Our MY Experience retreats welcome participants of all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. It is designed for those interested in practicing Mindfulness like Tai-Chi or Yoga in a natural environment, exploring the philosophies behind it, and learning how to apply its principles to everyday life. While the main language of instruction is English, the teachers also speak German, Dutch, Spanish, and Italian.

In these workshops we focus on integrating Mindfulness principles and techniques into everyday life and business practices. By interpreting and applying ancient knowledge and wisdom from sources such as the I Ching (The Book of Change), as well as Buddhist and Taoist texts—including the philosophy of Yin and Yang—we aim to find balance, enhance personal growth, and improve our professional environments. Participants can expect to learn how to use Mindfulness practices to manage stress, make more mindful decisions, improve interpersonal relationships, and develop a more harmonious and productive approach to both personal and professional challenges. The workshop combines practices with philosophical insights, fostering holistic development and a balanced lifestyle that supports both personal well-being and business success.

Here’s a sample program schedule. Please note that none of the activities in the schedule is compulsory, if you feel like taking more ‘me’ time alone, feel free to do it anytime!

Day 1

• Arrival at the airport, pick up and transport to La Aldea de San Nicolás
• From 13:00 Check in by the hotel Aldea Suites
• 19:00 – 20:00 Dinner
• 20:30 – 21:30 Welcome and Introduction with Gisa and Yineke

Day 2- Day 7

• 08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast
• 09:30 – 10:30 Chi-Kung and Tai -Chi with Gisa
• 11:00 – 12:30 Activity/ Excursion (Local sight seeing, hiking, visit to local farms, cooking workshop)
• 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
• 15:00 – 17:00 Free time for relaxation, walking or swimming
• 17:00 -18:00 Chi-Kung and Tai-Chi with Gisa
• 19:00 – 20:00 Dinner
• 20:30 – 21:30 Tai-Chi for Life and Business workshop with Yineke

Day 8

11:00 Check out from the hotel and transport to the airport.

08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast

09:30 – 10:30 Chi-Kung and Tai -Chi with Gisa

Food plays an undeniable role in achieving a balanced lifestyle. According to Chinese medicine and its ancient wisdom, food is essential for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The mindful selection, preparation, and consumption of food are considered crucial for maintaining harmony between the individual and the universe. Therefore, the MY Experience team will prepare a three-meal daily menu for you, guided by the following five principles as closely as possible:

• Ecological: This type of food is produced without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), antibiotics, or artificial additives. Ecological farming practices prioritize soil health, biodiversity, animal welfare, and reduced environmental impact.
• Variety: different food, have different energy and serve the body and mind in different ways. Keeping variety in the food support overall health.
• Seasonal: Foods that are in season are believed to be more beneficial and are thought to help the body adapt to environmental changes, such as temperature and humidity.
• Moderation: Avoiding extremes, neither too salty, spicy or too cold or too hot, too litle or too much. Moderation in all things is an important principle towards a balanced lifestyle.
• Local: Eating local food not only are fresher and therefore contain less preservatives it also connects you to the local community and the land and with all the energies that are special to it.

About Gisa:

Master Gisa Anders completed her studies in the humanities and natural sciences and has also been actively involved in socio-political projects. She pursued various meditation courses and studied Tibetan Buddhism in Dharamsala, Northern India. From 1986 to 2003, she worked as a Tai Chi instructor within the ITCCA (International Tai Chi Association), while also contributing to the establishment, organization, and promotion of the association and its affiliated Tai Chi schools.

In 1992, she passed the teacher’s exam under Master K.H. Chu in London. Following this, she continued intensive teaching and advanced training with Master K.H. Chu, completing annual exams in advanced levels such as the Yin/Yang form, arm spiral, center movement, knee spiral, the 24 Taoist health exercises, Taoist meditation and self-massage, Qigong, Pushing Hands, self-defense, as well as sword and saber techniques. In addition, she focused on expanding the management of the school, developing new course structures, marketing strategies, and organizing Tai Chi retreats in Italy, France, South Tyrol, and Bhutan.

Master Gisa Anders has taught Tai Chi to Tibetan orphans at the Tashi Welfare Center in Kathmandu, at the Frankfurt Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired, at the Median Kaiserberg Clinic, and at various universities across Germany. Additionally, she co-authored a Tai Chi exercise booklet for the blind and visually impaired.

Since mid-2006, she has been running her own Tai Chi and Qigong school in Frankfurt and Bad Nauheim.

Read more about Gisa and her Tai Chi and Qigong School at her website:

www.taichi-frankfurt-badnauheim.de

About Yineke:

Yineke was born and raised in Amsterdam and is of Chinese-Indonesian origin. Before moving to Gran Canaria, Yineke completed her business studies and worked as a business consultant and lecturer in the Netherlands. She has over 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the hospitality sector, including 22 years as the owner of an Italian restaurant in Mogán, on the southwest coast of Gran Canaria. Throughout these years, she drew inspiration from her studies and practices in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qigong, and Tai Chi, which shaped her business strategies and leadership style. She now dedicates herself to coaching individuals on how to harness these ancient Chinese techniques and practices to empower themselves and achieve success in both life and business. With her heart and life rooted in the Canary Islands, she is committed to making the islands a premier destination for retreats.

Hotel Aldea Suites is a three-star hotel located in the heart of the village of Aldea de San Nicolás, situated on the unspoiled and less touristy west coast of Gran Canaria. Approximately 4 km from the beach and the harbor of Aldea, the hotel offers spacious and comfortable double and single rooms, each with its own bathroom. Guests can unwind and enjoy the pleasant weather in the small swimming pool with jacuzzi. Additionally, the hotel features a large rooftop solarium with stunning views of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, including the breathtaking sight of the Teide of Tenerife on the horizon during good weather. To learn more about this charming, family-owned hotel, please visit their website.

https://www.laaldeasuites.com/

Not still connected with the highway, this part of the island remains untouched by mass tourism. Surrounded by nature parks and part of the Unesco Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria, it offers various opportunities for hiking, biking, and mountain climbing. The village itself still heavily relies on local agriculture and fishing, making it perhaps the most authentic place to be on the island. Lately, tourists have been discovering various hotspots in this area that are becoming extremely popular for photography, such as the beautiful beach of Gui-Gui, which is only accessible by a 2.5-hour walk or by boat when the ocean tides permit.

To learn more about Aldea de San Nicolás please visit the following website:

https://www.grancanaria.com/turismo/en/tours-around-the-island/the-south-western-route/la-aldea-de-san-nicolas/