Mind Body Spirit Festival 2017: A lesson in kindness

Technology has taken over our lives and as a result, interpersonal relationships are going through a crisis. As a response, this year’s Mind Body Spirit Festival asked us to “Be Kind”. From October 10-14, The American College of Greece hosted an event aimed at self-betterment by being kinder to ourselves and those around us.

The Main Corridor and Student Lounge were filled with marvelous decorations as well as tips on how to be kinder to oneself. A photographic exhibition revolving around the matter of kindness, helped to further explore this theme.

The Festival was organized and coordinated by Deree’s Health and Wellness Center, Ms. Sophie Themelis (D’87), Health and Wellness Instructor, who is also an upcycling artist, a freelance translator and a volunteer at “Translators without Borders”.

It was five days full of activities aimed at helping the mind, body, and spirit. Ranging from a speech from a Master of Tai Chi and Meditation, Tew Bunag, and an informative session about healthy lungs, by Ms. Anna Tzortzi, to sports activities by the Office of Athletics encouraging well-being and a food banquet where food was eaten by hands!

Ms. Themelis was not the only alumni presenting; Ainola Terzopoulou (P’84/D’00), also did a session on body art. She works as a journalist, but she is also a NLP Wellness Coach, Pilates Yoga and Body Art Instructor and is the creator of www.livelifewell.gr.

The festival concluded with sunrise yoga at the Vrahakia under the Acropolis, thus closing the cycle of what the participants learnt; to treat ourselves with kindness and respect.

We would like to thank, HYGEIA Group, Garden of Eden, Attiki Honey, The De’Longhi Group, Cocoon Urban Spa, Chiquita, Oreanthi: The Greek Herbal Tea Collection, Promoprints.gr and Kenwood for their kind support.

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