A peaceful seahorse glides slowly in the sea, moving from space to space, using only its tail as an anchor in the stormy seas. This patient and unique creature is historically connected with various divine beings.
Photo Credit: Love These Pics
In Ancient Greece, the seahorse was sacred to the sea gods Poseidon and Neptune, representing perspective, persistence, and protection. Further, the seahorse image has been used by Greco-Roman sailors as a good luck charm. They believed the seahorse was responsible for guiding drowned sailors through the spiritual current until they reached their fate of afterlife (Spirit Animal). Spiritual followers often make this connection that the seahorse monitors dramatic change. We can be reminded of the seahorse when we navigate through intense transitions with persistence, perspective, and protection.
Seahorse as a Good Luck Charm
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Floating along with the element of water, the seahorse also relates to emotions and intuition in the form of generosity, friendliness and high-perception. Interestingly, male seahorses are those who carry the female’s eggs for about one and a half months in a tail pouch until they are born, representing an amazing partnership between the males and females, who mate for life. Along with the element of water comes inventiveness. This tiny being has eyes that can look in opposite directions at the same time adding both observation and ingenuity.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
In the southeastern arc of the Cyclades, Greece, the island of Amorgos is shaped like a seahorse swimming its way east towards the Dodecanese. This striking island rises from the sea with a ridge of rugged mountains like the jagged edges of a seahorse’s rigid exterior, representing protection and persistence.
Photo Credit: Amorgos Island Magazine
Jagged Edges of the Rigged Exterior
 Photo Credit: Amorgos Island Hotels |  Photo Credit: Versa Vino |
In the same way, this island holds a special sense of spirituality, transition, peace, creativity, and perspective. Amorgos is well known for its strong magnetic field as well as revitalizing energy. The southeast coast is mercilessly steep and hosts an extraordinary monastery built into the base of a soaring cliff. Consisting of eight different levels affixed on an enormous rock cliff, the Amorgos monastery is one of Greece’s most impressive and dramatic monastic destinations.
Photo Credit: Panhellas Travel
On the other side of the island, the quaint town of Aegiali has the best beach in Amorgos and draws spiritual seekers in the form of yoga. It is considered one of the most popular Yoga Retreat destinations in Europe. Aegiali is surrounded with a wealth of purity, energy, beauty, spirituality and history. “Its purity of biodiversity and variety of therapeutic herbs make it the ideal combination for a spiritual and physical uplift. Away from mass tourism even in high season, Amorgos is surrounded by natural beauty, unique energy, crystal deep blue sea, marvelous beaches, breathtaking landscapes and amazing sunsets. Known as 'pearl of the Aegean. (Elysia Convention)'"
Through spiritual connectections, we aim to become closer to union with divine energy. According to Pantajali’s Path to Enlightenment, two of the eight limbs of yoga involve more details into this process. The seventh limb, Dhyana, is when we practice meditation on the Divine. The final eighth limb of yoga is Samadhi, meaning Union with the Divine. Although Samadhi is very difficult to achieve, through the practice of the other limbs, we strive to experience some of this union in our lives.
Further, we can get closer to this union when we practice Isvarapranidhana as a daily personal observance meaning Celebration of the Spiritual. It is the recognition that the spiritual saturates everything and through our attention and care we can attune ourselves with our role as part of the divine. The practice requires that we set aside some time each day to recognize that there is some universal force larger than ourselves that is guiding and directing the course of our lives. This guiding energy is similar to the concept of the seahorse that guides and directs people through transitions.
Further, we can get closer to this union when we practice Isvarapranidhana as a daily personal observance meaning Celebration of the Spiritual. It is the recognition that the spiritual saturates everything and through our attention and care we can attune ourselves with our role as part of the divine. The practice requires that we set aside some time each day to recognize that there is some universal force larger than ourselves that is guiding and directing the course of our lives. This guiding energy is similar to the concept of the seahorse that guides and directs people through transitions.
Photo Credit: NTiLN
This April, Aegialis Hotel & Spa is hosting the ELYSIA International Yoga Convention from the 5th – 11th, 2017. The Elysia team is inspired by heavenly places where, poets like Homer, Pindar and Hesiod described in ancient Greek mythology, kings and heroes go to dance and place music. In this divine place with blooming meadows and eternal spring, the souls of the blessed arrived to experience absolute euphoria. Likewise, this Elysia convention imagined Aegeali as such a spiritual place to gather people of the yoga community and unite them, forming partnerships like the seahorses.
The Elysia Team has gathered 20 inspiring Yoga teachers from around the world to present and teach their spiritual practice. These classes and opportunities include an experience for all of the senses with aroma and ayurveda, deep breathing, sound healing, looking more closely at nature and art, as well as moving our bodies with our breath.
The schedule includes:
Being in the Here and Now: An Introduction into Mindfulness with Andy Butterfield
Go Inward Meditation with Garth Hewitt
Mantras for Enpowerment with Franciane Santos
Give Your Yoga a Voice with Anja Kursawe
The Pathway to the Soul: Sacred Teachings of Yoga with Einat Ran
Alignment through Greek Sculpture and Philosophy with Hannah Faulkner
Mapping Out the Four Bodies: The Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual with Mette Kolding
Shoulder Bliss with Roberto Milleti
Uncover the Mysteries of PSOAS with Francesca Cassia
Five Kosha Prana with Morena Shree Sandari Firpo
Pilates for Yogis with Mareile Paley
Juicey Yoga Flow with Abbi Miller
Rocket Yoga with Aggeliki Matopoulou
Presentation of Ayurveda with Barrios Francoise
Chakra Yoga Aromatherapy with Karuna DiLibero
Maha Sadhana-Working with the Power and Energy of Crystals with Laurie Wondra
The Health and Well-Being of Yoga for People with Cancer with Dr. Malik Jasmin
A Balanced Approach to Grief with Gellin Katerina
Explore and Experience the Practical Benefits of Shamanic Sound with David Kennet
Divine Sleep Yoga with Kathy Cordelli
We are running a promotion until the 10th of February, all participants who join by then will get 10% off!!
Book Today!
Book Today!
This event will be the first convention of its kind in the whole region of Greece, and it is of great significance. From the website, “Our mission is a contiguous sharing of new ideas and practices in a dynamic learning environment of spiritual transformation and transition in nature. Elysia aims to bring together the world of Yoga and provide the chance to demonstrate innovative ways to adopt and integrate a healthier lifestyle for mental and physical well-being. The selected discussion topics intend to the emersion of new ideas that will inspire the participants make an impact and perhaps, introduce new practices in their home country.”
Make an impact, educate and exchange knowledge with experts from all over the world!
If you are interested in joining us, you can feel free to e-mail info@aegialis.com or visit the website elysiayogaconvention.com.
Make an impact, educate and exchange knowledge with experts from all over the world!
If you are interested in joining us, you can feel free to e-mail info@aegialis.com or visit the website elysiayogaconvention.com.
Modified Photo from Home Away