These are professionals who host and facilitate your journeys, they are here to make your journey a rich experience of learning and enjoying!

Hosts:

Dr. Jennifer Moody - Spirit of Crete - Sepetember 2011
Jenny, a MacArthur Fellow, is an inter- nationally respected archaeologist, pre- historic ecologist, and co-author of an award-winning book on Crete’s natural and cultural history, The making of the Cretan landscape. She has worked in Crete for over thirty years, leading numerous international research projects on the island’s landscape and culture. She looks forward to introducing you to this capti- vating island that is as varied as a continent and sharing her extensive knowledge of Mediterranean culture, environment, and climate. Jenny is committed to sustainable development and preservation of endangered landscapes. She will take you to some of Crete’s most lovely, hidden places.

Kristin Brudevold

B.A. Religious Studies focusing on Tibetan Buddhism, Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado.

Kristin has felt the nomadic and creative winds blow through her from a young age. From yearly trips to visit family in Norway to the aesthetic and practical construction of forts in every nook of the forest behind her house, she seeks profound adventures whenever possible.

Kristin's exploration of the Himalaya began at age 16 when she traveled for the first time to Nepal and Tibet on a study abroad program. Upon graduating from university, she departed for Asia to further her studies of Buddhism and to explore deeper into the rugged mountain ranges and forests. She has remained to this day, and has shared this curious spirit of travel and investigation by facilitating over 13 study abroad programs throughout Tibet, Nepal, and India (2 week, 4 week, 6 week, and 3 month semester program).

When she is not instructing student programs or guiding mountain treks, Kristin has been involved in development projects in post-tsunami Thailand, has apprenticed under a master Tibetan thangka painter in Kathmandu, and is working on developing environmental education and medical training programs in Ladakh, North India and Nepal. She also creates beautiful jewelry inspired by the artistic traditions of the various nooks she calls home.

The last four years have marked a shift in Kristin's lifestyle and courses of study, deepening her immersion into yogic and healing arts. She spends several months a year in retreat or yoga intensives, and experimenting with how to share these practices with others.

Kristin enjoys mountaineering, swimming in freezing alpine lakes, yoga, writing, photography, building boats, and studying eastern and western healing arts. She has completed two 200-hour "Yoga Alliance" certified yoga teacher trainings in the Shivananda and Power Yoga traditions, and is a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT certified). She is currently studying Ancient Thai Massage in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Arjun (jan)- Introduction to Mantra Sadhana in India

Growing up in Belgium Arjun found himself always attracted to the mysterious and hidden sides of life and existence. Twelve years ago he embarked on a journey that lead him to spend much of his time living and studying in India.
It is in there that he found the ancient wisdom living through time honored rituals and long lineages with initiatiatory traditions. It is to these traditions that he has dedicated his life of study, practice and teaching.
On his exploration through the jungle of the ancient traditions of Veda and Tantrik Hinduism he has studied with some of the Sub-continent’s finest teachers. The sons and senior disciples of Master EK in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, trained him in Vedic and Tantrik ritual, mantra recitation and Jyotish (Vedic astrology). At present he studies sanskrit with Pandit Vagisha Shastri, and Trika Tantra with Dr. Mark Dyczkowski. Arjun teachs mantra and perform rituals in India and Belgium. You may contact him at: arjunajan@ilikajourneys.com

Hosts have the professional knowledge pertaining to the trip focus (yoga, history, archeology, mantra, etc)

Tour Facilitators are the travel professionals who coordinate the logistics and operational aspects of the trips.

Genevieve Gilbreath - Ilika trips coordinatior and tour host on select tours.

Spirit of Crete - Sepetember 2011
Anusara Yoga and Trika in India 1.26.08-2.09.08
Genevieve has a Master's Degree from Baylor University in Health Education, with an emphasis in alternative health systems, and she runs an international natural health supplement company based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Genevieve has over fifteen years as a practitioner and teacher of yoga She has devoted the last several years to spiritual study and practice in Varanasi, India where her studies in Kashmir Shaivism have fostered recognition of the divine within. She has spent several summers in Crete and looks forward to sharing the benefits of yoga with you on this magical island. www.yogavataka.com

Tracy Firsching - Hawaii, June 06 -13th 2009
Tracy is a long time yoga practitioner teacher and advanced massage therapist. She began practicing yoga and meditation in 1984 in London where she graduated from the London College of Massage. Tracy studied Kundalini Yoga with Yogi Bhajan, Classical Hatha Yoga with Gary Kraftsow, and participated in extended meditation retreats in various monestaries and retreat centers. Tracy had the honor of sitting with his holiness the Dalai Llama, and the Karmapa in Dharamsala. These were profound experiences guided and molded her practice and teaching, but she emphasizes that no experience is more powerful or more important than sincere, individual meditation practice and the truth that is revealed from within. Tracy is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Registered Massage Therapist, and holds advanced certification from the Neuro-Muscular Therapy Institute. She has nearly 2000 hours of training in therapeutic health fields. Tracy's massage training spans 20 years, and began in London in 1987. She has nearly 2000 hours of training. www.austinmassage.org

Christina Sell - Anusara Yoga and Trika in India 1.26.08-2.09.08
Christina Sell has been practicing yoga since 1991. She is a certified Anusara Yoga instructor. Anusara Yoga is a unique method of hatha yoga which integrates biomechanical principles of alignment with the celebration of the heart and spirit. Developed by John Friend in 1996, Anusara Yoga offers a dynamic synthesis of asana technique, yoga philosophy, and good company.
Christina is the author of Yoga From the Inside Out- Making Peace with Your Body Through Yoga. She studies ongoingly with John Friend and master teachers from all traditions. Her active teaching schedule includes local, national and international classes and workshops in asana, teacher training and principles of dharmic living.
Christina lives in San Marcos, Texas with her husband, Kelly, their two retired greyhounds and four cats. She and her furry family enjoy long walks, bicycle rides, dinner parties with friends and hanging out on the river.
www.christinasell.com