First of all, I would like to sincerely thank our participants who trusted us and came to our 3-day overnight camp. If you are thinking, “Should I participate?” and wondering what to expect, you can find accounts of our participants’ experiences in their own words on this page.

Ö.Y.

What was your purpose in coming to this camp?

My purpose in coming to the camp was to get away from the stress and rush of daily life, to be in touch with nature, and to benefit from the information that both Sema Hanım and Constantinos Bey would provide. Besides that, as someone who had previously attended several of Sema Hanım’s trainings, I also wanted to meet her in person. 🙂 I live abroad, and I’m very happy that I had the opportunity to time my visit to Turkey to coincide with the dates of this camp.

I also invited my mother, father, and boyfriend (who is foreign) to this camp. My intention in inviting my parents was to take them away from the monotonous flow of daily life, to allow them to benefit from the information here, and to relax in this magnificent natural setting. Besides that, I wanted us to have a different family experience and create a memorable moment. 🙂

My boyfriend was the person who witnessed the change in me most closely after attending Sema Hanım’s previous programs, and when I told him about this program and its content and invited him to this camp, he was very interested and happily participated.

By the way, I would like to thank Merve Hanım for her wonderful English-Turkish translations throughout the program. This ensured that both Constantinos Bey’s parts were translated from English to Turkish in a very fluent and understandable way, and Sema Hanım’s parts became very easy to understand and fluent for my boyfriend, who is a foreigner. 🙂 Based on my own experience, I would like to add that this camp is also very suitable for foreigners who do not speak Turkish.

How did you feel at the camp?
I felt wonderful throughout the camp! 🙂 In Sema Hanım’s parts, I primarily reinforced my knowledge about healthy eating. In addition, I felt incredibly relaxed with meditation, breathing exercises, and psoas muscle relaxation exercises. In Constantinos Bey’s parts, delving into the psychological aspects and touching upon topics such as communication and active listening was very beneficial. I think this information made the camp much more holistic and led me to think about things I hadn’t really focused on before. 🙂 The nature walks and interactive exercises with other participants were also very beneficial. In other words, it was a grounded camp that took a holistic approach to the individual. 🙂

I also want to mention Zeliş Hanım’s wonderful meals and the various healthy snacks offered during the camp; all the meals prepared were delicious and healthy. I would like to thank Sema Hanım and Constantinos Bey again for choosing Zeliş Farm for this camp; I think there couldn’t have been a better choice, I felt right at home there. 🙂

What have you observed in yourself after this camp?
After the camp, I definitely feel calmer and more relaxed. I continue to practice the breathing and relaxation techniques I learned at the camp, such as Chi Gong, with pleasure. I continue with meditation from where I left off. I also try to incorporate mindfulness walking into my daily life, because even while walking, a lot of thoughts keep running through my mind, and when I notice this, I try to stop and return to the environment I’m in, to my body, which in itself is quite beneficial. 🙂 I also continue to eat healthily, and I do miss Zeliş Hanım’s cooking from time to time. 🙂

Finally, I would like to add that I recommend this camp to everyone, both locals and foreigners. For those who want to take a step towards healthy eating and stress relief but don’t know where to start, I think this camp would be a great starting point. In addition to all this, I think Sapanca’s magnificent nature will be very beneficial for everyone. 🙂

I want to reiterate that I’m so glad you organize such a camp; everything was truly wonderful. Thanks to it, I also got to explore Sapanca a little bit – I would definitely love to see it again and explore Sapanca and its surroundings.

b

For years, my stomach, which is normal in the mornings, suddenly swells in the afternoons, and I feel like I’m about to burst. Although I’m not overweight, this situation has led me to think a lot about nutrition and try everything I’ve heard about (bioresonance, mega test, acupuncture, and diets). However, eating the given foods in the specified amounts and at the given times has only caused me more stress.

I’ve been following Sema Özpekmezci for a long time and making her recipes. When I heard about the Nature Rejuvenation Camp, I was initially a little scared, thinking that as a kebab and bagel lover, I would starve and constantly eat greens when I heard about vegetarianism. However, the place, Zeliş Abla’s amazing food, and hospitality captivated us. In the training sessions with dear Sema (an old colleague and a nice coincidence that we found out we had mutual acquaintances) and Konstantinos, we learned that not only did we not starve, but we constantly felt full, and that everything actually stems from our thoughts, and how to eat properly.

Plus, losing 1.2 kg in 2 days, and 2 cm each from my belly and waist, was a bonus for me. Lots of love to dear Sema and Konstantinos for their sincere friendship, information, and for sharing their feelings with us so honestly.

C.A.

My dearest Sema,

My biggest wish when coming to the camp, which I’ve wanted to attend for a long time, was to leave everything behind for three days and be there just for myself…

These three days were very fulfilling, calm, full of love and peace, both spiritually and physically.

You, Sema & Constantinos, have done a wonderful job. I returned to the city with my mind and body refreshed… These three days will guide me whenever I face difficulties.

Also, the wonderful food, spotless rooms, and my lovely groupmates made me feel like I was in a wonderland.

Endless thanks…

A.P.

Dear Sema & Constantinos,

In the warm and welcoming atmosphere you provided, we nourished our bodies with healthy yet delicious meals, calmed our nervous systems with Tai Chi/Chi Gong practices, found balance in the silence, and were satisfied with gluten-free, grain-free, and sugar-free options. After these dreamlike three days, returning to reality was quite difficult. The group’s energy was amazing.

Speaking for myself, after 3 days, I clearly observed the changes in my body with the diet you planned. From now on, I can at least do what I can and not stress unnecessarily about what I can’t do. I can say that I’m not alone on this journey. I will try to practice Constantinus’ Chi Gong often; it has a calming effect.

Endless thanks to everyone involved and to all participants.

G.Ş.

I have been following a gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free diet for years, and I have been vegetarian for 7 years. After losing my father, I entered a period where I couldn’t taste the food I ate, I didn’t even notice what was in front of me, and I suddenly gained 6 kilos in 2 months. I had been managing the weight gain as much as possible for the last 5 months, and most of the weight I gained was gone.

I was eating healthy products, but sometimes I ate too much because I couldn’t taste the food. Upon realizing this, I enrolled in this program prepared by Ms. Sema, hoping that it would help me overcome these problems. Ms. Sema was so sincere; her compassion was reflected in her face. Through her explanations and the methods she demonstrated, she reminded me of the old way of discovering and savoring a product before eating it. It’s as if we’re not even breathing while time flows by. Thank you for everything, Ms. Sema.

At the same time, I hadn’t been able to cope with the pain of losing my father alone, and I didn’t think I could deal with it alone. Even thinking about it deepened the pain inside me. My goal was to confront how I would cope with that pain by spending time with strangers, away from my family, my job, and my friends. Constantinos’s explanations somewhat eased the feeling of not being able to forgive myself. I will benefit greatly from his teachings in this regard. I’m so glad he exists.

From the first day of camp, I felt the warmth of my campmates and the kindness of Sema Hanım and Constantinos. I knew from our first meeting that I would be happy here for three days. Seeing people of all ages getting along,

meeting at a common point, and smiling, brightened my spirits. I’m so glad we met.

After the camp, I realized that I never showed myself the same kindness I showed others; I didn’t feel I deserved it. I don’t know when I got caught in this cycle, but after this camp, I remember that I need to be more compassionate towards myself.

I’ve always been a good listener, but I never had a listener who listened to me. This will be one of the first qualities I’ll observe in the people I communicate with in my future life.

Zeliş’s Farm has a perfect, peaceful ambiance. I felt like I was at home. The food they prepared was similar to my usual diet, and much more delicious; I ate more than usual, I wouldn’t be lying if I said that. 😀

I am grateful and thankful to you for creating this opportunity. I’m so glad we exist!

K.B.

I decided to attend the camp at a time when I needed to calm my mind and body, experiencing difficulties due to the tension caused by stress. Unfortunately, we can’t manage to listen to ourselves amidst the intense pace of work and personal life. We can’t bring ourselves to say “stop.” I thought that nutrition also had an effect on our stress levels, but after the camp, I became completely certain of this. Zeliş’s Farm, with its food, atmosphere, and nature, leaves one feeling at peace. My mind was very calm during the camp. The calm mind and body, and the positive effect you had on everyone we spent time with, made us all smile and happy; I think that had a huge impact. After the camp, I decided that my mind and body deserved to always be free from this stress and tension, and I’m showing myself the kindness I deserve, and now I’m taking steps to do something about it. One of these steps is joining your Healthy Mind, Healthy Body group workshop. I’m eagerly awaiting it. Thank you so much to you and your brother-in-law for showing us that achieving the things we think about, desire, aim for, and want isn’t as difficult as we imagine it to be, and that we deserve the same compassion and understanding we show others.

M.Y.

Hello Sema Hanım,

I already miss you all so much. I’m telling everyone about the camp and what I learned there, especially about self-compassion. I’m giving nutrition tips. I care about and love myself so much more now. It was an experience that greatly increased my level of awareness. I’m so grateful; everyone around me is so curious and wants to come. I want everyone to experience this. Continuing with meditation :))) Parasympathetic energy is active. Lots of love and greetings…

D.K.

Dear Sema,

I came to your first camp mostly for you. I didn’t think about the benefit at all. Because embarking on this journey with you, whether it’s the first camp or the last, would be wonderful. I had no doubt about that.

I spent a wonderful, unforgettable 3 days with you, Constantinos, and all the other participants. If it were possible, I would like to attend every one of your camps and everything you do.

I know I’m not someone who can express my feelings with literary elegance. But I want you to know that I love you very much. It’s truly a great privilege to know you. And Zeliş Farm was a perfect choice. I wholeheartedly invite everyone to participate in this camp. 🙂

S.D.

Dear Sema, I was going through a difficult emotional period and wanted to get away from everything by being with people I didn’t know. In that sense, it was very helpful. Being surrounded by nature, listening to different stories, and your and your husband’s positive energy truly increased my hope for life. I’m so glad I came! Looking forward to seeing you again at other events and concepts. Lots of love. 🙂

C.G.

From the moment I first saw this camp, I knew I wanted to be there; primarily to meet you and feel your wonderful energy up close. And then, I think, to relax; both mentally and physically. And that’s exactly what happened. The green and pristine nature, the oxygen, those huge hydrangeas, and especially the delicious food… As for the mental relaxation: Actually, it was much more than that! I both relaxed and experienced very serious insights, thanks to both you and your husband, Constantinos. Every activity, meditation, and practice we did together grew within me like ripples from a stone thrown into water.

I’d like to share a few examples:
First, I think it was the first day, I accidentally touched a nettle and it hurt a little. I observed that pain, my anger towards the nettle – these were awarenesses brought about by the meditations we did together. Suddenly, I found myself thinking: A nettle is just a nettle; touching it was my mistake/carelessness. The next day, when we went for a quiet walk in the forest, something completely different happened: There were so many thorny plants in nature! I could see thorns almost everywhere I looked. 🙂 And at that moment, I realized how much I had struggled throughout my life to smooth out my own thorns, simply because someone – society, my mother, my father, etc. – taught me that it was the right thing to do. Yet all those thorny plants were also a part of nature and were just as beautiful, necessary, and present as the other plants that were thornless/flowering, etc.! At that moment, I decided to take care of my own thorns. For the first time in my life! It’s hard to express how big a step this has been in my ability to accept myself as I am, but I’m absolutely certain you understand me.

Another example is what I realized while writing about the topics Constantinos told us to write about. Our expectations, the things we want to change, which ones we truly want, and which ones aren’t actually our desires but rather the expectations of others…

All of this has caused a very serious transformation in my life. I’ve been looking at myself differently ever since, and I find it hard to put into words how good it has made me feel, but I think you felt it all when I hugged you on the last day. 🙂 I am grateful to you, to your existence, to everything you’ve experienced that has made you who you are, to your spouse, and to the synergy you created together. And of course, to everyone I attended the camp with! When you said everyone bonded so quickly, I was a little skeptical. Because I myself don’t always bond easily. 🙂 But everyone was so sincere and so wonderful! I haven’t seen so many wonderful people together in a long time.

In short, I had high expectations coming here; I already knew something good would happen, but I never imagined I would be transformed to this extent, feel so good, and have such a lasting impact on me. With my huge, heartfelt, loving thanks for everything you made possible.

Y.K.

My goal in coming to this camp was to learn about meditation and yoga, experience their practices, spend three peaceful days in nature with healthy food, meet Sema Hanım, and give myself a gift amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.

From beginning to end, Sema Hanım, with her smiling face and positive energy, shared her knowledge with us through a very well-thought-out program. And the nature was magnificent. As participants, we were all very harmonious and communicative with each other. Constantinos also gave us very valuable information about Mindfulness and compassion and led us in practices. He answered all our questions. I was particularly interested in the Tai Chi practices. I won’t even mention the food; you have to go and taste it!

After the camp, I feel very eager to live a calmer and more mindful life. I can’t wait to see what kind of difference this will make in my life. I’ve already started practicing what we learned.

I’m so glad I participated, so glad I felt refreshed, and so glad I met you all.

E.Ö.

I came to sit under a tree and enjoy delicious food, on my journey of self-discovery through nature, chiqong, yoga, and meditation.

In the city, I need to slow down, to just stand still and do nothing… The feeling of renewal through this program was wonderful; like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Although I came for chiqong, I also came to meet dear Sema, whose healthy lifestyle and journey I’ve witnessed for years. I was very sure she would embrace us.

I am grateful to Sema and Constantinos 🌿

With respect and love,

Ş.A.

Thank you so much for your camp last week. I’ve read many personal development books and attended many self-improvement trainings and camps. I’ve tried many diet programs, but I think, in addition to the many benefits I gained from all of them, it was with the meditation and training we did together that all the pieces fell into place. Everything I had learned before was floating in the air; I hadn’t quite grasped it. Now I have a way of eating and living that I can internalize and incorporate into my life without difficulty. I experience slowing down by meditating for at least half an hour every day, and I’m definitely a hyperactive person; sorry, I *was* one. Plus, even though we’ve been traveling from city to city visiting family for a week right after the camp, I’m able to control my diet; and I’m doing it with a completely fiber-rich diet, without bread or sugar. My brain and stomach are so full, the happiness I’m experiencing is indescribable and amazing! You’ve given me so much, but let me end with this: since I arrived, I’ve been telling everyone I meet how much I benefited from your camp. Thank you so much for everything. I hope many people experience what you’ve added to my life.

D.A.A.

I’d also like to share my experiences in a few sentences.

I came alone. My aim was simply to escape my daily stress and treat myself to a three-day camping trip focused on healthy eating. But I couldn’t understand how unity was formed, how friendships were created, and how I found common ground with the stories of so many people I didn’t even know. I think the secret lies with you and your spouse. I honestly don’t know how I poured out my heart and thoughts, which I couldn’t even open up to myself, to someone else. Of course, tears flowed like a flood during this time. I’m still under the influence of the relief that followed.

Another thing is that I embraced my fears, confronted them, and accepted many things. Most importantly, I returned home with so much in my bag. I’m so glad you exist; thank you, may you always be there…

Experiencing the silence, being surrounded by nature, hearing nothing but the sounds of birds or rain during each meditation and exercise felt amazing. Of course, other thoughts were also audible in my mind, because it’s impossible to silence them, but at least you guided us on how to control them, how to accept their existence, and that was incredibly valuable. Since I returned, I’ve been trying to act with this awareness, taking each breath mindfully and focusing solely on the work I’m doing. And of course, it was also a tremendous inspiration for getting my eating habits back on track after three or four months of messing them up. 🙂

A.B.

First of all, I would like to thank you for dedicating your valuable time to us. The information and experiences we gained over the three days were a great start for us. I think the time was sufficient for a beginning. I don’t want to speak on behalf of my wife; perhaps she will respond to your email by touching on different points. However, I can say that for both of us, what we need to do to improve the aspects of our physical and mental health that are lacking has become clearer.

H.G.

My dear Sema Hanım and her precious husband Constantinos;

On that wonderful night when I returned to my father’s house, making one of the best decisions of my life, I registered for your triple elimination program, MBSR, and Sapanca camp. I had been following you on Instagram for a very long time and always sighed at the people who had the opportunity to meet you. Now I am one of them.

I experienced firsthand at this camp that nothing in life is a coincidence. The fact that I met my roommate Merve, that we have walked the same paths in life, and the older sister she acted towards me will always be in my memory.

My previous self could never do anything alone; I always needed someone with me. I had anxieties about joining the camp alone too. But you never made me feel alone. Everyone embraced each other with such wonderful energy that it felt like I knew them all beforehand; I never felt lonely.

During the meditations at the camp, I realized how beneficial and healing it is to listen to myself. I will continue this way in my life from now on.

I am very happy to have been in that wonderful environment, surrounded by nature, with such lovely people. I am eagerly awaiting your next camp.

Thank you so much for everything.

Looking forward to seeing you again.

D.A.

I can say that I came to the camp somewhat unconsciously. I may have come to get away from home and work and talk a little about psychology. 🙂 When I arrived, I saw that a busy program awaited me. Sema Hanım’s program was punctual, meticulously planned, and very intensive 😉

But when I say intensive, I mean we were sitting on the ground and listening. There were constant breathing exercises. A sense of calm, solitude, and not being alone… Our group sessions were excellent. I realized how simple my biggest problem was, both when I shared it with my friend and with Dinos’s guidance. I saw anxiety in my friends’ problems, and I realized that we create all of that anxiety within ourselves. I learned to calm down with breathing exercises. I learned to value myself, but in moderation… :)) Then, I, who didn’t know what yoga was, took an introduction to it.

The best part was the feeling of togetherness we all experienced in those three days. In our last exercise, having people give their hearts to me meant both giving and receiving love.

Finally, the idea of ​​sharing a room with strangers was very strange and frightening for me. I managed to overcome that fear somehow. It turns out the world doesn’t end when I leave home; it’s okay to manage without me. I guess it’s worth repeating this from time to time.

I used to think I’d become like Recep İvedik (a character from Turkish comedy film) while breathing and doing yoga. If someone had told me, “You’re going to sit and do breathing exercises, light candles,” I would never have believed it. On the contrary, I loved it.

M.T.

Hello Semacım,

First of all, thank you so much to you and your husband. Three days weren’t even enough. :)) It was a very fulfilling and wonderful experience for me.

My goal when coming to this camp was to feel good about myself. I had a great start with you in January with the elimination program. My aim was to take this a step further, to refresh myself both mentally and physically.

Being surrounded by nature, waking up early to the sound of birds, the sound of rain, the barking of dogs, spending three days with strangers, eating clean and delicious food – all of this made me feel great.

The biggest change I observed in myself when I returned home was calmness. I could look at things more calmly. It was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders and someone had taken it away. I was at peace both mentally and physically. In short, thank you so much for everything you’ve given me since the beginning of this year. I’m so glad you’re here.

With love,

B.S.

I wanted to thank you again for our wonderful days together. For the first time in a long time, I did something for myself; before that, I had some concerns. Things like, “Who will I share the room with?”, “Will I feel lonely?”, “Will I get bored?”…

But first and foremost, because your energy and warmth reflected on the whole team, we spent days filled with knowledge, love, and self-reflection. Stepping away from all other responsibilities to think about myself, asking questions and finding answers, and being surprised by my answers, felt so good. I also realized that the sudden health problems I experienced recently were a “stop” signal from my body. I will try to show myself more compassion, listen to my body, and increase my awareness.

I would like to thank you, your spouse, our translator Merve, and all the participants again. Best regards…