Kefalonia Yoga Holiday
10th - 16th May 2025
(Optional extension: 16th/17th May)
A special yoga week with beautiful beaches, mountains and Greek hospitality that’s kind to your wellbeing and to your pocket.
This mindful yoga holiday is designed to support you to slow down, take it easy and be kind to yourself - to practice the art of self-care and letting go.
You’ll be gifting yourself a proper break from the everyday stresses and strains of modern life, while re-learning how to rest and boosting the body’s natural ability to heal and renew. You’ll return home feeling deeply relaxed yet fitter and healthier.
Morning and late afternoon gentle yoga sessions leave you plenty of free time to relax, swim, sunbathe, explore at your leisure or take a siesta before a shared dinner in the evening.
For more info and to book please get in touch
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands scattered like jigsaw pieces just off the west coast of Greece, opposite Italy.
Kefalonia is renowned for sandy beaches, sapphire sea, rugged mountains and verdant farms and gardens along the narrow coastal strip of land beneath the peaks.
We will be staying in the peaceful seaside village of Lourdata perched on a sweeping bay on the island’s southern coast. A white sandy beach peppered with sun loungers is 5 minutes walk down hill, though allow ten minutes for your walk back due to a steep inclining bend.
The Venue
Our hosts Vangeli and Susan will be looking after us in their comfortable pension with al fresco, shady breakfast area. Their customers return to stay again and again, so we are fortunate that by special request they have squeezed in a slot for us for 2025.
All rooms and studios enjoy terraces or balconies, air conditioning and en suite bathrooms featuring toilet, washbasin and handheld shower. You’ll also have access to a kettle and fridge. Some offer glimpses of the sea in the distance through trees; others overlook lush gardens and greenery against the dramatic backdrop of Kefalonia’s mountains.
The Yoga
Our venue offers a spacious yoga ‘shala’ surrounded by lush gardens with fresh air flowing through the patio doors and lots of light.
We will practice Gentle Yoga to gradually wake us up, mobilise the joints and limber up the whole body and mind first thing in the morning.
This is complimented by Restorative Yoga in the late afternoon to support resting, healing and good sleep.
Gentle Yoga involves a series of lying down, sitting and standing up yoga poses, building up slowly into a gradual flow. This allows time for embodied mindfulness to develop so we can come off auto pilot and feel more alive and present.
Restorative Yoga features mostly lying down yoga poses which you can stay in for a while, often with the support of ‘props’ such as cushions and blankets. This helps the body feel more comfortable and relaxes the mind and nervous system into a state of calm and deep, rejuvenating rest.
Sustenance
We’ll be enjoying a substantial buffet breakfast each morning featuring muesli, fruit juice, freshly baked bread, Susan’s homemade jams (bergamot marmalade is my favourite), cheese, yoghurt, cucumber, tomatoes and tea/coffee.
There’s a brilliant Greek bakery 2 minutes stroll down the hill on the way to the beach. You can pick up spanakopita and other savoury/ sweet pastries for lunch on the beach or order an excellent coffee here.
Right next door to the bakery is a local mini-market selling food, suncream, souvenirs etc. and there are other stores in the village too.
There’s a choice of seaside tavernas and hillside restaurants to choose from for a more substantial lunch or evening dinners. Some enjoy panoramic views which are particularly gorgeous at sunset.
We will meet each evening to go out to dinner together (for those who wish).
A Typical Day
Gentle Yoga 8.30 - 9.30 a.m.
Breakfast 9.30 - 10.30 a.m.
Free time
Restorative Yoga 5.15 - 6.30 p.m.
Meet for dinner 7 p.m. onwards
The retreat starts with dinner in Lourdata around 7 pm Saturday evening 10th May and ends with breakfast 9 am Friday 16th May.
NB. All these timings above are provisional.
Location
You can explore Lourdata and its sister village, Peretata Travliata, perched up above on foot. There are little walking trails, a pretty castle and another great bakery in the upper village.
There’s also a second set of beaches just west of Lourdata if you fancy a walk and, in places, a little wade to reach Trapezaki - with a choice of tavernas for a coffee or lunch stop.
A short taxi ride away lie azure lakes and the famous Drogarati caves. Or you can simply stay put, soaking up the sun and maximising rest.
Travel
This yoga retreat starts with a dinner rendez-vous around 7 pm Saturday 10th June and ends Friday morning 16th June after breakfast.
Search ‘Google flights’ to get started on booking your flight. Usually it’s cheaper to book travel well in advance.
You may want to extend your stay a night or two (see below) to explore the island. There’s more choice of flights on Saturdays. Options include BA, Ryan Air, Jet2, Tui and more, depending on your geography.
Our venue is 30 minutes drive from Kefalonia International Airport. We organise your transfer to Lourdata which costs 35 euros per taxi, maximum 4 people plus luggage per car.
Optional trip to Argostoli
Extend your trip: Friday 16th May/ Saturday 17th May
I also invite you to join me in Argostoli, the island’s charming capital, for Friday night 16th May to make the most of your holiday. Surrounded by water on 3 sides and lovely beaches, this port city is Kefalonia’s best kept secret. You can wander, shop and graze at leisure and enjoy a taste of a very different part of the island. All very conveniently located just 15 minutes from the airport.
Highlights include:
Loggerhead turtles feeding in the harbour when the fishing boats come in
The Archeological Museum
The pedestrian De Bosset Bridge spanning the entire bay across to the opposite coast
Saint Theodore lighthouse with a snorkel in the bay just round the corner
Those who wish can meet for dinner Friday evening around 7 pm
Read more about Argostoli
Contact me for more details about this option.
The Yoga Teacher
Vimalamani (aka Sally Ramsden) teaches Gentle Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Slow Flow Yoga in London and beyond. All her classes bring an emphasis on mindfulness, kindliness and inclusion.
She also specialises in therapeutic yoga and works with refugees and migrants and teaching English through yoga with Globe Community Project.
Her original yoga teacher training was with Yoga Campus in London.
She loves warm sea, swimming and socialising and this is the 6th Greek island yoga retreat she will be leading.
Her Buddhist name is Vimalamani, meaning ‘pure' (Vimala) ‘jewel’ (Mani) and she practices with the London Buddhist Centre.
What’s included
9 yoga classes
6 nights accommodation at our pension in Lourdata
6 breakfasts
Hire of the yoga space
1 yoga mat, meditation cushion, blanket to use per person
What's not included
Airport transfer from/to Kefalonia’s nearby airport
Food and drink outside of the 6 breakfasts
Any trips, excursions, admission fees and associated travel
Accommodation for Friday night 16th May if you choose to stay on or any further extensions you decide to make in order to enjoy the island more
Cost per person
Single occupancy £775
Sharing a twin room £645
