From quitting smoking to balancing chakras, health and wellbeing in all its forms will be the focus at the Mind Body & Spirit festival next weekend in Limassol.

Over 100 exhibitors will offer their knowledge and services this year, in Greek, English and Russian, while up to six displays, seminars and workshops will take place at the same time, five in the various conference rooms of host hotel St Raphael and one outdoors.

Although when it launched 13 years ago the Mind, Body and Spirit event was largely an exhibition, it is now way more than that, taking place twice every year, once in Limassol and once in Nicosia.

“It has evolved from being an exhibition in the last three years,” cofounder Marilena Angelides said, “now it is more of a festival with art, dance and yoga and there are activities for kids of all ages.

“More and more people are involved in well-being and health, so there are more and more people both participating and visiting,” she said.

Angelides explained that visitors can make their own programme when they get to the venue. Entry is €8 per day and for this visitors can take part in as many seminars and workshops as they want.

“The rooms (in the hotel) are quite large, some can hold over 100 people, so we can make space as long as people are on time,” she added.

The people offering the various workshops and seminars as well as the expected visitors are from many different countries.

“They are from Greece, Turkey, America, Belgium, all over the world,” Angelides said. Years ago the visitors were mainly foreigners, but now Cypriots are also increasingly interested, the organiser said, adding that last year around 3,000 people attended.

Visitors are offered sessions on what the future holds by booking a psychic reading, how to quit smoking in two hours, balance their chakra, how to heal themselves and learn how to open up in love and relationships.

According to the organisers, visitors can also see, try and buy some unique products and gifts such as jewellery, cosmetics, giftware, clothes, crystals, body treatments, food and much more.

Konstantinos Karafoulides, known as one of the best Acro Yoga instructors in Greece will introduce the world of Thai on Sunday.

Other offers are a variety of workshops and presentations such as Body Balance by Less Mills, Peeling the Layers to Discover Who We Truly Are with YogaWorks, Kundalini Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga Nidra and more.

And visitors are invited to find out how the Diamond Approach with Ridwand Cyprus can emphasise the unique personal expression of each one of us and how we can manifest true nature in our own particular way.

Gardening is also part of the festival with an introduction to organic growing and a session on finding yourself through gardening – how permaculture principles can help us develop resilient lives and more balanced selves.

On Sunday morning, the telling of The Story of the Little Shy Wolf (in Greek) forms part of the programme for children. The story, which is suitable for children aged three to seven, touches on the sensitive issue of school bullying. After the storytelling, some activities will follow, during which children will be asked to describe feelings and express their thoughts about them and also their ideas on how to prevent bullying. Throughout the event, there will be babysitters on call who will keep kids busy while you take part.

Outdoor activities to uplift the spirit include Tai Chi, Brazilian Yoga, traditional Hatha Sivananda, Kundalini dancing and drumming.