

Ayurvedic Reflexology Retreat September 2018
September 13, 2018 - September 19, 2018
With Special guest Sharon Stathis
A meeting of skills, knowledge and hearts. Equilibrio Ayurvedic Reflexology Retreat is the perfect environment to relax, recharge and be inspired. Bringing together holistic bodyworkers from different disciplines, in the beautiful Alpujarran mountains -a nurturing and restful environment – to learn and share knowledge of Ayurveda.
Mornings begin with a restorative Yoga & meditation session; breathing in the fresh mountain air & soaking up the stunning views.
Following a delicious breakfast, workshops will focus on the theme of Ayurveda – a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent- expanding our knowledge, understanding & experience of well-being. In the afternoon therapy swaps will provide an opportunity to practice new skills and learn about and experience other therapies.
All activities are optional, which means you can take the opportunity to fully relax and recharge, selecting the activities that best meet your needs in that moment.
Delicious and healthy meals are provided by the dedicated kitchen staff. There is plenty of time to explore the stunning mountain location and to enjoy the centres facilities.
Our price for this retreat is 795€. There is a 10% early-bird discount for guests paying in full 4 months before the retreat begins, so a cost of 715€. This price includes 6 nights accommodation in a twin shared room (single occupancy available on request with supplement cost), three meals a day, daily yoga & meditation classes, four workshop sessions, treatment exchange sessions, 2 complimentary holistic treatments (an Ayurvedic Massage and an Indian Head massage) and full use of the centre facilities including the outdoor pool.
It does not include flights or transfers.
There will be a different workshop each day to broaden your holistic knowledge of Ayurveda using nutrition, herbal medicine and self-development.
Detailed Timetable
Each day starts by nurturing your physical and mental well being. These sessions are suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced and individual requirements can be accommodated for.
Like the rest of the programme this session is optional, so if your needs are better served by staying in bed that’s fine too.
The focus in the kitchen is on tasty and health-giving meals. Each day will be an opportunity to experience and gain information about eating well.
In this session workshops will be offered by holistic health practitioners.
The team section on this page gives you more details about the workshops.
Making full and fantastic use of the abundant local and homegrown vegetables, local olive oil, cheeses and other local produce.
Two treatments from experienced Equilibrio bodywork practitioners are included in your retreat experience.
Equilibrio team practitioners will be on hand throughout the week to share their knowledge with you in a relaxed and informal way.
There will also be time and space in this session to team up with one of the other participants for a treatment swap and more in depth sharing should you chose to do so.
Whether you are a newly qualified or an experienced practitioner, learning from and sharing knowledge with peers can be interesting and rewarding. Experiencing each others techniques and discussing methods of treatment also allows us the opportunity to look at things in a different way. It can be a great opportunity to build confidence in our own skills and empower us as therapists, especially if we are working in practice on our own or returning to bodywork after a break.
Sunday morning will be free for you to explore the wider area, go hiking or horse-riding, visit the local town or the mountain villages. Your host Anna will be available to organise any trips you would like to take and picnics if required.
Alternatively you can spend the time further enjoying the retreat facilities. There are many interesting books in the library which you can borrow during your stay.
Another culinary delight, also including a sumptuous and surprisingly healthy desert.
Evenings are free time for moonlight swimming, star gazing or just hanging out.
The Team for Retreat
Sharon Stathis
Sharon Stathis is a Registered Nurse, holistic health educator and author, based in Brisbane, Australia. She is co-director of Feel-good Health Services with her psychologist husband Richard Rigby.
Sharon received her initial, reflexology qualification from Dwight Byers in 1989. In the following years her knowledge broadened as she trained with many of the world’s leading reflexology authorities.
She has gained professional qualifications in a variety of natural therapies including Reiki, Aromatherapy and Remedial Massage, which she successfully combines with her nursing knowledge and has been practicing over the past 20 years.
In 1993 Sharon founded and directed the Reflexology Academy of Brisbane. It was the first Reflexology college in Australia to receive government accreditation. She developed the concept of Ayurvedic Reflexology in 2003, and has won international acclaim for her presentation of this work, at seminars and conferences in 17 countries.
Sharon is a Charter member of the International Council of Reflexologists, and is a recipient of the ICR, Ollie Bailey Service award for her contribution to Reflexology. She is a Life member of the Reflexology Association of Australia, and is currently a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.
Sharon is committed to share her knowledge at the highest professional standard with her fellow professionals. She is currently writing three books – Ayurvedic Reflexology for the Feet, Ayurvedic Reflexology for the Hands and To Cancer with Love.
For further information please visit www.ayurvedicreflexology.com or contact Sharon sharon@ayurvedicreflexology.com
Sharon will be offering 2 workshops in her speciality field of Ayurvedic Reflexology.
Ayurveda is the ancient, comprehensive healing system of India. Ayurvedic Reflexology is a dynamic healing modality that successfully integrates the philosophy and practices of Ayurveda with the knowledge of contemporary Reflexology. Ayurvedic Reflexology can be applied to the hands and feet.
Ayurvedic Reflexology utilizes a simple, yet dynamic approach to wellness. The techniques are uncomplicated and easy to apply. They initiate healing at a very deep level, bringing harmony to body, mind and spirit.
In the workshop sessions, you will discover what Ayurvedic Reflexology has to offer, for both the client and the therapist. Working with the subtle energy systems of the body will be the focus.
Specific components chosen from the three Ayurvedic Reflexology courses – SMART 1, SMART 2 & SMART Energy – will be discussed, demonstrated and practised.
Workshop content includes:
- fundamental principles underpinning the practice of Ayurveda
- simple & effective hand techniques to work the reflex areas
- Kasa bowl work to help balance the Doshas that control body/mind functions
- Marma therapy to detoxify, tonify and rejuvenate the whole being
- self-help procedures for the feet & hands
- self-care using the daily, healthy living practices of Ayurveda
Further information relating to Sharon Stathis and her Ayurvedic Reflexology courses is available at www.ayurvedicreflexology.com
Anna Bartholomew, MAR

Host and facilitator Anna Bartholomew (MAR) is a reflexologist and an experienced retreat and events host. Trained in Thai Reflexology Massage in Krabi, South Thailand and later in Reflexology at the London School of Massage, she has also undertaken training in Advanced Reflexology Techniques (ART) and Advanced Spinal Reflexology. She has continued her professional development by attending workshops in Women’s Health, Mobilisation Techniques and The Treatment of Pain.
She currently works from her therapy room in Orgiva and at various retreat centres in the area as well as at one off events. She is very experienced in providing reflexology to clients dealing with grief, anxiety, depression and stress.
Jane Bartholomew, MAR, ART (registered)
She worked, for 8 years, at a Holistic Health Centre in Cheltenham where she gained a broad knowledge of complementary therapies and experience of co-treating with professionals of other disciplines. She now lives in Manchester where she works primarily with maternity and fertility clients and those suffering from pain, stress and anxiety. She also works for a cancer charity.
Charlotte Toomey
Charlotte is an Holistic Aromatherapy Massage Therapist with over 17 years of clinical experience. Her treatments are formed by her interpretation of her clients well-being, based on the Chinese 5 element system: She combines traditional massage & aromatherapy with various bodywork techniques including acupressure, pulsing, trigger point therapy & myofacial release and subtle energy work, to help bring body systems into healthy alignment.
Alongside her career as a therapist at retreats & private clinics, Charlotte has worked as an Aromatherapy Consultant, an Assistant Massage Teacher and a Retreat Manager. She is our Equilibrio Administrator.
Charlotte will be providing Holistic Massage at the retreat and will be available to share her knowledge of aromatherapy and massage throughout the week.
Holistic Body Massage with Charlotte.
The treatment Charlotte gives reflects the rich experiences she draws upon, to aid relaxation and release of tension; promote flexibility and balance; and maintain the body–mind in harmony.
Holistic Body Massage:
A thorough and firm yet nurturing body massage. Charlotte blends specific organic essential oils according to the clients needs and uses them together with a range of bodywork techniques she has learned from various traditions over the past 16 years.
By encouraging deep relaxation, tonifying the body’s systems and aiding the elimination of toxins, this enjoyable massage can restore and maintain the body and mind in balance, harmony and well-being.
Anna Vegas
Workshop I – Introduction to Ayurveda and the constitutions
In this workshop we will dive into Ayurvedic philosophy, with it´s view on health and the causes of disease. We will focus on one of the main pillars of the Ayurvedic healing system: the doshas. You´ll get a basic understanding of the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha). We´ll look at the terms prakruti and vikruti and you will be able to explore your own constitution and possible imbalances. You will learn what “balance” means for each of the different doshas, and through example and stories how each dosha can be out of balance. You´ll learn simple and general ways to get each dosha back into balance.
Workshop II – Introduction to the energetic system: chakras, nadis and marmas
In this workshop we will pass by the 7 chakras (energy centres) in the body, and learn how they function when they are in balance and what happens when they are out of balanced or “blocked”. We learn which signs of disease are related to the chakras and how we can improve the functioning of each of them. We will look at which organs relate to which chakras, and also how the healthy functioning of the chakras influences our emotional wellbeing.
We will look at the three most important nadis (energy pathways), and will explore some of the marmas (pressure points) related to each of the chakras.
Ayurvedic Body Massage
Abyangham massage is the authentic heart of the Ayurvedic system of healing. It is a full-body massage which helps you to find balance, returning to a state of health. It helps to unblock stagnated energy, tone the vital energy, as well as the nervous and muscular tissues; accelerating the detoxification process in the body. The effects of Ayurvedic massage can be felt deeply on the physical and mental-emotional levels. The type of massage, as well as the type of oils used, differs according to the needs of each individual person.
Sophie Paulding, BSc. (Hons)

She is enthusiastic about effective herbal treatment and loves to share her views on how herbs can be used in varying ways depending on dosage needs and the therapeutic relationship.
Her workshops are always interactive and entertaining with an intelligent blend of down to earth information and more complex physiological scientific concepts which really add to and deepen our understanding. So whether it is the first time you have attended a herbal medicine workshop or you already have a lot of knowledge in this field there is sure to be something for you!
In keeping with the Ayurvedic concepts of balance, Sophie will be introducing us to the Adaptogenic herbs, both Eastern and Western. We will be diving into the hows, whys and whens of how to use them. There will be time for questions, tasting teas and other remedies, connecting with how we sense them and which particular one/s would suit our individual needs