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Practical spirituality – Journey into Consciousness Retreats

Woke culture, wellness retreats, magic medicines and more – seeking spirituality in Ibiza can be a minefield of woo-woo if you don’t know where to look. Seek and ye shall find however, specifically in the peaceful and picturesque countryside of Santa Agnes this season, where a new series of grounding yoga retreats uses a practical approach to inspire, empower and transform those seeking greater meaning from life. Hosted by experienced international yoga teachers (and island residents) Blair Hughes and Malvina Kang Hughes, the Journey into Consciousness retreats at Es Cucons are based around a powerful-yet accessible vinyasa yoga practice, pranayama and mediation – tools you can take back into everyday life and live your true purpose.

Journey Into Consciousness is a yoga retreat for people who are willing to explore their true nature,” explains Blair. “We’re capable of so much more than we are often doing, and we want to empower people to uncover, unfold and transform – to really get to know themselves, to question the narrative and to live consciously without being afraid.” It’s a retreat where you’ll delve deep into the physical, emotional and mental foundations of yoga in order to experience the spiritual benefits of observing the mind, the body and the breath. “I’m often mindful about using the word spirituality as it can make people feel un-grounded, when in fact, we use a very practical approach,” he continues. “But there’s still a lot of magic and insight in it as well.”

Highly accomplished yoga teachers Malvina Kang Hughes and Blair Hughes host a series of six-day immersive Ibiza yoga retreats at Es Cucons.

The intention behind Journey Into Consciousness is pure love and dedication – both Blair and Malvina are living, breathing examples of the benefits of their practice and lifestyle. They’ve long dreamt of sharing their experiences, expertise and knowledge with like-minded yogis in a special location like Es Cucons. It took just one gloomy, rainy yet joyous winter weekend to inspire the couple to relocate their young family to Ibiza in 2022 – originally the trip was meant to be a quick island hop from their former base in Mallorca to check out the neighbouring Balearic Island. From the minute they drove off the ferry however, there was no question that they’d found a new home. “I turned to Blair and said: ‘Can you feel that?’ We both agreed there was a beautiful energy here,” Malvina recalls. “It’s so still, grounding and centring, full of light and clarity. There’s no hype in winter – we saw it for its true nature.”

From that moment on, integration into island life was serendipitous – the dream house on thriving farmland appeared at the right time, usually hard-to-secure spaces at the right school opened up immediately for the kids, and they discovered the ideal location to host their dream yoga retreats just a few minutes away from their new home in Santa Agnes. “Running retreats has been in our field of consciousness for the last five years or so,” says Blair. “We knew when the time was right, we’d do it. And when we got to Ibiza, everything fell naturally into place.” Journey Into Consciousness found its home at Es Cucons, a gorgeous family-run Agroturismo hotel exuding a down-home luxury with a penchant for wellness that resonated perfectly.

Unlike other wellness retreats, there are no distractions like hikes, massages, beach trips or late-night cocktails throughout Journey Into Consciousness. “We’re going to practice, and we’re going to go deep with it – it’s very powerful,” says Blair. Groups are limited to a maximum of 20 guests to ensure personalised experiences. A typical day starts at sunrise with meditation and pranayama (breathwork), with two vinyasa yoga classes, workshops on yogic philosophy, holistic health, herbal medicine, hydration, sleep, soul guidance and much more taking place over the course of the day. An evening Satsang (a reflection circle) brings the night to a close before students retire to their beautiful single or double dwellings to reflect on the day’s learnings and observations.

The signature vinyasa classes at Journey Into Consciousness are described as dynamic, strong and transitional but also very accessible – you don’t need to be the most bendy or flexy student to get the most out of it, but you do need to have a determined mindset to give your best, along with the willingness to get to know yourself better. “The way we teach can challenge someone advanced, but can also encourage a beginner,” explains Blair. “We always make our vinyasa classes very inclusive, which comes from our many years of teaching experience.” Between them, Blair and Malvina (both E-RYT 500-hour certified yoga teacher trainers) have over three decades of practical teaching experience, crossing continents from Australia and Asia to Europe.

The spring and autumn retreats are designed to deepen your practice, connect you with your true self and uncover your unique gifts and talents.

Born into a family of healers, Malvina spent much of her life surrounded by ancient yogic practices (she began practicing herself at the age of 12), natural medicines and a general holistic way of living. She is the founder of the renowned Hom Yoga studios in Singapore and is also a certified herbalist, with natural supplementation, herbal medicine, flower essences and kinesiology all coming into play within her teachings. Her deep knowledge and understanding of her practices help her to connect with students on a soul level, helping identify their own purpose and meaning. “Malvina has a very impactful, influential and direct voice when teaching,” says Blair. “She’s a very, very clear and strong communicator and can command positions with clarity, whereas I bring a little more philosophy and feeling into the room.” Students at her trainings and classes are always very empowered by her – she really lives it.”

When asked to describe Blair’s teaching style, Malvina almost echoes his words – it’s clear their methods are complementary on the Journey Into Consciousness retreats. “Blair is very intuitive and impactful,” she says. “He weaves in this potent yoga philosophy into a very powerful, dynamic and rhythmic session—his classes are very influential. He gives people the space to grow and trust in themselves, to follow him as they transform and evolve.” Blair’s gentle nature and Scottish lilt create a commanding yet gentle presence – one honed over several decades of practicing sports visualisation, meditation and his true passion, yoga – that guides his students beyond the physical space and into the realm of transformational.

To keep guests fuelled up for each day’s practices, organic meals are provided three times a day by the beautiful in-house restaurant at Es Cucons – holistically curated by Blair and Malvina – with much of the produce used coming fresh from the fertile land of Ibiza. Expect cleansing, nourishing dishes filled with colour and real authentic flavours. “We see Journey Into Consciousness retreats as an extension of our lifestyle,” says Malvina of the menu, and additionally, the alcohol-free experience. “We’re sharing the way we live.” There’s plenty of me-time available plus the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with Blair and Malvina, alongside the fluid, organically led group sessions. “No retreat is ever the same,” says Blair. “Of course, we work from an outline but the flow is dependant on the dynamic and energy of each group.”

The first Journey Into Consciousness retreat at Es Cucons takes place from May 07 to 12, 2023 – coinciding with the beautiful warm spring weather in Ibiza, with further retreats slated for the autumn season. Immersed in the countryside, beneath Balearic blue skies and golden glow of the sun, it’s the perfect time to tap into your potential through the power of yoga, meditation and breathwork. You’ll emerge from your week in Ibiza filled with positivity, confidence, a settled mind and a strong sense of self-awareness. “We want people to leave the retreat feeling empowered,” says Blair. “And to have the tools to really implement a daily meditation and movement practice into their lives – it’s a compelling ritual they can bring into their day, wherever they are.” Your Journey Into Consciousness starts here…

Come together

Life as we know it is returning to a semblance of normal as we reunite with friends and family in real-time all over the world. Despite this newfound freedom however, there’s still one type of connection that’s stuck in the virtual world – dating. Sure, dating apps were fine prior to the pandemic. Instead of getting dressed up and hitting the town after a long day at work, swiping left and right on your phone from the sofa certainly had its appeal. But after more than a year on the same sofa, without bars, without clubs, without events – without forging any new deep and meaningful connections – where do you even start looking for love in the new world? Ibiza, of course, where Together and Me is set to launch an all-new Ibiza retreat for mature singles in October 2021.

First things first, to set the record straight. Together and Me is no Love Island scenario. There’s no bachelor, no roses, no match making, no speed dating, no marriage at first sight. The four-day event – taking place from October 11 to 14, 2021 in a stunning private boutique Ibiza villa – is a very exclusive and discreet retreat that brings together a hand-picked group of single people (aged 45+ and gender-balanced) for an immersive experience that’s all about connecting, coaching and relaxing in a safe space. The interview-based admissions process ensures all guests are of a similar mindset and interested in networking, developing new friendships and making connections while on the retreat, and if any of them just so happen to feel the spark of authentic attraction and develop a relationship after they’ve checked out? Well, that’s just a blissful and beautiful bonus.

Developed in early 2020 by Sabina Rusconi [pictured] and Milena Piccoli, the Together and Me concept is unlike any other retreat in Ibiza – perhaps even the world. Much love, passion and research has gone into the creation of the brand, from scouring the globe for a team of bi-lingual coaches, fitness and wellness experts to work with and finding an idyllic and inspiring location that would set the scene for relaxation, fun and connection alike. While the concept was initially put on hold due to the global health crisis, fast forward to 2021 as the brand prepares its maiden retreat on the white isle and it’s clear that authentic human connection is needed now more than ever. Loneliness, isolation, separation, disconnection and distance have taken their toll – now is the time to reboot (so to speak!), get off those online apps and return to reality.

Reality, in the case of Together and Me, really resembles nothing short of paradise. A spectacular private boutique villa, nestled into a mountainside with breathtaking sea, campo and sunset views, becomes your home away from home for four days, with plenty of space for me-time and privacy when you need it and stunning communal areas for socialising when the time is right. Fusing traditional Ibicencan style with a luxurious Balinese aesthetic, bedrooms are spacious and filled with character and the tropical gardens and heavenly poolside chillout areas are like a holiday dream. It’s the kind of place you can check into and never want to leave – when you’re staying somewhere as magical as this villa, the sights and delights of Ibiza can wait (until you’ve completed the retreat, at least!).

Once you’ve settled in, the immersive holistic body, mind, heart and wellness program begins, nurturing the senses and igniting the soul. Many of the activities on the Together and Me retreat relate to self-work and discovering who you really are, what you’re really seeking and who you’d really like by your side – participants are making as much of a commitment to themselves as they are to making new connections. You’ll ease into the week by getting to know your new ‘tribe’, through interactive workshops, sundowner cocktails and dinner beneath the Balearic stars. There’s plenty of free time allocated should you feel like breaking away from the group, taking a swim, a siesta, a walk, a massage, using the spa and gym, or finding a cosy corner to get to know someone a little better.

Over the course of the next few days, you’ll become more comfortable amongst the group through group coaching, fun workshops (not boring lectures!), yoga and meditation, fitness training, shared meals (catered by a high-end professional private chef), wine tasting, creative pursuits, pampering, parties and much, much more. As your authentic self begins to shine, you’ll find relaxation and conversation comes much more easily among the group. Open and honest communication is key to developing long-lasting connections, whether it’s with a new friend or a potential partner, and the Together and Me team are experts at subtly guiding you through the experience at your own pace, without ever feeling overwhelmed or pressured.

Working with an ethos of the individual is as important as the group as a whole, Together and Me retreat applicants are invited to fill in a series of questions via the website (or enquire via WhatsApp: +34 652 395 466) to ensure their compatibility with the program, followed by a free introductory interview call. It’s here that the over 45 age bracket comes into play. Whether it’s where you were when major world events occurred, what television shows you watched as a kid, what music influenced your formative years – understanding each other on a pop-cultural level plays a major part in the retreat experience. Most participants will have been dating for decades; some may be divorced, or recently single, others have children, careers, travel commitments – however the common thread is that most are tired of the online dating world and want to focus on finding a connection or a companion with whom they share real-life points of reference with on the same continent.

Together and Me clients are cosmopolitan, well-travelled and not afraid to be honest with themselves about their desire for deep, lasting connection, and only ten participants will be selected for the Ibiza retreat. Whether you walk away from the Ibiza retreat with a dazzling diamond on your finger, the hint of a potential love interest, or a handful of new best friends, you’ll walk away satisfied, knowing you’ve done the work and invested in your own wellbeing. Following the debut Together and Me retreat in Ibiza from October 11 to October 14, 2021 is another Spanish getaway, this time in the renowned Sotogrande resort in Marbella from October 25 to 28, 2021. Future plans include bringing singles over 45 together in Tulum, Portugal and Morocco among other glamorous destinations, returning to Ibiza once again in the spring. Say goodbye to loneliness, hello to happiness and hallelujah to Together and Me.