English
Services
- Natural Cosmetics Workshop
- Plant Essence Extraction Workshop
- Perfume Workshop
- Practical Workshop of Medicinal Plants
- Holistic Therapy Services
Natural Cosmetics Workshop
The products we apply to our skin are just as important as the food we eat. At Hodaia, we follow the principle, "don't put on your skin what you wouldn't eat." In this workshop, you will learn to create natural body care products using only simple, healthy ingredients provided by nature. These products not only improve your skin's health but also contribute to environmental protection by avoiding harmful chemicals and single-use packaging.
What Will You Learn in This Workshop?
This workshop provides you with the knowledge and skills to create customized natural products such as ointments, soaps, body oils, face masks, and body scrubs. Each session can focus on a specific product or cover multiple products, depending on your preferences and available time.
Making Natural Ointments
We start with ointments, one of the oldest and most effective natural skincare products. You will learn how to make ointments using medicinal plants, natural oils, beeswax, and plant extracts.
- Choosing medicinal plants (e.g., calendula, St. John's wort, lavender).
- Preparing infused oils as a base for ointments.
- Mixing ingredients to create a uniform and effective ointment tailored to your skin type or specific needs (burns, irritations, muscle aches).
Benefit: You will leave the workshop with your own natural ointment, ready to use for skincare or treating minor health issues.
Natural Soaps – Cold and Hot Process Methods
At Hodaia, you will learn two main methods for creating soaps: cold process and hot process. Each method has its benefits, and you'll learn how to choose the one that suits your needs
Cold Process
- This popular method preserves the natural properties of oils and ingredients.
- Learn how to safely use lye and add ingredients like clay, goat milk, or essential oils.
Hot Process
- This method allows you to use the soap much faster since the saponification process is accelerated by heat
Practical activities:
- Preparing and combining oils (coconut, olive, almond).
- Blending essential oils to add fragrance and therapeutic benefits.
- Creating soaps using both cold and hot process methods.
Benefit: You’ll take home your personalized natural soaps, perfect for personal use or as special gifts.
Body Oils
Body oils are wonderful for hydrating and nourishing the skin. In this workshop, you will learn to create custom body oils using carrier oils and essential oils.
Practical activities:
- Choosing carrier oils (jojoba, olive, coconut) based on your skin type.
- Blending essential oils to create massage or moisturizing oils.
Benefit: You will create a personalized body oil, ideal for deep hydration or a relaxing massage.
Face Masks and Body Scrubs
Masks and scrubs are essential for complete skin care. You will learn to make natural products that cleanse, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin.
Face Masks
- How to select the right ingredients (clay, honey, avocado, oats) based on your skin type.
Body Scrubs
- Creating scrubs using sugar, sea salt, coffee, or oats, and adapting the texture to your skin's sensitivity.
Benefit: You’ll take home fresh, natural face masks and scrubs tailored to your skin's needs.
Why Attend This Workshop?
- Personalized products: Create your own skincare products without chemicals.
- Connection with nature: Learn to use natural, sustainable ingredients.
- Practical learning: Gain hands-on skills to make natural personal care products at home.
Where Does It Take Place?
The workshop takes place at Hodaia, located in Valea Zălanului, known for its rich biodiversity. Here, you'll connect with nature and experience natural cosmetic production in our lab. Workshops can also be organized in other locations, depending on participant interest.
Natural Cosmetics Workshop
Plant Essence Extraction Workshop
I invite you to Hodaia to discover the art and science of extracting plant essences through a workshop designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to create tinctures, essential oils, hydrosols, and other natural products beneficial for your health and well-being. In this peaceful natural setting, you will learn how to extract valuable essences from plants using traditional and modern methods, explained in a simple and practical way.
What Will We Do in This Workshop?
This workshop combines theory and practice, giving you the opportunity to learn about various extraction techniques and apply the methods discussed to extract active principles from plants. Each step is carefully explained and guided so you can learn how to extract natural essences effectively and sustainably.
Introduction to Plant Essence Extraction Techniques
We will start with a theoretical presentation on what plant essences are and why they are essential for health and well-being. We will explore different extraction methods, such as maceration, infusion, distillation, and cold pressing, and discuss which method is most suitable depending on the plant and desired properties.
Topics covered:
- What are plant essences, and how do they contribute to our health?
- Differences between extraction methods: maceration, infusion, distillation, cold pressing.
- How to choose the right extraction method based on the type of plant and desired outcome.
Benefit: You will gain a solid understanding of extraction methods and learn how to make informed choices to obtain pure and effective essences.
Extraction Through Maceration
Maceration is one of the simplest and most effective methods for extracting active principles from plants. In this segment, you will learn how to macerate plants in oils or alcohol to create tinctures or infused oils that can be used for personal care or as natural remedies.
Practical activities:
- Choosing the right plants for maceration.
- Step-by-step guide to preparing tinctures and infused oils.
- Storage techniques to preserve the therapeutic properties of the preparations.
Benefit: You will leave with your own infused oil or tincture, ready to use for personal care or as a remedy for various ailments.
Extraction Through Distillation
Distillation is a method used to extract essential oils and hydrosols (floral waters) from plants. We will explore the distillation process together using a traditional alembic, a centuries-old tool used to capture the pure essences of plants through steam.
Practical activities:
- Assembling and using an alembic for essential oil distillation.
- How to select the right plants for distillation and maximize the yield.
- Producing hydrosols for cosmetic and therapeutic use.
Benefit: You will learn how to create natural essential oils and floral waters, which can be used in aromatherapy, skincare, or natural household cleaning.
Hot and Cold Infusion
Infusion is a method for extracting active principles from plants through either hot or cold processes, depending on the plant and desired outcome. We will prepare medicinal infusions and discuss how to use them for teas, therapeutic baths, or topical remedies.
Practical activities:
- How to prepare hot and cold infusions.
- Suitable plants for each method and how to obtain concentrated extracts.
- How to combine multiple plants to achieve synergistic effects.
Benefit: You will acquire the knowledge to prepare simple and effective infusions, which you can incorporate into your daily care routine.
Cold Pressing
Cold pressing is a method used to extract oils from seeds and nuts. We will discuss how this method preserves essential vitamins and fatty acids and experiment with manually pressing seeds and fruits.
Practical activities:
- Techniques for cold pressing to obtain oils from seeds and fruits.
- Using these oils for skincare, hair care, or in your diet.
- Proper storage of cold-pressed oils to maintain their properties.
Benefit: You will learn how to obtain pure and healthy oils, perfect for skincare, haircare, and culinary use.
Preserving and Using Extracted Essences
After learning the extraction methods, it’s essential to know how to preserve the essences to retain their therapeutic properties long-term. I will show you how to store essential oils, tinctures, and hydrosols properly.
Topics covered:
- Techniques for preserving and storing extracted essences.
- How to combine different extracts to create personalized products.
- A guide to using essences in personal care products and natural remedies.
Benefit: You will learn how to preserve extracted essences in optimal conditions, ensuring you can enjoy all their therapeutic benefits for a long time.
Why Should You Join This Workshop?
- Practical knowledge: You will learn to extract plant essences using efficient methods that you can apply at home.
- Natural products made by you: You’ll leave with tinctures, essential oils, or hydrosols, all created by you, ready to use in your daily routine.
- Connection with nature: You will develop a deeper relationship with plants and nature, learning how to use these gifts in a sustainable and responsible way.
Where Does It Take Place?
The plant essence extraction techniques workshop is held at Hodaia, located in Valea Zălanului, an area renowned for its biodiversity and natural beauty. At Hodaia’s botanical garden, you will have the chance to see and collect the plants used in the extraction process, and in our laboratory, you will apply the techniques you’ve learned, creating high-quality natural products.
I look forward to discovering the magic of natural essences with you!
Plant Essence Extraction Workshop
Perfume Workshop
Here at Hodaia, I believe that everyone deserves to experience the magic of natural perfumes made from pure essences, free from harmful chemicals. In this special perfume-making workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to create your own personalized fragrance using high-quality essential oils and ingredients sourced directly from nature. It’s a sensory journey that will reveal the secrets of natural perfumery and help you craft a unique scent that truly represents you.
Who is this workshop for?
The perfume-making workshop is perfect for small groups, team-building events, private or corporate gatherings. Whether you want to explore creativity with friends or are looking for an interactive activity for your team, this workshop offers a wonderful opportunity to spend time together in a relaxed, nature-inspired environment.
What will you learn in the perfume-making workshop?
The History of Perfumes and Natural Essences
The workshop begins with an exploration of the fascinating world of natural perfumes. We’ll dive into the history of perfumery and discuss how natural essences have been used throughout time. You’ll learn about the differences between synthetic and natural perfumes and why choosing products without harmful chemicals is important.
Topics covered:
- How essential oils are made and why they are essential in natural perfumery.
- Differences between synthetic and natural perfumes: their impact on health and the environment.
- The role of aromatherapy and how natural essences contribute to well-being.
Benefit: You will understand why natural perfumes are a healthier choice and how they can improve your quality of life.
Exploring Essential Oils and Perfume Notes
After the theoretical introduction, we will explore a diverse set of essential oils, divided into three categories: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Each category plays an important role in a perfume's composition, and you will have the chance to experiment and discover which scents attract you the most.
Practical activities:
- Identifying top, middle, and base notes.
- Experimenting with essential oils to discover your favorite scents.
- How to combine essences to create a harmonious and balanced perfume.
Benefit: You’ll learn to recognize and appreciate each note in a perfume, understanding how to create combinations that reflect your personality.
Creating Your Personalized Perfume
The highlight of the workshop is creating your own personalized perfume. After experimenting with essential oils, you’ll craft a unique recipe using essences from all three categories of notes. This will be your special formula, reflecting your tastes and personality.
Practical activities:
- Selecting the right essential oils for your perfume.
- Creating a balanced combination of top, middle, and base notes.
- Blending the essences and completing your perfume.
Benefit: You will leave with your own personalized perfume, beautifully packaged, and with its recipe, so you can recreate it whenever you wish.
Using Natural Perfumes in Everyday Life
At the end of the workshop, you’ll learn how to incorporate your custom-made perfume into your daily life. Natural perfumes not only smell wonderful, but they can also positively influence your mood, energy, and emotional well-being.
Benefit: You will discover how to use natural essences to create moments of relaxation, energy, or meditation, depending on your needs.
Why join this workshop?
- Unique and personalized experience: Create a perfume that fully reflects your personality and preferences.
- Interactive learning: Learn about perfumery and natural essences in a fun, hands-on way.
- Connection with nature: Work with 100% natural ingredients, free from harmful chemicals.
- Perfect group activity: Ideal for team-building or private events, offering a collaborative and relaxing experience in a natural setting.
Where does it take place?
The perfume-making workshop is held at Hodaia, in Valea Zălanului, a beautiful natural setting perfect for inspiration and relaxation. It can also be organized in various locations across the country, depending on your needs and the number of participants. Whether you’re organizing a private event or a team-building session, the workshop can be adapted to suit any context.
Let’s create your unique, personalized perfume together!
Perfume Workshop
Practical Workshop of Medicinal Plants
I invite you to step into a fascinating world full of discoveries – the world of medicinal plants. At Hodaia, in a spectacular natural setting, we will explore together the secrets of healing plants and how we can use them for our health and that of our loved ones. This workshop is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to reconnect with nature and learn about the healing power of plants.
What will you learn in this workshop?
The workshop on identifying and working with medicinal plants is designed as a practical, but also educational experience, in which you will acquire essential skills to recognize, collect and use plants safely and effectively. Whether you are at the beginning of your journey of nature exploration or want to expand your knowledge, this workshop is right for you.
Introduction to the World of Medicinal Plants
We start with a theoretical presentation, where we will discuss how medicinal plants work and why they are so effective in treating various ailments. We will explore aspects such as the botany of plants, their ecology and how different species interact with their environment. You will learn about the active principles of plants and the effects they have on our health.
Themes addressed:
- What are medicinal plants and how can we use them in everyday life?
- Active plant principles: How do they work and what effects do they have on the body?
- Plant ecology: How do they grow and what are the optimal conditions for their development?
Benefit: You will better understand how herbs can be integrated into your daily routine to improve your health.
Guided Plant Recognition Walk
After the theoretical part, we will go on a guided walk through the Hodaia botanical garden and the surroundings of Văia Zălanului, a region famous for its unique biodiversity. Here you will learn to identify medicinal plants in their natural habitat and notice details such as leaves, flowers, stems and even their smell.
Activities:
- Identification of plants in nature, with emphasis on distinct botanical characteristics.
- Recognizing the signs that indicate a plant is ready to harvest.
- Collecting plants in a sustainable way, without affecting biodiversity.
Benefit: You will learn to identify medicinal plants at their moment of maximum therapeutic effectiveness.
Sustainable Harvesting Techniques
It is important to harvest plants sustainably so as not to disturb the natural balance. In this workshop, you will learn how to choose the right time to harvest and what tools to use to preserve the integrity of the plants.
Themes addressed:
- When and how do we harvest the plants so as not to affect their life cycle?
- What tools are needed for harvesting and how do we keep them sterile?
- Storage techniques to preserve the properties of harvested plants.
Benefit: You will develop an attitude of respect for nature, harvesting only what is necessary and allowing nature to regenerate.
Using Plants in Remedies and Preparation of Medicinal Products
Once we have identified and harvested the plants, we will discuss how we can turn them into natural remedies. You will learn to prepare teas, tinctures, essential oils and other natural products, all of which you can use in your everyday life for care and healing.
Activities:
- Preparation of medicinal teas from freshly harvested plants.
- Making tinctures and extracts from medicinal plants.
- Creating essential oils and other natural products for home use.
Benefit: You will go home with the necessary knowledge to turn medicinal plants into simple and effective remedies.
Connecting with Nature through Plants
An important aspect of this workshop is the connection you will develop with nature. We will talk about how plants can influence not only our physical health, but also our emotional and spiritual state. You will discover how to integrate plants into your daily rituals for a more harmonious life.
Activities:
- Guided meditation in nature, with an emphasis on connection with plants and the environment.
- Developing a personal plant journal, where you will write down your experiences with each plant.
Benefit: You will develop a deep connection with nature, learning to recognize the subtle messages that plants send us.
Why attend this workshop?
- Valuable knowledge about medicinal plants: You will acquire practical and theoretical skills to recognize and use plants.
- Deep connection with nature: You will learn to reconnect with nature and use it as an ally for health.
- Natural products made by you: You will go home with natural remedies that you created yourself, using harvested plants.
- Sustainable education: Learn how to protect the environment and contribute to biodiversity conservation.
Where does it take place?
The workshop for identifying and working with medicinal plants takes place in Hodaia, in Valea Zălanului, one of the most diverse and beautiful regions in Transylvania. The Hodaia Botanical Garden is a perfect place for this exploration of the world of medicinal plants, giving you the opportunity to learn in an unspoiled natural setting.
Let's discover together the magic of plants and how they can transform not only your health, but also your connection with nature!
Practical Workshop of Medicinal Plants
Holistic Therapy Services
Welcome to Hodaia, the place where your health is approached in the most profound and natural way possible. I am Raluca, the founder of this sanctuary of healing, and my goal is to guide you toward lasting well-being by addressing not just the symptoms, but the fundamental causes of your imbalances.
What Is Holistic Therapy?
At Hodaia, holistic therapy involves treating your entire being—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We don’t limit ourselves to temporarily alleviating symptoms; instead, we strive to uncover the deep-rooted causes of your health issues. Through a personalized approach, I offer natural solutions based on traditional herbal medicine and modern naturopathy to restore your balance and vitality.
Stages of Holistic Therapy at Hodaia
In-Depth Health Assessment
Every healing journey begins with a detailed evaluation of your health. In our first session, I will dedicate time to truly listen to you, learning about your lifestyle, dietary habits, and unresolved emotions. This is more than just a conversation; it’s an in-depth exploration of your daily life to uncover the subtle factors affecting your health. Together, we will identify the sources of stress, fatigue, and other imbalances that influence both your physical and emotional well-being.
Personalized Holistic Treatment Plan
Based on the initial evaluation, we will create a fully personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Medicinal plants will play a vital role in your healing process. I will recommend herbs that enhance immunity, reduce inflammation, regulate hormones, and balance your digestion and emotional state. Additionally, we will work on a dietary plan to detoxify your body and boost your energy. Nutrition is key to long-term health, and small changes can lead to remarkable results.
Emotional and Psychological Support
Your relationship with yourself is crucial in any healing process. In holistic therapy, I not only support you with natural remedies but also offer psychological support to help you shift your mindset and reconnect with yourself. Together, we will build a solid foundation to support you on all levels—physical, emotional, and mental. Plants also play a significant role, as some are known for their calming effects on the nervous system, helping you cope with daily stress and pressures.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment
Your journey to health is a long-term process, and your progress will be continuously monitored. After a few months, we will reassess the treatment plan and make adjustments based on how your body responds. You may need changes in diet, exercise, or new combinations of herbs, all adapted to your unique needs.
The Benefits of Holistic Therapy
- Complete and personalized approach – we treat your entire being, not just isolated symptoms.
- Individualized medicinal plants – each remedy is specially created for you based on your specific needs.
- Sustainable lifestyle changes – you will learn how to adopt healthy habits that support both your physical and emotional health.
- Constant emotional support – I will help you regain your inner balance and build a life full of energy and joy.
For me, the connection with nature and passion for medicinal plants run deep. I grew up learning about the secrets of herbal medicine from my grandmother, and this legacy, combined with years of study and experience, has brought me here to Hodaia. I offer you my expertise, guidance, and personal support so that we can embark together on a journey of natural and authentic healing.
Let’s begin this journey together toward a healthier and more balanced life!