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Leaping into Quantum Healing

“I am a Quantum Healing Hypnosis practitioner, creator of my own reality. Passionately living my life’s purpose to bring light and clarity with ease through love to help other souls to heal and find their purpose in life” Kitija Claire Alksne.

Kitija Claire Alksne was born and raised in Latvia, a country where since childhood she lived in strong connection to nature and her inner Self. Growing up, she began to feel a calling to travel abroad and explore not only the world but her own purpose in it. Her studies took her to Miami in the US and later Paris, France, before she discovered Greece, where “I could feel with my whole being as my home. My soul here feels at peace,” she says.

I had my session with Claire, as she finds it easiest to be called by clients, in what felt like a synchronistic time. Claire offers Quantum Healing sessions, a therapy developed by the late American mystic and psychic Dolores Cannon, whose many talks I’ve been drawn to listening to on YouTube over the years; one particular weekend, for no apparent reason, I dedicated three days straight to watching Cannon’s talks, and by Monday I decided I was going to try her Quantum Healing meditation later that day. But on Monday noon I received a call from a friend who told me that he had tried Quantum Healing with Claire and that I should definitely try it too as it was a very powerful and therapeutic experience. I was stunned by the serendipitous call and referral and of course contacted Claire immediately for an appointment.

The session experience started with a lengthy talk with Claire for around an hour during which she asked me about my life and emotions, spiritual quests and fears, achievements and blocks, childhood, present and future. I had arrived prepared with a set of questions that she would use in the second part of the session, during which she put me under hypnosis and took me on a past life journey, before connecting with my higher self, or what Cannon sometimes also describes as the Unconscious, and asking it the questions I’d brought. I had been under hypnosis before, and it was similar to other experiences in the sense that you are aware of where you are and what you are doing yet you are also connected to a completely different, deeper, consciousness. As my sunconscious/higher self answered my questions, it was as if I was separate from myself.

The entire hypnosis experience is recorded and after the session Claire sent me my recording to listen to at least three times. I could write an entire sci-fi-style novel based on what I saw when traversing through past lives. It was also fascinating to hear my unconscious providing answers that were a combination of enlightening, unsettling and quite unexpected as well as deeply comforting and reaffirming. That was a couple of months ago, and I’m still processing the experience…!

Meanwhile, I asked Claire a few questions to find out more about her life, her personal practice and the Quantum Healing method overall.

What made you want to become a Quantum Healing practitioner?
“I have always felt a connection with something bigger than myself. I’m a strong believer in miracles and would like to say my life is filled with miracles. The clear light energy that surrounds me lovingly shows and teaches me what life is truly about. How it should and can be lived, and experienced. Years ago during a meditation the energy of my Higher Self fixed my back – there was bone cracking and my body was moved by higher energy. The power of the Universe I was shown, was something I was looking for and in that moment it was shown to me that everything is possible. So I wanted to help other people experience the same ability to heal and find their missing answers. Although I knew Dolores Cannon’s work, and always thought it was something I’d love to do, for a long time I was unaware that it is possible to actually study and learn her method. Until one day I did! This teaching came with such an ease and so naturally to me.

What has been the most rewarding part of this work for you?
With each amazing soul that comes to my practice, my conciseness opens to a whole new different level. Each session is very unique and the energy I get to work with is very powerful. All the senses are working for the client and also for me during the session, and the room fills up with unconditional love. I love seeing the actual change and feedback from my clients. When they tell me how much they’ve healed and how much better their lives have become, it means the world to me.

What is Quantum Healing to you?
It’s a soul’s mission to help to raise the vibration of planet Earth by healing one person at the time. It’s so important to me because I see people who feel stuck in their life situations, mental/physical pain, past life traumas, emotional state and through Quantum Healing I can show them that it doesn’t have to be that way. Life can be lived how you want it. We don’t have to be a victim to circumstances. We are the creators of our lives.

What are your clients looking for?
Mostly clients are looking for a healing and clarity, as well as abundance, love and happiness. They usually find the missing answers to what they have been looking for! All client’s questions can be answered. If there are some questions that cannot be answered, then either it is not needed and necessary for the client to know such information or the client’s rational mind won’t allow this information to enter through easily and blocks it subconsciously.

Can anyone be hypnotized? Is hypnosis safe?
Everyone can be hypnotized. QHHT is a technique that naturally and safely reaches the somnambulistic state which each of us experience two times a day: just before becoming awake and just before falling asleep. It is a profound technique that achieves the deepest level of hypnosis possible, reaching into the quantum field that has all of the knowledge of the Universe and each one of us. However, there are rare cases where the clients’ left side of the brain is more dominant, meaning that client is mostly analytical and methodical in thinking and doesn’t allow the activation of the natural senses (seeing, feeling, hearing, knowing, tasting, smelling) to be experienced during the session.

How has quantum healing changed your life personally?
My Higher Self has empowered me to live my life’s purpose to serve others, to be truly myself, speak my truth, my inner wisdom. All answers are within us, we just have to quitter the mind and listen.

Is QH an ongoing therapy or a one-off session?
It is very individual. The session is a very powerful experience and there are clients who need only one. If the client feels like having another session, I usually would recommend to have it after at least two to three months. However, with the rise in human consciousness, more and more people are choosing to have more than one session to explore themselves further and they are welcome to do it.

***Claire is based in Athens, Greece***.

What, in your experience, are the issues most people are seeking answers to?
Clients are looking for answers to a various kinds of issues – health, relationships, business, career, spiritual, existential, past lives and karma related. Mostly clients come to me with health-related questions- illnesses, phobias, traumatic experiences. One of the most important questions clients ask is – “What is my life purpose and mission in this life?” or “Am I a good mother?” or “Will I finally have a nice relationship?” Only by constant and frequent questioning, we can arrive at the truth. Our Truth!

Contact Claire for a Quantum Healing Session or further questions around it at: claire@luxeofease.com

See her website: www.luxeofease.com

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The 20 Minute Biohacking Ritual that Got Me Through Lockdown

What’s 20 minutes within a 24 hour day? Nothing and everything.

Starting before lockdown but sticking to it religiously during, I created a wellness ritual that combined two wonderful inventions: Joovv red light therapy and the Shakti mat. I lay on the mat with bare skin, getting the best of its benefits such as increased circulation, detoxification and lymphatic drainage while bathed in red light coming from my Joovv tablet that boosts collagen production in the skin, heals and reverses aches by reducing inflammation, pains and injuries , rebalances the Circadian rhythm (promoting better sleep and a general sense of calm) and listened to inspiring, heart healing, anxiety relieving, focus boosting, mood improving meditations and music or just enjoyed the silence.

Joov is the Word!

If it can help grow plants in outer space, which is what NASA used it for in the 1990s, you can bet red light (and infrared light) therapy has effects on other live species too – especially locked down vegetables. I researched red light therapy for a long time before settling on a Joovv device, which has incredible reviews from reliable sources, such as professional athletes, health fanatic celebs like Dave Asprey and ordinary folks who like me, want to be reassured their inverstment is worth their while. Joovv is the leader in red light therapy!

Fortunately I don’t suffer from any particular health condition, except a stiff neck and shoulders many a massage therapist has shrilly remarked on. Yet as Joovv became an everyday part of my life it also became my home doctor providing me with help in dealing with everything from mild to acute anxiety, and the insomnia it brought on during lockdown, occasional joint pains that often magically disappeared even within one 20-minute session, and an overall sense of serenity. Usually I used it in my bedroom and positioned it in different areas for 10-20 minutes each, including my face and chest, back and neck and sometimes even my feet or the top of my head (it’s also reputed to help boost hair growth and quality).

JOOVV Red Light is delivered at 660nm, is readily absorbed by surface tissues and cells, leading to enhanced skin health and healing.

Near-Infrared Light (NIR) is delivered at 850nm, is invisible to the human eye and penetrates into deeper tissues, leading to enhanced recovery and inflammation support.

Other members of the household: Interestingly, red light therapy is popular with my cat too, who rushges to lie next to me when I turn it on! It is indeed used by veterinarians in animal clinics to help heal injuries and strains that the dog or cat is undergoing after surgery. My son finds the light too strong and doesn’t like it, yet I have used it on his back when he’s been unwell to help soothe and calm him and it has always sent him to sleep!

Check out this video by Thomas DeLauer to find out more!

Shakti maT ACTION

Upon receiving my light strength and regular strength Shakti Mats, I immediately disrobed, unrolled this modern-day rendition of the ‘bed of nails’ and lay flat on the floor on my back. Ouch! It is not easy to lie on a Shakti mat without experiencing the seriously surprising ache that comes from its 6000 plastic spikes! I shopped mine from Shakti Mat EU, and was inspired not only by the many health benefits these wellness accessories promised to offer but also that they are ethically produced (fair trade) using organic materials, made by hand in India, not by slave labourers or a factory. Shakti says it supports all its Shakti employees in India with a living wage, an emergency medical fund, and investment in the education of their children. Also, each purchase automatically offers a donation to charities for the Shakti Community projects .

The mats are made by hand with fair trade ethical standards and organic materials.

Back to the health benefits – Shakti mats essentially offer a static form of acupressure that occurs as one lies on the spikes. The longer you lie there (the ideal time period is 20 minutes), the more your circulation increases. Indeed, as I grew more and more accustomed to using it, my enjoyment of the warm, relaxed buzz the mat offered me grew deeper. The mat can be used beneath the back to help alleviate aches and pains, under the legs to help boost circulation, under the feet (standing on it) as reflexology and even rolled up and used as a pillow and neck or head therapy. I used it anywhere I felt I needed it, but usually more as a relaxant under my back.

Often, in combination with the Joov red light therapy, the Shakti mat helped me drift into sweet, deep sleep. The Joov tile turns off on its own (it has a timer that can be set from 1 to 20 minutes) anbd the Skakti mat causes no harm if it’s used for longer than 20 minutes.

Shakti mats have bvecome incredibly popular and have received thousands of raving reviews, clearly because they actually work and are sold at an affirdable price. To make the most of your Shakti mat you can follow the Shakti Mat Tutorial, a three part series.

Featured

The Age of Self-Promotion

Painters. Writers. Singers. Yoga Teachers. Life Coaches. Philosophers. Sober Mothers. Charismatic Children. Doctors. Teachers. Matchmakers. Psychics. And Many, Many More people with charisma, skill, expertise, knowledge, experience… basically, who have something to Offer to the World. They don’t Need to be Fantastic, but what they Are, Matters.

But is all they are #Enough? Not really, according to the General standard! Because The World Doesn’t KNOW about them! Not unless they learn to Promote themselves on Social Media!!

Today, you’re expected to have the carefully developed ability to gather Your All into an ever-flowing basket of Wow, and then shine the fuck out of it with a bright, almost dazzlingly blinding digital light in order to Get Somewhere or Be Someone.

Just to Be Someone whose worth is Recognised.

Join the Be a STORYTELLER/
BS Your WAy To Fame CHALLENGE Now!

Getting Somewhere and Being Someone is a Desperate Act.

It involves:

a) Not feeling that what you Are & have to Offer is anywhere close to Enough.
b) Obsessively Questioning your Uniqueness and Individuality in the ugliest of ways as you find yourself afloat in a sea of Others Exactly Like You (or so you are eventually made to believe) who are seeking a way to Do Something and Be Someone with their Passion, Dreams and Abilities.
c) Realising through scientifically-staged, contemporary conditioning that you have to follow endless cycles of Disciplined (smiling & healthy-gut) Study, Conversations and Research into how Workshops, Coaching, Seminars, Networking and (cringe,) Challenges can Change Your Life FOR FREE (5 minute Freedom) for the better!!
d) Enrolling in said areas of ‘Betterment-Training’ in the desperate Hope of finally managing to pursue your Passion and Dreams with (double cheesy cringe,) ‘Success’.
e) Realising that after having followed such workshops (and I mean after-after, as in, after the initial high that makes you feel you’ve Got It! and Conquered the World of Doubt or Worthlessness… or Will Do, Very Soon) all you feel is Hopeless, Overwhelmed and Confused.
f) That you have Lost your Intial Verve and Pure Unadulterated Intent because suddenly Expressing Your Soul has become a Complexly Contrived procedure.
gee) Taking on Yet Another Job that Doesn’t Pay in Any Proper Way and has nothing to do with your true Essence. A job, that proves to be an additional part of a Mad Juggling Act you perform like the Cat in the Hat balancing on tip-toes on a ball, and is not one that suits you at all! It has nothing to do with What You Do, and What You Did Do no longer feels True.

La La La, Laaa! Here I Come! (Internal Inferno)

But This is our Reality today. One in which the inherent Perfection of what drives us to be Alive and what Gift we can Truly Offer often goes astray. One in which we are consistently told that we are enough, but actually, we are not, Unless. In which people care about us, but we have to Brand Ourselves like tortured cows and Learn Storytelling (no, not the one you’ve enjoyed all your life, with colours and sounds and shades and textures imbued by the stories you’ve gathered throughout your life, the Regular Paid Version!) in order to Engage in a horrible Lying Process so that you can Create a Community (no, your Actual Community means Nothing. Unless they like Sharing Your Posts). Basically, one in which everything that was once Sacred, Natural and Organic has now become Soulless, Formulaic and Forced.

And so, paradoxically we see streams of flaccid-hearted, excruciatingly vain and self-indulgent folks who never had any real Talent, Passion, Skill or Vision learning formulas in order to cash in And feel better about their empty lives, while people who have a vision but don’t know how to – or don’t Want To Know How To Sell it, lie on the curb staring at a patch of stars and wishing they could Return “Home”, as they are increasingly convinced (and very possibly actually are correct in being so) that they’re talking to an alien world where they would probably feel more Welcome and Alive.

From a painfully brilliant, satyrical series by Psychotherapist Johan Deckmann.

Surely, this Perversionof Purposefulness is just a Phase in Humanity‘s (I use the following word with hope rather than conviction) ‘Evolution’? Can we, as in those of us who realise and care about, the ludicrous direction our world has taken, look forward to ANY New Awareness that honours the Spirit of Creation and Doing on any level that’s significant Enough to not expect a website and several well-followed social media accounts to go with it?

You tell me. If you’re Good at Commenting. Or Storytelling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35mQ29Cj-og

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DOS Cosmetics: A Glowing Example of Cosmetics Innovation

In only two years since they set up DOS Cosmetics, Chrysanthi and Vasiliki put their heads together to create a line of top-quality cosmetic products.

Stylish and hip, modern and minimal, their line has already received several awards and many accolades. They grow their own organic ingredients, mostly indigenous herbs, flowers and plants and combine their expertise. Impressed by the quality, sophistication and branding excellence of their range, I sought to find out more about the dynamic duo and their plans.

How did you join forces and decide to create DOS Cosmetics?

Chrysanthi: As a teenager I had a bad case of acne. My father, who had trained in Houston, Texas at the PPCA in Pharmaceutical Compounding Specialized for Pharmacists, created some products to treat acne, making elixirs with herbs

from Olympus. The combination of various products he created and the order in which I used them managed

to resolve the problem. I was deeply inspired and wanted to share this level of expertise in cosmetic-creation and the philosophy behind it with the wider public, which is what led me to create DOS Cosmetics!

Vasiliki: What brought us together was our shared philosophy. The skin is our largest organ and plays a vital role in keeping our immune system balanced and strong. People’s needs are affected by the seasons as well as a way of life. The combination of products used as part of one’s daily self-care routine is unique to everyone, but of equal importance to all!

What was the main inspiration & what were the main challenges – if any – of setting up Dos?

We love seeing beautiful people with glowing skin that brings them confidence. Our greatest challenge came from getting people to understand our inventive philosophy, which is different from what people are used to. Our philosophy is this: “Choose skin care products based on your personal needs, soothe and balance your skin, combine ingredients basing yourself on your individual requirements during different times of the year, create different combinations, familiarise yourself with the power of nature!”

What exactly is the process that goes into making your products?

We cultivate herbs that we need for creating our elixirs. In the spring and summer months we gather and process the herbs to extract the part of each plant that we use for our formulas. During the production process we create fresh elixirs based on different recipes. The fact that our products are so fresh and have such active ingredients is what makes them so innovative and effective.

Who are your products for?

Our products are created for all kinds of people– from teenagers with acne problems to adults seeking products with moisturisation, protection, firming, anti-ageing and antioxidant action. Personalised skin care is a novel conceptand is vital if you want direct results. We were the first to create a Diagnostic Skin Test that’s based on a data input algorithm and was awarded in 2019 as Best Innovation by the globally known Pure Beauty Global Awards. Consumers can take the test for free and discover the exact products they need for their skin type and needs.

In a short time of being on the market you have already received awards!

We’re thrilled that despite only existing for two years, DOS Cosmetics has already gained a stead local and international fan-base. Last year we were awarded Beauty Stars by Greece’s most important cosmetics panel, Madame Figaro and Dubai’s Pure Beauty Global Awards for our Diagnostic Skin Test. Several of our products have received accolades too, such as our Collagen Face & Eyes Cleanser, our Whitening Night Cream and our Collagen Day Cream, while our Mandelicum Night Solution was awarded two years in a row.

What are your future plans for your range?

In a few months we will be launching a new skincare line designed especially for men! Meanwhile we’re launching a Skincare Premium Line Amenities range for top hotels, including the Four Seasons Astir Hotel Athens which already has our products as travel size, in-room amenities. We’re also very close to presenting our latest two-year project, which is the result of the Diagnostic Skin Test. It’ll come in the form of an app with several tools that will offer consumers personalised advice for their daily skincare routine and more. We want to offer every kind of youth and adult, both male and female, the ideal solutions for their skin and hopefully introduce them to healthier, intelligent self-care habits too.

About DOS’s Creators:

Chrysanthi is a pharmacist and certified acupuncturist who grew up in a family of pharmacists and started experimenting with chemical formulas and herbal properties since an early age. She was always drawn to holistic and natural philosophies and practises, which is what drove her to start creating her own range of products made along those lines, under the guidance of her father Vaios Papadopoulos. Vasiliki, her partner in DOS, is a make-up artist and skin expert who has a long experience working in TV and magazines. She followed a series of workshops in cosmetology by Italian beauty expert Pascal de Firenze and at ‘Paris-Berlin’ in Paris. Having worked with so many kinds of skin throughout her career has offered her a profound understanding of the different needs people have.

Follow DOS on Instagram

Tried & Tested: DOS Cosmetics’ Awarded Night Products

The Products:

After taking DOS’ awarded Personalised Skin Diagnosis (a test one can take in 5 minutes online) I was recommended the Ascorbin Night Serum and the Mandelicum Night Solution, as well as a rose quartz Gua Sha tool for facial massage.

PRODUCT 1: Ascorbin Night Serum DOS

Description: A serum designed with 7 pure active ingredients, offers anti-aging, antioxidant, moisturizing, repairing and antimicrobial action. It soothes skin, maintains moisture at normal levels, discolors pigmentations, cleanses clogged pores and tightens

them while enhancing natural metabolism of cells. Active ingredients: high concentrated and stabilized form of Vitamin C with a combination of antioxidants (such as plasma of curcumin, sea buckthorn and black rice).

My skin before

I’m in my mid 40s and my combination skin is thankfully not yet too affected by wrinkles, apart from on my forehead when I frown and on the sides of my mouth, but after several months of high stress from work overload and moving home, my skin was definitely in need of brightening, smoothing and toning, which is what these products promised to offer.

Experience

The serum is thick and comes in a sturdy white bottle with a pipette. Two or three drops dispensed in the hands or directly onto the face and massaged well into the skin suffice. Massage can be carried out using the fingers of the gua sha stone, which is said to help boost circulation and help smooth lines.

Results

Never one to skip on my beauty routine, I religiously used the serum every night. I actually looked forward to its lovely smell and thick texture, as well as the deep yet lightweight feeling of hydration it left in my skin. A few close friends and family remarked that my skin looked more glowy. I couldn’t see that as much as that it had become firmer and smoother, with a much better texture. Especially, as I mentioned above. Considering the stressful days and sleepless nights I experienced over the last few months.

PRODUCT 2: Mandelicum Night Solution (Pure Beauty Global Awards Winner 2020)

Description: A refreshing, gently exfoliating and toning lotion that deeply cleanses skin, enhances cellular longevity and protects against oxidative stress. Shields and enhances cell longevity, protecting their DNA on cellular level. Using macromolecular AHAs of Mandelic Acid derived from bitter almonds, we gently exfoliate the skin surface offering

antimicrobial and antibacterial action to control oil secretions and decongest the skin harmoniously. We thus allow skin pores to shrink to their normal size. With a natural combination of powerful antioxidants, such as plasma serum of curcuma and Greek mountain tea, using the product every other day is the ideal solution for all skin types.

Experience

This exfoliating lotion is to be used every other night, after cleansing and pre-serum. If I felt particularly fatigued, I sometimes used it two nights in a row, but generally tried to stick to the rules. This too has a lovely aroma and refreshing yet soothing texture that I looked forward to feeling on my skin every evening.

Results!

When you’re trying two new products at the same time it’s difficult to differentiate which one is doing exactly what, but in conclusion I feel that this product actually offered me bigger benefits than the serum. Although I loved both, I feel that the Mandelicum lotion made my skin firmer by tightening my pores and always left my skin feeling squeaky clean, without feeling at all dried out. Also, since I’m sometimes prone to adult acne, I noticed a significant reduction in breakouts of any kind.

Featured

simplicity: a heart perspective

There are many ways to simplify your life, however if you start from the premise you are very busy and life is a challenge then you will not have the real formula to succeed.

BY ELIZABETH ANN MORRIS

Is your life simple or complex? What would your answer be? Creating simplicity in your life is something you may aspire to, but have yet to achieve.

Intrinsic within the ancient culture of Greece is the virtue of simplicity. Ancient Greek philosophers praised simplicity. This may be why it is still visible in the Greek way of life. Perhaps this is why so many people return again and again to Greece. A panacea for a lifestyle fraught with surviving in a world of stress and conflict.

There are many ways to simplify your life, however if you start from the premise you are very busy and life is a challenge then you will not have the real formula to succeed. You can strip your life back to basics – but if these are built on expectations of what you are trying to achieve rather than the expression of your true soul purpose; simplicity will become mundane and boring instead of being joyous.

Simplicity is not created in the mind. It is created in your heart. The mind can take action, based on what your heart knows is right for you. Your heart is the bridge to your higher self (or soul). Your soul holds the wisdom and truth of who you are and what you are here to achieve in this lifetime. It pulses down light into your heart, gently reminding you that you are a unique being with a special purpose to fulfil in the evolution of our planet.

Yet the ego mind is alluring – it pulls us away from our heart centre into complex materialistic expectations of life and how it should be. It offers us a myriad of choices in everything. This in turn creates conflict. What if we make the wrong decision? Life then becomes stressful.

Recent global events are a divine opportunity for us to take a step back from our current reality and to review what we valued in life. However, for many this was a mind rather than heart exercise which has resulted in high levels of conflict and fear.

Our heart continuously calls us back to simplicity of soul expression. Your soul wants to express its truth, it’s compassion and its wisdom through you. Young children remember this – watch them play and you will see soul expression in action. Nature is another cue to the harmony and beauty of life.

If you are called to simplify your life here is a visualisation that can help.
A notebook and pen will be useful to record your insights.

Find a comfortable space where you will not be disturbed. Gently close your eyes, place your hands on your heart centre and focus on your breath for a few moments.
Start to quietly hum …………….and sense the vibration in your heart and your body…… repeat this hum 11 times – or longer if it feels right
Send this energy down through your feet and imagine you have roots growing down from your feet ….. flowing into the centre of the planet
Connecting you to Mother Earth and all the ancient wise beings who walked on this planet before you……
Let this connection flow up into your heart …..
Then sense the vibration flowing up from your heart through your crown to your soul chakra……uniting you with your divine purpose
As you breathe let this light fill your body ……..
Call in your angels and guides if this feels right…..
Start humming again ………for a few moments …..
Now focus on what is precious to you ……..
Stay quiet…… and notice what you sense and feel
When you are ready deepen your breathing, feel your feet firmly on the floor and open your eyes. Drink some water

Take the time to reflect and record your experience in your notebook. Pay attention to what is precious to you. Everything you do should be in harmony with this. The deeper your understanding of your soul self the easier it is to simplify and let go all that does not serve you.

Take the time to visit your heart centre every day and attune to the truth of who you are. Then you will see the world through the eyes of your soul.

All will be clear all will be simple and all will bring harmony peace and joy. Then when you return to Greece you will taste the nectar of life even more.

Elizabeth Ann Morris is a worldwide spiritual teacher, writer and healer. She has dedicated the last 30 years to exploring and developing workshops seminars and teaching programmes which empower people to find the true meaning and purpose of life.
Her first taste of Greece was in 2010 when she came to dliver workshops and healing sessions.
Book a Session with Elizabeth Ann now on her site Sacred Oracle Teachings

Relaxation Treat: Cocoon Urban Spa

Whether you’re in Athens for a day or forever, it’s great to know there’s a place such as Cocoon Urban Spa where you can receive top-quality therapies for face and body, either as a one-off treat or as a course of treatments that bring results.

As someone who has been passionately interested in holistic wellness for decades, I was among the very first to visit Cocoon Urban Spa when it opened 20 years ago. In my post-lockdown slump, I headed over there to try some renewing and reviving therapies that could facilitate the process of returning to the land of the living.

My Own Experience: Tried & Tested!

I tried the CBD Oil Massage and the vitamin C Facial, in that order. I arrived stressed out from work, life, and a year+ of lockdown inertia and was ready to surrender to the hands of the spa’s skilled therapists. I was not disappointed. The CBD Oil Massage is a head-to-toe therapy using an ingredient that has become widely lauded for its effects in reducing anxiety and muscular pain. The therapist used strong yet caring strokes to ease away my blocks and gracefully accepted my invitation to converse about the therapy itself and various other personal questions regarding my body’s health. I was impressed not only by the fantastically relaxing experience but also by her depth of knowledge and charm.

Next, was the Vitamin C Facial, which involves a face cleansing (with Murad products, not hands or a machine) and a reviving massage that help a strong dose of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is considered to leave the skin glowing because it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, accelerating healing and removing fine lines to reveal skin freshness, brightness, plumpness, and shine. Again, the aesthetician kindly explained the entire process to me and offered me extra tips for my skin type and beauty routine.

I certainly left Cocoon Urban Spa feeling as dreamy and relaxed as I’d hoped, with skin that glowed for days and has improved in texture ever since.

NOTE: Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my swimsuit along, so I missed out on the chance to enjoy the sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi, but there’s always the next time!

While at the Spa, I stopped for a chat with Maria Poulada, the co-owner of Cocoon who together with her sister has led it to develop and evolve into a truly fantastic place of holistic wellness for Athenians and visitors alike.

Getting to Know Cocoon Urban Spa: Q & A with Maria Poulada

How has the wellness scene in Greece changed since you first opened 20 years ago?
It has broadened and multiplied, which is great. However, more and more schools and Yoga Teacher Training programs are churning out “therapists” and unfortunately, during my recruiting efforts, I’ve seen that the quality has dropped significantly, and inexperienced teachers and masseuses are being absorbed by the market and lowering the standard.

Where do your therapists train?
Most of our therapists are very skilled and have studied Natural Health Science. It’s one of the oldest and most respected schools in Attica. I usually ask the teachers from that school to recommend grads for me and it’s worked out great.

Who are your customers?
Cocoon Urban Spa has a wide range of customers, from people who come for a profound life-change (to decrease chronic stress or pain, improve sleep, etc.) and visit us on a regular basis and then there are people who come once a year to treat themselves on their birthdays or to give a gift. I think we are the only place in the city that offers a truly holistic wellness approach, passive and dynamic therapy, encompassing treatments, yoga, acupuncture, and homeopathy.

What would you recommend as The Ultimate treatment for post-lockdown stress?
It’s a bit subjective. Some would say it’s the Shirodhara or any classic massage. For me, personally, it’s Yoga. The Hatsumomo is a terrific overall detox treatment and if you couple it with a deep cleansing facial or a Renewing Facial, you’ll look and feel brand new! The CBD oil massage is deeply relaxing and works well for anxiety-related stress.

What kind of products do you use for treatments?
We’ve remained very old-school, sticking to our philosophy of hands-on therapy and natural products. It’s vital to use the highest-quality products for massages and facials. We’ve been using Decleor and Jurlique for ages because they’re natural, organic, and biodynamic. Also, the quality is terrific. You relax just by smelling them and the results are fantastic.

As published in In+sights Greece (www.insightsgreece.com)

Home - Cocoon Urban Day Spa — Cocoon Urban Spa is on Souliou 9 & Erifilis Str, Halandri, Athens. Email : info@cocoonurbanspa.gr &
phone : 210 6561975

Eye Spy… Beautiful Lashes!

Nowadays there’s nothing more cringesome than a testimonial, and even worse, a testimonial telling you that the original testimonial is true. I’m a copywriter AND journalist by trade, so I should know. My super-sceptic uncle, a seasoned traveller, globally-awarded visionary and professor at Imperial College London once gave me a book titled ‘The Mad Old Ads’ that exhibited the craziest inventions of the 18th and 19th centuries and the most hilariously unbelievable testimonials that accompanied them as their hardest selling points. It sold me on the idea that all testimonials were utter BS. Today we have incredibly sophisticated social media, and photoshop dictums that invole even the most drop-dead stunning models shot 1 million frames a second for 8 hours straight being resmudged to fit some kind of insane ideal. Not to mention countless streams of fake news and sinister agendas for making money by fooling our at-heart-trusting human souls. So how can you believe any product that claims to ‘guarantee‘ results? You just can’t. Yet, as a pragmatic optimist I decided to give a particular product a chance, because it was introduced to me by a trustworthy and brilliant woman representing the DE MOI firm of cosmetics, and it was so great I wanted to write about it here.

Conscious Beauty DE MOI Entrepreneur Demee Koch

It all came about during a conversation with a dear friend about eyelashes, as some of us women like to have amidst talking of politics, personal aspirations, social issues, metaphysical visions, the economy and crap ex boyfriends. I mentioned that I was considering trying eyelash extensions and she told me there’s a new serum that her PR company represents that guarantees that your eyelashes – even if they are less than existent! – will grow into beautiful, long, shiny things. I told her I certainly wouldn’t mind trying it, and a few weeks later I received a box from DE MOI.

The Switzerland-based company was created by dynamo ‘conscious beauty’ entrepreneur Demee Koch, who has become known not only for her successful cosmetics range but also her influential ethical stance supporting animals (no testing involved in her products) and several humanitarian charity initiatives. As an advocate of female empowerment, Koch is also the author of the book ‘Breaking Conventions In Heels’, and was awarded GLOBAL FWN100 2019 MOST INFLUENTIAL FILIPINA IN THE WORLD. Indeed, DE MOI’s mission statement says: “We aim to be the catalyst in bringing positive change into the world by creating awareness on spending consciously on products that give back to the society while making sure that these products do not harm the animals and the environment.”

Now… However excited I was about trying this amazing-sounding product and seeing my eyelashes (and parts of my brows that I’d obviously plucked with bad lighting at several times of my life) flourish to their bushiest, plushest potential, I suddenly recalled something my mother said to me. Just a week before receiving the DE MOI Bio Serum it just so happened that my dear mother had been complaining about how disgruntled she felt about the state of her eyelashes. She had tried extensions a year earlier and found them bothersome, yet was considering getting them again, although with profound hesitation. So how could I resist? I handed her the serum and instructed her to use it religiously, every night, for six weeks.

And here comes the time for that dreaded, but hand-on-my-heart-true testimonial, because I am a Witness to the Incredible and Beautiful Growth of my mother’s eyelashes, as is my sister, who actually asked her if she was wearing falsies! I really, honestly did not expect to see the results I did, and since I did, as did my mom (read her experience below), I felt it was really worth sharing the news on my blog – that there is real hope for your lashes, and it comes from an exemplary alchemist who’s creating beauty treats for the world.

Turns out, not all the news is bad in 2020!

My mother’s experience of using DE MOI Eyelash & Eye Brow Bio Serum:
“It has always been a top priority for me to purchase excellent products and makeup for my eyelashes and brows (as for my face and skincare generally). It was also recommended to me by my optician, plus I enjoy using eye creams and applying high quality makeup to my eyes. As years passed however, I began to notice a change in my lashes. They were not shiny, they had shortened in length, and there was no fullness any more. I grew desolate, seeing my lashes in such a bad state. I was reccomended extensions, which I tried, to no avail. Layers of mascara wasn’t the answer either, as it gave a heavy, made-up look.

After telling my daughter about my frustration over my short-bristled lashes, I was presented with BIO SERUM ADVANCE FORMULA For Eyelashes and Eeyebrows by Demee Koch for DE MOI Swiss Products. “Use this for six weeks and see if your lashes grow back to size”, she suggested, telling me she hadn’t yet tried it herself but a friend of hers had and was thrilled by the results. Her friend is in her ‘30s though, so I thought it might not work on me at all!

It was a colorless liquid eyeliner to be applied on the roots of the lashes or brows before bedtime. For the first two weeks nothing changed. I began to feel discouraged. But….after the third week, I began to notice a difference. My lashes began to grow, and become fuller. A shining fresh look came into my eyes. After 5 weeks, my lashes have grown so long that they hardly need mascara! I apply BIO SERUM every night. It’s now a key part of my night beauty routine, and I’m so grateful for this “magical” product. Thank you DE MOI!”

My mother is happy, and I love my mother, so I’m happy for her too. And I’m also happy that my cynical heart has been softened and alleviated somewhat to discover that there are actually sophisticated products with big claims that actually do deliver what they promise. Please note, the Bio Serum needs to be used ongoingly for ongoing results, it’s not a once and for all solution, because eyelashes keep falling out naturally and regenerating, but after the first six weeks it can be used every other day or every few days.

When you live in a locked down world you have many serious concerns that stretch way beyond your eyes and eyelashes, but as a beloved, wise and wonderful friend of mine hilariously yet aptly once said: “We all cry about life, but isn’t it great if when you’re crying and pass a mirror if you can stop and find something to feel good about?” Clearly she meant this about both about the outside and the inside, but it’s relevant both ways.

And with life being very much about masks right now, our eyes are one of our greatest assets for communcating with the world. So we might as well give it our best shot to exhude the light of own heart through our well-curated vision.

Demee Koch Bio Serum — Demee Koch , beauty entrepreneur and inspirational author of the book ‘Breaking Conventions in Heels’

4 excellent eco-logical greek stores

Eco-conscious shoppers in Athens now have plenty of top quality option when searching for the perfect accessories, jewellery, clothing, and home decor items. As with vegan-vegetarian restaurants and stores selling Greek and global natural, organic cosmetic products, more and more stores catering to the ethically-minded are sprouting up around the capital. Here we showcase our top choices!

Convert Art (24-26 Pallados, Psyrri)

Used tyres, used inner tubes and electronic materials are skilfully up-cycled to create super-stylish and original convertible bags, wallets, belts, and jewellery. Created in 2012 by designer Marina Griponisioti after she found inspiration from the disposable items she found in a garage, this is Greece’s first upcycling company, with a choice of over 400 designs. You can also check out Convert Art’s online store on Etsy.

Trash4Flash (9 Voulgaroktonou St, Nea Smirni)

Plastics, metals, rubber and other materials are upcycled to create necklaces, earrings, neck-wear, cufflinks, and bracelets that may not suit every taste but certainly present a singular style.

Plastikourgeio (Asklipiou 51, Exarcheia)

Both a shop and a mini-factory/lab, this store follows the eco-philosophy of the global Precious Plastics movement and sells alternatives to plastic as well as their own upcycled plastic creations. With a plastic shredder, 3D printer and other machines the owners have created themselves, as well as collaborations with creative Greek designers, they showcase some exciting eco-options in jewellery, home decor, and accessories. Here you’ll also find bamboo dining sets, stainless steel straws, handmade lunch-bags and other trendy utilitarian items that don’t need to be dumped after use.

Living Green (Harilaou Trikoupi 53, Exarcheia)

In this innovative, brightly-lit and thoroughly-stacked store you’ll find everything from home decor items to children’s construction toys and other games, sophisticated gardening equipment like a rollable compost basket and sprouting jars, cosmetics, jewellery, lunch bags, office accessories, and hobby items. The store has a chain in the northern suburb of Kifissia as well as an online store.

eco-conscious & super-comfy I AmVibes

Luxurious to the touch as well as in quality and appearance, strictly eco-friendly and human-friendly, made by women for women to generate a real sense of individuality, comfort, empowerment, and beauty, is one way to describe the IAmVibes clothing brand, created by Katerina Melemeni.

The Greek designer has lived all around the world over the last 20 years, from New York and Rome to Sri Lanka and Spain, studying at the KLC School of Design in London and eventually specialising in yoga gear.

Describing herself as “an eclectic, artistic and passionate woman,” Melemeni is certainly drawing the world’s attention not only to an ethical and sustainable range of trendy yoga apparel but also to Greece, a country where 20 years ago yoga was little more than a mystery and when most local fashion designers were relatively unacknowledged beyond their borders.

Meanwhile, as a female entrepreneur who overlooks practically all aspects of her business herself – from the actual designs to IAmVibes marketing, social media and more, this dynamic mother of two is also setting an example of the new Greek woman, an example we definitely applaud.

Now based in Athens, Melemeni has created a very successful business. “I only work with beautiful things that a real and spark emotions in me when I see them, wear them or touch them,” Melemeni says. “And I only work with eco-sustainable materials, because we do not have a Planet B. Currently all our fabrics are made in Italy, with eco-friendly yarns and manufactured in the utmost respect for our environment.”

“I want to create an intimate connection with the woman, so my materials are very soft on the skin, but also high performance, so they become excellent for anything we do throughout the day. My clothes may be designed for yoga, but that’s if they’re comfortable during a headstand, they will be comfortable with you when you are on your feet. They can be worn 24/7. In fact, I sleep in my seamless Astra leggings!” she laughs.

It’s not by chance that IAmVibes has achieved a glowing global reputation, and that yoga-lovers as well as women who simply enjoy the modern cuts and deep comfort of her designs are very serious about the garments’ high-tech advantages. From the exceptionally soft and delicate BodyVibes fabric to the EcoVibes range made with suede-like ECONYL (regenerated nylon), which is both 100% eco-conscious and breathable on the skin, to the amazing seamless ASTRA range, which warms you when it’s cool and cools you when it’s hot because it’s made with a fabric with thousands of hollow microfibres that regulate body temperature.

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Apart from keeping the environment as a top priority in her designs, Melemeti also considers the impact of labour that goes into making clothes and has made sure her business offers humanitarian standards to the women who work to make them. “During my travels, especially when visiting factories in my previous jobs, I saw how many women were employed in the production facilities; and travelling to some developing countries in Asia I witnessed harsh conditions that made me feel so powerless…”

“I thought that perhaps getting involved in apparel, which is among the industry sectors that employ mostly women, was my way of contributing something valuable to women, by paying them a premium and making certain that their working conditions are ethical. I want to use my business to inspire and implement solutions to empower women around the world. I know I run a small business, but I’d like to think that even a small contribution can help support one woman somewhere in this world, and that can make a difference,” she says.

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Her very modern, minimalist designs in shades of grey, black, blue with touches of colours like rust orange or white are neutral enough to combine with other parts of one’s daily wardrobe, and the Logo collection features the upside down Hamsa hand symbol. Very different from her other designs is the new range called Blossoming Lotus, which is a soft pink and is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. Melemeni explains the vision behind this range: “We are trying to raise some funds dedicated to Breast Cancer research, so with this range, we’re providing a 10% discount to our customers and then 15% of the profits will be donated to research to foundations.”

elysia, greece’s top yoga event: presenting garth hewitt

Picture ruggedly stunning Amorgos, the easternmost island of the Cyclades group, known for its cobalt waters, wild nature and blinding-white architecture, its “special energy” and the memorable movie set of Luc Besson’s ‘The Big Blue’. Then add to that a sprawling, elegant, family-run hotel standing on the hillside of sparkling Aegiali Gulf, with a spa called Lalon Idor and a restaurant called Ambrosia and terraces facing the sea. And finally sprinkle that with some of the world’s best, most experienced and scintillating yoga teachers, musicians, holistic practitioners, organisers and participants coming from near and far in pilgrimage-mode and you have the annual Elysia Yoga Convention. Entering its third year as of March 28th and until April 4th, this remains the only event of its kind in Greece.

The visionary behind the Elysia Convention, Mat Turner

“Elysia is an event created from the soul,” says Mat Turner, who dreamed up the idea of Elysia several years ago while working at Aegialis Hotel & Spa as a Concierge, after leaving his professional career and life in the UK behind. Turner’s passion and devotion to yoga is undoubtedly immovable, as he says it literally saved his life after he suffered from depression for over 25 years before discovering how yoga could transform him. With so many yoga teachers heading to Aegialis Hotel & Spa, it was only a matter of time until he began to practice yoga himself and discover its innumerable health benefits.

The hotel’s co-owner, Irene Iannakopoulos, returned to Amorgos with her husband after a decade in the US, at a time when Aegialis had no electricity, healthcare facilities, shops or telephone connection; a time when reaching Amorgos took 36 hours by boat. Nonetheless, both natives of the island, they dedicated themselves to build their holistically-oriented hotel there.

Aegialis Hotel & Spa, by now a renown wellness destination in Greece

Today Aegialis Hotel & Spa is known as one of Greece’s most splendid and relaxing wellness destinations and has received the Green Leaders Badge on TripAdvisor for its eco-friendly approach and organic-only policy. The award-winning “Ambrosia Gallery” restaurant serves a plentiful breakfast buffet, specialising in flavoursome traditional Greek and island cuisine, which is rich in local herbs and spices. They also offer a great choice of vegetarian and vegan options and cater to specific dietary preferences.

Another added bonus is the hotel’s impressive Lalon Idor Spa facilities, with a hammam, sauna, Jacuzzi and beautiful indoor salt-water pool (with a flow stream and water cannon), picturesquely surrounded by traditional Cycladic, tiled arches. The spa, which makes the hotel even more visitable throughout the year, has gained a top reputation for its team of skilled and qualified beauty and massage therapists and lavish treatment menu.

“We’ve been hosting yoga retreats since 2011; yoga and wellness are part of our ethos at Aegialis Hotel & Spa philosophy and we’re always coming up with fresh ideas emphasise on this,” says Iannakopoulos. “We have six beautiful yoga shalas and an outdoor rooftop available, all which come with yoga props and magnificent sea views. Yogis from all over the world love to come here for their retreats because it’s the perfect destination for wellness, tranquillity and luxury at once.”

In just a few years, the Elysia Yoga Convention has made Aegialis a key destination for yoga fans because of its very special teachers, programming and ambience at once. “Elysia is not about making money,” Turner says, “it’s not an event that squeezes hundreds of people into a sports hall. Elysia is about creating a community and a beautiful family rapport that exists before, during and after the event.”

When I ask Turner how Elysia has ‘evolved’ since it started off two years ago, he says: “This year’s schedule is fantastic,” he adds, “with fewer classes and more free time for explorations and rest, but still so much choice. Classes won’t overlap so participants won’t have to decide between one and another experience.

All the teachers flying to Greece from around the world to teach at Elysia are very skilled, charismatic and special. As of today we will start featuring just a handful of the great range of teachers who will be presenting there to offer a deeper look into their own practice and their reasons for coming to Greece. We start with Garth Hewitt, who is returning to Amorgos at the end of March to present his Shiva Power classes.

Presenting: Garth Hewitt

Your name: Garth Hewitt

Your life’s motto? Breathe into every moment.

In a nutshell, please describe who you are & what you will be offering @ Elysia 2019? Why Elysia? I came to Amorgos and to Aegialis Hotel and Spa to lead a yoga retreat in 2015. Mat and Irene invited me to present at the first Elysia Yoga Convention 2 yrs ago. It was such a special experience. I wasn’t able to attend last year due to an illness in my family but I’m so excited to be coming back this year. I’ll be presenting one of my signature Shiva Power® classes. This is a vinyasa based flow class that emphasizes concentration and going into the fire. All of my classes focus on the bigger picture of yoga — quieting the mind and experiencing the true nature of the Self. There will be something for everyone in this practice. Some intense long holds, playful arm balances and inversions, deep backbends and forward folds and some meditation after a long relaxing shavasana.

Is it your first year? No. This will be my second year and my 3rd time visiting the Aegialis Hotel & Spa.

How would you describe the Elysia Concept? I think this experience is more like a retreat than a convention. I love how intimate and personal it is because there isn’t 1000 people attending. It feels like a big retreat, led by teachers from all over the world, who each have brought a few of their students with them. The first convention was an amazing experience! I absolutely loved it!

What makes it a notable event globally? I think this convention is very special because it is so small and intimate and it brings together such an interesting mix of teachers from all over the world. Amorgos is also a very special island. I feel like I have journeyed back in time when I come to the island. It doesn’t feel at all like it has changed in the last 50-100 yrs. It doesn’t feel overly crowded or feel like a tourist destination. I think the island is very peaceful.

What personally inspires you most about being present there? Connecting with the people and just being on the island are very inspiring. I teach all over the world right now and I love how universal the practice of yoga is no matter where you are or who you are. It’s always wonderful to see the practices working. That’s powerful. Yoga is for everyone.

What are your greatest aspirations for the Elysia Yoga Convention this year & overall? I think this will be another great year. I hope there are a lot of new students who come and can experience this amazing convention and take back a little piece of the island with them when they return home. I’m looking forward to practicing with the other presenters. Seeing what everyone is sharing and how their practices have grown and shifted in the last 2 yrs. I love the community and I’m looking forward to connecting with everyone again. My aspirations are simply to continue what I’m doing now. Sharing the teachings of my teachers with as many people as possible and with anyone who is looking for growth, transformation, and getting deeper in touch with their Self.

I think yoga has the power to change the world and touch so many people. Everyone is affected who comes into contact with the one person in their circle who practices yoga — who is better able to concentrate, who is more kind and compassionate, and who is more present and open. Let’s spread yoga as far and as wide as we can.

Tell us something we didn’t know! 😉 My roots are in Canada. I’m a Canadian and American citizen. I’m based in LA these days but I grew up in Canada and a lot of my family is still in the Toronto area. My first yoga class was in Toronto about 17 yrs ago. I thought it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done in my life and I found it fascinating. I was pretty much hooked from the first ever class.