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The Marbella Open Mind Fest is under way.
Mindfulness and personal development in Marbella

Mindfulness and personal development in Marbella

The organisation behind the event believes that the resort is the new Mecca for ‘yogis’ due to its ability to attract a range of different cultures

Charo Márquez

Friday, 15 September 2017, 10:43

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'Marbella Open Mind Fest', the first international festival for personal development, started on Wednesday.

The festival, which ends on Sunday, is centred on the Albergue Juvenil Fuerte Nagüeles complex behind the town centre.

Seventy masters, experts and coaches from all over the world have come together and over the five days they will be giving talks and leading workshops and meditation sessions. All of this will be done in a healthy lifestyle which promotes a "harmonious life" and family values. The ambition for the festival is that it becomes the biggest of its kind in Andalucía.

The founder of Open Mind Fest, Viktoria Boiaryna, has explained that the event is based around four levels of being. Firstly, the spiritual element, with talks to inspire creativity and mindfulness; secondly, the physical level, which tackles issues like health, organic food, incorporating massages and meditation. There is also the social element, discussing personal relationships with a focus on families; and finally, the intellectual aspect. While the first day was free, it does cost to attend most events at the festival. However, all money raised will go towards charities and voluntary groups.

Viktoria Boiaryna explained that she chose Marbella to host the festival because it is a city with good vibrations which makes it a successful candidate for "the new Mecca for 'yogis' and those who are looking for a spiritual life". She added that thanks to the large tourism industry in Marbella, the city "leaves a deep and memorable imprint on those who visit".

The programme has a focus on children as well as adults. The exciting first day of Open Mind Fest was celebrated with an organic fair, family yoga and talks, a concert and ceremony, and a Holi disco at the end. The entrance ticket to the day was a childrens book - all collected books will be given to children from low-income families.

NGO

The founder stresses that the main goal of Open Mind Fest is to work together with different associations to "make a better world". Over the five days of the event, there will be several activities in collaboration with various nonprofit organisations and the money raised from entry fees will be donated to them.

These associations are: Triple A animal shelter; la Fundación Arboreteum, which works to improve environmental awareness; Monsalvat, raising money for disadvantaged youths in Asia, and the Edicoma organisation, which works with groups who have been discriminated against.

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