Guided by Maja Zilih - psychotherapist-in-training under supervision with 20+ years of teaching yoga-somatics - you will be invited to explore how the body and mind mirror and inform each other. 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.
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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. 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.
Sunday - arrivals
Daily morning practice 8:00-10:00 and daily evening practice 18:30-20:30
Wednesday and Saturday: only morning practice
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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
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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). Transport to retreat center can be arranged upon request
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
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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, buts, avocado, bread 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
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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/
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Cost: program, accommodation & two daily meals
Melissa rooms are situated on the ground floor and on 1st floor, with a wonderful view overlooking the sea. They have a small terrace, kitchenette, own bathroom and an air condition.
Shared room with 1 person: before Feb 28th: 820 per person / after Feb 28th: 1100 per person
Single room stay: before Feb 28th: 1200 / after Feb 28th: 1400
One-bedroom villa
before Feb 28th: 1900 single stay / after Feb 28th: 2100
When shared with another person: before Feb 28th: 1200 per person / after Feb 28th: 1400 per person
Small pool, 1 double bed, living room with and modern kitchen and 1 adjustable couch
Two-bedroom villa
before Feb 28th: 1600 Euros per person / after Feb 28th: 1800 per person
2 bedrooms, each with a double-bed, living room and modern kitchen between them, 2 separate bathrooms
Medium-sized poolKavos Melissa (all rooms are looking over the sea, have air condition, private bathroom, shower, kitchenette, fridge, and a small balcony) - Distance from sea: 400m
Cavos Melissa 1 - One person - one room with double bed, living room, fridge and kitchenette, air condition, private bathroom and shower, balcony with panoramic sea view
Cavos Melissa 2 - two persons - one room with either two single beds or one double bed, living room, fridge and kitchenette, air condition, private bathroom and shower, balcony with panoramic sea view
Cavos Melissa 2x - Two persons - two separate rooms, living room, fridge and kitchenette, air condition, private bathroom and shower, balcony with panoramic sea view
Luxury apartments, Varkotopi (all rooms are looking over the sea, have air condition, private bathroom and shower, living room and a terrace with private pool) - Distance from sea 50m:
Varkotopi Luxury 1 - One person with a double bed, living room with a kitchen, private pool, terrace with panoramic view, air condition, private bathroom and shower
Varkotopi Luxury 2 - Two persons with a double bed, living room with a kitchen, private pool, terrace with panoramic view, air condition, private bathroom and shower
Varkotopi Luxury 2x - Two persons - two separate rooms, each with double bed, living room with a kitchen, private pool, terrace with panoramic view, air condition, 2 private bathrooms and showers
Varkotopi Luxury 3 - Three persons in two separate rooms, each with double bed and one adjustable 1.5 size couch, living room with a kitchen, private pool, terrace with panoramic view, air condition, 2 private bathrooms and showers
All tax included
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What do participants say? TESTIMONIALS
Testimonials:
"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 me
Louisa, 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 touch
Stefanie, 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 appreciation
Rossalina, 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 admiration
Joanne
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
Contact details in Vienna
+4369918365788
info@sensit.yoga
Contact details in Athens
Athens Yoga Center
info@athensyoga.gr
