“Only the ideas that we really live have any value”
Our Philosophy
Santhosh founder Samiya
Santhosh retreats were set up by ex-barrister and mother of three, Samiya Noordeen.
In her own words:
"There comes a time in your life, when you pause, review and re-assess your journey through life. This can occur at any time and the catalyst could be absolutely anything. For me, this happened when I stood on the top of Adam's Peak (a sacred mountain in Srilanka) at 5 am in the morning, after an exhausting ascend to watch the sun rise. I asked myself, who am I and what have I become?
Questions such as: why am I so unfit? (I was the last to get to the top!), where did all these years go? do I want my life to have colour and adventure or do I walk a safe path, acceptable to all those around me and simply fit in? My spirit screamed out "be true to yourself" and the rest will fall into place.
Not long after, I embarked on a programme of "dance into fitness". I so very badly needed to regain my physical fitness. Since dance combines both art and exercise, it soon became a high point in my life. I invited my friends to join me, and Santhosh was born. The endorphin high was my daily dose of mental glucose and the music my motivator.
The years that followed, was a period of great learning. There were times of great joy and happiness, and times of deep sadness, despair and disbelief. Like everything in life, you swing to the right, then to the left, and finally you CENTRE! In order to centre or gain a balance, a better understanding of my own modus operandi in life, seeking Grace and good counsel were invaluable. Throughout this time, I never stopped paying attention to my physical well being. As Lord Buddha said "To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. I have also come to realise that truthfulness both to yourself and those around you is the ultimate freedom.
Our approach therefore is based on these principles of striving to achieve physical wellbeing with the ultimate aim of using it as a foundation to achieve a balance, strength and harmony in life."