Well-Being Lab

Well-Being Lab

We traveled to the training course Regenerating Ourselves – Regenerating Earth as a three-member group representing Slovakia (Simona Horváthová, Tamara Šuniarová, and Martin Švorc), first by bus to Zagreb. After a short city tour, as a complete group of participants from five countries, we set off for Ekodrom Estate near Karlovac. We had no idea what awaited us, but full of enthusiasm, we gradually began to get acquainted.

Upon arrival at the cabin complex, we found ourselves surrounded by beautiful nature and somewhat cut off from the world. But in a good way – we had the opportunity to fully spend time with the other participants and reconnect with nature. Our conversations were often not only enriching but also full of humor. It was clear from the outset that during the next six days, we would not be stressed by obligations or a hectic life, but rather focused on our mental health… and that's exactly how it was 🙂

The pleasant mountain environment allowed us to fulfill the goal of the training – well-being. Each day was accompanied by breathing and meditation exercises, reflection on acquired knowledge, and physical activities. These helped us organize our thoughts, focus on the present moment, or simply clear our minds. Fortunately, the weather was mostly favorable, so we could enjoy being outdoors in the embrace of nature – and in the company of the local dog Azra, who often joined us. The entire training course was designed so that we would take home many techniques for maintaining good mental health, as well as many beautiful experiences.

The program was different every day, but one thing remained constant – the afternoon activities led by us. We, the participants, thus had the opportunity to experience what it's like to be on the other side and take responsibility into our own hands for a while. Mostly, these were breathing exercises aimed at stress reduction or conscious mindset.

We spent our free time together – whether discussing various topics or taking walks in the surroundings. We thoroughly enjoyed the great atmosphere. And the food? That was a chapter in itself! The diverse vegan meals regularly brought smiles to our faces, and we think we'll miss them a bit at home.

Overall, we gained not only many beautiful experiences from the project but also a lot of useful knowledge that we can practically apply in everyday life. The day of departure was full of emotions. With the hope that our paths would cross again someday, we wished each other a safe journey with tears in our eyes and set off back home.