Yoga Retreat in Aegina island Greece by Top Yoga Instructor

Greece enjoys sunshine from March to October and is a preferred destination for yoga retreats throughout that period.

Yoga connects the soul with the body and with nature, and Greece offers a natural landscape under its unique light in which to rejuvenate and re-calibrate internal awareness, guided by some of the best expert teachers. Itineraries include yoga, detox fasting, dynamic yoga and hot yoga, in most cases combined with soft adventure such as running, trekking and cycling while appealing to families, senior citizens and groups. Depending on the destination, the travel plan can include healing holistic therapies and healthy gourmet recipes. An ideal destination for yoga retreats is Aegina island, only an hour from Athens.

While Yoga has become a popular form of exercise for thousands of straight-backed, om-chanting Athenians, this is a relatively recent phenomenon. Even as recently as 20 years ago, when Greeks were considerably more conservative and less (other)worldly, yoga was widely regarded with deep suspicion, as an outlandish practice that could brainwash people into leaving their traditional state religion of Greek Orthodoxy to become head-standing Buddhists overnight. While flocks of Greeks have become yoga fans, the Orthodox Church has remained steadfastly opposed to yoga, denouncing it as a fundamental part of Hinduism, by no standards “a form of exercise” and as “totally incompatible with our Christian Orthodox faith [with] no place in the life of Christians.”

Nowadays, however, things have changed dramatically among the local community. Greece is full of yoga studios and thousands of tourists and visitors combine their holidays with a yoga retreat.

A yoga holiday to a wonderful spot in Aegina island, only 17 miles by ferry from the main port of Athens, Piraeus, gives you a chance to clear your heads, to breathe deeply again and to detoxify – getting rid of excess baggage. There are the ‘Top 8’ spots to practice yoga on the island, where you will use yoga techniques to deepen your contact with the positive qualities inside you. Awesome places full of energy, like the Temple of Aphaia which is said to ’house’ the energy of the Goddess, the Ancient Olive Grove, with trees believed to be 1800 years old, and spectacular beaches and mountainsides. You can practice basic breathing exercises and learn how to use them to manage stress and increase energy in your daily lives.

Aegina island is not as “manicured” as some other popular Greek islands are to appeal to foreign tourists, as the island is mainly visited by Greeks during the weekends. This simply adds to its charm and authenticity. Once you get there, even from the minute you arrive at its port, you will pick up this natural feeling of simplicity and calm. Fishing boats and glamorous yachts all mix together while moored on site. Aegina simply combines everything from popular sites to visit, good quality local food, sandy beaches with fresh clear waters to delight everyone senses, as well as some excellent trekking tours. The pistachio orchards (Aegina’s most famous export) is one treat that visitors must try, but it is also interesting to follow the whole production procedure.

Aegina has always been an important island in both ancient and modern times. It was the first capital of the contemporary Greek State. The city of Aegina (where the central port is located) situated on the west side of the island, is really picturesque and humming with life all year round. The church of Saint Nicolas, small and charming, welcomes the visitor as he enters the port. The Archaeological Site of Kolona (Column) together with the Archaeological Museum, as well as the Museum of Folklore and History of the Municipality of Aegina, will give the visitor an insight to the island’s history, life and art during the ancient and contemporary periods. The best way to get to know the town is by wandering around the beaches and through the narrow streets and alleyways where one finds monuments of the era of modern Greece’s first governor, Kapodistrias, neoclassic buildings, beautiful old houses as well as many interesting shops, cafés, taverns and bars for relaxation and entertainment.

You will find Fotini Bitrou in Aegina, a gymnast ranked as a Top Yoga Instructor in Greece, and owner of the Kouros studio. She was founder of the classic athletics (track) team in Aegina, she was involved for 12 years with classic athletics (800 – 1,500 metres) and was track champion in her many appearances with the National Team of Greece. Recently she has been involved with Yoga and Pilates – she teaches Hatha, Restorative, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga. Fotini graduated from the University of Athens’ Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science and is Certified Yoga teacher (RYT) Alliance.

During the summer of 2016, Fotini and her partner yogis, are going to welcome you in Aegina with three unique yoga retreats, practicing various types of yoga – Hatha & Kundalini- and meditation – allowing you to unplug & refresh with Mindfulness.