Challenge yourself in 2014 with a learning holiday
Learn to paint.
Italy Art teachers often claim that, whilst people have inherent natural ability, anyone can learn to paint. If you fancy giving it a go, the picturesque Adriatic Coast isn’t a bad place to start. Faced with incredible views of beaches and mountains, you won’t be short of inspiration. The Retreat, a family-run art school in Le Marche, Tuscany, offers seven to ten day courses with instruction by owner and professional landscape artist John. The programmes are flexible according to your interests, so you can complement time at the easel with nearby excursions. Non-painting partners are welcome to join.
www.lemarcheretreat.com
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Test your limits, USA
British adventurer Bear Grylls is taking his Survival Academy stateside this year. Based in the jaw-dropping wilds of the Catskill Mountains, the five-day endurance challenge will test even the most hardened explorer. Participants can expect practical tuition on ascending and descending cliff faces, river crossing, self-defence and shelter building. Due to the mental and physical demands of the trip applicants should have a basic level of fitness, including being able to maintain a steady jog for 25 minutes without stopping, trek for one hour in boots carrying a light 20lb daypack and be a competent swimmer.
beargryllssurvivalacademy.com
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Try open water swimming, New Zealand
For water babies bored of doing laps in the local pool, there’s open water swimming in the cool waters of New Zealand’s spectacular South Island. If this is your first time, jump in with the reassurance and knowledge of a dedicated guide. Real Swim Adventures offer an exciting range of holidays and custom-built experiences. Try the Wild Southern Lakes trip. Based in Queenstown, you will embark on four days of swimming, paddle boarding and boating at Lake Hayes, Lake Wanaka and Lake Wakatipu. For less confident or non-swimmers, they also offer two-day residential swimming coaching.
www.realswimadventures.com
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Go vegetarian, Greece
Interested in going meat-free this year? If so, you’ll want to learn more recipes than the ubiquitous nut roast. Go Learn To run a seven-night Vegetarian Cooking Holiday in Crete. Days two, three, four and five involve traditional local cooking lessons, whilst remaining days are taken up exploring the area. Trips include a gastronomic walking tour of Heraklion, and visits to both a local winery and beekeeper.
www.golearnto.com
Become a yoga teacher, India
If you’re looking to take your yoga practise up a notch, try a total immersion 200-hour teacher training course. Even if you don’t take up teaching at the end, it will give you a healthy start to the New Year. Don’t expect a holiday though. Classes start daily from around 6am and go on into the evening, and students are usually required to eat a vegetarian diet and abstain from drinking alcohol and smoking. There are hundreds of options in India depending on what sort of experience you’re after, from traditional ashrams to more westernised courses taught in idyllic beach-front locations by visiting teachers. Ajarya in Rishikesh – India’s spiritual heart -- runs month-long courses throughout the year, specialising in Ashtanga Vinyasa flow postures. Batch sizes are no larger than 10-15 people so students get the most from their tuition.
www.ajarya.com
Written by Hannah Stuart-Leach
Culture & Lifestyle Journalist - Currency Today
