Experience as Healing
Pathways series one: 2-3 June, 2023
All-access program for resort guests
From ancient spiritual practices to the wild new frontiers of biohacking, countless theories have sought to balance the relationship between our emotional, physical and intellectual states. How will this widening field of knowledge and desire affect the way we travel?
RHYTHMS
When technology wasn't interrupting the natural rhythms of our body, when we lived by the seasons, we lived by the sun and the moon. We were much more in tune.
An example and practice in increasing demand is breathwork, a method of controlled breathing that has its origins in the ancient yogic exercise of Pranayama. In the elevated state of mind, we ascend toward a more invigorating world, taking on a universal perspective. Notion of experience as medicine is taking root. Medicine that plays a transformative role to ground, re-orientate and heal.
For a short weekend in June, we head to Fari Islands, one of the most beautiful, inspired places in the Indian Ocean, with a group of leaders in the fields of psychosocial health, nutritional sciences, and esoteric practices. We unfold and open hidden doors through inner and outer journeys seeking Experience as Healing.
EVENT
PROGRAM
All-access program for resort guests
FRIDAY, 2 JUNE
Arrival and New Awareness
18:00 – 18:30 l Healing Sound and Breathwork Opening
Avery Whitmore
18:30 – 19:30 l Welcome reception “Drinking when you’re not drinking”
Claire Warner
19:30 l Dinner “New Horizons in Good Food”
SATURDAY, 3 JUNE
Developing New Habits
08:00 – 08:30 l (Optional) Beach Clean up “Plastic Free Seas”
09:00 – 10:30 l Plant-based Breakfast
11:00 – 12:00 l Masterclass “My Pathways”
- Plant-based breakfast cooking
Raphaella Llorente - Conscious, Connected, Deep Breathing
Avery Whitmore
14:30 – 15:30 l Masterclass “My Pathways”
- Non and low-alcoholic cocktails making
Claire Warner - How great sleep helps your creativity
Tony Estrella
18:00 – 19:30 l Cocktails “More, drinking when you’re not drinking”
19:30 till late l Shared Dinning Experience “Communal Table”
Beach Party “Boho White Night”
More program and special guest details coming soon
View our exclusive package for May and June 2023
PATHWAYS
MIND
Breathe better, with Avery Whitmore
Avery Whitmore is a leading, Los Angeles based sound meditation and breathwork practitioner who is deeply committed to facilitating peace, wellbeing and healing through the creative process of sound and breath.
Avery travels the world helping others find their own healing journeys including programs at Chopra Institute and various group retreats.
Find Avery at Patina Maldives Fari Islands at our upcoming
Experience as Healing event on 2-3 June.
A conversation with
Avery Whitmore
Recently, the ancient practice of breathwork has gained renewed attention as a powerful tool for enhancing overall wellbeing. Its bodily, mental and emotional benefits have been reported by the most rigorously peer-reviewed, respected medical journals. New England Journal of Medicine found that regular slow breathing exercises improved lung function and reduced asthma symptoms while International Journal of Behavioral Medicine reported breathwork was associated with improvements in immune system function in HIV patients.
So what exactly is breathwork and how does it work? To explore these questions, Jinou Park, creative director of the June event “Experience as Healing” sat down with a leading practitioner of breathwork, Avery Whitmore who shared insights into the history and origins of this ancient practice, as well as the many benefits. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Avery, when did you first come across the practice of breathwork? Were you always interested in ancient spiritual, physical healing practices?
I came across breathwork about eight years ago. I had some transformational breakthroughs at a young age and that journey initially led me to study massage therapy. There, I was inspired to study other modalities and I went in deep into this work.
What exactly is breathwork and how does it work?
Breathwork is a practice of conscious breathing that involves deep, intentional breathing techniques to help quiet the mind and promote relaxation. It is an integral part of many spiritual and mindfulness practices, including yoga and meditation, and has been used for centuries in cultures around the world. At its core, breathwork is about learning to control your breath to manage your emotions and promote physical and mental health. There are many different styles and techniques of breathwork, ranging from slow, intentional breathing to rapid, rhythmic breathing.
Which are those cultures around the world that practiced it? Usually we think of yogic, Pranayama origins from India.
Chinese practice of Qigong involves breathing techniques as well as movements and meditation, done for thousands of years to improve health and vitality. In Egypt, the practice of Hekau uses specific breathing techniques to access spiritual power and connect with the divine. While the specific techniques and practices of breathwork may vary across cultures, the underlying principle is the same: to use the breath as a tool for improving physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Let’s dive deeper into those benefits. Reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression to improving cardiovascular function makes a lot of sense. But there’s even reports of improvements in immune system function in HIV patients. I’m not necessarily asking for medical diagnosis. From a practitioner point of view, what do you think is the source of all this healing?
While the benefits from this practice can be examined through a scientific lens, there is a profound spiritual aspect that cannot always be easily explained by science alone. Breathwork not only supports the immune system, but also bolsters emotional well-being. As energy flows more freely and our bodies become more connected, we experience greater unity with the cosmos, the earth, our hearts, and our visions. Breathwork offers an opportunity to deeply remember and reconnect with your truth and the universal truth.
I once participated in breathing workshop with Wim Hof, the ice man. His method is deep inhaling and unforced exhale repeated like 30 times. At the end of that, I found myself able to hold my breath for almost a minute, which I know I’m not usually capable of. He also preaches not just mental but physical benefits of anti-inflammatory, immune system boost and even autoimmune disease relief. Are there other breathing techniques similar to that?
Yes, there are various techniques that share similarities with the Wim Hof Method. In our advanced breathing session in June, I will be teaching a conscious connected deep breathing technique that is both similar and distinct from Wim Hof's approach. Through this practice, you will likely be able to hold your breath for over a minute, and may even experience non-ordinary states of consciousness. These states can lead to visions, feelings of deep connection, or a heightened sense of unity and connection to all things around you.
Find Avery at Patina Maldives Fari Islands at out upcoming Experience as Healing event on 2-3 June, 2023. Book Now
DRINKING WHEN YOU ARE NOT DRINKING
WITH CLAIRE WARNER
In the UK, about a fifth of adults say they do not drink alcohol at all, and among 16-to24-year-olds it’s almost a quarter. In developed countries, alcohol consumption is in long-term decline. As society shifts away from alcohol, the rise of non-alcoholic drinks is a testament to our growing desire for a world beyond booze. However, while moderation is widely acknowledged as a healthy choice, can we really find pleasure in drinks that are defined by what they lack?
Get ready to shake things up with Claire Warner, an award-winning positive drinking pioneer, where we go beyond the basics and focus on ingredients that are proven to boost our mood, emotions, and appetite. Whether you're looking to cut back on alcohol, experiment with new flavors, or simply elevate your mixology skills, this is a masterclass you won't want to miss!
Here’s a sneak peek to Claire’s masterclass with a recipe for Earth & Leaf, a non-alcoholic cocktail that that is the perfect accompaniment to rich and robust dishes. Roasted green tea and bright, fresh verjus create an aromatic cocktail that is reminiscent of a pinot noir.
Earth & Leaf
1 Oz Seedlip Garden
1 Oz chilled hōjicha tea
3/4 Oz red verjus
1/4 Oz simple syrup
Lemon twist for garnish
Toasted sesame oil
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass. Fill with ice, stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze the lemon twist over the drink to express the oil and discard. Finish with a drop of toasted sesame oil.
Meet Claire at Patina Maldives Fari Islands at our upcoming Experience as Healing event on 2-3 June.
WHY GREAT SLEEP IMPROVES YOUR CREATIVITY
WITH TONY ESTRELLA
We spend up to one-third of our lives asleep. We strive to improve and optimize our waking hours but we know so little about sleep.
Together with Tony Estrella, best selling author and wellness-tech investor we explore the art, science and a new path towards better sleep and, quite simply, better living.
Take a sneak peak to Tony’s sleep masterclass in his BBC interview on sleep and dream.
Contact
Us
Patina Maldives
North Malé Atoll, 20026
The Republic of Maldives