Meditation in the incredible landscapes of Tuscany; Tai Chi, bodywork, crazy games and amazing food that we prepare together: join the Crazy ‘Mind, Body & Food’ Camp from June 27 till July 4, 2015!
Lose control. Be free. Enjoy who you are.
We are living in a world where we continuously receive impulses. Sometimes we need to take time to slow down. To synchronise Body, Mind and Spirit. To sharpen our senses.
On the menu will be a mix of mindfulness, meditation, tai chi, yoga and other body work in the mornings to prepare ourselves for the enjoyment of the afternoons cooking and crazy games sessions.
We will be in a luxury villa just for our group, in the middle of nowhere in the beautiful hills of Tuscany, Italy. The nearest tiny village with a small grocery shop and a bus stop is at 5 kilometres distance over a dirt road. In this quiet, natural environment we will disconnect from our daily lives and discover the unique balance of harmony and excitement that the Crazy ‘Mind, Body & Food’ Camp offers. Between the meditation and body work in the morning and the crazy group games in the evening, we will not only enjoy our small private swimming pool with view over the hills but we will also practice the art of cooking. There is no professional chef in the villa; we will be sharing our favourite recipes and we will be cooking together, using regional ingredients that we might acquire at the farms that are behind the forests around our villa.
Location
Our villa is a hidden gem. Forests, fields and hills protect it from the noise and rumble of towns and cities. A perfect environment for hikes that will lead us through the landscapes, sometimes finding tiny hamlets in centuries old architecture. We are in the heartland of Tuscany (Italy), the iconic region of beauty, tradition, nature and culture. The villa is at some 30 kilometres of Arezzo. Siena is at some 50 kilometres and Florence at 85.
Accommodation
The villa is a stylish Italian beauty. A nice big kitchen – well equipped – with a big table for our group dinners. There are two bathrooms with showers and several bedrooms (faq). All spaces are at the ground floor and measure 150 sqm in total. A beautiful terrace and a private swimming pool, surrounded by a big garden. If we want to swim in a different setting, then there is also a lake in the forest at some 150 meters from our villa. Of course there is a grill in the garden. As we will share all facilities and spaces as group members, you will have limited personal privacy. Contrary to that, as a group we will have a lot of privacy. No need to bring your swim wear.
Click on these images to open full size images of our accommodation:
Activities
The name Crazy ‘Mind, Body & Food’ Camp reflects the activities that we will be undertaking. They will result in increased happiness both for Mind and Body. All activities are suitable for beginners as well.
In the mornings we will practice meditations, yoga, bodywork and tai-chi sessions with the guidance of a professional Tai Chi teacher.
The afternoons will provide for laziness, nature hikes and quests for the fresh regional ingredients that we will use in our cooking. The idea is that we will make excursions to local farmers for that. Everyday another Crazy ‘Mind, Body & Food’ Camp participant will be the ‘chef’, that is: he or she will bring in his or her favourite recipe and will prepare it assisted by other participants. Those who don’t cook, will prepare the table and clean afterwards. If you don’t feel like being a chef: that’s not a problem, you will enjoy helping the other chefs. Omnivores, vegetarians and vegans are all welcome. This Crazy Camp is also a culinary exploration!
The crazy group games that we will play in the evenings might simply look silly at first sight. They are hilarious indeed and they absolutely contribute to the restoration of your energy balance and the disposal of unnecessary inhibitions.
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Roderik is professional Tai Chi teacher and experienced in several kinds of meditation and bodywork. He is all about ‘flow’. Roderik takes care about our morning activities. | |
| Klaas is the organizer of the Crazy Camps. Always looking for ways to release the creativity and innocent energy that are buried under our inhibitions. Klaas will take care of our evening activities. |  |
Cost
If we complete 10 people, price for these 7 days and nights is EUR 575 per person for accommodation, food (that we will cook together), the Mind and Body workshops, and tourist taxes.
What is included/provided and what is not?
+ Accommodation
+ Breakfast
+ Lunch (we will prepare together)
+ Dinner (we will cook together)
+ Coffee, tea, milk, water, juice
– Snacks, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages
+ Tourist taxes
+ Bed sheets and covers
– Towels
+ Mind and Body workshops with guidance of a professional Tai Chi teacher
+ Increased well being
+ Unforgettable fun
Couples
If you are a couple, please understand that in the Crazy ‘Mind, Body & Food’ Camp you can not behave like a couple. You can get beds in the same room if you want (in general the beds are allocated through a lottery (faq) but apart from that, you are expected to participate in all activities and group life as individuals and not as a couple. Yes you will be hugging – in the numerous group hugs! So be prepared to sit each at the opposite end of the group table during dinner, and accept that someone else than yourself might be applying sun screen to your partner.
How to get there
If you travel by public transport, the nearest bus stop is at 5 km from the villa. The nearest small town with a train station (that connects to Rome and to Florence) is at around 20 km. The nearest international airport is Florence at 85 km; then Pisa at 180km and Rome at 225km distance.
From The Netherlands (and then either Luxembourg/Alsace or NRW/Frankfurt M.) onwards there is a ride share available, approximately EUR 120 per person two-way. Probably other ride shares will become available as time progresses.
If you come by car, keep in mind that the last kilometres to the villa are over unpaved roads. No need for a 4×4, but a Ferrari wouldn’t make it. Useless cars, those Ferraris.
Join!
If you want to participate in this event, then please use this application form. After review of your application, I will send you instructions on how to make the advance payment (faq) and about cancellation policies. The advance payment is EUR 375. Until you pay the advance payment there is no commitment – not for you and not for me. If you can not participate in this specific Crazy Camp, then please sign up for the newsletter and I’ll keep you updated about the other upcoming Crazy Camps.
