Mykonos Adventure! Yoga Retreat in Greece June 24-29th, 2015

So my husband Justin and I are heading to Greece for a few weeks this summer for my best friend Alissa’s wedding on the western island of Kefalonia. While we’re there, I’ll be exploring Mykonos on my own and I’d love some company! I’ve got it all planned out and it’s going to be great – now I just need YOU!  Here’s the itinerary…

We’ll explore ancient ruins and exotic beaches while enjoying luxury accommodations on the magical island of Mykonos, Greece! Each day we’ll begin with guided meditation, pranayama and an energizing yoga experience, followed by a gourmet breakfast. In the afternoons, feast on local cuisine, enjoy a complimentary massage, head to the beach or take a guided tour of the most sacred of all islands in antiquity, Delos, the “birthplace of light.” In the evening, wind down with another outdoor yoga session. Then, either prepare dinner with the group or head out for a night on the town! With the exchange rate of the euro being the best it has been in years, this is the perfect time to go to Europe.

Retreat Includes:

• Five nights accommodation in a private luxury villa in the hilltops of Mykonos. Cycladic architecture with spacious outdoor area and amazing panoramic view (Wi-fi, AC, fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer)
• Two daily yoga classes led by Michelle – one morning, one sunset
• One-on-one private coaching/yoga posture lessons
• Daily gourmet breakfast
• Welcome vegan dinner at our villa
• One 60min massage
• Guided tour of the island of Delos to explore ancient ruins (boat fare + tour)
• Airport transfer from Mykonos airport to the villa

Cost:

• Shared Room: Single bed, shared room with 1-2 people        $1155
• Shared Room: Shared double bed                                           $1155/person
• Single Room: Single occupancy, single bed                             $1455
• Single Room: Single occupancy, double bed                           $1600

$500 deposit due via paypal asap to secure our accommodations, no later than April 30, 2015. To make a deposit, email me at michelledomeyer@gmail.com with the subject line Greek Retreat.

Most participants travel solo, including me so don’t be afraid to come by yourself. You will be in good company! With this retreat, there are no rules, no judgement. You are free to spend your vacation however you like. You will be in good hands. Let’s make this a reality! Round-trip airfare from Cleveland into Mykonos is around $1500. In order to decrease travel time, I recommend searching Cleveland-Athens roundtrip, and then getting a separate flight from Athens – Mykonos. I can also recommend a tour of Athens and the mainland afterward if you’d like to extend your trip. Join me in Mykonos this summer!

About me: I received my 200-hr yoga teacher certification from CorePower Yoga Minneapolis in 2009 and have been teaching yoga ever since. I taught part-time for my first two years while I managed Alenov Wellness Center in Minnesota, and full-time since moving to Ohio in 2011. Since then, I’ve taught over 1000 classes and have led two yoga teacher trainings. I am devoted to continual study of meditation and yoga philosophy with Margot and Bill Milcetich of Brahmrishi Yoga. Currently, I teach yoga classes at the Yoga Lounge in Hudson, Ohio and at Centerpeace Yoga in Kent, Ohio. My classes include power vinyasa, beginner vinyasa, gentle therapeutic and restorative. I also regularly teach one-on-one sessions.

My yoga teaching style is more therapeutic in nature, emphasizing alignment with conscious attention to breath. When the body is in alignment, the breath can flow freely. When the breath flows freely, we can access the subtle layers of our being, finding freedom, health and bliss. Through breath awareness, I encourage students to connect with their own inner guide and find opportunities for creativity and self-exploration in each pose. I especially enjoy working with beginners and helping them find ease through proper alignment. My classes include progressive sequencing, breathwork and meditation to gradually open the body and settle the mind.

My training with Dr. Nikolai Alenov II, D.C., L.Ac. has been the most influential in my yoga teaching. Through my five year training at his clinic, I attended over 200 hours of continuing education in holistic health – nutrition, applied kinesiology, biofeedback, detoxification, homeopathy and emotional health.

Outside of yoga, I enjoy playing the piano, board games, cooking, finding new music, sunshine, watching movies with my husband and travel! My extensive travel throughout the world makes hosting this retreat incredibly rewarding and effortless for me. My travel has taken me to Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama, Quebec and throughout the United States.

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Alright all you mindful eaters…

I am finally getting around to posting the recipes I promised from our workshop 2 months ago. Check out my Greek Chicken and Vegetables post and my Cheesy Popcorn post.

Food is one of the many pleasures we have in life, and I feel so fortunate to be able to experience this aspect of life to its full extent. Having recently moved to northeast Ohio from Minneapolis, MN, a city thriving with wonderful, healthy, thoughtfully put-together restaurants, I am motivated and hopeful in finding some hidden gems here as well. I hope that writing about the food scene here will help highlight and support the local venues that do pay attention to the quality of their ingredients, and to then inspire other restaurants to do the same. At the same time, since I’ve made the transition from full-time clinic manager to part-time yoga teacher, I am filling my late afternoons/evenings with new (and old), healthy recipes that nourish body and soul. I will share the best of them here.

Like anyone motivated enough to start writing about it, I do love food. And part of that love resides in an appreciation for what food does to nourish my entire being. Cleanmyplate is a tribute to all the wonderful, naturally good-for-us, often dairy-free and gluten-free foods that exist in our world and also to the occasional(?) indulgence to which my dad always says is “just good for the smile.”

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“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” — J.R.R. Tolkien

Greek Chicken and Vegetables

This is an easy, slow cooker recipe that has a nice, creamy sauce with no cream. I love using chicken thighs because they are so much more moist than chicken breasts. And they are cheaper!  We are fortunate in northeast Ohio to have Gerber’s chicken at almost all grocery stores, which is hormone and antibiotic-free.  As always, use organic produce!

adapted from “The Simple Art of Eating Well Cookbook”

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 lb carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces, or 3 cups baby carrots
1 lb (3-4 medium) potatoes cut into 1-inch wedges (peel if not organic)
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 14-oz can chicken broth
1/3 cup dry white wine
4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
3/4 tsp salt
1 15-oz can artichoke hearts, rinsed, quartered if large
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup chopped fresh dill
Freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Spread carrots and potatoes over the bottom and up the sides of a large slow cooker. Arrange chicken on top. In a medium saucepan, bring broth, wine, garlic and salt to a simmer over medium-high heat. Pour over chicken and vegetables. Cover and cook until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender, 2.5 – 3 hrs on High or 4 – 4.5 hrs on Low.

2. Add artichokes to the slow cooker, cover and cook on High for 5 mins. Meanwhile, whisk egg, egg yolks, and lemon juice in a medium bowl.

3. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a serving bowl using a slotted spoon. Cover and keep warm. Ladle about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid into the egg mixture. Whisk until smooth. Whisk the egg mixture into the remaining cooking liquid in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on High, whisking 2 or 3 times, until slightly thickened and sauce reaches 160 degrees, about 15-20 mins. Stir in dill and pepper. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables and serve.

“Cheesy” Popcorn

This popcorn recipe is my all-time favorite gem. Thanks to the nutritional yeast, this popcorn tastes just like zesty cheesy popcorn, just without the cheese and good for you!  Nutritional yeast has a cheesy, nutty flavor and is a great source of  B vitamins. It is also a complete amino acid and is a great source of vegetable protein. Check out these nutritional facts:

Each 2 teaspoons serving of nutritional yeast contains:
Calories: 70
Total fat: 1g
Saturated fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 2mg
Total Carbohydrates: 7g
Dietary Fiber: 4g
Protein: 8g
Vitamin B1: 640%
Vitamin B2: 565%
Vitamin B3: 280%
Vitamin B6: 480%
Vitamin B12: 150%
Folic Acid 60%
Selenium 32%
Zinc 21%
Iron 4%

Additional Naturally Occurring Amino Acids and Minerals:
Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Beta 1, 3 Glucans, Biotin, Calcium, Choline, Chromium, Copper, Cystine, Ergosterol (Pro-Vitamin D), Glutamic Acid, Glutathione (GSH), Glycine, Histidine, Inositol, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lithium, Lysine, Magnesium, Manganese, Methionine, Molybdenum, Pantothenic Acid, Phenylalanine, Phosphorus, Potassium, Proline, Serine, Tin, Threonine, Tryptophan, Tyrosine, Valine.

I put a tsp or 2 of nutritional yeast on everything, especially when my entree isn’t big on protein, such as a salad. Nutritional yeast can be found at many natural foods stores. If you are in NE Ohio, the Kent Co-op has it in their bulk section. I hear Whole Foods has it too. Otherwise, for the absolute purest source, find a retailer for Premiere Research Labs. They carry absurdly, almost laughably pure nutritional supplements. I will be talking about them more in upcoming posts. You can find one retailer here.

Enjoy!

Tasty Nutritional Yeast Popcorn

Ingredients:
1 cup organic popcorn
2 T nutritional yeast 
2 T olive oil
¼ tsp turmeric
Dash of sea salt or (ideally), himalayan crystal salt (to taste)
Dash of cayenne pepper

Directions:
Air-pop the popcorn. Place the popcorn in a large bowl. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and enjoy!