Columbia Hotels & Resorts: Cyprus’ Family Holiday Haven

Hello everybody,


As children grow before their parents’ eyes, the realization that time can all too easily slip away crystallizes, and the appeal and importance of a family holiday dawns indisputably.Of course, the benefit of going on a family holiday is balanced on finding an environment that marries relaxation with entertainment, safety with excitement, and new experiences with unfailing quality.





What if you could find the perfect hotel that allows the whole family to engage in a host of fun activities and sports, as well as relax by the pool, soak up the sun, revitalize in an award-winning spa, dine on fresh, seasonal food cooked with finesse, and behold panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea from spacious, comfortable rooms and suites?




Seemingly too good to be true? Not so: Columbia Beach Resort and Columbia Beach Hotel provide all this and more, making for the perfect getaway in Cyprus for the entire family: a holiday haven.

Columbia Beach Resort and Columbia Beach Hotel are situated on Pissouri Bay, one of the most beautiful destinations in Cyprus.

Half way between Limassol and Paphos, both properties enjoy an advantageous position close to some of the island’s most prized archaeological sites – including the ancient amphitheater at Kourion, and the birthplace of the mythological goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite – as well as Cyprus’ premier golf courses: an ideal base from which to explore this Mediterranean isle.





Safe and secluded, the five-star Resort and four-star Hotel are poised above a 2km-long, Blue Flag-honored bay, cradled by white cliffs, and lined by palm trees and lush, landscaped gardens: a luxury oasis.

The Resort is home to just 95 suites (including one and two bedroom family suites), with a striking 80m-long lagoon-style infinity pool at its centre, complete with a dedicated shallow children’s area.





With the brilliant azure of the Mediterranean Sea as an uninterrupted backdrop, take a stroll from the pool down to the Apollo Tavern – boasting delicious, fresh food, and a special children’s menu of well-loved favorites – and onward towards the expansive lawns. A children’s paradise of colours, sights and sounds, the Resort will not fail to excite their imaginations, whilst also providing the much-deserved rest and relaxation that parents desire, thanks to the award-winning Hébe Spa, famed for rejuvenating mind, body, and spirit.





The Hotel, meanwhile, has 116 rooms, suites, and studios to choose from to suit all families’ needs. Parents may enjoy sipping a refreshing drink at the Hotel’s swim-up pool bar, whilst children playfully paddle in the pool’s shallow children’s area. Both the lunch and dinner menus keep the whole family in mind, with high chairs for the little ones also always on hand.

Marked by a casual, fun, and familiar atmosphere, the Hotel has long served as a family holiday hotspot in Cyprus, with many choosing to return year after year.

Whether enticed by the exclusivity and poise of the five-star Resort, or the relaxed, homey feel of the four-star Hotel, both properties share a selection of key facilities that will ensure the whole family has fun on your holiday in Cyprus.





First and foremost is the newly revamped children’s club, aptly named the Columbia Cubs Club. Open daily in the summer and at peak holiday periods, such as Christmas and Easter, children aged 3 to 12 are welcomed to the club for free, where they are delighted by a host of activities overseen by experienced and qualified personnel, spanning games, arts and crafts, puzzles, bread-making, kids cocktail-making, face painting, stone painting, paper flower creations, local fruit tasting, and more. The children that enter Columbia Beach Resort and Hotel’s kids club truly emerge full of confidence, feeling at home in their surroundings, and with lifelong friends in tow.





Moreover, anyone aged 4 and up may sign up to the Resort and Hotel’s Learn2Swim programme, where learning to swim in just five lessons is guaranteed. And with the Columbia Watersports centre situated right on the beach, more experienced swimmers can try their hands at wind surfing, water skiing, jet skiing, paragliding, snorkeling, scuba diving, pedal boats, and more. Of course, you could always simply gather the whole family together and head off into the sunset for a boat ride promising beautiful views of both land and sea.

For those desiring of an outdoor activity on dry land, Columbia Beach Resort and Columbia Beach Hotel’s joint weekly sports and leisure programme offers croquet, boules, mini football, archery, and Greek lessons, amongst other activities.





Likewise, the in-house professional cycling centre – which comes under the direction of 2-time former Swiss cycling champion, Thomas Wegmüller – offers guided tours for a range of abilities, allowing you to experience the surrounding area up close and personal. Why not try the Turtle Beach Tour, which is ideal for families and beginners?



Finally, with a professional tennis coach on hand to teach both children and adults alike, and two tennis courts, picking up a new skill on holiday has never been easier.




With the adage "hospitality with heart" underscoring the experience that both Columbia Beach Resort and Columbia Beach Hotel offer, travelling families can be sure of a warm welcome on arrival, and of unfailingly attentive service throughout their stays. Whatever you may need, the Resort and Hotel’s staff members will do all in their power to accommodate, being able to provide upon request a  baby cot, baby food, baby formula milk, baby shampoos and other toiletries, nappies, wipes, a sterilizer, a baby walker, pram, and even car seats.

When it is time for the little ones to go to bed – enjoying warm milk with compliments upon request from the Resort and Hotel, no less – parents can treat themselves to that quiet time they deserve by taking advantage of the properties’ babysitting service.





As your child sleeps peacefully following a day of fun, excitement, and wonder, parents can enjoy availing themselves of the Resort’s five-star, gourmet dining experience at Bacchus – overseen by Michelin-star trained Executive Chef, Ioannis Giakoumidis – or indulge in the rich themed buffet at Cape Aspro at the Hotel, overlooking the bay beneath the star embellished night’s sky.




Waking up for another day, as the sun is just peeking out from behind the bay of Pissouri, bury your feet in the toasty sand, let the waves caress your skin, and the sun warm your soul, and look at your children’s smiles, feeling happy that your time in paradise at Columbia Hotels & Resorts in Cyprus has only just begun!





Lots of sunny days from Izzy the Cypriot lizard!



Columbia Beach Resort and Columbia Beach Hotel


Address: Pissouri Bay, 3779, Limassol
Contact Person: Anthea Vikis, Marketing Manager
Email: marketing@columbia-hotels.com

Resort:
Telephone: +357 25 833 000
Website: www.columbiaresort.com
Reservations: bookings@columbiaresort.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaBeachResort/

Hotel:
Telephone: +357 25 833 333
Website: www.columbiabeach.com
Reservations: bookings@columbiabeach.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaBeachHotelLimassol

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Important information:
Columbia Cubs Club services are available only for guests of the Hotel or Resort.
Learn2Swim, Columbia Watersports, Tennis Coaching, and Babysitting service are all available at a fee.
For Columbia Cubs Club’s Baby List, please check the website and order everything you need prior to your arrival.




Kids at Work English Nursery - Limassol

Kids at Work English Nursery provides a safe, hygienic environment with fantastic resources and equipment. Caring and nurturing staff ensure that the children feel safe and secure enabling them to gain the confidence needed to learn efficiently.
At Kids at Work we feel that children learn so many skills through arts and crafts therefore arts and crafts are a big focus in all we do.
The Curriculum we follow is based on the British Early Years Foundation Stage. Our restricted class sizes mean more individual attention for your child. We have two classes the first of which is for children aged eighteen months to three and a half years and this class has a maximum of twelve children with a teacher and an assistant in the class. The other class is our Pre-school class which has a maximum of fifteen children with a teacher and an assistant.
We have professional qualified teachers coming into the nursery to teach Gymnastics and Music.
Organised educational trips on buses with seat belts are arranged up to twice a year. These trips are well staffed and organised to ensure the safety of your children.
Each year we organise two performances. All the children perform in a Christmas show in December and the graduating children perform in a Leavers show at the end of May or beginning of June. After the graduation show the children wearing Caps and Gowns are presented with a Diploma and a Plaque.
Once or twice a year we organise Parent/Teacher meetings which give us the opportunity to discuss your child's progress in a more formal session. Reports on your child's progress are given to you during these meetings. In between these meetings if you have any problems or concerns involving your child, time can be made for you to speak to your child's class teacher or the owner.
At Kids at Work we are planning to open a homework club for children aged 4-8 years. We hope this will take off soon.








Starting Age: 18 months

No of kids per class: 12 children in the 18 months -3.5yr class, 15 children in the 3.5-6yr class

Bus service: No

Classes languages: English, we have a Greek teacher if Greek is required.

Meals offered: A hot lunch and afternoon snack for children who stay in the afternoon.








Schedule: 
Morning
07.30 Work books, arts and crafts (Reading on Monday and Friday)
09.45 Circle time
10.00 Snack time
10.20 Quiet reading
10.30 Free garden play
11.00 Music on Tuesday, Gymnastic on Thursday
12.00 Lunch time
12.30 Story, song or instrument time
13.00 Quiet play, table top activities and drawing
14.00 Home time
Afternoon
14.00 Snack time
14.15 Homework for Homework Club and quiet free play for all other children
15.15 Organised games
16.00 Home time






Younger Class - Daily Routine

Morning
08.00 Free play, Workbooks, 1:1 attention
09.45 Circle Song Time
10.00 Bathroom and Breakfast
10.30 Music on Tuesday, Gymnastics on Thursday
11.00  Garden Free Play
11.45 Story/ song/ Musical instruments or music and movement
12.00 Lunch
12.30 Free play, table top activities, drawing. Finish days activities
14.00 Home time
Afternoon
14.00 Snack time
14.15 Quiet free play
15.15 Organised games
16.00 Home time





Working days: Monday- Friday

Morning hours: 7:30-14:00

Afternoon hours: 14:00-16:00

Holidays:  1 week at Easter, 1-2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks in August
                   All public holiday







Address: 39 Kritis Street, Kapsalos, 3087, Limassol, Cyprus
Contact person: Juliette Rushton
Phone no: +357 25737335 , +357 99139467
E-mail: adminkidswork@primehome.com
Facebook: Juliette.kidsatwork
Website: www.kidsatworkcyprus.com
Price: 350 Euro (Reduction for Cypriot Nationals)


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Infinity Yoga Energy Center Samadhi – Limassol

Hello everybody,

Somebody said “Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate”. Kids Fun in Cyprus would like to add … give them yoga lessons! Why? Simply because in yoga it doesn't matter if the postures aren’t perfect, but practice is your children’s time to feel alive, loved and free. We loved the peace and tranquility that we found at Infinity Yoga Energy Center in Limassol and most of all we liked the smiling, beautiful yoga teacher Nathalie Kass-Danno that took her time to help us understand why we should bring children to her lessons:





Izzy: Nathalie, when was your first introduction to yoga and how did you start to teach yoga?
Nathalie Kass – Danno: The philosophy of yoga is usually to start from the body asanas and moving forward to body, mind and spirit.
My path was the opposite, because I was first introduced to the spiritual aspect of yoga and meditation.
I started meditation and parapsychology at the age of 16, and year after year my desire to learn more expanded.
I moved on, to the mind knowledge, reading more books and meeting many teachers, to find peace, this is what I was looking for.
The path led me to yoga in 2001 but mostly self - taught and self - practiced.
As I expanded, I started wishing to teach to others what I had learned.




Izzy: Dear Nathalie, the yoga world for many of us, is like a door that we never tried to open. You decided to start yoga lessons for children after having a long adult experience. Can you help us open this door and explain to us what yoga is and how yoga could help our children?

N.KD: Yoga for me is the realization and the surprising development of the body.
I still get fascinated every time my body expands, and I accomplish a new asana without me even practicing that significant asana.
The body and the spirit is just ready for it and provides the support.
I believe children learn from yoga the power of self-knowledge and learn to respect their bodies and their limitations, as much as their strengths points.
Kids also gain self-discipline through yoga, which is by non-competitiveness.
They learn that they are not competing with anyone in the class, they are unique and so is their ability, their gifts and their spirit.
They learn to respect each other, they learn to love and share through games and asanas. The magic of a healing touch!





Izzy: Meditation on the body itself, the precision and the balance of yoga postures - are they going to make children mind more razor sharp and why?
N.KD: Yoga gives balance, increases concentration, and makes us more intelligent.
Asanas and pranayama exercises (breathing techniques) help to balance the right and left hemisphere of the brain. It mostly calms our nervous system and provides us with more patience and stability.

Izzy: What's your favorite pose and why? What types of poses will you teach and practice with the children? What benefits will children gain by this practice?
N.KD: For children my favorite asana is chakrasana the wheel pose, for it activates all 7 chakras in the body!
It is said that you are as old as the flexibility in your spine.
Children are so open to this wonderful asana, so I enjoy keeping that energy in their spine open and filled with prana (life force)
All the asanas will teach them about all the animals and how to connect to nature, will make them an imaginary travel on different countries of the world.






Izzy: What makes a private studio different to a yoga class at the gym? How would you describe your way of practice and teaching for kids?
N.KD: I would say that I private studio is more intimate because the teacher is really there creating what she or he wants. She / he is using their own energy, creating, and giving from the heart of their own space.
Sometimes the gym space can only give the physical aspect of yoga, and loses the spiritual part.






Izzy: The asanas (or yoga postures) may be the first thing we think of in Cyprus when we hear yoga, but that's only part of it. However, many of us still equate yoga solely with the movement, and do not consider the spiritual aspect. How will you deal with this at your yoga lessons for children?
N.KD: As yoga is not only asana, especially in my case which I started first to learn about the spirit and meditation, I wish to teach children to keep their innocence and their enthusiasm for life as adults.
I believe it is easier teaching children that yoga is not only asana, as they know better than us to connect with their higher self. This was said to me during my first class, by a 4 year old girl;
I was explaining that Namaste means that "my little light honors your little light, and that we all have small light inside our hearts".
The little girl looked at me and said, Nathalie I have a big big light in my heart, not a small one!





Izzy: Lots of children have plenty of energy. Sometimes, parents find it difficult to believe, that their child could be quietly participate to a yoga lesson. What examples could you give us about children changes at your yoga classes? How old, could be the children participating to your yoga classes?
N.KD:For kids at our yoga lessons we go from a slow movement in to a very active state. We bring kids energy levels up and then we take them down.
Kids listen and feel more than we know. When they feel love they love to participate. The class is a combination of postures that will take them from a quiet state to a very active giving them joy and raising their involvement.
Making yoga could be playful but it is also educational.





Izzy: Thank you very much for the opportunity you gave to our readers to find out more about yoga classes for children and for the end could you share with us a little story from your experience that changed your life?
N.KD:We need to believe in our uniqueness and the light in our souls, trust the divine power that everything leads us to our life goals and spreading the light to others.
There is no greater joy than seeing others achieve their goals and see their eyes and faces light up in love!




Namaste

Lots of sunny days from Izzy the Cypriot lizard!


Infinity Yoga Energy Center Samadhi


Address: Panayoti Tsaggari Str., No.119, 4042, Limassol
Schedule of lessons: Tuesday 17:00 – 17:45
Phone no: +357 99 696 481
Age groups:
Ages 4-8
Ages 8-12
Ages 12-16
Lessons Fees: 35 euro/ month 45 min - 1 session a week,
More than one child 24 euros/ month
Contact person: Nathalie Kass-Danno
Yoga teacher & Kids yoga teacher, Alternative therapist





Rodney Yee: “Yoga has nothing to do with flexibility. It is about opening the body wherever it goes and exploring the resistance. It has nothing to do with putting your leg around your head! We may go into those shapes with the body, but that is just to explore our mind and our body and our breath. Where the foot actually goes is not really of much consequence. Eventually, the different shapes you take have a chemical effect on the body. The shapes have just as much to do with the breath and the neurological input that you are putting into the body as they do with flexibility. If the nervous system is telling the body to stand up, you are getting some of the same benefits from that action as you would with going ahead and standing up. Scientists have recently discovered that if you get people to just think about doing an activity, several times a day, it has an effect on the body. So if people are tight physically, it is all the more reason why they should explore opening the body up. It does not matter if you ever get flexible or not--what matters is that you are in your body exploring it. You are feeling it; you are changing its shapes and personality. You are asking and demanding different things of it.”