it may be necessary to wear a shortie wetsuit, which will be provided. It is not necessary to be a strong swimmer or athletic to learn windsurfing. However, a basic level of mobility and some confidence in the water is required. Students may continue onto the Improvers class in the 2nd half of the session of a 2 week session. Improvers: This is a series of drop in classes suitable for those with previous experience. An ability to sail away from the beach, turn around and sail back is the only minimum requirement. It is also open to those who took part in the Learn to Windsurf course during the first half of a 2 week session. Each class will take the form of a short clinic followed by on water practice. Continued coaching and feedback will be available or you can just practice without instruction.

Mark Gunston Mark has been teaching Windsurfing for 30 years and is a qualified RYA Windsurfing Trainer. He managed a watersports centre in Cornwall for 6 years and during the late 1980s worked at a Windsurfing Club on the Sea of Galilee. He has taught at a variety of centres in England, Greece, Sardinia and San Francisco and is one of the UK’s most experienced Windsurfing teachers. In 1998 he established and managed a Fitness Centre in New Delhi. Mark qualified as an internationally licensed Ski Instructor in 2001 and has worked in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Vermont as a Ski Instructor, Ski Guide and Resort Manager. He is also a certified  Life Coach. Mark has been teaching in Atsitsa since 1996 and, realising a lifetime's ambition, completed a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting at the University of Chichester in 2017.

Comedy Improvisation This cheerful and informative course uses a wide range of games and exercises and covers: unblocking your imagination, storytelling, character-building, status-play, comedy-business, how to enjoy looking stupid and devising skills. Improvisation gives participants confidence and the ability to think on their feet (useful for all sorts of situations). It stimulates creativity and helps unlock the huge range of characters and stories within you that can be used to delight an audience, professionally or in everyday life. It aims to broaden comic and performance skills, motivate mind and body, and release lots of laughter in the process.  Facilitated by Alison Goldie, one of the most experienced improvisers in the U.K. and the author of The Improv Book: Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education and Life (Oberon Books) this is one of the best improv courses you’ll ever do. And it’ll make you look younger, give you a six-pack and attract the person of your dreams.*   *Might be a fib.

Alison Goldie Alison Goldie is an actor, theatre director, writer and teacher. After graduating from Hull University with a degree in drama she performed in many rooms above pubs, did solo stand-up comedy, played all the female characters in Newman and Baddiel in Pieces (BBC2), then became a travel reporter on The Travel Show (BBC2). She toured the world with the award-winning The Weird Sisters Theatre Company and received huge acclaim for her solo show, Lady in Bed. She has directed plays for Vienna’s English Theatre, and in London’s West End, as well as many fringe and community shows. Alison’s book ‘The Improv Book: Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education and Life’ was published in 2015 by Oberon Books and has received unanimously positive reviews. Alison is also a trained and practising life coach. See Alison's website here: www.alisongoldie.com and www.alisongoldiecoach.com.

Mindfulness Mindfulness is an exploration of the practice of present-moment awareness, kindness and whole-hearted living. It is a simple path to our core self, the place of inner wisdom, wellbeing and happiness. It also provides tools for recognizing and reducing unhealthy stress and for becoming aware of our habits of thought and action, which keep us stuck. This awareness is the first step toward self-transformation. Putting these skills into practice takes focus, will, intent and discipline. Paying attention to our bodies, thoughts, feelings, and how we express ourselves, in a kind hearted friendly way, is the key to release us from our attachments and blocks. The course combines western psychology with the wisdom of the East.

Michael Eales Michael Eales, psychologist, writer, and leadership coach for 30 years, is one of the leading figures in Humanistic Psychology. He is co-author of The Personal Management Handbook,Implausible Professions and The Coaching Cube and is a management consultant with major organizations. He was part of the staff team of the Human Potential Research Project at Surrey University and has trained many practitioners in the field. He has written for film and television. He co-wrote and acted in the film Inertia (Dir. Anna Campion), which opened at the London Raindance Film Festival, and Bipolar‚ which premiered in 2006 at the Edinburgh Film Festival. He is currently working with Anna Campion on a film adaptation of a novel. In 2013 he published Sketches of Skyros, a collection of poems illustrated by paintings of the late Manos Faltaits, and Dreams Like Enigmatic Paintings, a translation of the work of Henri Michaux.

Abseiling Take up the challenge and experience abseiling in the stunning scenery and nature of Atsitsa. Berny offers a Greek experience with a difference! From a basic, beginners abseil, to the amazing experiences of tackling sea cliffs, mineshafts and the possible ultimate experience of abseiling directly into the warm, blue sea! Whether with previous experience or a complete novice, here's the opportunity to challenge yourself and achieve the satisfaction of "safely" defying gravity, in a shared, group experience with a very experienced instructor who offers adventure, camaraderie and a diversity of ways to overcome your fears, both actual and analogous. Return back to the UK with spectacular photos and memories of the unique experience of an abseil in the sun!

Berny Woodward Berny holds the UK Mountain Instructors Certificate and has extensive experience having worked in the RAF as an Outdoor Adventure Instructor for over 20 years. He is also a self taught artist and poet.

Short Fiction Explore the riches of your inner landscape to find the stories you wish to tell. This course is perfect for those who want to write but need a gentle push. While learning to use your senses to see the world afresh, we will look at  basic elements of story telling: character, setting, point of view, dialogue, plot. We will look at examples of works by well known writers. Through following exercises and creative writing prompts, you will begin to sow your own seeds to take you on a path towards creating meaningful work.

Amanda Smyth Amanda Smyth is Irish Trinidadian and was educated in England. Her first novel, Black Rock (Serpent’s Tail), won the Prix du Premier Roman Etranger 2010, and was selected for Waterstones New Voices in 2009. It was also chosen for Oprahs Summer Reads 2009.  Amanda’s second novel, A Kind of Eden (Serpent’s Tail) was published in July 2013.

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 21 - SUN 23 SEP 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Life Writing Weekend

  Nick Barlay

Life Writing Weekend During the course, we will explore approaches to life writing through a combination of examples, discussions and practical exercises to discover forms most appropriate to unique and individual stories. Autobiography? Memoir? Reportage? Family history? Life writing can provide a singular perspective on dramatic events, as well as insight into history, society and the human relationships that underpin them. The writer's intimate connection to the material can add a new and resonant dimension to a reader's experience. Topics will include: finding the universal in the particular; the ‘I’ of autobiographical writing and what it means to be true to someone's story; creating characters and places; descriptive techniques; using voices and dialogue to create scenes; developing acts, arcs and narrative potential through the dynamics of structure and plot; how to use contextual research to add depth and understanding. Life writing is often emotionally and psychologically demanding, occasionally cathartic but always challenging. The aim of the course is ultimately to bring out the stories lurking in all of us and to share them in an open, supportive and participatory environment. The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 and a 10% discount applies to Friends of Skyros. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

Nick Barlay Nick Barlay is the author of four widely acclaimed novels, Curvy Lovebox, first published by the Black imprint X Press, and Crumple Zone and Hooky Gear. Together, these formed a loose trilogy set in the underbelly of contemporary London. Hooky Gear was mentioned in Granta’s ‘Best of Young British Novelists’ in 2003, and was highly praised by Hilary Mantel until it was realised he was too old to be young. His fourth novel, The Wife of a Man Who, rejected in the UK, became a success across the Channel and was praised as a masterpiece. It is currently available in French only. Barlay was born in London to Hungarian Jewish parents and his first non-fiction book, Scattered Ghosts, is the story of his family over two centuries. It was longlisted for the Wingate Prize 2015. He has also written short stories, award-winning radio plays and wide-ranging journalism, including a long-running series about London for the Times. More recently, he has contributed articles to the online Central and Eastern European News. He regularly teaches creative writing and journalism, as well as Guardian Masterclasses on writing family history. www.nickbarlay.com

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 28 - SUN 30 SEP 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Art from the Heart

  Stoney Parsons

Art from the Heart This course is for anyone who ever longed to get in touch with their creativity through art. Here is your chance to just do it, to try out new things, explore what you are capable of in a safe and happy atmosphere within a group. Participants will do different exercises designed to draw out their inner artist, getting into the right-side of the brain and connecting with your heart. It's about the doing and the daring to do and discovering what you are capable of. Course will include painting (water-colours and acrylics) drawing, collage, mixed media. Stoney is an experienced facilitator and teaches the Art from the Heart courses from her studio. She passionately believes that we are all creative.

Stoney Parsons Stoney is a professional stained glass artist and teacher. She works and teaches in her lovely studio on the Kent/Sussex border in a country park estate. Stoney has been working to commission for the last 30 years. Her work ranges from commissions in hospitals, schools, restaurants and private residences throughout the UK for, for example Raymond Blanc at his restaurant Le Manoir aux QuatSaisons, Martlets Hospice, Hove, to name but a few.

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 5 - SUN 7 OCT 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Love What You Do Weekend

  Julian Russell

Love What You Do Weekend Do you long to wake up in the morning with a sense of purpose and passion? Does the idea of having a deep inner knowledge of who you are and what is most important to you excite you? Would you love to engage more with the fun, creative, playful parts of you that inspire your soul? Most of us wish to live a life we love: one that has meaning and purpose, in which our passions, talents, values and strengths all flow through both our work and personal life. Imagine what life would be like if you were following a life-long vision that filled you with passion, curiosity and excitement. By the end of Find What You Love, Love What You Do, you will have a deeper and more intimate sense of your Life-Calling; an answer to the question “How will I know I have had a good life?”; and greater passion and excitement about your life and your future. You will have explored and uncovered the deepest truth of your heart, bringing it out into the open to have a chance to shine. The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 and a 10% discount applies to Friends of Skyros. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

Julian Russell Julian’s passion is helping people make the most of their lives. He has been on his own path of personal exploration for 40 years and leading others on theirs since the 1980s with the Life Talent integrative approach to human development. Today he offers open workshops, on-going groups, and he is an executive coach to leaders in global organizations in Europe, the USA and China. He helped to introduce NLP into the UK and is co-author, with Robert Dilts and Anne Deering, of the book Alpha Leadership – Tools for Business Leaders Who Want More Out of Life (Wiley and Co, 2002). He is a regular speaker at the annual NLP Conference and at Alternatives, Piccadilly. He has run coaching master classes for the Academy of Executive Coaching and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). He is also a former trustee of Re-Vision, a Psychosynthesis training charity; has been a UKCP registered psychotherapist; and is a former board member of the UK Association for NLP (ANLP). He holds a 2nd dan black-belt in Aikido, regularly dances 5 Rhythms and has been a close disciple of a great Buddhist master for over 20 years. Visit his personal development website at  www.LifeTalent.com  and his executive coaching website at www.ppdconsulting.com

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 12 - SUN 14 OCT 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Novel Writing

  Claire McGowan

Novel Writing Many people dream of writing a novel, but few succeed in finishing one and then selling it for publication. This course will show you how to do exactly that. We'll start by looking at the key building blocks of a successful novel, including genre, story and concept, narrative techniques, plotting, suspense and characterisation. We'll also look at the creative process, and find ways to overcome blocks and doubts, as well as techniques for planning and outlining. Finally we will discuss ways into the industry, finding an agent, pitching your work, and working as a writer. You will leave with renewed motivation, a strong sense of the path ahead in your work, and the tools and techniques you need to succeed as a novelist. The course will also offer opportunities to share your work and receive feedback and guidance. The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 and a 10% discount applies to Friends of Skyros. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

Claire McGowan Claire McGowan writes an acclaimed crime fiction series, and also writes women's fiction under the name Eva Woods. She has published seven novels to date with two more to come in 2017. She set up and currently runs the UK's first genre-based MA at City University London, and has taught for many organisations and festivals including Arvon, Guardian Masterclasses, The Literary Consultancy, the Cheltenham festival, and many others. Claire's enthusiastic and honest teaching style has motivated many of her students on to publication already.

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 19 - SUN 21 OCT 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Mindfulness Weekend

  Michael Eales

Mindfulness Weekend Mindfulness is an exploration of the practice of present-moment awareness, kindness and whole-hearted living. It is a simple path to our core self, the place of inner wisdom, wellbeing and happiness. It also provides tools for recognizing and reducing unhealthy stress and for becoming aware of our habits of thought and action, which keep us stuck. This awareness is the first step toward self-transformation. Putting these skills into practice takes focus, will, intent and discipline. Paying attention to our bodies, thoughts, feelings, and how we express ourselves, in a kind hearted friendly way, is the key to release us from our attachments and blocks. The course combines western psychology with the wisdom of the East. The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 and a 10% discount applies to Friends of Skyros. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

Michael Eales Michael Eales, psychologist, writer, and leadership coach for 30 years, is one of the leading figures in Humanistic Psychology. He is co-author of The Personal Management Handbook,Implausible Professions and The Coaching Cube and is a management consultant with major organizations. He was part of the staff team of the Human Potential Research Project at Surrey University and has trained many practitioners in the field. He has written for film and television. He co-wrote and acted in the film Inertia (Dir. Anna Campion), which opened at the London Raindance Film Festival, and Bipolar‚ which premiered in 2006 at the Edinburgh Film Festival. He is currently working with Anna Campion on a film adaptation of a novel. In 2013 he published Sketches of Skyros, a collection of poems illustrated by paintings of the late Manos Faltaits, and Dreams Like Enigmatic Paintings, a translation of the work of Henri Michaux.

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 26 - SUN 28 OCT 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Adventures in Comedy Writing Weekend

  Logan Murray

Adventures in Comedy Writing Weekend Comedy, like any other art, is a craft. There are tips and techniques to be learnt. Simply put, if you can understand comedy grammar then unlocking the funny ideas becomes easier. From finding your creative inspiration to learning the building blocks of humour, this workshop will help you discover your unique comic voice. Although a writing course, there would be some non-writing exercises designed to encourage the participant’s creativity. There would also be writing games with group feedback and tutor led suggestions to help you hone your comedy writing skills. By the end of the course you will know how to write comedy and will have the confidence to stand up on your own and make a group of total strangers laugh. Not only will you learn some tricks of the trade, you will also gain a greater awareness of the multitude of differing comic styles that the group manifest. These comedy skills aren’t only for the professional; they are also a fantastic way to think outside of the box, hone your communication skills and increase your confidence in everyday life. More importantly, you will laugh loads over the entire course. The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 and a 10% discount applies to Friends of Skyros. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

Logan Murray Logan Murray is a working comic and award winning director, author of ‘Teach Yourself Stand Up Comedy’, and script consultant for the BBC. He has recently run a series of writing workshops for the Radio Four Comedy Department. He teaches all over the World the Art and Craft of Comedy as far West as Colorado and as far East as Shanghai. Logan has taught many of the comedians, comedy actors and script writers who have appeared on TV and Radio over the past fifteen years, but is far too modest to boast about it here. There is, however, a list of past alumni on his website… His courses offer a unique opportunity to find out what a comedian’s mindset is like and explore his belief that Comedy really is a life skill!

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 2 - SUN 4 NOV 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Yoga with Awareness Weekend

  Ken Eyerman

Yoga with Awareness Weekend One place left, call for availability In a focused and yet playful way, experience how Ken integrates Yoga with Feldenkrais. These yoga classes and moving meditation sessions are suitable for all levels, including complete beginners and those who have injuries or are restricted in their movement. The intuitive and spontaneous hands-on approach emphasizes the benefits of using your breath and developing an awareness of your inner process. Participants will learn to use their bodies with intelligence, awareness and efficiency. The Eyerman Technique will ease you into new postures while encouraging you to explore movement in a way that is both developmental and restorative. Ken seeks to work with you, by developing core movement, and helping you tune into the constant flow of life energy essential to maintaining health and clarity of mind. Ken's yoga courses in Greece with Skyros.com are included as 'One of the 5 Best Yoga Holidays' on the Healthista website and listed as the 'Best holiday for those with injuries', describing the yoga as 'great for people who want a slower pace, including complete beginners and those who have injuries or are restricted in their movement.' The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 with a 10% Friends of Skyros discount. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

Ken Eyerman With over thirty five years experience, Ken is an American who has worked as a movement therapist, having studied dance and psychology. Previously he worked at the London Contemporary Dance School as bodyworker in residence. Ken is trained in The Feldenkrais Method, Awareness Through Movement and has a busy private practice at Natureworks/ Danceworks in London. As well as regular yoga workshops, Ken offers his Yoga with Awareness holidays internationally and returns to Skyros for his 25th season! He is the author of an inspirational book, Massage and was named as one of the Londons top three masseurs by the Evening Standard. The Ken Eyerman School of Bodywork and Movement is affiliated to the Institute of Complementary Medicine. What people say about Ken and his courses: So, so good. Passionate and inspiring.  Yoga Superb, top class, EXCELLENT. I took Ken’s yoga. I found it superb. I do a lot of different bodywork and Ken’s approach is thoughtful, insightful, tailored to the group with attention to individuals, funny and inspiring. I’ll be using some of his techniques in my own work.

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 9 - SUN 11 NOV 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Passionate Living Weekend

  Malcolm Stern

Passionate Living Weekend As children we marvel at the world around us, longing to be grown up and able to taste many gifts in life. Somehow as adults we have learned to shut down and avoid our pain and struggle. Unfortunately and unknowingly, we also close down our passion and joy. This workshop is designed to reawaken our appetite for the richness of life. Using a blend of psychotherapy, sensual techniques, dance, small group exercises, laughter and communication, we will explore and embrace our passionate selves. The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 and a 10% discount applies to Friends of Skyros. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

Malcolm Stern Malcolm Stern has worked as a group and individual psychotherapist for more than 20 years. He was a co-founder and is Co-Director of Alternatives at St James’s Church in London and runs groups internationally. He is the author of Falling in Love / Staying in Love (Piatkus 2004) and was co-presenter of Channel 4's relationship series 'Made for Each Other' in 2003 and 2004 and sailed on the 'Rainbow Warrior' with Greenpeace in the 1980s. Visit his website here: malcolmstern.com

• The Grange IOW

  FRI 16 - SUN 18 NOV 2018

  £90.00

  Book

• Cuban Salsa: The Next Step

  John Harris

Cuban Salsa: The Next Step This course is aimed at Salsa dancers who have mastered the basic steps and turns and want to take their Salsa to the next level. Participants can expect to learn authentic Cuban moves and figures - and pick up some Spanish along the way. Join us for this enjoyable weekend and revise or add to your basic Cuban Salsa while having fun, enhancing your fitness and meeting new people.  The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.  Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday. The course price is £90.00 and a 10% discount applies to Friends of Skyros. As you proceed through the booking system you will be asked for your accommodation requirements.

John Harris John Harris has taught a variety of subjects and held numerous roles for Skyros Holidays over the last 20 years. He has led over 18 Skyros in Cuba Holidays and facilitated Salsa and Tango classes at The Grange, Skyros Centre and Atsitsa. Over the last 12 years he has studied Family Constellations in the UK, Germany and the USA and has facilitated workshops in the UK and abroad since 2006. He is originally from New Zealand and currently resides in the UK with his wife Zoe and son Felix. What people say about John and his courses: John is an outstanding teacher. I came here useless at salsa and now feel confident to dance anywhere. The family constellation course was superb - John is a very talented and insightful facilitator.  Constellation work with John was an unexpected gem! I don’t have enough words to say how good it was.  John is a great salsa teacher and also a very safe, considerate and skilled facilitator in the family constellations sessions.  Family constellations and salsa was exceptional.

• The Grange IoW

  MON 24 - THU 27 DEC 2018

  £425.00

  Book

• Singing, Painting, Open Mic & More

  Susie Self

  Your Best Year Ever

  Andrew Risner

Singing, Painting, Open Mic & More This Christmas break can only be booked over the phone. Please call us on 01983 867 644 •    Health & Wellbeing, Comedy, Singing, Painting, Open Mic & more This is a four-day celebration with courses, coastline walking, parties, games, fabulous food and the company of inspirational leaders and soon-to-be new friends. Christmas at The Grange this year is hosted by Susie Self and Andrew Risner, both of whom bring a wealth of skills, experience and fun to the event.  Susie Self will lead Joyful Choir, singing and creating a happy upbeat group. This is a great activity for freeing your voice, connecting with others and filling you with wellbeing. No previous singing experience is needed. She will also offer a Open Mic activity and so bring a song, sheet music, a poem or a story. Susie will also offer Mandala Painting, a great way to relax and release your creativity. During the class Susie will also offer you an experience of her Subtle Sound Immersions.  Susie makes painting fun, easy and rewarding. No painting experience is needed and all materials are included. Together, with Andrew, these great hosts will lay the foundations for a Christmas you will truly enjoy!  Bring a present up to the value of £10 to exchange on Christmas morning.  Christmas Eve From 4pm Arrivals 7.30pm Dinner & Welcome Christmas Day 8am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time 2pm Christmas Lunch 5pm to 7pm Course Time   8pm onwards Dinner followed by Evening Activities Boxing Day 8am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time 1pm Boxing Day Lunch 2.30pm Afternoon Activities 8pm onwards Dinner followed by Evening Activities Tuesday 27th 8am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time & Farewells   1pm Lunch followed by departures

Susie Self Susie Self ARCM MPhil Cantab is an International singer/composer. She has composed 4 symphonies 3 operas and 6 albums. She has just won a STEAM scholarship to read for a PhD in composition at Birmingham University. Susie has sung solo in the West End and for the opera houses of Lyon, Luxembourg, Salzburg, Strasbourg, Antwerp and The Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

Your Best Year Ever Your Best Year Ever With a warm heart and a twinkle in his eye, Andrew will guide you through multi sensory processes and games to help facilitate you to determine how and what your Best Year Ever will look and feel like. Then, layer upon layer, he will work together with you to literally transform you into the person who can confidently create, pursue, and maximize those dreams. You will leave with a clear picture of what your best year ever will look like together with tools and strategies of how to implement it once at home. A complimentary coaching session will be available after the course for anyone completing the workshop. Comedy Improvisation Anyone can improvise if they allow themselves to play. Improvisation IS NOT about being the smartest, being the funniest or being right. It is about accessing the creativity that already exists within us. During this course we will learn how to have fun simply by following a few basic techniques that allow anybody to let go and have fun. Improvisation is an attitude, a way of behaving that allows one person, or a group of people, to innovate and create instantly by using their own sense of trust, truth, acceptance and creativity.  Anyone can improvise if they allow themselves to play. Improvisation IS NOT about being the smartest, being the funniest or being right. It is about accessing the creativity that already exists within all of us.

Andrew Risner Andrew Risner is a leading trainer, facilitator and coach who has been leading transformational workshops since 2001. He is an as empathic and sensitive facilitator who is able to create and maintain an atmosphere of trust and respect and brings a wealth of fun and insight to his workshops. His programmes help individuals fully realise the dormant resources within themselves, whilst helping them raise self-awareness and self-belief. As well as being an NLP Master Practitioner and certified hypnotherapist, Andrew spent time as a member of the magic circle and stand up comedian. What people say about Andrew and his courses: Achieved a lot in a short time. Andrew is an excellent facilitator. The ‘How to Have Your Best Year Ever’ course certainly gave me much food for thought, the feeling that we’re not alone and the courage to move forward. Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Andrew is lovely and kind. Much food for thought.  Andrew was an excellent facilitator and very approachable. The course was more intense than anticipated but well worth doing.

• The Grange IoW

  SUN 30 - WED 2 JAN 2019

  £425.00

  Book

• Singing, Life Coaching & More

  Kate Daniels

  Comedy Improvisation, Games & More

  Alison Goldie

Singing, Life Coaching & More This holiday can only be booked over the phone. Please call us on 01983 867 644 Comedy Improvisation, Singing, Games, Life Coaching & more Over New Year, hosts Alison Goldie and Kate Daniels will run workshops and facilitate games and group activities that will have you bonding in humour and creative play. Jazz singer and psychotherapist, Kate Daniels, is well-known at Skyros and The Grange for helping people to Walk Tall, Feel Fabulous and Find Your Voice.  Expect to have some fun as you learn to release your Inner Diva or Divo! Sing wonderful songs whether or not you call yourself a singer, and step into the New year with panache. Together, Alison and Kate regularly hosted The Skyros-at-The-Map Café afternoon cabarets which brought great music and performance to North London. These expert hostesses will work in tandem and individually to bring you what might just be your best New Year celebration ever. Bring some stout shoes for the beach, and a fabulous outfit for our New Year’s Eve party.  Sunday 30th From 4pm Arrivals 7.30pm Dinner & Welcome New Year's Eve 8am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time 1pm Lunch 5pm to 7pm Course Time   8pm onwards Dinner followed by New Year Celebrations New Year's Day 8.30am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time 2pm New Year's Day Lunch 5pm to 7pm Course Time 8pm onwards Dinner followed by Evening Activities Wednesday 2nd 8am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time & Farewells   1pm Lunch followed by departures

Kate Daniels Singer and songwriter, Kate was also for many years the director of Systemic Psychotherapy training at the Tavistock Centre in London, Kate continues to teach there and in addition has run courses and directed in Skyros for 14 years. Pursuing a creative life is her passion. She studied in Birmingham with playwright David Edgar, has acted and written for theatre and radio and this year she will be launching her third CD as a jazz singer. A recent performance of hers at the Vortex in London was hailed by The Guardian jazz critic as “A classy concert of song-cherishing internationalism”.

Comedy Improvisation, Games & More This holiday can only be booked over the phone. Please call on 01983 867 644 Comedy Improvisation, Singing, Games, Life Coaching & more Over New Year, hosts Alison Goldie and Kate Daniels will run workshops and facilitate games and group activities that will have you bonding in humour and creative play. Alison is a very experienced theatre-maker, comedy improvisation teacher and coach who has run courses for Skyros over the past 20 years, and The Grange for 12 years - she has a reputation for creating wonderful events. As well as improvisation and games, she will offer a coaching session to support your plans for the year ahead. Together, Alison and Kate regularly hosted The Skyros-at-The-Map Café afternoon cabarets which brought great music and performance to North London. These expert hostesses will work in tandem and individually to bring you what might just be your best New Year celebration ever. Bring some stout shoes for the beach, and a fabulous outfit for our New Year’s Eve party. A sauna and hot tub are available and so bring your swimwear too. Sunday 30th From 4pm Arrivals 7.30pm Dinner & Welcome New Year's Eve 8am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time 1pm Lunch 5pm to 7pm Course Time   8pm onwards Dinner followed by New Year Celebrations New Year's Day 8.30am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time 2pm New Year's Day Lunch 5pm to 7pm Course Time 8pm onwards Dinner followed by Evening Activities Wednesday 2nd 8am to 10am Breakfast 10:30 to 12:30pm Course Time & Farewells   1pm Lunch followed by departures

Alison Goldie Alison Goldie is an actor, theatre director, writer and teacher. After graduating from Hull University with a degree in drama she performed in many rooms above pubs, did solo stand-up comedy, played all the female characters in Newman and Baddiel in Pieces (BBC2), then became a travel reporter on The Travel Show (BBC2). She toured the world with the award-winning The Weird Sisters Theatre Company and received huge acclaim for her solo show, Lady in Bed. She has directed plays for Vienna’s English Theatre, and in London’s West End, as well as many fringe and community shows. Alison’s book ‘The Improv Book: Improvisation for Theatre, Comedy, Education and Life’ was published in 2015 by Oberon Books and has received unanimously positive reviews. Alison is also a trained and practising life coach. See Alison's website here: www.alisongoldie.com and www.alisongoldiecoach.com.