the art of living - The Grange

SKYROS2008 / 2009the art of livingGREECEAtsitsa BaySkyros Village CentreWriters’ LabTHAILANDEastern flavoursCUBASalsa plusCAMBODIATemples & junglesISLE OF WIGHTHome from homemaking a difference for thirty years

SKYROSHOLIDAYSSkyrosThirty and blossomingThe foundersSkyros was established in 1979, byAmerican psychologist Dr DinaGlouberman and Greek journalist DrYannis Andricopoulos. It was Europe’s firstever alternative holiday centre and remainsthe world leader. Skyros pioneered theholistic approach to life within a friendlycommunity setting in beautiful locations.Yannis Andricopoulos,Ph.D, a former politicaljournalist and editor of i-to-imagazine, is author of severalbooks on 20th century Greekand European history. Thisyear he published a trilogy – In Bed withMadness, The Greek Inheritance and TheFuture of the Past – inspired by his involvementin both the truculent world of politicsand the graceful, personal world of Skyros.Dina Glouberman, Ph.D,is the author of the acclaimedbook The Joy of Burnout (2002),and the best-selling classic LifeChoices, Life Changes (5thedition 2003). She pioneeredImagework, the imagery-based approach tolife change. A former university lecturer andpsychotherapist, she runs training courses inImagework worldwide.Who goes to Skyros?Skyros attracts mostly solo holidaymakersfrom all over the world. Although allages are represented, from 5 to 85,approximately 70 per cent of all participantsare aged 30 – 50. During schoolholidays families are also part of the mix.Participants are overwhelmingly professionals– from teachers and university lecturersto IT experts, managers and entrepreneurs.A huge majority – over 80 per cent – reportthat the Skyros experience had a lastingpositive effect on their lives. Nearly a thirdcome back again and again – even after theyhave said that Skyros was the ‘holiday of alifetime’.This yearThe office. The Skyros office has movedfrom London to the Isle of Wight. Pleasemake a note of our new contact details below.30th anniversary. Skyros’ 30th anniversarywill be celebrated in session 8(26 July – 8 August).Half-marathon. The Skyros half-marathonwill take place on 13 September.Guests. For the first time ever a limitednumber of places will be available to Guests,ie people who join the community, but notthe courses, at a reduced rate.Venue. The Skyros Village Centre is availablefor hire either side of the Skyros programme.Please contact the office for details.Front cover. In Skyrian waters – KevinDibb with a Skyrian pony, by Prue Hawkes.Special guests. In July former Liverpoolfootballer, Mark Lawrenson, will coachSkyrian children. Actress and singer,Toyah Willcox will also join us giving motivationaltalks relating to diet and long term health.Skyros (NEW ADDRESS)9 Eastcliff Road, Shanklin,Isle of Wight PO37 6AA, UKTel: 44 (0)1983 86 55 66Fax: 44 (0)1983 86 55 37skype: skyrosholidayswww.skyros.com Email: office@skyros.com2

SkyrosFeels like coming homeThe idyllic and unspoilt islands of Skyros,Greece, and Koh Chang, Thailand, areblessed with sun-drenched beaches,crystal-clear waters, protected forestsand the heritage of an ancient land whosesustained development Skyros is committedto preserving. Havana, Cuba, isthe romantic’s dream and Cambodia anadventure into a world of mystery.A Skyros holiday engages the individualin courses, activities and events that openthe heart, expand the mind, recharge thebody and uplift the spirit.The benefits of a Skyros holiday last longafter the suntan has faded. They includenew friendships and relationships, newinterests, a fresh outlook or a new sense ofdirection. The sense of renewed confidenceand excitement about life is palpable.Poet Hugo Williams described Skyros asthe holiday ‘you can take home with you’.‘ Let your hair down, take risks, expandhorizons, go on a Skyros holiday’.Mariella Frostrup, The IndependentSkyros offers over one hundred courses allfacilitated by a distinguished internationalstaff. Courses are inspiring, entertainingand are usually held outdoors in thebeautiful landscape.The Skyros community – informal,friendly, relaxed, and yet very vibrant– brings people together in a way dailylife rarely does. Its safe and congenialatmosphere makes it possible to feelimmediately at home.Time Out summed up the Skyrosexperience as ‘the sheer, crazyoverwhelming joy of letting go and feelingalive’. Elle Magazine described it as‘magically successful thanks to its uniquealchemy of people, settings and ideals’.SKYROSHOLIDAYS3

SKYROSHOLIDAYSSkyros IslandLiving in more than one century at onceSung about by Homer and full of ancientmemories, Skyros is a magical, ancient isle,about 100 miles north-east of Athens.Its old village, with its narrow cobblestonestreets, is graced with an unhurried intimacyand wholesome humanness long lost in thecontemporary big cities. Its white cubicstylehouses are shaded by grapevines wavinggracefully in the glittering sunlight. In itssquare, the villagers, tempered by lingeringmemories of the millenniums, still watchwith curiosity the visitors from their future.Yet Skyros is a mixture of tradition andglobal trends. Doors are left unlocked, childrenplay out until late and weddings andspecial events are celebrated by the entirecommunity. Still, young men drink whiskyat cool, funky bars and young women areas fashion-conscious as their counterparts inLondon’s Knightsbridge. The island lives inmore than one century at once.The island’s long history goes far beyondthe reach of memory. Recent archaeologicalfinds at Palamari, near Atsitsa, haveuncovered a well-fortified village datingback to the Early Bronze Age (2800 BC).Artefacts from the site are on display at thevillage’s Archaeological Museum.Achilles, the hero of the Trojan war, spenthis early years on the island, and Athenianhero Theseus, the man who slew thedreaded Minotaur of Crete, died there.King Lycomedes’ palace on top of the villagehill was built in pre-Homerian times,rebuilt by the Byzantines and then again bythe Venetians. The Byzantine monastery ofSaint George, built on the ruins of an ancienttemple, is still intact. So are many old traditionsincluding the island’s mesmerising goatfestival which, rooted in Olympian Greece,draws visitors from all over the world.Rupert Brooke, the English poet, is buriedin the tranquil olive grove on the southernpart of the island, that ‘corner of a foreignfield that is forever England’. The islandershave honoured Brooke by naming one of thevillage squares after him.‘ Immediately I fell in love with the place.I kept thinking “I am an actor in A MidsummerNight’s Dream; this is Arcadia. Iwant to live like this for ever..”.’Sue Townsend, The Guardian6

Atsitsa BayIn tune with natureRight by the sea and in the arms of amagnificent pine forest, Atsitsa has a magicalquality which delights the senses andmakes inroads to the heart. Its allure makesyou feel that you have just come backhome – it is as if your soul recognises thatthis is the place it was born. Is it becausepeople lived, and their civilisation thrived,in this area long before history began?Atsitsa’s main stone villa commands a supremeposition in the bay. Its huts, in whichmost of the participants and staff chooseto live, are situated in lush gardens and areshaded by pine and fruit trees.Atsitsa’s delightful community – 30 to 80guests at a time – is friendly and burstingwith life. In its ambience people feel free toexplore new activities, stretch themselvesbeyond what they thought possible, makenew friends and enjoy life to the full.Out of the many courses offered participantscan choose up to three a week. Coursesrange from windsurfing and sailing to dance,yoga, painting and music. They are usuallyheld outdoors on beautiful stone terraces, betweenthe pine forest and the sea. People arefree to do as much or as little as they want.There is always time to sunbathe, swim, walkin the pine forest and enjoy the tranquility ofthe bay. The evenings are taken up byparties, lively discussions and hilarious,impromptu events.Atsitsa is run according to the traditionalSkyros community structures pioneered overthe years. These include demos (communitymeetings), œkos (home groups), co-listeningand light community work such as vegetablechopping and fruit picking.The beauty of Atsitsa is its simplicity, itsintimate connection with nature and itstimeless detachment from the outside world.The atmosphere of trust it generates enableseveryone to open up, venture into unchartedwaters and make connections rarely made inthe outside world.‘ An unspoken philosophy prevails atAtsitsa that anyone can do anything,and that age is irrelevant’.Barbara Gunnell, The ObserverSKYROSHOLIDAYS7

SKYROSHOLIDAYSAtsitsa Bay ProgrammeIn tune with natureAccommodationAtsitsa participants live simply andcomfortably just moments from thesea. Some stay in our spacious stonevilla and others in two-person bamboohuts situated in the midst of lushgardens and shaded by pine and fruittrees. Single huts are available. Atsitsahas its own cafe-bar where you can sipcool drinks, watch the glorious sunsetsover the sea and dance the night away.FoodAtsitsa has gained such an outstandingreputation for its cuisine in termsof both quality and quantity that someparticipants claim they return just forthe food! The freshest ingredientsare always used – locally sourcedseasonal fruits and vegetables, naturalyoghurt and cheeses, pulses andgrains. Lunches tend to be vegetarianand Mediterranean in style. Meat orfish is usually served in the evenings.Vegetarians are always catered for.Daily lifeCourses run for four days a week.In the second week (of two-weeksessions) participants can choose differentcourses, or continue the sameones, if there is space. The day startswith early morning courses (up toone hour), followed by mid-morningcourses (two hours) and late afternooncourses (two hours). The actual programmeis determined at the beginningof each session and participantssign up on the spot. On free days participantscan choose from organisedevents which may include forest walks,a boat trip or an island coach tour.NightlifeEvening actitivies include spontaneousevents such as parties, story-telling,games, talks or comedy shows. Somepeople just talk until the early hours orswim by moonlight. Over the weekendmany choose to go to Skyros townwhere there are a number of clubs,bars, and tavernas to choose from.‘ I had anticipated that a new-age fog ofearnest escapism might cloud the air. Myscepticism was evaporated. They’ve gotthe balance right’.Sarah Kent, Time OutEvery Atsitsa Bayholiday provides:Up to 5 hours of courses perweekday.Up to 15 courses each week tochoose from.Yoga every weekday.Three delicious meals a day.Unique accommodation onlymoments from the sea.Variety of evening activitiesand bar.Optional individual treatmentspayable on site.8

AT1 3 – 10 May (1 Wk) £525Life’s a JourneyErnie Woolf (D)WindsurfingMike CottamComplementary Healthcare Angela DaviesSailingMark GunstonYoga, Salsa CubanaJohn HarrisTraditional CeramicsYannis KoboyannisTrapezeDeborah SandersonGuitar Playing & Singing Tom ToomeyAT2 10 – 23 May £695AT7 12 – 25 July £895Yoga, TheatreMichael J Stewart (D)Massage, Reflexology Virginia EvangelouWindsurfingMark GunstonThe Creative Process Richard LewisSailingSharon McDonaldAfro-Latino & Belly Dance Cathy SkoraMosaicsRos WatesT’ai Chi, Mime, Storytelling David ZuckerAT8 26 July – 8 August £995Friends of Skyros (past participants)receive a discount of £50 for each holidayD = DirectorLife’s a JourneyWindsurfingComplementary HealthcareSailingYoga, Salsa CubanaTrapezePeace IssuesGuitar Playing & SingingErnie Woolf (D)Mike CottamAngela DaviesMark GunstonJohn HarrisDeborah SandersonMichael StoneTom ToomeyThe Courage to ChangeWindsurfingThe Creative ProcessSailingMassageYoga, TheatreSinging, SongwritingOutdoor AdventureMalcolm Stern (D)Mark GunstonRichard LewisSharon McDonaldLucy RushMichael StewartSarah WarwickBerny WoodwardAT3 24 – 31 May (1 Wk) £545AT9 9 – 22 August £995Anything is PossibleMassage, AromatherapyWindsurfingYoga, Salsa CubanaTraditional CeramicsSailingLooking Good, Feeling GreatSoul JourneyMichael Eales (D)Johanna GubbayMark GunstonJohn HarrisYannis KoboyannisSharon McDonaldChrissie TrotterLisehanne WebsterT’ai Chi, Outdoor ArtWindsurfingMassageSailingComedy ImprovisationThe Courage to ChangeHatha Yoga, Vinyasa YogaSinging, SongwritingRichard Layzell (D)Mark GunstonAnthy KatsiotisSharon McDonaldAndrew RisnerMalcolm SternAndreas VetschSarah WarwickAT4 31 May – 13 June £745AT10 23 Aug – 5 Sept £945Free the SpiritYogaMassage, AromatherapyWindsurfingSailingT’ai Chi, WatercolourBringing Your Dreams to LifeLooking Good, Feeling GreatHazel Carey (D)Ken EyermanJohanna GubbayMark GunstonSharon McDonaldSharon MoonNick PriceChrissie TrotterBody-Mind CenteringSinging, Music, Belly DanceWindsurfingThe Energy of LoveSailingLife CoachingHatha Yoga, Vinyasa YogaBallroom DancingJens Johannsen (D)Kalia BaklitzanakiMark GunstonMartin & Hanna JelfsSharon McDonaldAndrew RisnerAndreas VetschLaurie YatesAT5 14 June – 27 June £795AT11 6 – 19 September £845Body MagicPhotography, Video FilmsYogaMusic, WindsurfingSpeaking of SexSailingT’ai Chi, WatercolourThe Artist’s Way, Qi GongSilke Ziehl (D)David BabskyKen EyermanPhill HaiseldenSteve KingSharon McDonaldSharon MoonIlene SawkaWriting, Creative ArtsMeditation, DreamworkWindsurfingAlexander T, Raqs SharqiYoga, Salsa CubanaSailingHiking, Digital PhotographySinging with Ease, PaintingJulie McNamara (D)Michael EalesMark GunstonJudy HammondJohn HarrisSharon McDonaldKel PortmanSusie SelfAT6 28 June – 11 July £845AT12 20 – 27 Sept (1 Wk) £545Flirtshop, Comedy ImprovMassage, ReflexologyWindsurfingMusic & SingingSailingAfro-Latino & Belly DanceYoga, TheatreMosaicsAlison Goldie (D)Virginia EvangelouMark GunstonPhill HaiseldenSharon McDonaldCathy SkoraMichael StewartRos WatesLife Choices, Life ChangesBack to Nature, JewelleryWindsurfingAlexander T, Raqs SharqiYoga, Salsa CubanaSailingHiking, Digital PhotographySinging with Ease, PaintingDina Glouberman (D)Kevin DibbMark GunstonJudy HammondJohn HarrisSharon McDonaldKel PortmanSusie SelfSKYROSHOLIDAYS 9

SKYROSHOLIDAYSAtsitsa Bay FacilitatorsDavid BabskyDavid Babsky, formerly Technical Editor of Practical Photographymagazine, has taught photography and movie-making and will helpparticipants make movies. Bring your own camera.Kalia BaklitzanakiKalia Baklitzanaki, a performer and teacher of Mediterranean and MiddleEastern music and dance, sings in Greek and Arabic and plays the Arabicflute (Ney) with various groups in England and Greece.Hazel CareyHazel Carey, an international voice and movement teacher and psychosynthesiscounsellor, works with visualisation, African dance, Qi Gongand voicework.Mike CottamMike Cottam is a vastly experienced windsurfing and canoe instructor,who has spent many years running an RYA windsurf centre.Mark GunstonMark Gunston is a windsurfing, sailing, powerboating and skiinginstructor with twenty-five years’ experience.Phill HaiseldenPhill Haiselden is a singer, songwriter and an experienced ‘singing for thescared’ group leader, who has trained as a community musician and ‘firstnature’ voice coach. His second album is due to be released this year.Judy HammondJudy Hammond has many years’ experience teaching Alexander Technique,Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian dance) and Moving Mindfully. She has atheatre background as dancer, choreographer & director.John HarrisJohn Harris, a former social worker, teaches Argentine Tango and CubanSalsa internationally. He is also a Hatha Yoga teacher.Angela DaviesAngela Davies, originally UN functionary in Geneva, has over twentyyears’ experience in complementary healthcare. She combines lifecoaching with Bach flower remedies.Kevin DibbKevin Dibb has been working for fifteen years as a professionalaward-winning jeweller and designer in Australia. He will also offer a‘Back to Nature’ course.Michael EalesMichael Eales, a group facilitator for 25 years, is one of the leadingfigures in Humanistic Psychology. He is the co-author of The PersonalManagement Handbook and .Virginia EvangelouVirginia Evangelou, a teacher, practitioner, writer and consultant, hasover 25 years’ experience in health, beauty and complementary therapies.She lives and works in Greece.Ken EyermanKen Eyerman, author of Massage, has taught yoga and bodywork for 30years and directs his own training programme. He was named as one ofLondon’s Evening Standard’s top three masseurs.Dina GloubermanDina Glouberman, author of the classics The Joy of Burnout and LifeChoices, Life Changes, has pioneered Imagework. Formerly a universitylecturer and psychotherapist, she co-founded Skyros.Alison GoldieAlison Goldie, a performer/teacher for over 20 years, has toured theworld with the award-winning Weird Sisters Theatre Co. She has vastexperience in stand-up comedy & radio/TV presenting.Johanna GubbayJohanna Gubbay has established a number of colleges in Ireland offeringholistic massage, aromatherapy, reflexology & stress management. Sheis also a cranio-sacral therapist.Martin & Hanna JelfsMartin & Hanna are a couple who have been teaching intimacy and tantracourses for ten years. Martin has been a psychotherapist for 25 yearsand Hanna has been practising meditation & T’ai Chi for over 20 years.Jens JohannsenJens Johannsen, a dancer and body therapist from Germany, has longexperience in the field of movement, expression and meditation. He hastaught Body-Mind Centering since 1993.Anthy KatsiotisAnthy Katsiotis is experienced in massage therapy, body/mind awareness,dance and holistic practices as educator and therapist. She is thefounder/director of the Ascending Therapeutic Arts centre in the USA.Steve KingSteve King is an American psychotherapist, musician, writer and teacherwho has been practising in Devon for more than 20 years. He is theauthor of numerous published poems and creator of a musical, The Kid.Yannis KoboyannisYannis Koboyannis, a Greek artist born in Skyros, is renowned for hisceramic art and paintings and his unique ‘by the sea’ Skyrian studio andworkshop.Richard LayzellRichard Layzell is an award-winning artist, writer and teacher. His currentexhibition, The Manifestation, (with Tania Koswycz) is touring the UK,and their dialogues, Cream Pages, is due to be published this year.Richard LewisRichard Lewis makes music and films and writes scripts for television andradio. He jointly runs Tom, Dick and Debbie Productions and facilitatescreativity of all descriptions.Sharon McDonaldSharon McDonald, a science teacher for twenty years, has been sailingfor eleven years and has clocked up about 11,000 miles on GreaterManchester Challenge as a volunteer watchleader.10

Julie McNamaraJulie McNamara is an award-winning playwright and singer/songwriter.Her work has graced the stages of international festivals from WestMidlands to Whanganui.Sharon MoonSharon Moon teaches Ashtanga Yoga, T’ai Chi and Qi-Gong andholds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do Karate. She is also a US certifiedArt instructor and a Reiki practitioner.Kel PortmanKel Portman is an artist, photographer and printmaker and former seniorlecturer with the University of the Arts. He is also an experienced RYAwindsurfing instructor.Nick PriceNick Price, formerly a professional photographer, is a Biodynamics bodypsychotherapist who leads workshops throughout Europe. He also runsmusic workshops.Andrew RisnerAndrew Risner, a professional speaker and change strategist, presentsworkshops and seminars throughout Europe. He has a backgound inbusiness and stand-up comedy.Lucy RushLucy Rush has been a massage therapist for 30 years, ergonomic consultantand Playful Body coach. She has been an instructor at the San FranciscoSchool of Massage and is the director of its Bodywork Programme.Deborah SandersonDeborah Sanderson and her company Urban Angels’ Circus, create fulllength shows on amazing aerial rigs, combining extraordinary theatricalimagery with dazzling skill.Susie SelfSusie Self, singer, composer and painter, sings in the opera houses ofthe world. Her work includes her opera Heroic Women and her 2ndsymphony Memories, Dreams, Reflections.Ilene SawkaIlene Sawka facilitates creativity workshops for top Swedish managersand politicians using an array of original forms and techniques. She isalso a Qi Gong teacher.Cathy SkoraCathy Skora is founder and director of the US Folkloric ProductionsDance Company and has been teaching and performing dance internationallyfor over 15 years.Malcolm SternMalcolm Stern is a group and individual psychotherapist, co-founder ofAlternatives at St James Church, London. He has recently co-presentedChannel 4’s relationships series.Michael J StewartMichael J Stewart has many years experience as a yoga, drumming andmovement teacher and runs workshops internationally. He is also trainedin Thai Massage.Michael StoneMichael Stone is a specialist in international humanitarian emergenciesand has directed operations in major conflict areas. Currently he is policyadvisor to the UN and Red Cross.Tom ToomeyTom Toomey, a pro since the age of 12, has graced the albums andstages with such luminaries as Cliff Richard, Don McLean, Gene Pitney,Colin Blunstone and many others. He plays Rock, Blues, Jazz & Folk.Chrissie TrotterChrissie Trotter, formerly a professional hairdresser to the ‘stars’ andteacher trainer in the beauty industry, is an outplacement counsellor andworkshop leader.Andreas VetschAndreas Vetsch is a former film and TV director, who teaches yoga inZurich and leads workshops and retreats all over Europe. He has justtoured Switzerland with a comedy show.Sarah WarwickSarah Warwick is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, performerand recording artist with 3 number one dance hits in the UK andthe US. She also runs voice workshops.Roz WatesRoz Wates has extensive experience in mosaic-making, and she lecturesand writes on the subject. Her work is commissioned both privately andby the public sector.Lisehanne WebsterLisehanne Webster is a psycho-spiritual counsellor, psychotherapist andspiritual healer. She is the founder, director and principal tutor of theSatyamvidya Integral Yoga Centre.Berny WoodwardBerny Woodward, a painter, poet and a former Adventure Traininginstructor in the RAF, teaches abseiling and mountaineering. He workswith emotionally traumatised children in Kent.Ernie WoolfErnie Woolf has been a personal development trainer for 25 years. Heworks in Australia and he is currently writing a book on personal growth.Laurie YatesLaurie Yates was a competitive dancer for 21 years. Qualified in ballroomand Latin American dancing, and a registered adjudicator, he currentlyteaches dance to children and adults.Silke ZiehlSilke Ziehl is a body psychotherapist specialising in training professionals.She is the founder of the Entelia Institute for Creative Bodywork inMunich and London, and a member of the Open Centre, London.David ZuckerDavid Zucker is a professional actor, mime artist, playwright, director,author and teacher of T’ai Chi and Qi Gong. He facilitates workshops formanagers with The Ariel Group.SKYROSHOLIDAYS 11

SKYROSHOLIDAYSSkyros Village CentreLife coaching programmeThe Skyros Village Centre, homeof the Life Coaching programmeand the Writers’ Lab, nestles onthe hillside at the edge of Skyrosvillage. Built high up long ago toevade the clutches of the Mediterraneanpirates, the village is accessibleonly by foot through narrow,cobblestoned streets. The beach is apleasant ten minute walk away.The Centre’s courtyard, shaded byfig and pomegranate trees, has apanoramic view of the valley and theAegean. Its white walls are coveredby bougainvilleas and grapevines.In this delightful environmentpeople can appreciate the unalloyedbeauty of Greece, engage in joyfulholiday activities and enjoy the companyof new, like-minded friends.Stepping back from the stressesof everyday life, they can alsoreach new insights, reconnect withthe source of their creativity andexperience a wonderful sense ofliberation. As one participant wrote,‘Skyros is sunshine for the soul’.Life at the Centre is bursting with energy.A typical day begins with yogafollowed by a delicious breakfast onthe terrace and then the mid-morningworkshop, the centrepiece to the day.Afternoons are free for the beach,maybe a massage, and certainly asiesta which for the Mediterraneansis a must and which even Churchillrecommended in his memoirs!This year the Centre is also embarkingon ‘A Taste of Greece’ programmewith events ranging fromGreek music, dance and mythologyto moussaka making or Greek winetasting.Such events are a regularfeature of the programme justbefore dinner.Whether one goes for the islandspeciality, lobster with spaghetti, orfor fresh fish grilled with lemon orperhaps stuffed tomatoes, with fetasalad and Kalamata olives, dinner isalmost a spiritual experience. Withthe night ever young, there maywell be dancing until late or magicalmoonlit walks.‘ I feel I made bonds that will last a lifetimebecause the friendships were based on gettingto know the real me and vice versa’.Anne Roper, Sunday IndependentEvery Skyros Villageholiday provides:An in-depth course in either LifeCoaching or Creative Writing.Early morning yoga.A variety of ‘A Taste of Greece’early evening events.Visits to historical sites and dailyGreek lessons.Lovely Skyrian style rooms close tothe Centre.Half-board with home-mademeals.Optional individual treatments andcoaching payable on site.12

Life coachingWe live in a world in which manytaken-for-granted realities are disappearing.We are faced with choicesthat reach far beyond those of previousgenerations, opening up newpossibilities in our lives. But we arealso, potentially, faced with new formsof stress as we try to meetthese challenges.The Life Coaching programme isdesigned for those facing change ortransition and is open to anyone who isready for new beginnings in any aspectof their lives. There are those who maywant to explore specific areas – perhapsdesiring improved relationships,more fulfilling work or greater confidenceto take a path involving risks.Others may simply want to take theopportunity to look at their lives with afresh perspective.The programme’s facilitators are knownfor their warmth and integrity as muchas for their expertise. They are thereto support, inspire and encourageparticipants to listen to their own innerknowing and find their own path.The courses, enhanced by the relaxedatmosphere and the magical qualitiesof village life, run for three hours perday every weekday morning.‘An environment that is supportive,social and, most important, a bloodygood laugh’.Jane Cornwell, The Weekend Australian‘ I’ve never laughed so much or enjoyedsuch a range of emotions with such agreat bunch of caring, supportive people.I returned rejuvenated, healthy andmore positive, and with three newclose friends’.Tracey Jenning, Health & FitnessAccommodationParticipants stay in rooms close to theCentre that combine modern comfortswith a Skyrian ambience. Most are ensuiterooms or small apartments, witha touch of luxury; some are charmingrooms within traditional houses. Participantsnormally share a twin room. Singlerooms are bookable in advance at £140per week.FoodAdapted from the villagers’ traditionaldiet, meals are based on fresh fruit andvegetables, natural yoghurt, grains andcheese. They are eaten on the Centre’sterrace which enjoys a panoramicview over the sea. Food is prepared byVasso, about whom writer MichèleRoberts wrote, ‘Where is heaven? Hereon earth, in Skyros, in Vasso’s kitchen’.The Centre is half board (usually breakfastand lunch). In the evenings thereare plenty of options to choose from inthe village, from traditional tavernas tosophisticated restaurants servingmodern Greek cuisine (£7 - £12).Daily lifeThe day starts with gentle yoga followedby breakfast. The main courseis held between 10.30am and 1.30pm.After lunch one can stroll down to thesea or have a siesta. Late afternoonsare usually reserved for events suchas Greek wine tasting, Greek cooking,Greek music and singing, a backgammonlesson, walks in the countryside ora visit to the local museum.Every session offers the traditionalSkyros structures of demos (communityaffairs), co-listening (meeting a partnerdaily to share feelings and ideas) andlight community work such as vegetablechopping or watering the plants.One-to-one sessions such as massageand life coaching are bookable on site.NightlifeSkyros nightlife is relaxed yet with muchto offer. There are bars with live musicthat are open until the early hours andtavernas with delicious food and inexpensivedrinks. In the village‘s nightclubsone can dance the night away.SKYROSHOLIDAYS 13

SKYROSHOLIDAYSSkyros Village CentreLife coaching programme‘ Skyros isn’t ‘unreal’. In fact, it’s a hell of a lotmore real than most people are used to.’Paul Mansfield, Sunday Telegraph‘ It’s a magical, healing place that bringsout the best in people’.Janet Barcroft, Here’s Health‘ The most wonderful legacy is the memoryof having laughed more in two weeksthat I can remember since childhood’.Tracey Pocock, WomanLC4 31 May – 13 June £825Michael EalesThe Path of HappinessBased on the latest research in whatmakes people happy, this course willfocus on living in the here and nowand finding your sense of meaning andpurpose. Michael, a leading figure inHumanistic Psychology for over 25 years,is the co-author of The Personal ManagementHandbook and The Coaching Cube.LC7 12 – 25 July £975Paul BarberBeing More, Doing LessHonour your unique needs and vision.Work with Paul Barber, fellow of RoffeyPark and visiting Professor at MiddlesexUniversity, to slow your awareness downinto a moment to moment focus, findout what really matters to you and understandyour relationships with others.Learn how you can do less and be more.LC10 23 August – 5 Sept £1,025Kate Daniels Look Good, Walk Tall, Feel FabulousLet go of outdated patterns, old fears andself-consciousness and gain a greatersense of authority and presence. Katecombines a background in theatre andjazz singing with being a family therapist,consultant and teacher at The TavistockCentre. She is the ideal person to helpyou find your authentic self and walk tall.LC5 14 – 27 June £875 LC8 26 July – 8 August £1,075LC11 6 – 19 September £925Hazel CareyFree the SpiritLeave your stress and pressure behind,get in touch with the joyful inner ‘you’and let your sense of well-being flourish.Hazel Carey, a voice/movement teacherand psychosynthesis counsellor, willengage you in African dance, visualisation,Qi Gong, theatre and singing, thetraditional elements used through history to bond communities.Dina GloubermanLife Choices, Life ChangesDina Glouberman, author of the classicLife Choices, Life Changes and The Joyof Burnout, will show you how to listento your soul’s whispers, find your naturalbrilliance, overcome fears, solve problems,make wise choices - and go for it.Ari Badaines will also offer in this session his own courseChoose Life at Whatever Risk. See LC9Janie WilsonPassport to the FutureJanie Wilson will assist you in reviewingyour ‘life map’, look at what’s working,what needs to change, and help youdevelop ideas, options and a vision toimprove the quality of the ‘ride’ andmaybe even to change direction. Janie,a facilitator, consultant, business mentorand coach, is director of Passport, a development consultancyin London.LC6 28 June – 11 July £925 LC9 9 – 22 August £1,075 LC12 20 – 27 September £575Sally JonesYour Best Possible SelfSally Jones, psychotherapist at the TavistockCentre as well as a yoga and meditationteacher, will combine emotionalexploration with yoga, breathwork andvisualisation to help you clear the blocksthat are keeping you from flourishing.Take home an increased self-awareness,stability, energy and a sense of optimal well being.Ari BadainesChoose Life at Whatever RiskAri Badaines, a Skyros facilitator since1982, runs personal and professionaldevelopment courses worldwide. Withina safe group setting , he will guide youto face whatever blocks you in any areaof life, and take a leap of faith into a newway of living.Viyog GilbertLove Wins OutWe all hope to find love and be loved inreturn, but sadly we can be disappointed.In this workshop we’ll look for betterchoices, a new belief system in ourselvesand others so that love can eventuallywin out. Viyog Gilbert is an individual,couples and family therapist of severaldecades’ standing.Friends of Skyros (past participants) receive a discount of £50 for each holiday14

Courses & Coaching WorldwideWith Dr Dina GloubermanRock Your ImaginationOpen the Doors of Your ConsciousnessLive your Soul PurposeFind Peace and Share it All AroundWe are living in times critical for us and for our earth. Each ofus needs to use all our resources to find peace at the centre ofthe storm and respond to whatever life is going to ask of us.This also means sorting out our personal life so that we findour natural joy, feel happy and fulfilled and have space for loveand creativity in our lives.How? Here are a few ways I know:Making your contribution: The road to contentment ispaved with knowing that your giving is essential to who you are.Imagework: When you befriend your imagination and learnto listen to the whispers of your soul, everything your rationalmind has closed down becomes available to you again.Truth: Working your way through your illusions, you will findthe golden thread that takes you through to a bigger reality.Time and space: By slowing it all down and creating a clearspace around you, you will avoid stress and burnout and find iteasier to think and act wisely and peacefully.Community: Opening to a network of people who shareyour vision, and support you when the going is rough, makeseverything more possible.Come and join us on this journey.Dina Glouberman is co-founder of Skyros, internationallyrecognised pioneer in imagery work, and author of the classicbooks Life Choices, Life Changes and The Joy of Burnout. Herwork is remarkably powerful both personally and professionally,and also enhances the effectiveness of any other method ofdevelopment and transformation.For further information on courses, training programmes, andone-to-sessions (including telephone counselling) by DinaGlouberman and Imagework teachers go to:www.imagework.co.ukemail hermione.elliott@burnoutsolutions.comor phone Hermione at 01273 479114.SKYROSHOLIDAYS 15

SKYROSHOLIDAYSWriters’ LabInspired by the irreverent Gods of GreeceThe Writers’ Lab in Skyros island, Greece,offers writers, thinkers and dabblers theopportunity to learn from distinguishedauthors, share the joys and struggles of thecreative process, discover their strengthsand polish their skills. In an idyllicenvironment, far away from the demandsand routines dictated by a busy life, courseparticipants can navigate beyond oldboundaries and emerge with pieces ofwriting to be proud of.Indeed, participants have gone on topublish books or to stage plays started,developed or completed in Skyros.Courses are open to novices with a secretpassion for writing as much as to writerswho have a book under their belt. Thetutors enjoy helping people at any stageof development – so do come with workin progress or just an empty page.The Skyros Writers’ Lab has built up anexcellent reputation over the years. StevenBerkoff, Rachel Billington, MargaretDrabble, Hanif Kureishi, Alison Lurie, HilaryMantel, D M Thomas, Sue Townsend,Marina Warner, Hugo Williams and manyothers have graced the place over theyears and given hundreds of people thebenefit of their passion and experience.Courses convene for up to three hoursevery morning. They may include groupand individual exercises, feedback sessions,varying scenic locations and alwayscamaraderie and fun. Their pace andcontent are determined by theparticipants themselves.The Writers’ Lab is housed in Atsitsa inthe first three sessions and then at theSkyros Village Centre. Writers are welcometo join in either Centre’s activities,including early morning yoga, and to bean integral part of all community events.‘ Intellectual rigour, spiritualencounters and good old-fashionedrioting in the evening.Angela Neustatter, The Times16

Top WritersExperience and passionWL1 3 – 10 May (1 Wk) £575 WL5 14 – 27 June £875 WL9 9 – 22 August £1,075Romesh GunesekeraFiction WritingThis course is ideal for aspiring and alsoexperienced (but unpublished) writers,who want to know the essential elementsof good fiction and do lots of enjoyablewriting. Romesh’s first novel, Reef (1994),was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, andhis second one, Sandglass (1998), wasawarded the BBC Asia Award. His Heaven’s Edge waspublished in 2002 and The Match in 2006. (Course inAtsitsa)Crysse MorrisonYour Writer’s VoiceGoing through shared exercises and frommemories to wild imagination, Crysse’scourse will focus on aspects of style andnarrative including creating characters, storylines,settings and dialogue.Techniquesare adaptable to all aspects of writingfrom poetry to novels. Crysse’s first novel,Frozen Summer, was published in 1999 and was followedby her second one, Sleeping in Sand. She also writes shortfiction and poetry and has a regular column in WritingMagazine.Matt ThorneStarting to WriteWriting novels and short stories cansometimes be challenging. This course willhelp unlock writing strengths and showwriters how to reach their full potential. Itwill examine all aspects of fiction and helpyou expand from that initial idea and firstfew pages to the final full stop. Matt is theauthor of six novels including Tourist (1998), Eight MinutesIdle (winner of the Encore Award, 1999) and Cherry whichwas long-listed for the Booker Prize.WL2 10 – 23 May £775WL6 28 June – 11 July £925 WL10 23 August – 5 Sept £1,025Andrew MillerImagination & VoiceThis is a broad-based fiction course forcommitted writers of all levels of experience.It offers a mixture of workshops andtutorials aimed at freeing the imaginationwhile staying rooted in the craft. AndrewMiller is the author of five novels includingIngenious Pain (a winner of many awards)and Oxygen which was shortlisted for the Booker andthe Whitbread Best Novel. His work is published in overtwenty languages. His latest novel will be published laterthis year. (Course in Atsitsa)Christopher HopeThe Art of the StoryThe form, the magic, and the difficulty ofgetting a story right is entirely beguiling.We’ll be looking at stories by writerswhom we’ve been reading forever, andseeing how it is that they get their story towork so well that it flies right off the page.Christopher was born in Johannesburg andis the author of nine novels including the award-winning ASeparate Development and Kruger’s Alp and also SerenityHouse which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. His mostrecent novel is My Mother’s Lovers (2007)Rachel CuskLife WritingLife Writing aims to create a new form forthe narration of personal experiences. Inthis course we will study some of its techniquesand examine some of the pitfalls andpleasures of memoir and autobiography.Rachel’s first novel, Saving Agnes, wonthe Whitbread First Novel Award. Hermost recent, Arlington Park, was shortlisted for the 2007Orange Prize. Rachel teaches Creative Writing at KingstonUniversity.WL3 24 – 31 May (1 Wk) £595 WL7 12 –25 July £975 WL11 6 – 19 September £925Alan JenkinsThe Inner Places of PoetryOn this informal course, reading somewell-known poems will be the starting pointfor the adventure of writing poems; bothreading and writing will also enrich theexperience of the beautiful island setting.Alan has won many awards and prizes forhis poetry – collections include The Drift(2000) and A Shorter Life (2005). He is an editor of theTimes Literary Supplement and has taught Creative Writingin England, France and the USA. (Course in Atsitsa)Julia BellThe Novel Under the BedNovelist Julia Bell invites you to bring ideasgathering dust in order to write, rewrite,edit and extend. She is a lecturer in CreativeWriting at Birkbeck College, Universityof London, and formerly at UEA, and coeditorof The Creative Writing Course Book(2001). She has published two novels,Massive (2002) and Dirty Work (to be released this year).Currently she is working on a longer work of adult fiction.Charles PalliserSeduce Your ReaderThe art of narrative is about enticement.And so we will look at the many ways tocatch the attention and keep the readerintrigued in a novel or drama. You will behelped to write fiction full of mystery andsuspense. Charles has taught Literatureand Creative Writing in universities in theUK and the USA. Among his four novels are The Quincunxand The Unburied. His fiction has been translated into adozen languages.WL4 31 May – 13 June £825 WL8 26 July– 8 August £1,075 WL12 20 – 27 Sept (1 Wk) £575James Kelman The Blank Page & Other MythsWhat can we do if we want to be writers?Things cannot just happen. How do westart? Are concepts such as inspiration,genius, talent etc useful? We will assumethat participants are either inexperienced orfeel that it is time for a different approach.James’ novels include How Late it was,How Late (1994), which won the Booker prize for Fiction,Translated Accounts (2001) and You have to be careful inthe Land of the Free (2004). He has tutored Creative Writingcourses in the UK & the USA.Monique RoffeyFundamentals of WritingAlways wanted to write a novel or shortfiction – don’t know how or where to start?This course is a practical beginner’s guideto the basic narrative elements of writingfiction. Monique’s first novel, Sun Dog, waspublished in 2002. Her second one, TheWhite Woman on a Green Bicycle, will bepublished next year. She has worked as a journalist and forAmnesty International, and she was a Centre Director for theArvon Foundation.Michèle RobertsGet Going!Michèle uses exercises and games to guideyou through writer’s blocks, exploring avariety of forms and techniques. She isthe author of many novels including theacclaimed Daughters of the House (1992)that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.Other novels include A Piece of the Night(1978) and The Looking Glass (2000). The Secret Gospel ofMary Magdalene was published last year. Michèle is Professorof Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.Friends of Skyros (past participants) receive a discount of £50 for each holidaySKYROSHOLIDAYS 17

SKYROSHOLIDAYSSkyros-in-CubaA glimpse of a world without McDonald’s‘ Skyros is the perfect place for aproper holiday’.Matthew Collins, The Travel Show. BBC2Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site,is one of the oldest, grandest and safestcities in the Americas. It is also one of theloveliest. Its beguiling ice-cream colouredcolonial buildings, the high concentrationof museums and galleries, the stunningvibrancy of Cuban music and dance andthe charismatic habaneros give it a culturalpunch well beyond its size and economicstatus. Add to all this the tropical climateand you have a potent cocktail.Havana is also the perfect place to learnCuba’s national dance – Salsa. Ourauthentic Cuban style Salsa classes arefacilitated by a top dance tutor. Each participanthas a local Cuban dance partnerwho will always be there to mentor eachperson’s progress and ensure a highquality learning experience. Outside Salsacourse hours, Clem Axel, Skyros’ man inHavana, will help people gain a good understandingof Cuban history and culture.The day is easy-going. It begins with somegentle yoga followed by a delicious breakfast,the community meeting and thena course in Cuban history and culture.Participants can stroll leisurely in the city,where they can get a glimpse of life withoutMcDonald’s, and enjoy Havana’s rebelnature, which is a crucial part of its allure.The Salsa tuition comes in the afternoon.Courses are held in the naturally-lit pool-side venue of the hotel, and are suitablefor all levels.Evenings offer balmy weather and achance to walk the many and variedshopping streets of La Habana Vieja, theOld Havana, visit dazzling nightclubs andshows, and even dance Salsa in the streets!The programme includes a half dayHavana city tour and optional excursionsto beaches, a traditional cigar factory andlocal beauty spots.The Cubans, even when life comes withplenty of grit, gripes and its share ofinequalities, have never lost their passionfor partying. The nightlife of their capitalis legendary. If you haven’t danced Salsaunder a Havana moon, what are youwaiting for?Every Cuba holidayprovides:Early morning yoga.Weekday salsa courses partneredwith a local Cuban dancer.Talks on Cuban culture andhistory.Visits to historical sites andother places of interest.Optional excursions.Accommodation in the 4-starHabana Libre hotel.Fees include the cost of sharedaccommodation & breakfast,two evening meals and transfersfrom and to the airport.18

SalsaSalsa with a Cuban dance partnerCB1 2 – 13 March £945 CB3 2 – 12 November £895John Harris and Clem AxelCB2 16 – 27 March £995John Harris and Clem AxelCB4 16 – 26 November £895John Harris and Clem AxelJohn Harris and Clem AxelFriends of Skyros (past participants) receive a discount of £50 for each holiday.‘ I felt inspired and optimistic aboutthe future and what I could makeof it. I’d relaxed, had fun and learntnew skills. Best of all was the simplerealisation that I had it in me to feelgood about myself.’Leah Hellen, Top SantéAccommodationSkyros-in-Cuba uses the famous4-star Habana Libre Hotel.Centrally located in the districtof Vedado, the hotel – in earliertimes called the Hilton – passedthrough the revolution relativelyunscathed. Fidel Castro liked itso much that he initially relocatedhis headquarters there!The magnificent mosaic wall,designed by Amelia Pelaez,mercifully survived the hotel’srenovations made at a later stage.The hotel offers breathtakingviews of Havana, the sea and theMorro fortress. Convenientlylocated, it offers easy access tothe eastern beaches. Its top floorhas a dance hall with liveCuban bands.FoodYou can eat well on simplyprepared wholesome food. Cubawas a pioneer in the use ofecologically sound farming.Seafood, particularly lobster,prawns and fresh tuna are ofexcellent quality. Vegetarianismis in its infancy but restaurantsrespond to requests.SKYROSHOLIDAYS 19

SKYROSHOLIDAYSSkyros-in-ThailandThe Skyros spirit spiced with Thai flavours‘ Moonlight swims andimpromptu discos’.Mellissa de Villiers, RedSkyros-in-Thailand is hosted in theexclusive Aiyapura Resort and Spa on themagical island of Koh Chang. The islandis part of a beautiful National Park 300 kmsouth-east of Bangkok. The 5-star resort,sited in a spectacular private bay, is one ofThailand’s opulent hidden treasures.In or around Aiyapura one can delightin watersports, sip cocktails at sunset,enjoy the world-renowned Thai cuisinein restaurants overlooking the sea, andspend the night dancing. The health spa,set amongst tropical gardens and caressedby gentle ocean breezes, is a dream placeto unwind.Courses are informal and are held on thebeach, by the pool, or in a private, air-conditionedgroup room. They run for fourdays each week, with a one and a half daybreak mid-session. Participants can chooseup to two a day or take time out to makethe most of their surroundings. The Skyrosgroups of between 20 and 40 participantsare warm and friendly.White Sand Beach, 10 minutes away bycourtesy bus, offers lively restaurants,bars, and dancing till the early hours. Italso offers optional snorkelling and divingoff coral reefs, and elephant trekking. KohChang is very safe and hassle free.If they take the Skyros optional transfer,participants will also have two nights in theluxury 5-star Sofitel Silom Hotel in Bangkok.In this fascinating city there will be anexcursion to one of its cultural highlightsand also a chance to experience the city’scolourful nightlife. If required, Skyros canarrange extra days in Bangkok.Skyros-in-Paradise, as many participantshave called it, offers an unforgettable adventurein which one can make wonderfulnew friends, enjoy a different culture andbe inspired.‘ It was a magical fortnight. I feltabsolutely liberated’.Diana Jones, Woman & HomeAccommodationOn Koh Chang participants share comfortable,superior air-conditioned bungalowsnestled in the hillside overlooking the pooland the sea. All rooms have ensuite facilitiesand balconies and, placed amidst lushtropical flora, exude style and comfort.Upgrades to Deluxe rooms are available.The resort has two restaurants, luxury spa,gym, large swimming pool, watersportsand mountain bikes, plus a free transferbus to nearby White Sand Beach for shopping,traditional beach life and nightlife.FoodThai cuisine has a worldwide reputation.Meals are flavourful and seasonedwith lemongrass and basil and there isan emphasis on fresh seafood. Breakfastand lunch are provided at the resort andtake the form of sumptuous buffets with ahuge range of options including vegetarianand more spicy food. The resort has tworestaurants providing evening meals at approximately£8 - 10 per person. There arealways delicious options for vegetarians.Every Thailandholiday provides:Two different weekday courses.Early morning yoga.Optional elephant trekking andsnorkelling trips.Spa treatments paid on site.Accommodation in 5-star hotels. The feescover courses and shared accommodationand half board in Koh Chang*.* Thailand session dates indicate the days ofarrival in, and departure from, Bangkok. TheKoh Chang holiday lasts 12 days.20

ProgrammeFriends of Skyros (past participants) receive adiscount of £50 for each holiday.CambodiaTemples and junglesTH2 28 Dec 2007 – 10 Jan 2008 £1,145Dina Glouberman Life Choices, Life ChangesDina will use Imagework to help listen to the soul’swhispers, overcome fears and make choices.Julia BellThe Novel Under the BedNovelist Julia will guide people to where their writingstrengths lie to develop their own unique voice.David Moreno Yoga, Ayurveda: Science of LifeDavid will help you get fitter and live a healthylife in harmony with your physical, mental andspiritual self.TH3 27 Jan – 9 Feb 2008 £945Michael Eales The Path of HappinessMichael will guide people to reconsider theshape of their lives, take risks, make connectionsand have fun.Chloe GoodchildThe Naked VoiceSinger, songwriter and author Chloe will introduceyou to sound and voice inspired by themusic, rhythms & movement of East & West.Adisak Sittichainate Thai Yoga & MassageAdisak will teach some of the purest forms ofancient Thai healing arts.TH4 14 Dec – 27 Dec 2008 £1,195Julie McNamaraThe Voice WithinSinger and playwright Julie will work withplayful vocal improvisation, and will also helpyou turn stories from the page to the stage.Andrew RisnerAn Enjoyable LifeAndrew will look into ways to get in touch withhidden inner resources and lead a creative life.Adisak SittichainateMalcolm SternMalcolm will help you to access your truth, improveyour relationships and liberate potential.Sarah WarwickThe Courage to ChangeEveryone Can SingSinger/songwriter Sarah will create a safe place toexplore the power and beauty of the natural voice.Adisak SittichainateAri BadainesThai Yoga & MassageTH5 28 Dec 2008 – 10 Jan 2009 £1,195Thai Yoga & MassageTH6 25 Jan – 7 Feb 2009 £995A Leap of FaithAri will guide you to face whatever blocks yourway in any area of life and take a leap of faith.Alison GoldieBorn to PlayPerformer and teacher, Alison will facilitatestand-up comedy, theatre, writing and singing.CM1 16 Jan – 25 Jan 2008 £1,095Michael EalesAdisak SittichainateCM2 14 Jan – 23 Jan 2009 £1,095Michael EalesKel PortmanThis is a 10-day overland tour from Bangkok to the world-renownedancient Khmer temples of Angkor Wat, including three nights in thejungles of Northern Thailand on the way. The tour includes half-board,shared accommodation, transportation, entrance fees and guides.Starting from Bangkok with a night in the 5-star Sofitel Silom, the groupgoes to the province of Isaan and stays at the splendid Jungle Housein Khao Yai National Park which has a wonderful variety of wildlifeincluding elephants, tigers, gibbons and deer. The group will stay in theJungle House for three nights and then travel on to Cambodia for fourdays and nights in Siem Reap, home to the temples of Angkor Wat. Therenowned temples are among South East Asia’s historical and culturalhighlights, listed in 1992 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Peoplewill stay in the 5-star Sofitel Royal Angkor from where they will visit themain temples, enjoy courses with the facilitators, take a trip to TonleSap great lake and visit the Fine Art School and local markets. Thenback to Bangkok for one more night and morning shopping.It is also possible to book extra nights in Bangkok, or to stay on for thenext Thailand session in Koh Chang.Accommodation and foodOn the Exploration PathThai Yoga & MassageOn the Exploration PathPhotography & PaintingIn Bangkok, Skyros participants stay at the 5-star Sofitel Silom, in SiemReap at Sofitel Royal Angkor, and in the Khao Yai National Park at thebeautiful Jungle House.Thai cuisine has a worldwide reputation and Cambodian food is similar,with a French twist.SKYROSHOLIDAYS 21

SKYROSHOLIDAYSThe GrangeIsle of Wight - home from home‘ It would be interesting to know whatKeats would have made of the EroticWritings at The Grange.’Deborah Stone, The TimesThe Grange, a beautiful Georgiancountry house, is in the charming OldVillage of Shanklin on the east coast ofthe Isle of Wight. Nestled in greenery,it is very secluded. Yet it’s only momentsfrom the picturesque thatchedpubs and cosy tea rooms, the localtrain station, shops and restaurantsand, best of all, the long sandy beach.Visitors can certainly take it easyhere – relax, sleep deeply, enjoy ameandering walk down to the beachand breathe in the fresh sea air. Toincrease the feel-good factor, they canalso book a massage and/or beautytreatments or opt for one-to-one tuitionin a subject of their choice.The Grange offers a wide variety ofweekend courses with exceptionalfacilitators including award-winningauthors, leading life coaches, outstandingsingers and yoga teachers.Taking a short course at The Grange isa great way to try something different,meet interesting people and possiblyreturn home with newly discoveredtalents and possibilities!So close to London, The Grange caneasily become a favourite destinationfor a short break or, even better, ‘homefrom home’ as one course participantwas pleased to discover.The Grange, which has been awardedthe AA’s Four Star Guest Accommodationgrading, has 17 newly refurbishedbedrooms. Soothing and comfortable,each one of them is elegantlydecorated in natural tones mirroringthe surrounding environment. Newlyfitted power showers and complementaryluxury toiletries ensure a goodstart to each day.22

The Grange ProgrammeFebruary May OctoberFriday 15 – Sunday 17 February (Valentine’s)Salsa with John HarrisFriday 22 – Sunday 24 FebruaryWalk Tall, Feel Fabulous with Kate DanielsMarchFriday 29 February – Sunday 2 MarchPilates & Alexander T with Judy HammondFriday 7 – Sunday 9 MarchSinging & Songwriting with Abbie LatheFriday 14 – Sunday 16 MarchWriting with Crysse MorrisonThursday 20 – Monday 24 March (Easter)Flirtshop with Alison GoldieFriday 28 – Sunday 30 MarchYoga with Carol MacCartneyFriday 2 – Monday 5 May (Bank Holiday)Yoga with Ken EyermanFriday 9 – Sunday 11 MayLife Coaching with Andrew RisnerFriday 16 – Sunday 18 MayWriting & Publishing with Judith KendraFriday 23 – Monday 26 May (Bank Holiday)Music & Wine with Susie SelfJuneFriday 30 May – Sunday 1 JuneAnti-ageing Nutrition with Sarah DobbynFriday 6 – Sunday 8 JuneWriting with Julia BellFriday 3 – Sunday 5 OctoberSinging with Sarah WarwickFriday 10 – Sunday 12 OctoberBodywork with Silke ZiehlFriday 17 – Sunday 19 OctoberPassport to the Future with Janie WilsonFriday 24 – Sunday 26 OctoberLiving Passionately with Malcolm SternNovemberFriday 31 October – Sunday 2 NovemberYoga with Ken EyermanFriday 7 – Sunday 9 NovemberAnything is Possible with Michael EalesFriday 14 – Sunday 16 NovemberWriting with Alison HabensApril September DecemberFriday 4 – Sunday 6 AprilPainting with Kel PortmanFriday 18 – Sunday 20 AprilSalsa with Sophie FerrisFriday 25 – Sunday 27 AprilWriting with Peter GuttridgeFriday 19 – Sunday 21 SeptemberLiterotica with Mitzi SzeretoFriday 26 – Sunday 28 SeptemberFree the Spirit with Hazel CareyWednesday 24 – Saturday 27 December (Xmas)Christmas with Hazel Carey & Alison GoldieTuesday 30 December – Friday 2 Jan ‘09(New Year)New Year with Julie McNamara & Andrew RisnerSee www.thegrangebythesea.com for course information or call The Grange on 01983 86 76 44COURSES(Deduct 20% if past Grangeor Skyros participant)B & BWeekends Bank Holidays Easter£75 £110 £140Low Season Mid Season High SeasonRate per personsharing a twin ordouble bedroomper night7 Jan - 19 March30 Oct - 18 Dec£ 4420 Mar - 29 May15 Sep - 29 Oct£4830 May - 14 Sep19 Dec - 4 Jan£ 52Single room supplement £25 per night.To book phone 01983 86 76 44 or book online www.thegrangebythesea.comChristmas and New Year at The Grange are all-inclusive and cost £425. (10% off for Friends of Skyros)SKYROSHOLIDAYS 23

SKYROSHOLIDAYSPressSkyros has been the subject of numerousfeatures in the British and foreign pressover the years. The very short extracts onthis page represent only a tiny sample ofthe vast publicity given to an organisationwhich does not even have a PR department.The Birmingham Post 17 March 2007I was stunned when I saw them. They (theAtsitsa group) looked transformed. A weekearlier these had been pasty, stressedfaces and bodies, yet they now lookedrejuvenated. And it wasn’t just the tan. Ofcourse, our Skyros Centre group was thesame, but we hadn’t noticed it among ourselves.Clive LeightonJewish Chronicle 2 March 2007Skyros is different because it is opening upparticipants to possibilities. What you takeback from this island is more than you getfrom a typical holiday. Sharon GarfinkelDaily Express September 2006After a week on the island of Skyros, I feelfitter, calmer and braver than I have for along time. It felt as though we were closeto nature and, as time went on, close toeach other. Rachel BairdGreece Magazine February 2006Tonight there’s a full moon and we’re planningcelebrations - a healing in the magiccircle, a late night walk to the threshingfield, a skinny-dipping party...I’ll join thechill out dancers on the bar terrace.Crysse MorrisonElle September 2005Abandoning every last vestige of dignity, Ifind myself humming to this group of strangers.Later on, I look in the mirror and decidemy eyes are beautiful. Something hasdefinitely shifted in the way I see myself.Sunday Tribune July 2005Returning home after a week on Skyros waslike waking up from a dream: when friendsasked how it was, it was hard to think of anythingmore specific to say than an expansive‘wonderful’. Roberta GrayTLS June 2005Welcome to the world of honouring, empowerment,openness, issues, respect andconcern. Hugo WilliamsSunday Telegraph, AU, March 2004The games people play on the Greek islandof Skyros have nothing to do with fitness,stamina or winning medals. Instead they’reall about conquering your fears, freeingyour spirit and having the sort of fun youprobably haven’t since you were a kid.Paul MansfieldInStyle Magazine January 2003Walking on to the balcony of the centre,lit by candles, nested in the hill-top villageof Skyros, I did think ‘this is heaven’.Gaynor Faye‘ To read Skyros press coverage is to choke onclichéd words like “life changing”, “transforming”.Yet at the end of two weeks, Skyros hasbeen all of these.’Kate Rew, The ObserverThe Guardian 20 October 2001Atsitsa’s greatest achievement lies in its abilityto create a climate that makes possible a meetingof minds in which the barriers of age andgender dissolve and people experience thatrarest of treats – simply being valued for whothey are. Moyra BremnerMarie Claire November 1999In the evenings, we got together in the bar todiscuss our personal triumphs and insights witha renewed enthusiasm for life. Kerry Clark24

Sunday Express 25 April 1999A relaxed and genuine atmosphere of mutualencouragement, laughter and learning whichprovides a haven for creativity and self-awareness.Jane WarrenEvening Standard 23 October 1998A sense of community, a chance to try newactivities, a freedom from the tyranny of thebusiness meeting, the mobile phone and thebusiness plan. Lesley GarnerThe Financial Times 9 May 1998Some magic at work inspires people.Angela WigglesworthThe Daily Mail 9 May 1998We swam and sunbathed with dolphins leapingand diving off the bow. At the end of twoweeks our group was as close as many friendsbecome in a lifetime. Paul MansfieldThe Age, Sydney, 30 December 1996What did I gain from Skyros? A better understandingof myself and a sense of being fullyalive. Add to that new friendships, laughterand excellent food and drink. My tan was just abonus. Paul MansfieldITV, First Tuesday 7 September 1993It’s almost like living your life in a fortnight.The Sunday Telegraph 2 January 1993People go to Club Med to forget themselves.At Atsitsa they hope to find themselves, or atleast some interesting, new and undiscoveredbit. Lesley GarnerThe Times Educational Sup 22 Jan 1988I would say that never have I come back fromholiday feeling so refreshed and invigorated.’Civilisation’ will never look quite the same.Anne-Marie ConwayTime Out 20 August 1986Comments from participants run into superlatives– ‘liberation, rejuvenation, bliss in massivedoses’ – but for many it is the sense of tryingand achieving something you’ve never donebefore that tops the cake. Hetty EinzigVogue May 1985I felt alive and inspired, did some acting for thefirst time in many years, tried out a little gentlepsychotherapy and learned to windsurf. Iate well, got fitter...went brown, slept deeply,laughed more than I had in ages and felt great.Deborah HuttonA trilogyby Yannis AndricopoulosThe Future of the PastFrom the Culture of Profit to the Culture of JoyUniversalism in its old forms has, just like steampoweredbuses, bitten the dust. But the search for someuniversally accepted ethical standards cannot beabandoned. Democracy is not colourless as the windand odourless as thoughts; and freedom, unlike money,does not abolish the difference between right andwrong, intelligence and crassitude. The Future of thePast looks into our world from the classical Greek pointof view, and wonders whether we cannot placeJustice again at the heart of our morality, look forwardto the happiness of the individual rather than economicgrowth, and endeavour to create, not more wealth, buta just and honourable world. After all, society can onlybe as good as its members as much as democracy canonly be as good as its citizens. Sceptical aboutphilanthropic, donor, shareholder or consumerdemocracy, the writer explores the development of acitizens’ democracy, including the enlargement ofparliament to include all the local authorities’ electedrepresentatives.The Future of the PastYannis AndricopoulosYa n n i s A n d r i c o p o u l o sThe Futureof the PastFrom the Culture of Profit to the Culture of JoySKYROSFOUNDATIONSKYROSFOUNDATION3/3To be published in March 2008 by Imprint Academic. Price: £21.00 per set or £8.95 per book.To order your copies please email sandra@imprint.co.uk or telephone 01392 851550Yannis Andricopoulos has written three inter-linked but distinct polemics which are guaranteed to stimulate debate on the mostpressing issue of our time - how best to lead a life that honours the planet, society, people we care about most and ourselves. Heanalyses the malaise of late capitalism and proposes an imaginative solution: to return to the values and ethos of Ancient Greece.He combines this with a rallying call to defend democracy and to create a culture of joy. The books are written in a lively,challenging style and draw on a wide variety of cultural references, including philosophers and novelists. Victoria FieldSKYROSHOLIDAYS 25

SKYROSHOLIDAYSTravel Information2008-2009Whichever holiday you choose, book adesignated flight and the Skyros GroupTransfer – it’s the easiest way to get there.We will take care of you from the momentyou step off the plane.GREECEDesignated Flights to AthensAll outbound flights are on Fridays. Skyrosmeets the Olympic OA270 from Heathrow(call Griffin Travel 020 7814 9977 sayingyou are a Skyros participant), and theEasyjet EZY2001 from Luton (easyjet.com)Book a return flight after 16.00 hrs on thefinal date of the session.Other flightsBook to arrive in Athens any time on Fridayand take a taxi or metro to the Dorian Inn tojoin the Group Transfer to the island.Group TransferAirport pick-up only if a designated flight;one night’s shared room in Athens atthe central Dorian Inn (the rooftop barcomplete with pool overlooks the Acropolis);coach and ferry transport to and fromSkyros; plus, depending on ferry timetable,lunch en route to the island at a seafrontrestaurant or alternatively on Skyros. Totalprice: £125Deluxe Express TransferBook the Saturday Olympic Athens–Skyros–Athens flights (on the web or phoneGriffin Travel as above). Approx £50. Thenbook our deluxe package: one night’ssingle room at the 5-star Sofitel Athensairport hotel with use of luxury spa/pool,and collection from Skyros airport: £160 forone-week sessions and £185 for two-weeksessions to include an extra night in Skyrosafter the session ends on Friday.CUBADesignated Flights to HavanaVirgin Atlantic (phone Holiday Place 0207644 1700 or www.virgin-atlantic.com)have direct flights from Gatwick. Some indirectroutes can be cheaper. Transfer to thehotel is included in the price of the holiday.The pool at the Dorian Inn in Athens.THAILAND & CAMBODIADesignated Flights to BangkokSkyros meets Eva Air, Thai Air and BA onthe first date of the session (arriving approx16.00 hrs). We recommend Eastravel(01473 214 305) or Trailfinders (020 79383939). Book return flight after 13.00 hrs onthe last date of the session.Other FlightsSome indirect routes can be cheaper. Book toarrive in Bangkok before 16.00 hrs and takea taxi to the Sofitel Silom to join the GroupTransfer to the island.Group Transfer (Thailand)Airport pick-up from designated flights, twonights’ shared room at the 5-star Sofitel SilomHotel and return coach and ferry transfer toresort: £145 (£155 in 2008-2009 season).The transfer offers optional excursions inBangkok to the night market, a Thai danceshow and the Jim Thompson House.GREECESkyros VillageSkyrosAtsitsa BaySKYROS AthensA view from the Dorian Inn in Athens.WHY NOT OFFSET THE CO2 IMPACT OF YOUR FLIGHT. CONTACT www.climatecare.org26

Easy BookingFour ways to book:Online: www.skyros.comBy phone: 01983 86 55 66 (open weekdays9.30 - 20.00, Saturdays 9.30 - 18.00, 24-houranswering service)By skype: skyrosholidaysBy post: Skyros, 9 Eastcliff Road, Shanklin,Isle of Wight PO37 6AA, UKPlease note: to book The Grange, visit www.thegrangebythesea.com or call 01983 86 76 44Deposit: £507-Day refund guarantee: If you cancel inwriting within 7 days of booking, we will giveyou a full refund.FeesFees include participation in all courses plusshared accommodation and either full board(Atsitsa), half board (Skyros Village Centre,Writers’ Lab, Thailand & Cambodia) or breakfastonly (Cuba). Travel expenses are not included.DiscountsEarly Bird: There is a £50 discount if youbook and pay in full by the 16 February forGreece, 9 August for Cuba and by 20 Septemberfor Thailand and Cambodia 2008-2009.Friends of Skyros (past participants) canhave an additional discount of £50 per sessionwhether it is a two-week or one-week session.Extra weeks: Those who book for more thantwo consecutive weeks pay only Guest fees onany additional week. For Guest fees see below.Children (age 5-15): 50 per cent of adultparticipant fees. Those aged 16-22 andfull-time students pay Guest fees. Thesediscounts are available for Skyros Island only.Bursaries are available on request.GuestsA limited number of places are open to Guests.Guests join the Skyros community but not thecourses. The fees they pay are 20 per centless than those of any session. Once in Skyros,guests can become full participants at an extracost of £250 per two-week session and £150per one-week session. Full participants cannotchange their status to Guests – there will beno refunds. No Guest status is offered in eitherThailand, Cambodia or Cuba.UpgradesUpgrades need to be booked in advance. Ifrequested locally, their cost can sometimes beas much as double.Atsitsa: £95 per week per person for twinroom accommodation in the house or for asingle hut (subject to availability).Skyros Centre: Single room supplement:£140 per week.Cuba: Single room supplement: £340 for session.Thailand & Cambodia: Single roomsupplement: £450 per session (subject toavailability). Deluxe upgrades available.Travel insuranceYou must have travel insurance. Black RockExpress Insurance (01983 862 900) will behappy to help. Skyros, a member of the TravelTrust Association, also has International PassengerProtection Insurance in accordance withgovernment regulations for package holidays.DisabilitiesThe Centres in Greece are not wheelchairaccessible but we have catered for a variety ofspecial needs in the past. Please call the officeto discuss your needs.CancellationsIf you cancel: (a) More than eight weeksbefore departure, the deposit is forfeited. (b)Less than eight weeks before departure, thefollowing percentage of the total fee is retainedor payable, even if the balance remainsoutstanding: 4 – 8 weeks: 40%; 2 – 4 weeks:60%; 1 – 2 weeks: 75%; less than one week:100% of the holiday and transfer fee retainedor payable. In many cases, cancellation feesare covered by insurance. Notification of thecancellation of the holiday must be given inwriting to us and the flight company immediately– failure to do so may prejudice your entitlementto claim a refund. No refunds can be madeonce participants are in their place of destination.DisclaimerWe believe all the information in our brochure is correctwhen we go to press. However, due to staff cancellations,bad weather, low bookings, mechanical faults,or other situations outside our control, some amenitiesor courses described may become temporarily orpermanently unavailable. We reserve the right to makechanges to our programme, courses or facilitators. Weare not travel agents or flight carriers and therefore donot take responsibility for flight arrangements, delaysor cancellations.Frequently asked questionsQ. Is it OK to join a Skyros holiday on myown?A. Although Skyros does not advertise itselfas a singles’ holiday, the vast majority ofparticipants come on their own.Q. Will there be other people my age?A. The majority of participants are aged 30 to50 but ages range from 5 to 91!Q. How easy or difficult is the travel?A. Book our transfer and everything will betaken care of as soon as you step off the plane.Q. What is the difference between the SkyrosVillage Centre and Atsitsa Bay?A. Atsitsa, surrounded by sea and a pineforest, offers a wide choice of courses andhas simple but comfortable accommodation.The Skyros Village Centre, in Skyros village,is immersed in the village life, has in-depthcourses and can offer higher accommodationstandards.Q. Are Skyros holidays eco-friendly?A. Skyros is committed to preserving theenvironment and culture of the islands, offeringhelp towards local healthcare and animalwelfare. In Atsitsa water is pumped from wellsand heated by solar panels. Shower water isrecycled to water the gardens. Food and suppliesare locally sourced where possible.SKYROSHOLIDAYS 27

‘ It was, quite honestly, the best holidayof my life. So for once, a brochure gotit right’.Anne Roper, Sunday IndependentSkyros(new address)9 Eastcliff Road, Shanklin, Isle of WightPO37 6AA, UKwww.skyros.comTel: 44 (0)1983 86 55 66Fax:44 (0)1983 86 55 37Email: office@skyros.comMember of theTravel Trust AssociationNumber UO239Photography:Richard SwarbrickJohn CooperKel PortmanPrue HawkesElizabeth ClayfieldBrian ClayfieldLucy SageKimberly RyanPeter BurgeMax HamiltonDesigner:Richard Swarbrick