Larah Davis, Ibiza Retreats
Larah is luminous. She enters our designated meeting place in St Gertrudis on a chilly winter morning radiating lightness and good health. This ethereal being, a mixture of English and American heritage is a living and breathing testament to the fast work of Ibiza Retreats, the company she has lovingly nurtured from infancy to its present day success. As we sip on herbal tea, I can feel myself smiling involuntarily at the sheer exuberance in her words, and her relentless enthusiasm has me resolving to be better…
What is it that made you decide to come to Ibiza and enter this line of business?
For me, my heart’s calling has always been a healing calling and seven years ago I was living in Ibiza just briefly, reconnecting with that calling. It then took me to Sydney Australia, where I discovered life coaching and co-hosted life confirmation seminars and retreats. After this I started spending time in Ibiza again, allowing my vision to really unfold - essentially connecting people from outside the island with the beautiful resources here, in terms of mother nature, the beast healers and therapists and people who are creative plus all the different ways to unwind our minds.
What is it that you love most about the island?
The energy. Freedom of expression. For me, it’s the place I always felt most myself. This island allows us to let go of the linear beliefs about how we ought to live our lives and concentrate on our personal flow.
Given that you are an expert, what’s your favorite way to relax and unwind?
It’s very much what we are designing for our day retreats. Starting off with a beautiful yoga or Thai Chi session, followed by a change into white robes, a tea ceremony and herbal footbath. After a yoga or pilates session, the mind is relaxed and the body is ready for hands-on therapy. For me, it would be a combination of massage with energy work, lots of crystals and the beautiful energy of a therapist, followed by relaxing with nutritious and detoxifying food and juices from the island.
One of the other services you offer is NLP, or Neuro Linguistic Programming. What does this involve?
Neuro Linguistic Programming is about looking at the mind like the hard drive of a computer. The concept is that just as you can reprogram a computer, you can reprogram your neurology. You can change the way you feel by changing the way you think. The easiest way to explain it is to say it’s like verbal nutrition - what you say to yourself creates a feeling, which then creates actions and behaviors.
Where would you take a first time visitor to the island?
Straight to the beach! Probably Cala Jondal - it’s one of my favourite beaches - so they can immediately smell the ocean and then head up to the pine trees. It’s essential to go to a little chiringuito, to a tapas bar and to the centre of St Gertrudis. I’d take them to some amazing parties, go horse riding and to Ibiza Moving Arts where they can do beautiful meditational dance. We’d go on long leisurely beach walk followed by beach lunches that last well into the afternoon. And it’s got to be finished off with a glass of Hierbas of course!
This story was published on June 4, 2008
{ WE LOVE IBIZA RETREATS }
{ MORE FROM WELLNESS & BEAUTY }