Sun, August 22 - Sat, August 29
Join James Nestor and an intimate group of pulmonauts for a week on a Greek yacht to sail the blue waters and remote ports of the ancient Cyclades as we explore the power of your breath and experience the nourishing and meditative side of freediving with a master instructor.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has only 16 spaces available. Join us.
What can breathing do for you?
For thousands of years ancient cultures used breathing as a medicine to help heal the body and calm the mind. Modern science has more recently shown that harnessing our breath can measurably reduce stress, blood pressure, anxiety, depression, snoring, chronic headaches, and even asthma and some autoimmune diseases.
In this immersive weeklong retreat, we’ll explore a new breathing practice each day, from relaxing and restorative techniques to more highly-energizing breathwork methods that heat the body up, lull it into a heightened immune response, and shift states of consciousness.
All levels of registration are ALL INCLUSIVE of more than 30 hours of intensive breathing instruction and practice, individualized assessments and training, alignment and biomechanics, three handcrafted meals a day, and connecting with extraordinary humans from all over the world.
At the close the retreat each guest will leave with a toolbox of breathing practices to improve mental and physical state, anytime and anywhere, for years to come.
Kundalini • Tummo • Kriyas • Qi Gong • Hypoventilation Athletic Training • Buteyko Breathing Technique • Apnea • Pranayama Resonant Breathing
“I’ve never felt anything like this before. My mind and body feel
brand new.”
R.S. (Denmark)
The quiet side of freediving
Freediving is breathwork in its purest form. Guided by a master instructor, we approach it as a practice of relaxation.
The week starts with gentle acclimation dives in the glassy water of Apokrousi Bay, moves to line diving in the sheltered horseshoe of Vathi, and reaches its high point at Polyaigos: staggering visibility, underwater arches and sheer drop offs beneath white volcanic cliffs.
No previous freediving experience is required.
PACKAGES & COST
All Inclusive
The room costs are ALL INCLUSIVE of food, lectures, moonlight, surf, and everything else except alcoholic beverages and optional massage services.
James Nestor and Breath Crüe are all staying on-site and will be available to answer questions, chat, and breathe throughout the entire week.
There are no hidden costs. There are no sneaky fees. There are no pitches for timeshare opportunities. Just show up and we’ll take care of the rest.
Please contact us with any questions: retreat@mrjamesnestor.com
$15,000
Your cabin aboard Thalassa, a 36 metre classic Greek gulet, for James Nestor's Greek Isles Yacht Retreat, sailing six nights from Athens through the remote western Cyclades and back.
A private, wood-panelled cabin below deck with a double bed, portholes onto the Aegean, en-suite bathroom and air conditioning.
All meals, all instruction, and all else included.
“I am not exaggerating when I say this was probably the best week of my life.”
C.A. (Britain)
The route
Out from Athens into the Cyclades, south to the edge of Milos, then north again by way of Kea and Cape Sounion.
- IAthens to KythnosApokrousi Bay45 nm, 4.5 h
- IIKythnos to SerifosMega Livadi20 nm, 2 h
- IIISerifos to PolyaigosUninhabited island25 nm, 2.5 h
- IVPolyaigos to SifnosVathi Bay10 nm, 1 h
- VSifnos to KeaAncient Karthaia45 nm, 4.5 h
- VIKea to Cape SounionTemple of Poseidon15 nm, 1.5 h
- VIICape Sounion to AthensDisembarkation25 nm, 2.5 h
Five of the seven days involve less than three hours under way.
Day by day
Sailing times are approximate and the captain may adjust the order of anchorages for wind and sea conditions.
Day 1. Athens to Kythnos, Apokrousi Bay
Embarkation and the deep blue
- The sail
- We leave the Athens marina by 10:00 and cross into the Cyclades, about four and a half hours, to anchor in Apokrousi, a wide and deeply protected natural bay on Kythnos.
- The setting
- Calm, glassy water for a first acclimation freedive and a grounded opening to the week.
- Dinner ashore
- Kolona Taverna. A short tender ride to Kolona, the sandbar beach with sea on both sides, for a simple meal of local cheeses and the day's catch.
Day 2. Kythnos to Serifos, Mega Livadi
Abandoned mines and still water
- The sail
- An unhurried two hour morning cruise south to the remote western side of Serifos.
- The setting
- Mega Livadi is a quiet bay framed by nineteenth century mining ruins, with iron loading bridges reaching out over the sea. Historic, peaceful and very still.
- Dinner ashore
- Kyklopes. A tiny family taverna on the sand, known for local dishes slow cooked in clay pots.
Day 3. Serifos to Polyaigos
The uninhabited island
- The sail
- Two and a half hours to Polyaigos, the largest uninhabited island in the Aegean Sea.
- The setting
- The freediving high point of the week: remarkable visibility, underwater arches and sheer drop offs beneath white volcanic cliffs. Complete isolation for deep meditation.
- Dinner on board
- Chef Aris prepares a healthy banquet, served on deck under the stars and eaten in silence.
Day 4. Polyaigos to Sifnos, Vathi Bay
The car free horseshoe bay
- The sail
- A one hour crossing to Sifnos. We pass the busy main port and anchor directly in the horseshoe bay of Vathi.
- The setting
- Vathi is a sleepy village with no cars on the waterfront. The bay is well sheltered from the wind, which makes it ideal flat water for morning breathwork on deck and line diving.
- Dinner ashore
- Tsikali. An unpretentious, much loved taverna at the water's edge, cooking traditional Sifnian recipes in handmade local pottery.
Day 5. Sifnos to Kea, Ancient Karthaia
Ceremony among the ruins
- The sail
- A four and a half hour morning cruise north to the remote southeastern edge of Kea.
- The setting
- We anchor at Karthaia, a secluded bay with no road access. On the hillside above the yacht lie the excavated ruins of an ancient Greek city and its Temple of Apollo. At sunset the group goes ashore by tender for a breathwork ceremony among the marble columns.
- Dinner on board
- Back aboard for a grounding meal after the ceremony, prepared by Chef Aris, with the bay to ourselves.
Day 6. Kea to Cape Sounion
The Temple of Poseidon
- The sail
- A ninety minute afternoon sail across the channel, leaving the Cyclades for the Athenian Riviera.
- The setting
- We anchor directly beneath the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, where a week of wilderness meets the ancient world.
- Dinner ashore
- Elias Fish Tavern. A tender to the beach at the foot of the cliff for a formal farewell seafood dinner at the water's edge, with the temple lit above us.
Day 7. Cape Sounion to Athens
Return to Athens
- The sail
- A final two and a half hour morning cruise back to the Athens marina.
- Disembarkation
- Guests disembark by 10:00, in time for onward flights.
“I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible experience. Breath Retreat is nothing short of transformative.”
S.D. (Canada)
“Holy S%$t! You guys are so awesome! I have so many new tools to take back into my practice and spread this knowledge around the world. Thank you!!!”
M.A. (India)
Rundown
• Daily lectures with James Nestor exploring the history and science of breathing
• Group and individual breathing instruction with a team of internally renowned breathwork and alignment instructors.
• Handcrafted local cuisine
• Sunrise/sunset breathwork
• Morning and evening swims along a pristine and private beach
• Evening sound baths
• Yoga, Qi Gong, alignment workshops
• And did we mention swimming, sunshine, monkeys, and vegan coconuts!?
Your Hosts
JAMES NESTOR is a science journalist and author of the international bestseller book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, which has been translated into more than 35 languages and has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. Nestor will lead daily multimedia informational sessions, live expert interviews, and archival reviews on the history and science of breathing techniques. Nestor will be available throughout the week to answer individual questions and consult about whatever. Between lectures, Nestor will be leading several evening sound baths by night, and by day taking a place on the mats between the rest of the respirators to participate in breathing sessions led by an inimitable, international coterie of renowned breathwork teachers known as the The Breath Crüe: (pictured below) Emma Estrela (UK), XXXXXX live music by the astounding Marc Capelle.
“James and his team were selfless teachers, constantly accessible throughout the week and guiding us through each new program with grace and humility.”
M.K. (Germany)
FAQ & Additional Details
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Breath Retreat at Blue Spirit is perfect for anyone who breathes. We offer clear instruction, support, and an environment for guests to take their breathwork as far as they’d like to go, from biomechanics basics; gentle and nourishing practices; to full-on vigorous hour-long ancient techniques. You are the pilot at Breath Retreat; not the passenger.
We have hosted hundreds of humans from more than 20 countries all over the world, including New York CEOs to Sedona vanlifers; British physicians to Brazilian artists; teenagers to octogenarians; single people in a relationship to single people not in a relationship; couples traveling together to multi-generational families. You will be in the company of amazing people doing amazing things from all over the world. Children under the age of 17 are not permitted.
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We offer a broad range of program pricing from two to five thousand dollars per person for the entire week. Pricing includes all food, workshops, yoga, fitness classes, sound baths, sunsets, sunrise swims, and the now-(in)famous Breath Retreat Friday Night Dance Party Blowout. Alcoholic drinks and desserts are not included. Costs do not include suggested (but optional) travel insurance, ground transportation, or flights.
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The chefs at Blue Spirit can accommodate whatever dietary needs. While the chefs focus on locally-sourced plant-based cuisine, each meal will offer various options for every nutritional nuance: paleo to vegan, pescatarian to breatharian, and everything in between. All meals are served buffet-style allowing you to choose whatever you’d like. For protein-focused eaters, every meal offers eggs and every lunch and dinner offers both eggs and fish. Delicious smoothies, pastries, desserts, and more are available throughout the day, every day. Wine and beer are available on your dime.
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Our Great Breath Retreat Concierge Extraordinaire can arrange roommates for solo guests interested in sharing an Eco Cottage. All guests must first book a stay in the Eco Cottage; after that, feel free to reach out to retreat@mrjamesnestor.com for next steps.
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Proof of Travel Insurance is strongly (strongly!) encouraged. Be sure to purchase early and often. Things come up, and things seem to come up a lot more often right before big events. We want to make sure everyone is covered in case of some unforeseen circumstance that would require the trip to be cancelled.
We like www.insuremytrip.com and www.travelinsurance.com.
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All sales are final.
We understand that life sometimes throws curveballs. If the reservation must be cancelled for whatever reason Breath Retreat may offer to try to find a replacement but there are no guarantees.
If Breath Retreat is successful in finding a replacement, there will be a $750 re-booking fee deducted from the refund as well as any outside vendor expenses and/or credit card processing fees that may have incurred from the cancelation.
Any cancelations within 30 days of the retreat are fully non-refundable.
We strongly recommend trip insurance and like www.insuremytrip.com and www.travelinsurance.com.
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Want to learn more about Breath Retreat? Check out this overview written and designed by Breath Crüe’s resident HIIT/djembe/breathwork/tango master, Sanjay Soekhoe from Rotterdam.
Schedule
The schedule is loose and will be changing depending on the flow of the event. Here’s a rough sketch of what to expect.
All days are padded with free time for swimming, beaching, napping, work calls (not recommended!), drinking, and breathing in of blue sky and blue sea.
James and the Breath Crüe are all staying on-site and will be available throughout the entire week to answers questions, chat, and breathe with guests.
Saturday – Arrival (Optional arrival on Saturday or Sunday) Check in to rooms begins on Saturday at 4pm. Sunset group ocean swim/beach walk at 5pm. Casual come-whenever dinner starting at 6pm.
Sunday (Personal Assessments / Opening Ceremonies @ 7pm) – Relax, recover, eat, sleep, swim on your own. Breath Crüe will be holding personal breathing and posture assessments throughout the morning and afternoon. (Plenty more breathing assessments on Monday for anyone who can’t make it on Sunday.) For the real go-getters we will have morning and afternoon come-as-you-are HIIT and yoga classes. All of these classes are free and optional. Group dinner at 6pm followed by Opening Ceremonies led by James Nestor with a multimedia lecture overview on why humans are the worst breathers – and how to fix it. Evening closes with meditative breathwork and sound bath.
Monday – Qi Gong Breathing. Sunrise yoga; group morning breathwork; personal breathing and posture assessments; pre-lunch lecture on Qi Gong with exercises; post-lunch breakout sessions focused on mechanics and alignment; sunset ocean swim; group dinner and drinks. Evening Q&A with Breath Retreat Crüe on specifics of breathwork practices and best techniques for athletic training, stress mitigation, sleep, sex, asthma reduction, and who-knows-what-else.
Tuesday – Breathing Less. Sunrise yoga; morning group breathwork; pre-lunch lecture on breath retention and CO2 training; optional HIIT training on the beach; group afternoon long breathwork; sunset ocean swim. Evening yoga nidra and sound bath.
Wednesday – Airway Health & Adventure Day. Sunrise yoga; morning group breathwork; post-lunch lecture on chewing/myofunctional therapy and airway health; instruction with expert myologist. Post lunch guests are free to adventure out to wilds to surf, hike, sightsee, whatever. Evening Q&A with James Nestor.
Thursday – Kundalini. Sunrise yoga; morning group breathwork; pre-lunch lecture on Kundalini with exercises; optional HIIT training on the beach; afternoon 90-minute intensive group kriya breathwork; sunset ocean swim; group dinner and drinks. Evening gong sound bath.
Friday – Tummo/Bon Buddhist Breathing (Closing Ceremonies) – Sunrise yoga; morning breathwork and individual assessments; pre-lunch presentation on Bon Buddhist/Tummo breathing with exercises; afternoon biomechanics breakout session; final personal assessments; Tummo-based group breathwork finale; sunset ocean swim with non-alcoholic and not-non-alcoholic drinks and photos on the beach; big final group dinner. Closing ceremonies amidst the now (in)famous Breath Retreat Dance Party Blowout.
Saturday (Au revoir) – Long goodbyes and room checkout by 10am.
Cuisine
All guest packages include three gourmet, handcrafted, and locally-sourced meals a day. This is the freshest, most nourishing food in the area.
The Blue Spirit chefs specialize in locally-sourced gourmet plant-based cuisine. Each package includes egg options with every meal and local fish with lunch and dinner to sate paleo, keto, and pegan eaters.
Alcoholic drinks not included in guest package price.
Scene
Blue Spirit is located on the Southern end of Guiones Beach in Nosara, on the Northern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.
Blue Spirit resides along the coast with three beaches: Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada, and Playa Nosara, all of which are protected as a turtle refuge, and almost half of the greenery in the entire area is protected forest which has become a sanctuary for howler monkeys and other wildlife.
This is a natural jungle environment, which means it’s raw and exposed to the tropical elements. You’ll be hearing monkeys and birds and seeing iguanas, insects, and other critters out and about. You’ll see stars and the moon at night. You’ll be not around, but in nature.
Between sessions you are free to roam, swim, sunbathe, or just soak in the natural environment. Blue Spirit can recommend local activities and help arrange transportation (at your cost) to horseback riding, river kayak expeditions, spearfishing, surfing, stand up paddle surf, and waterfall hikes.
Getting There
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The closest international airport to Blue Spirit is Nosara Regional Airport. This tiny airport is just a few minutes away from Blue Spirit and the easiest way to go.
Book flights through Sansa Airlines (https://www.flysansa.com/en) from Liberia International Airport (LIR) or San Jose.
Otherwise, most guests fly into Liberia International Airport and travel by shuttle to Blue Spirit. The shuttle will take about 2.5 hours.
Blue Spirit handles all transportation and offers shuttle services from Liberia Airport (LIR) on Saturday, April 27 and Saturday, May 4. Cost is $60 + 13% Costa Rica tax each way.
Please contact Blue Spirt Transportation (https://bluespiritcostarica.com/shuttle-reservations/) for booking and/or for more information. (Breath Retreat cannot answer or assist with transportation — this is all handled through Blue Spirit.)
At the end of the retreat, Blue Spirit offers several group shuttle services to Liberia International Airport between 7am through 10am.
For international flights, we suggest checking Google Flights. (But know for some reason that Google Flights doesn’t often list the Los Angeles direct flight, which is the flight you want to get on if you are coming from the West Coast.)
If you are flying into San Jose, Costa Rica we’d suggest a Sansa (see above) flight to Nosara.
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If you prefer to rent a car (you will NOT be needing a car during the retreat) please write us for specific directions. The car rental agency Adobe is supposed to be the best.
See Blue Spirit Directions for more information.
Reservations
Space is limited. Please contact us with any questions: retreat@mrjamesnestor.com
