3
THE WILDERNESS RETREAT
The Ecodharma Centre, based in a remote mountain valley in the Sierra de Carreu of the Catalan Pyrenees, runs a ‘naturebased practice and learning’ programme. It can perhaps be best described as a sort of Spanish Walden, seeking to connect participants to the environment as a source of nourishment, wellbeing and inspiration. They combine mindfulness practice and meditation with nature-based education and wilderness skills. In addition, the programme organises solitary time in the wilderness, ranging from one day to two weeks. Their website offers information about their philosophy and methodologies as well as their various retreats. They also use the Dana Economy, which operates on the principle of ‘give what you can, take what you need’. www.ecodharma.com
Photo by Hector Mediavilla
4
The Co-Living ReTReaT
PandoraHub is an alternative coworking and co-living enterprise focused on entrepreneurship that takes its show on the road, operating at least part of the year in a 21-day caravan-like road trip throughout rural Spain, with stops in different eco or abandoned villages along the way. The most recent trip was set up in 10 stages, with stops of several days to a week in each place, where participants learned ways to rebuild and repopulate these abandoned villages, while gaining new vision for their personal and professional projects. At each stop, participants connect with local startups, volunteer in eco-villages and co-live with locals, while participating in a variety of workshops and talks by local entrepreneurs, which might include topics like growth hacking, 360º sustainable business, visual thinking, or dynamic governance. Participants not only benefit from co-living and co-working with startup founders, digital nomads and makers, but they can also take advantage of discounted rates and access to village houses and local hosts once their trip is over. www.pandorahub.co
Photo courtesy of PandoraHub
5
THE ZEN RETREAT
The Escuela Kwam Um Zen is part of a larger network of schools around the world that teaches the practices of Korean Zen Buddhism to westerners, including silent meditation, chanting, prostration, and the use of mantras and kong-ans. Those interested in exploring the practices of Zen Buddhism can learn its ways in daily classes at their Barcelona location, as well as in retreats at their other centre, Bori Sa, in the stunning volcanic region of Alta Garrotxa, about two hours north of Barcelona by car. The two-day retreats, occasionally led by visiting Zen Masters, are entirely silent and focused on keeping alive the practice of attention at all times. The schedule is an intensive combination of sitting and walking meditation, chanting, prostrations and formal meals. Those new to Zen practices can learn more about it by participating in their daily sessions (offered mornings and evenings) or at the one-day introductory class, Zen Day, on March 5th (from 9am to 3pm) at their Barcelona location, Bori Centro Zen. www.kwanumeurope.org/barcelona
35
34-35. Travel.indd 7
12/20/16 12:54 PM