7–13 June 2026 · Agios Pavlos, southern Crete · From €1,100 per person ·
Led by Maja Zilih - Psychotherapist-in-training under supervision, graduate from the Sigmund Freud University, with 20+ years of teaching Yoga-Somatics and founder of the Sensit Yoga Somatics system
- You will be invited to explore how the body and mind mirror and inform each other, awakening embodied intelligence
- To engage in movement while listening deeply to the subtle intertwining of sensation, thought, breath, and the impulse for movement.
- To nourish the body with your attention, uncovering what becomes possible in the meeting places between physical awareness and mental acceptance, the places where our thoughts, emotions, and tendencies can reveal their true purpose within the fertile landscapes of the self.
֍ Maja has led this retreat at Agios Pavlos for 12 consecutive years
֍ Mind of the Body™ and Sensit Yoga™ are systems conceived and developed by Maja, as integrative approaches that combine somatic awareness, mindful movement, and therapeutic insight to support emotional regulation, resilience, and to awaken body-mind connections and intelligence.
Yoga and psychosomatics
Maja's methodology weaves together gentle and embodied yoga practice with psycho-emotional self-care: nervous-system regulation, self-compassion, and resilience-building. Through mindful movement, breath awareness, guided reflection, journaling, and listening to different inner parts, we explore how emotional experience is held and expressed through the body, awakening out innate embodied intelligence. These practices support self-regulation, deepen self-awareness, and cultivate inner safety. We practice twice daily for two hours, with generous space in between for rest, integration, and time in nature.
Maja has been teaching yoga and meditation for 20 years. Her method Sensit Yoga is a mindful and interoceptive practice that aims at expanding the awareness of all the levels of our being. The practice combines yoga asana infused with elements of body-mind centering, natural/primal movement, functional exercises, tension release techniques and movements that arise for each individual in their own way. The sessions always complete with meditation and a long relaxation. Expect to be continuously invited to feel, sense and move from and through your inner body.
By becoming conscious of our deep primal inner connections we find new source of support. Our body begins to release the unnecessary tension and each movement becomes an opportunity for body-mind connection and integration.
published research
For Maja's academic work on body-mind integration in psychotherapy, developed through her training at Sigmund Freud University Vienna: Read Maja's research and publications →
Maja Zilih
Maja is a systemic family psychotherapist in training under supervision, and the founder of Sensit Yoga™ Somatics with 20 years of teaching experience. Her method Sensit Yoga is a mindful and interoceptive practice that aims at expanding the awareness of all the levels of our being. Maja's work bridges yoga and gentle mindful movement with tools of emotional regulation and resilience-building, to help participants develop a more compassionate relationship with themselves, awaken inner resources, and open to growth, vitality, and possibility.
More about Maja here
Location and getting there
Our retreat base is located at Agios Pavlos, an area at the Southern Edge of Crete, with a majestic 180° view of the Libyan sea.
Rugged and unspoiled, the area offers breathtaking scenery with sandy beaches and crystal clean waters.
There are two airports on the island Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER).
Taxi from the airport to the retreat center and back is arranged and included in the retreat price.
Renting a car is recommended to those who wish to explore the area.
Heraklion (HER)
How to arrive by car from the Heraklion (HER) or the Chania (CHQ) airports:
Chania (CHQ)
Coming from Piraeus by ferry line - to Chania, Heraklion or Rethymno port: from Rethymno you will need about 1:35 hours to reach Agios Pavlos Hotel. Itinerary from
Cretan Cuisine
Delicious brunch and dinner from the worldwide famous Cretan Cuisine are included in the price.
- Delicious breakfast with local products, fresh juice, fruit, yoghurt, cheese, eggs, olives, tomatoes, nuts, avocado, bread, butter, marmelade, cake and honey.
- Homemade dinner with mediterranean recipes including plenty of vegetarian dishes, sea food, fresh fish and meat. Special meals are prepared for participants who are vegetarian or vegan, gluten-free etc
Things to do | Excursions and activities
Once you have reached this Southern edge the continent you can dive to a mesmerizing and reinvigorating landscape.
-Swim in the warm inviting waters of the beach neighbouring the hotel which is also ideal for families.
- Descend to one of the most amazing beaches of Crete, called St. Pavlos Sandhills, offering spectacular sunsets.
Take a tour of the area and rest your gaze on the long oceanic-type Triopetra beach for a swim, a walk, coffee, lunch or dinner at the fantastic taverns with a breathtaking sea view.
- Enjoy the sunset view from the comfort of your room or at the yoga veranda.
- Hike the beautiful gorges of Rethymno. Kourtaliotis (length: 3 km) is one of the most spectacular natural attractions of Rethymnon.The huge cliffs of the canyon reach a height of - 600 meters and are full of caves, where significant fauna species live.
Or go further to the west, to the worldwide known Samariá Gorge. A National Park of Greece and a World's Biosphere Reserve. It will take 6 hours to cross it so plan wisely. There is a boat departing from Agios Pavlos to Samaria's sea mouth (Agia Roumeli) and you can always visit without walking the gorge to its North exist.
- Visit Beach of Preveli, also known as Lake Preveli or Phoenix. On the banks of the Grand River there is a large colony of Theophrastus palm trees, which give the region a sense of an African landscape. The river, forming a large lake, 1.5km long, before emptying into the sea, has water all year round. You can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other trees, and start ascending in the beautiful canyon
For more information on the area and the sightseeing choices you can check: http://www.cretanbeaches.com/
Cost: Prices include program, accommodation & two daily meals
Melissa rooms are situated on the ground floor and on 1st floor, with a view overlooking the sea. They have a small terrace, kitchenette, own bathroom and an air condition.
Single room stay: 1400 Euros
Shared room with 1 person: 1100 Euros per person
1 room with a double bed, 1 living room with adjustable couch, modern kitchen, small swimming pool
Single room stay: 2100 Euros
Shared with 1 person: 1400 Euros per person
All tax included
What do participants say? TESTIMONIALS
The experience
Participants often describe the week as:
- ֍ deeply relaxing without being passive
- ֍ simple, but meaningful
- ֍ physically light, yet impactful .
It’s not about doing more — it’s about allowing more space. .
"What a very relaxing and memorable retreat this was! This spacious venue with amazing view is really idyllic space to relax! I loved your teaching style, with embodied anatomy and mindful breathing practiced. I now have an increased understanding of my own body and I receive more from each asana. I will use much of what I learned in sessions at home and in daily life. And last but not least, I met a beautiful mix of lovely people! For all that I am very thankful!"Hanka from Belgium, July 2021
"Thank you for this incredible week. It has given me relief from stress and inner peace. Working with you and this group has helped me develop a strong relationship to myself and my body. It wasn't possible for me to imagine how much I would receive from you and this location. It was incredible. After the yoga, my whole body and soul felt deeply grounded and connected to everything. I can't explain it well, but I am extremely grateful for being part of this retreat"Paula from Austria, 2021
"What a wonderful retreat you gave us on this beautiful island! It helped me relax completely and recharge my batteries. I will not forget the warm welcome you and your lovely family gave me on the first day. May the long time sun shine upon you…"Ann from Belgium, July 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
"As a beginner, I felt like this was my first real contact with Yoga. Profound, deep, well-grounded. I enjoyed every single day of this retreat. And I am really glad that I got to know Yoga in this way. Thank you very much"Harald from Austria, 2021
"Thank you for this wonderful yoga retreat and for the opportunity to be a part of this warm group of people. It helped me feel calm after a very long time. I loved the sea and the wind and the so many stars in the sky. I loved being at the beach every day, and in the evenings getting together and eating delicious meals. I am taking all these experiences with me now, and I will try to remember how it feels being the jellyfish in the sea"Eva from Greece, July 2021
"Maja's knowledge is so vast; from pranayama to asana sequencing and alignment to meditation. Her teaching methods are so complete with no question going unanswered. Keep shining Maja, you're a true treasure to yoga!!! See you again!"Annika, J, Paros, 2019
Thank you so much for such an insightful week of learning, regenerating and healing. You are a gifted teacher and a talented leader and I hope the work you do will sustain and nourish you for a long time to come.Jennie, Portland from USA, 2018
Thank you so much for setting up such a fantastic week in such a magical place. It is amazing what happens when a group of wonderful people get together for a common purpose. You have taught us so much and I appreciate it.Bradley, Portland, USA, 2018
Thank you for a wonderful week in Crete, for showing me new approaches to poses as well as for sharing your views on yoga philosophy and spirituality. I really enjoyed the lectures and the meditations and I will certainly take these experiences home with meLouisa, Vienna, Austria, 2018
What a wonderful experience! Thank you very much for a heart-opening week of becoming more of the person that I am. Thank you for your guidance that opened me to new experiences both on a physical and a mental/emotional level. I look forward to staying in touchStefanie, Vienna, Austria, 2018
Thank you warmly for this unique, interesting and rewarding week. Thank you for your spiritually guided lessons thanks to which I am a bit nearer to myself. Thank you for all your support from my heart!Nadia from Italy, 2018
Being born and socialized in a country that produced and reproduced "followers", I've never thought that I will wish one day to "follow" somebody. And here I am, happy to follow you and your spirit, happy to silent the mind and discover the truth around and the truth within. In deep appreciationRossalina, L. from Austria, 2017
You, your family, your enormous passion, have made this place and this retreat an unexplainable, yet fully acknowledged and felt necessity – for the unknown it leads to, as well as the answers and still deeper questions and truths. My love and admirationJoanne
Thank you for organizing everything, thank you for bringing such a wonderful group together, thank you for transmitting us your knowledge, thank you for your energy!!! This place is indeed amazing and perfect for a retreat J. It was my first retreat and I am so grateful for your help to make us go further in our practice. I really feel that I accomplished a lot in my body and mind. I love your philosophical beginnings of the class, already from before. They make me think a lot and apply it in my daily life.Mathilde
I enjoyed this week a lot. I learned so much about yoga and experienced my body and myself in new ways. All our yoga classes were a lot of fun and made me want to learn and practice yoga even more.Markus, 2016