Introducing The L.I.F.E. Digest

Welcome to The L.I.F.E. Digest courtesy of Nava Haus Retreats. This is far from your average wellness blog. It’s our dedicated space where we’ll present cutting edge ideas, news and updates. The pillars of our brand are leisure, indulgence, fitness and energy and the articles you find here will pertain to these topics and much more.

We’ll dive into the experience economy, luxurious escapes, travel inspiration, remote work, wellness trends, relationships; the pressing cornerstones of LIFE. We don’t believe in boring holidays. We run retreats that are out of the box, and our blog is cut from the same cloth.

And who are we?

‘Nava’, a Sanskrit word meaning new, fresh and recent, and ‘Haus’, the German word for house, offers guests a new way of living.

We host retreats in specially chosen luxurious beachside villas around the world, from Mykonos and Ibiza to Cape Town and the English countryside.

Our retreats offer guests individually tailored wellness training programmes, centred on fitness, led by some of the world’s best personal trainers.

We believe in balance. We work hard and play hard too. We believe in variety. Our expert trainers offer a range of health-related activities like yoga, various types of fitness techniques, meditation, breathwork, Reiki and dance.

Guests may come solo or in groups and will enjoy ice-breaker evenings aimed at building friendships, group breakfasts and brunches prepared from freshly sourced local ingredients and daily healthy activities.

This young brand is the brainchild of wellness entrepreneurs with a shared passion for health, connection and the finer things in life. Without further adieu, meet team Nava Haus.

Dotun Omo

Tell us who you are and your role with the company…

I’m the co-founder of Nava Haus retreats alongside Nick. In a former life, I ran a nightclub in Mayfair and organised some of the West End’s most prolific hospitality events.

Why Nava Haus?

Nick and I have both always been very social and actively involved in bringing people together from the hospitality and nightlife industries. Our first retreat was a very organic countryside getaway. What began with a few friends around a dinner table has transpired into a global community.

Something about you that no one knew till this very moment?

During the credit crisis, I lost everything and had to start from scratch. I moved in with my brother, put in some hard work and was back on my feet within a year and a half.

Everyone’s got that place that they simply can’t shake off their heart, where’s yours?

New York.

What’s your coping mechanism for when life gets too much?

I either travel and get away somewhere quiet to clear my mind, or I get out and socialise to take my mind off things as I’m a natural at that.

Nava Haus Retreat you’re most looking forward to?

Definitely Cape Town.

Nick Adasi

Tell us who you are and your role with the company…

I’m Nick and I was born in Oklahoma but raised on the east coast. I grew up always wanting to be a chef - I sold homemade cakes at school for $5. I worked as an investment banker for most of my life with various entertainment and hospitality ventures including Bacanal, which was massively successful before I sold my stake in the business.

Why Nava Haus?

We noticed a gap in the market for a speciality brand representing the more fun side of healthy living in one luxurious setting. What makes our retreats special is the unique mix of socialising and fitness; there’s never a dull moment. The combination of fitness activities, a laid-back holiday vibe, stylish accommodation and incredible food provides the opportunity to really press pause, recharge and re-energise. In the fitness industry, there’s so much talk of weight loss, diets and transformations that we’ve forgotten what ‘health’ really means.

Something about you that no one knew till this very moment?

I've introduced over 15 couples that have gotten married through hosting events, retreats and supper clubs.

Everyone’s got that place that they simply can’t shake off their heart, where’s yours?

It’s got to be New York.

What’s your coping mechanism for when life gets too much?

I played basketball and cycled my entire life and still do both almost daily. I'm lucky because I have endless amounts of energy and never burned out while working in finance. My trick was keeping a balance and never forgetting my passions.

Nava Haus Retreat you’re most looking forward to?

Cape Town.

Michon Van As

Tell us who you are and your role with the company…

I’m Michon and I’m the Chief of Partnerships and Client Success Officer at Nava Haus. Quite the mouth full I know but essentially I manage the relationships with our fellow brand partners, collaborators and our retreat attendees.

Why Nava Haus?

For the past five years, I’ve been living the international model life. It’s been a whirlwind of a career from which I’ve grown a passion for health, wellness and travel. From that, came retreats. I knew Nick from back when I was doing my undergraduate degree at LSE in London, so I felt very comfortable reaching out to him when I saw the launch of Nava Haus Retreats. I joined the team shortly after. Nava Haus is growing fast (there’s never a dull moment); our team is entrepreneurial, innovative, creative, and absolutely hilarious. I’m in for the long haul.

Something about you that no one knew till this very moment?

If no one knew it, they’ll know it now! I guess something most people won’t know about me initially is that I’m ‘not so Dutch’. I actually grew up (ages 3-18) moving around southern and eastern Africa (Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya).

Everyone’s got that place that they simply can’t shake off their heart, where’s yours?

Ooh, I’m going to put down two places: Cape Town and Barcelona. It’s a tie. Normally I say that people really make a place. If I’m somewhere completely alone for a few days, I often end up craving humans. In Cape Town and Barcelona, I’m entirely content going solo so for that reason I hold them close to my heart.

What’s your coping mechanism for when life gets too much?

Super bougie and way-too-expensive relaxation outlets: CBD anything, infrared saunas, steam rooms, a good workout, massages etc. Probably I’d indulge in some stress baking (it’s a thing) or vent to my sisters. Good thing I’m high functioning under stress or else I’d be broke.

Nava Haus Retreat you’re most looking forward to?

Sardinia and Tel Aviv. They’re all new and have both been on my travel to-do list for years now. Considering my previous response, it’s a little odd that I’m not choosing Cape Town, but modelling jobs mean I can’t be there to host this February so onto Sardinia and Tel Aviv it is! Sardinia is also known for kite surfing so I’ll be taking FULL advantage of that.

Barbara Krecak

Tell us who you are and your role with the company…

I’m the Operations and Business Development Manager. I started working in the travel industry as a tour guide while at university. My educational background is in sociology, communication science and accounting, and I was the youngest graduate from Copenhagen Business School’s Executive MBA program. I managed projects and teams across the UK, India and Eastern Europe.

Why Nava Haus?

For the last five or six years, my whole life revolved around work. I got to a point where I wanted to travel, meditate, exercise, devour healthy food and meet interesting people. Basically, what Nava Haus facilitates and promotes is exactly what I wanted my life to look like: connecting with inspiring people, exercising, travelling, and having fun at the same time. I think we’re on the brink of something big together.

Something about you that no one knew till this very moment?

I’ve been on my own since I was 17. I was already running my first company at 18… and I know how to drive a tractor.

Everyone’s got that place that they simply can’t shake off their heart, where’s yours?

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s the most welcoming vibe I’ve ever felt.

What’s your coping mechanism for when life gets too much?

Netflix and a glass of wine.

Nava Haus Retreat you’re most looking forward to?

Ibiza.

Nati Tarjanyi

Tell us who you are and your role with the company…

My name is Nati and I’m Nava Haus’ Head of Food and Beverage; I’m often referred to as the Head Chef. Besides creating and cooking scrumptious, healthy meals on retreats, I’m also responsible for food-related popup events in London as well as recruiting and training the army of chefs who whip up delicious meals for our guests.

Why Nava Haus?

I connected with Nick a few months before the first retreat in Mykonos, where I came on board as a chef. I meshed really well with the team and I think they liked my style of cooking. I love the energy of this fast-growing company and when they offered me the position saying yes was a no-brainer. I find the work inspiring and love that I can bring all sorts of new ideas to the table (pun intended).

Something about you that no one knew till this very moment?

I have an MA in Political Science and worked in cultural diplomacy at the Hungarian Embassy in London. My passion for food took over, however, and after leaving the embassy I opened my own café.

Everyone’s got that place that they simply can’t shake off their heart, where’s yours?

Tel Aviv. I still get excited every time I visit. Sitting on the beach and watching the sun go down is unbeatable and the food is on a different level. I go there a lot for inspiration.

What’s your coping mechanism for when life gets too much?

Well, it’s either cooking or baking in my own kitchen or travelling solo to somewhere far afield, away from busy London.

Nava Haus Retreat you’re most looking forward to?

Cape Town.

Rosie Bell

Tell us who you are and your role with the company…

My name is Rosie and I’m Nava Haus’ chief content officer. I’ll be penning everything you read (and hopefully love) on The L.I.F.E. Digest. I’m a professional traveller and write for publications like Lonely Planet, Forbes Travel Guide, BBC and Hemispheres alongside running Club Elsewhere, a travel and life design brand.

Why Nava Haus?

I met Michon on a solo trip to Medellin a few years back and she reached out me when the Nava Haus team were on the hunt for someone to manage content. They had me at ‘infinity pool’.

Something about you that no one knew till this very moment?

I can say cheers in 23 languages and I’ve got double-jointed arms.

Everyone’s got that place that they simply can’t shake off their heart, where’s yours?

The beautiful Isthmus of Panama stole my heart years ago and is yet to give it back.

What’s your coping mechanism for when life gets too much?

Travel has come to my rescue on many occasions; it’s always been my greatest pleasure. I have collected my best stories on the road and it’s never long before I’m taking a bite out of a new territory.

Nava Haus Retreat you’re most looking forward to?

Somehow Mykonos has managed to slip through the cracks all these years, so I’m excited to finally make it there in the Spring.

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Watch out for the next instalment of The L.I.F.E. Digest and if you like what you see so far, like us on Facebook, subscribe to our Youtube channel or pine after your next retreat on Instagram.