A spring of wellness

The weather is getting warmer, restrictions are starting to loosen and some events are returning. The Mind, Body & Spirit Festival (MBS) takes place annually, once in Nicosia and once in Limassol. It’s a long-weekend with classes and seminars that focus on a physical, emotional and spiritual spectrum with a large market with all sorts of goods, from coconut bowls and yoga mats to psychic readings and aura images. The festival’s been around for two decades, gathering a large number of dedicated followers.

The 2020 edition had to be cancelled due to strict measures and uncertainty. This year, however, celebrating its 20^th anniversary (even if technically this is the 19^th edition), MBS returns! The April edition, which usually takes place won’t happen, instead there will be one big festival in November 2021 at St Raphael Resort in Limassol.

Throughout the 2021 lockdown, the MBS team has been organising online events along with its large pool of wellness collaborators. Yoga, QiGong and Gyrokinesis classes have been going on throughout February and soon, they’ll bring in-person events to the table.

On April 17, MBS will host a series of Dharma Yoga Masterclasses with Andry Sophocleous, inspired by her teacher, Sri Dharma Mittra. These will take place at the Vinyasa Yoga Studio in Limassol for just ten participants. The classes will be three hours of Dharma Yoga bliss practising Pranayama, Singing and Yoga Nidra as taught in the Dharma Yoga Lineage.

Each class, starting at 3pm, will relate to a specific area where the focus will be placed. Pre-booking is essential and there is an early-bird discount price of €35 if paid before March 17. For reservations after March 18, the normal price of €45 will apply. More details can be found on the Facebook event: Dharma Yoga Masterclass Series: 3.

In May, the second MBS Gathering Retreat will return to Tochni village. The 48-hour Wellbeing Retreat, across May 14, 15 and 16, will involve yoga, dance, cacao ceremonies, music, meditation, qigong and sorts of mindful and healing practices. A group of facilitators will lead workshops, therapies and treatments in a beautiful and serene agro-touristic villa. All details are on the Facebook event: MBS Wellbeing Gathering Retreat 2.

In the month after the retreat the first MBS Wellness Day will take place on June 5. Essentially it is a mini version of the festival with workshops and classes at St Raphael Resort but without the market.

“The coronavirus has transformed life as we know it,” says the MBS team, “we’re confined to our homes and the future sometimes feels very uncertain. But this is precisely the period in which we have to overcome fear. This is the time to open up our hearts and to embrace our needs and each other. This is the time to share the love as much as we can!”

Two indoor spacious rooms and the outdoor space by the beach separated into two sections will be the playground for the day. Lasting from 10 am to 7 pm, the usual activities will take place. Yoga classes, meditations, dancing, mantra singing and even kids’ activities as this is a family-friendly event.

This will be a pre-booked event so there will be no tickets at the door. Those that have their festival tickets from 2020 may use them to enter the event. In this case, simply email them with a name and a surname with the subject: ‘MBS 2021 ticket renewal’.

Dharma Yoga Masterclass Series: 3

Yoga class with Andry Sophocleous. April 17. Vinyasa Yoga Studio, Limassol. 3pm-6pm. €45. 10 spots only. [email protected] Tel: 96-382333

MBS Wellbeing Gathering Retreat 2

Two-day wellness holiday with healing classes and workshops. May 14-16. Tochni village, Larnaca. Only 20 spots. [email protected] Tel: 96-382333

MBS Wellness Day

Day-even for the whole family with mindful classes, mantras, meditations and more. June 5. St Raphael Resort, Limassol. 10am – 7pm. €12. Online tickets online via Eventbrite.co.uk. Info: [email protected]