Cooking Up Delight: A Culinary Class with Aggeliki at Her Special Tavern

Meet Aggeliki: The Heart and Soul of the Greek Tavern - Lagoudera

Imagine stepping into a cozy taverna on the shores of beautiful north Evia Island, where the air is filled with the aromas of traditional Greek dishes, calmness and love.

That’s where Aggeliki works her magic, pouring her heart and soul into every meal she serves. Growing up in a family that celebrated culinary traditions, she learned to cook from her grandmother, who would often say, “Cooking is an act of love.” Now, as a taverna owner, Aggeliki takes that sentiment to heart by using fresh ingredients sourced from her own garden and from local farmers and crafting recipes passed down through generations. Whether it’s her smooth as silk eggplant salad or crispy kalamari, each dish tells a story of heritage and passion. Dining at Aggeliki's place isn’t just about satisfying your hunger; it's about sharing in the warmth of her hospitality and feeling like part of the family. So next time you're on Evia Island, don't miss out on experiencing the true essence of Greek culinary traditions through Aggeliki's delightful creations! You could either come and enjoy a regular meal on opening hours of Lagoudera, either book in advance your Cooking lesson with Aggeliki and enjoy both.

All ingredients organic, local, fresh, healthy and prepared with care and positive energy!

The Menu: Discovering the Three Delicious Dishes We’ll Create Together

So, you’re ready to whip up some mouthwatering Greek dishes, huh? Picture this: your kitchen filled with the fresh aromas of bio veggies, best home made olive oil, mountain picked oregano and morning caught fish - for our own marinated anchovy - which are apparently from the most expensive meze. Now we know why.. the process of making - takes quite some efforts :)

After preparing the anchovy, we moved to our next dish - Grilled bio Eggplants Salad from Lagoudera's garden - the most tender eggplant salad we have ever tried.

So grab your apron and get ready for a cooking class that’s more than just food; it’s about sharing stories, laughter, and maybe even a little dancing once the meal is ready. You’ll be serving up more than just dinner—you’ll be creating memories!

Behind the Scenes: Capturing Moments with Photos and Video Interviews

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to step into a culinary wonderland, let me take you behind the scenes of our cooking class with the fabulous Aggeliki and her husband Thanassis (big magician behind the scenes ;) Picture this: a cozy kitchen filled with the mouthwatering aroma of fresh herbs and sizzling ingredients, where guests dive into hands-on experiences that transform them from home cooks to greek culinary rockstars. During our video interviews with Aggeliki, she shares her secret tips and tricks while whipping up delicious dishes that make your taste buds dance. It’s not just about learning how to cook; it’s about creating unforgettable memories and bonding over shared flavors and stories. And trust me, every laugh and “oops” moment in the kitchen makes for a recipe worth remembering! This culinary adventure is one you won’t want to miss – it might just inspire your next dinner party!

What to Expect in a Culinary Class at Aggeliki's Tavern?

Imagine stepping into a cozy kitchen filled with aromas of olive oil, fresh herbs, and zesty lemons, all while surrounded by friends who share love for good food, people and moments. In this hands-on experience, you'll not only learn to cook authentic Greek dishes but also dive into the culinary techniques that make them shine. The friendly atmosphere makes it easy to ask questions, experiment with flavors, and even get a little messy—because let's face it, that's part of the fun! By the end of your culinary adventure, you'll leave not just with delicious recipes but also with newfound skills.

Our Conclusion is that as much as a midday lunch or a sunset dinner would be an amazing sense-full time spent at Lagoudera, going for the full experience with a cooking lesson would be even a more profound way to enjoy the gifts this place has to share with the world! We sum up with some useful informations; - Cooking classes are available middle week on Low Season days (Monday - Friday / October - May). - Cost per person - 50 Euro (Cooking class + Meal). - Minimum 3 Participants. For booking you are welcome to get in touch directly with us

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Lagoudera - Agiokampos - North Evia Island - Greece

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The Power of Sound Yoga & Frequency Healing

Did you hear about Nada Yoga? In the quest for holistic wellness, the ancient wisdom of sound healing has gained remarkable traction, especially in the realms of yoga therapy. The idea that “By His utterance came the universe,” as stated in the Brhadaranyaka Upanisad around 700 BCE, underscores the profound impact of sound (frequency) on the cosmos and human existence.

The Universal Language of Sound

The concept of the universe originating from sound is not unique to one tradition.

Lets see some examples:

- Shaivism (Shaivism is an ancient religion and spiritual tradition that has been practised in India for thousands of years. The followers of this religion, known as Shaivites, worship the Hindu god Shiva as the supreme being and emphasise liberation from suffering. Shaivism is associated with worship through meditation and contemplation) teaches that the universe began with the sound अ (A), a primal note in Sanskrit associated with Shiva.

Similarly, in Jewish mysticism:

- Sefer Yetzirah, creation is described as a process initiated through letters, akin to sounds.

- Abrahamic traditions (The Abrahamic religions—most prominently Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—are those faiths that trace their origins to the Israelite prophet Abraham) - Sound plays a pivotal role in creation narratives, with the divine command “Let there be light” bringing forth existence.

This notion parallels the scientific perspective of the:

- “Big Bang” suggesting a sound at the universe’s inception.

- Albert Einstein’s theory that all matter breaks down into energy, vibrating constantly, further supports this idea.

- As particle physicist Don Lincoln notes, “the thing that we visualise as a particle is just a localised vibration of that field.”

This insight into the nature of sound as organised vibration reveals its potential to influence matter.

Which is what we experience with tuning forks, crystal bowls and the more traditional Tibetan bowls (which originally were made for food serving....:)

The Philosophical Foundations

Since ancient times, Indians have been searching for an explanation for the mysteries of life and existence. This search gave rise to several schools of thought and different philosophies. Each philosophy recognizes the principle of karma, the cycle of birth and death, and reincarnation. Also, each acknowledges that moksha, or liberation is the ultimate aim of all human effort.

Samkhya is the oldest school of philosophy. It states that everything is derived from the Purusha or self, soul, intellect, and Prakriti or matter, creation, and energy.Samkhya philosophy concurs with the idea that the universe is a manifestation of sound. This sound relates to ether or space (आकाश ākāśa), the most subtle of the five elements. The path of creation in yogic theory moves from the subtle (ether) to the gross (physical elements), corresponding to the chakras in Tantra Yoga and doshas in Āyurveda.

The Science of Sound in Yoga and Therapy

The principle of entrtainment (Entrainment explains how certain sounds and rhythms can change brain waves), discovered by Christian Huygens, demonstrates how external rhythms, like music, can synchronise and modify our internal states, such as brain waves and emotions.

Sensing and Responding to Sound

Sound begins to impact us even before birth. Fetuses respond to external sounds and distinguish between novel and familiar ones. The mechanics of hearing are complex, involving the transmission of sound waves through the ear to the brain, where they’re processed in various regions responsible for different aspects of auditory perception.

Dr. Tomatis, an influential figure in psychoacoustics, highlighted that sounds fuel our brain, with high-frequency sounds being particularly effective. He also discovered the role of bone conduction in hearing and the stimulation of the vestibular system, which affects our sense of balance and spatial orientation (the ability to relate position and positional changes of body or body parts to any stable reference system).

Curious to understand the Therapeutic Power of Sound?

The concept of Nitric Oxide (NO) in our bodies, a gas molecule crucial to our organ systems, illustrates the physiological impact of sound.

Stress reduces NO production, while its release induces relaxation. Humming, for instance, significantly increases nasal NO, demonstrating the physical benefits of sound practices.

Sound Healing in Practice

The foundation of sound healing lies in the belief that everything, including our body and energetic centres, has a unique resonance. When parts of our body are unwell or stressed, they fall out of their optimal vibrational state. Sound

healing employs sympathetic vibrations to realign our body to its natural, harmonious state.

This idea is not new; it has roots in various traditions such as the Hindu/Nada yoga6 and the Greek practice of using music for emotional and psychic healing. Modern scientific research supports the healing capacity of sound and music, further validating its use in various therapeutic contexts, including sound yoga and yoga therapy.

Sound Yoga Therapy: A Path to Wellness

In the realm of yoga in general and yoga teacher trainings in particular, the inclusion of sound yoga therapy and sound meditation is increasingly prevalent. These practices integrate the transformative power of sound into the yogic journey, offering a path to holistic wellness that resonates with our very essence.

Through sound yoga therapy and sound meditation, practitioners can experience profound shifts in their physical, mental, and emotional states. As they harmonise their inner vibrations with the external world, they embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing that transcends conventional yoga practices.

Final Thoughts

Nada yoga or sound healing represent a fusion of ancient wisdom and modern scientific understanding, offering powerful tools for transformation and healing. As we continue to explore these practices, we uncover the immense potential of sound to harmonise our inner and outer worlds, leading us toward a deeper sense of wellness and unity with the universe.

By now - anyone has a clue what Nada Yoga stands for? :)

Nada Yoga is the process of the union of the individual mind with cosmic consciousness through the flow of sounds. It is the Union of the body and mind and the expansion of atman (individual self) to the nada brahman (universal self).

Love, Harmony & Beauty - A Real Libra

Ill start with Love.. what a topic, so many books have been written, billions of songs, movies and theatre shows. How many hearts have been broken (i like saying cracked, and i say it from my own experience, a heartbreak, is equivalently a heart opener), how many flourished and ones who have been deceived.

How many of us understand the true power of love, being it the most outstanding power to heal us all?

For us Libras, an air sign, ruled by the planet Venus, the god of love & beauty - Love is the essence of all. Our greatest ambition is to be loved and to be giving that love in return.

Librans are artistic, gullible, but very peaceful. LOVERS of LOVE Spend money where freely Lovers of all the most beautiful things that the world has to offer But Love is our most important goal Because of the planet Venus We Must and Will have this LOVE

True love is not easy to be found, it cannot be found as it is actually nowhere out there.. True love can only be created, transcendent through the below and the above, us being the connector and channel on its way. When love flows through our veins, we feel compassionated, calm and relaxed, joyful and positive, carefree and satisfied, whole and full-filled. We like to give to others, we care to share our bliss-fullness with the world. Love can wear also sadness or sorrow when it hits the walls of fear, guilt or shame. From time to time comparison, criticism and jealousy are inevitably coming to knock on loves door..

True love knows the essence, and it is not confused my the illusion of the mind.

True love asks for time to be fully involved with an ongoing learning and practice of how to hold space to learn to know each other, patience and will to come to a mutual understanding, a self discipline where miscommunication, human mistakes, the struggle and the dark side of the self, the needed amount of air, ground, support, kindness and gentle approach.

True love needs to know by any terms, these values shall be sustained. When times of separation, may it be a physical one, come to fruit, true love knows to detach itself from the comfort and the known, from the ego and its opinions of whats wrong and whats right. She always knows when it is time to give a courageous act of trust, and let things go.. Sometimes we go for good, sometimes its for a time of culmination, realization, that time&space where we see what we couldn't as long as we didn't stand apart. In real sense for the amount of perspective one should gain, that might be an hour, a decade or a lifetime of goodbye. True love is navigated by a natural law, there is no obeying to what should or is accepted by the societies eye. Therefore true love is eternal, it has no beginning and no end. The ones of us, who are lucky to come in touch with their venus & mars, we are simply temporary travelers on the unceasing train of love, sometimes we're on it, sometimes we're off. Regardless of whom we are sharing the energy of love with, may it be a dog, a flower, a husband or a daughter, a good friend, a neigbour, the cashier in the bank, the stones upon the shore and the glance of the water, a beloved activity, a motorcycle or a kind of art, a memory, a smell, a living being or a piece of cloth - may it be an aware act of love, a full removal of the self, its needs or interests, it likes or dislikes, its action and reactions, its pain, anger or suffering.