OVERVIEW

FORM + FOCUS

We are so excited to continue this special collaboration with Julian Hyzler from EASEL&LENS to combine a look at creative focus with art projects in travel journal creation throughout the week as a mindfulness practice helping us see and experience more presently, the new sites around us. Yoga and meditation classes will be held daily to prepare our bodies and minds to find a creative way of focus on our excursions through Iceland's amazing landscape. *NO PREVIOUS ART OR YOGA BACKGROUND REQUIRED. All levels are welcome, and participation is voluntary. Projects and classes will be offered as a completely exploratory, unintimidating and personal experience.

GIVE BACK RETREAT

This retreat is part of our GIVE BACK initiative, where EPM will donate at least 10% of profits to a humanitarian partner in the community where each retreat is held. 

HOTEL

Our home for the week will be a nordic adventure in the hub of the Icelandic culture and capital city of Reykjavik. We'll stay at a beautiful certified "green" spa hotel in the center and get a wonderful relaxing welcome to this amazing country where we'll have front row seats to the food, art, and history of the "land of fire and ice".

The completely renovated Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura embodies the spirit of Reykjavik with a nature-and-wellness theme. This retreat includes upgraded “Art Rooms”, as well as access to an executive lounge, daily spa passes, and are decorated with beloved and distinguished Icelandic artists. Enjoy samples of their art, biographies, and artist’s pictures on display. The Art rooms are tastefully decorated and offer all the amenities you would expect.

The Soley Natura Spa is an on-premises high class facility featuring Iceland's only indoor hotel geothermal spa pool, Finnish saunas, fitness facilities, and spa treatments. With the unique proximity to Reykjavik’s wooded areas of Oskjuhlid Hill, guests of the Icelandair Reykjavik Natura Hotel can take advantage of the walking paths to explore the surrounding lava and seacoast landscapes.

CUISINE

Healthful, vegetarian food is part of the retreat experience, including breakfast and dinner daily, as well as selected lunches. Seafood options are also offered on selected meals during this sea-focused location. We've carefully chosen delicious and fresh meals from renowned restaurants and chefs which will give guests an expansive experience of the cuisine. Our dinners will include a few multi-course tasting menus at the hotel's Satt restaurant emphasizing honest, healthy, and delicious  Icelandic food, or at restaurants in the city.

SURROUNDING AREA

Our day trips will allow us to experience the many unique landscapes and activities that this area has to offer. We will take a tour through Iceland's famous Golden Circle which will include the main stops on the route, such as the waterfall Gullfoss (meaning "golden falls"), and the geothermally active valley of Haukadalur, which contains the geysers Geysir and Strokkur. Though Geysir has been inactive for a long time, Strokkur, on the other hand, continues to erupt at every 5-10 minutes interval. We will also have time to explore our home for the week - capital city of Reykjavik - to explore some sites, take a walking tour, had have some free-time to shop, see more of the Icelandic design, or relax before our dinner in town! A day in the village of Hveragerði will allow guests to see more of this thermal water capital and even visit various sites and thermal parks. And a trip to Iceland wouldn't be complete without a day at the Blue Lagoon with its healing waters, silica masks, unparalleled views, and overall spa experience! Each night we'll stand watch for the glorious, and sometime elusive, Northern Lights - this natural phenomenon is on so many people's bucket lists and it's the perfect time to catch a sighting!

YOGA

Daily meditation and yoga classes will be offered in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and can range from gentle, restorative, and more vigorous vinyasa flow and ashtanga styles.* Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students' needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalized attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice. Depending on each retreat location, classes will be held in a dedicated indoor yoga space and some also offer outdoor options as well for us to use if the weather is agreeable.

Certified yoga instructor and EPM founder, Erin Lewis, will facilitate the classes, helping each student focus on improving their practice and gaining new insights into their bodies and movements. She's studied various types of yoga disciplines since 1998, concentrating on the Ashtanga discipline since 2008. She received her teacher certification in Florence, Italy and has continued her education with various specialty certifications throughout the years. She now combines powerful movements with more anatomical-based core vinyasa flow and restorative movement in her personal practice and teaching style.

* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

DETAILS / PRICING

• 6 days / 5 nights (December 28, 2015 - January 2, 2018)
• Inclusive Retreat Price = $3,795
• Deposit to hold space = $950
• Max # Guests = 12

* Guests traveling alone can choose the shared room and we match up based on guest profile. Rooms are spacious with separate beds and private bathrooms.
** Final balance due 45 days before retreat start date.
Read full cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions.

INCLUDED*:

• Hotel accommodation (spacious bedrooms each with private bathrooms, linens)
• Daily Breakfast and Dinner
• Selected lunches
• Transportation to/from day trips
• Daily meditation and yoga classes
• Daily art classes
• Use of hotel amenities (pools, spas, etc.)
• Tour guide on various day trips
• Welcome Reception
• Entrance fees to Blue Lagoon
• Tour of Golden Circle
• Lunch, tour, and Icelandic horse show at organic greenhouse
• Entrance, dinner, and "Rye Bread Experience" at lake-side Thermal Spa
• Sites and tour on Reykjavik day trip
• New Year's Eve celebration (Dinner, Bonfires, Fireworks)
• Taxes

* airfare not included
** all meals are vegetarian. special dietary restrictions can be accommodated

DAY TRIPS*:

• Guided Tour of Golden Circle (Geysir, Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park)
• Day in Reykjavik
• Visit with lunch and horse show at organic Icelandic greenhouse
• Night thermal spa visit with dinner and "rye bread experience"
• Day at Blue Lagoon
• New Year's Eve celebration

*activities may change based on weather or unforeseen circumstances

TRAVEL:

Airport = Keflavik Airport (KEF), Reykjavik's major international airport

SUGGESTED PACKING:

Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you. YOGA MATS AND ART SUPPLIES ARE PROVIDED.

• Bathing suit (on-site pool, spa)
• Winter & weather appropriate clothing (snow boots, winter coat, etc)
• Yoga clothes
• Plug adaptors / converters
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Smartphone and/or camera