Blue Bliss Retreat 2023
I invite you to join me on a transformative warm-hearted journey on a mystical Greek island! Our summer home, is Φhysis, a magnificent eco-luxury retreat center nestled in Kalotaritissa beach, one of the few unspoiled beaches of the Aegean Sea.
During our blissful holistic retreat week, I will playfully share with you the secrets of my own pathway, practicing mindfully, Yoga, Breathwork, Dance, and Meditation, detoxing with delicious vegan food. I will empower you to harvest the gifts of your inner beauty with simple everyday rituals, to celebrate your soul connection with Nature, and to open the gate to a happier and more meaningful life.
Donoussa island is a well-kept hidden treasure and a very high-energy place! We will hike into soft cliffs and swim in remote sandy beaches as well as meditate in the most amazing sunset and sunrise. I will gently guide your body, mind, and soul, so you can discover the miracle of your authenticity, cultivate the art of belonging, re-design your life’s purpose, and connect with unconditional Love while having plenty of time to rest.
If this call excites your spirit, join our Blue Bliss Retreat, a lifetime experience of abundant love and happiness.
Apostolia Papadamaki
The Happiness Retreat Founder & Teacher
Donoussa is a tiny gem in the Small Cyclades island group, a mystical remote island with the finest turquoise waters of the Aegean.The island with the finest white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters is the perfect place to recharge energetically, Donoussa island, full of hiking paths, is a small paradise with pristine natural beauty and charming white Cycladic houses and provides the perfect scenery for a deeply spiritual experience.
According to ancient Greek mythology the island took its name from the god Dionysus, who lived on this island. Theseus and Ariadne stopped at Donoussa, Dionysus saw Ariadne and fell in love instantly. That is why the goddess Athena ordered Theseus to obey Dionysus and leave Ariadne on the island. So the fate of Ariadne was to become the inseparable wife of Dionysus.
Physis, our Happiness home is located on the south side of the island, at a site that offers unencumbered views of the sea, with the Cycladic sunlight reflecting off the unforgiving landscape.
Phisis
Phisis is an eco-luxury small retreat center been built with stone, wood, and natural mortars based in lime and cocciopesto to give the best comfort. It is situated on Kalotarritissa, one of the most beautiful beaches of Donousa.
The natural materials vibrate together with the energy of the bodies and allow the rooms to be fresh in summer warm in winter and absolutely dry for a truly relaxing and healthy stay.
INQUIRE / BOOK
Embarking on the Blue Bliss Happiness Journey
You will refresh, recharge and restart on the blissful Greek island of Donoussa.
You will be gracefully guided by a very inspiring and charismatic teacher.
I am Apostolia Papadamaki, an internationally acclaimed choreographer, performer, and transformational retreat leader and teacher. I studied Contemporary Dance, Contact Improvisation, Yoga, and Alexander Technique in New York. As a lover of healing arts, and spirituality, I am trained in Shamanism, Music, Voice, Diving, Craniosacral Therapy, and Rei-Ki collaborating with inspiring artists, healers, and teachers in many lands. I love to dream and I believe in infinite possibilities. My highest intention is to keep opening the eyes of the soul and tuning into the frequency of Love no matter how life challenges me. The Happiness Retreat is an open-hearted invitation to share knowledge, experience, and joy with beautiful souls like you!
Practices & Experiences
You will rejuvenate your body and connect with your soul.
Apostolia is transmitting her knowledge gracefully through her heart, voice, and hands. Her Hatha Vinyasa Yoga class is a unifying blend of Pranayama, Asanas, Mantras, and Meditation, a powerful tool for self-transformation. Biomatic Anatomy will bring harmony to your body, mind, and emotional state while Creative Movement and Dance will teach you how to follow your inner «impulses», to overcome all restrictions and reach a euphoric state of being. The Water Healing Session will enable you to connect with your breath while floating, embodying the art of true belonging in the fluidity of the sea.
Apostolia's bespoke Rituals are instrumental in marking transition points in life, improving confidence for life changes, and bringing physical and emotional healing. The Sharing Circle will support you to release old patterns and fears, shift perspective and activate new decisions. Sunset and Sunrise Meditations in breathtaking landscapes, Mindful walks in unspoiled hikes, will generate unconditional love inside you, while the gentle sounds of the waves embrace us unconditionally.
INQUIRE / BOOK
Time for you
You will plug into your essential source of life energy in a spectacular setup. You may sleep, relax, practice, enjoy a private healing session with Apostolia or just swim in most turquoise waters, take long walks, read, disconnect from technology, but above all, follow your heart and do whatever makes you happy and free. You will have plenty of time to unwind and pamper yourself.
Nutrition
Our diet will be a culinary journey to the island’s unique gastronomy which is based on local products and seasonal ingredients. We will enjoy tasteful meals prepared exclusively for us in-house but will also have the chance to taste selected local dishes in the island’s most famous restaurants in unique settings. Dishes will be vegan/vegetarian with an emphasis on local gastronomy. Donousa is famous for the local specialty pasta – klosta, fragrant vegetable pies and sweet xerotigano pancake.
Accommodation & Prices
All the beautiful rooms have been built by using exclusively natural materials: stone, wood and natural mortars, based in lime and cocciopesto to give the best comfort. The natural materials vibrate together with the energy of the bodies and allows the rooms to be fresh in the summer and absolutely dry for a true relaxing and healthy stay.
All the rooms overlook a Mediterranean garden with an astonishing see view. A very nice and wild beach with crystalline water is located just 100 meters from the place. There is not any other building in the area and this permit to get fully connected with the nature and enjoy at best your retreat.
A fresh and pure water dispenser is available in a common space. You can bring your bottle and take as much water you need for free. In this way you can reduce the waste of plastic during your stay.
Just beside the building there is the common space where you'll enjoying your meals, rest on our Hammocks and wind down on mats and pillows in our relaxing corner under the shadow of a wooden pergola.
A stone path will lead you to the Yoga shala, placed just in front of the sea water where you can enjoy the pure energy of the bay and immerse yourself in your session.
The prices start from €1.800 depending on the type of accommodation in single, double or triple room.
See and select your accommodation here
The 2023 Blue Bliss Itinerary
Saturday, July 8 / Arrival / Opening Ceremony at 18.00 & Welcome Dinner at 20.00
Sunday, July 9 / Morning Yoga & Sunset Creative Dance
Monday, July 10 / Morning Yoga & afternoon Water Healing Session. Sunset Hiking to secluded beach
Tuesday, July 11 / Day Boat Excursion, Water Healing Session, breath work and Meditation.
Wednesday, July 12 / Morning Yoga & sunset Creative-Dance
Thursday, July 13 / Morning Yoga, Afternoon Ancient Greek Ritual
Friday, July 14 / Sunrise Meditation, Sun Gazing & Yoga on the beach, Fire Ritual & Beach Party
Saturday, July 15 / Closing Ceremony & Farewell Breakfast. Departure after 14.00.
Timetable (Sample day)
07.30 / Morning Bell, Tea
08.00 / Yoga, Breath-Work, Meditation
10.00 / Breakfast
11.00 / Free time for the beach /private sessions /excursions /experiences
14.00 / Lunch
17.00 / Water Healing & Rebirthing
20.00 / Dinner
21.00 /Free Your Voice Singing Circle
What is included
8 days / 7 nights of stay
3 delicious fresh vegan/ vegetarian meals per day
7 classes Yoga & Breathwork
3 classes of Creative Dance
2 classes of Water Healing
2 sharing and singing circles
Private boat excursion around the island
Fire Ritual on the beach
Sunrise Meditation / Sungazing practice
Welcome early Dinner - Farewell breakfast
Transportation from and to Donousa Port to the Retreat Centre
Hikes & Experiences in secluded beaches with Apostolia
Mindfulness living all day long
Playful games (surprise for those that wish!)
Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat.
All levels are welcome!
All meals are vegan/vegetarian, special dietary restrictions can be accommodated (e.g. gluten-free).
What you need to add
Your flights to Athens
Your ferry ticket
Your travel insurance
How to get there
Donoussa is only accessible by ferry. The ferry operates 3 times per week from Piraeus, the main port of Athens.
There is also a daily (except on Sundays) ferry connection from Naxos island to Donoussa, with a small local line, the Express Skopelitis.
The closest airport is on Naxos island and only receives domestic flights from Athens.
We will guide you on how to book your trip. We will be providing your transfer from Donoussa Port to our exclusive resort.
Testimonials
“The days at the retreat were perfect. Bliss after bliss. Morning yoga, nice balance of challenge and gentleness, at the lovely yoga shala."
- Hanna, Finland
Simply amazing! I took the practice with me home. I get up twice a week to do the sunrise meditation. This retreat renewed my perspective on nature and its power. It renewed my sense of play and that we are never too old to take time for ourselves and play, Apostolia is so Artistic, Soulful, Passionate, and Amazing!
Karim and Ghizlaine, USA
The Sunrise Meditation on the Rocks was an awesome experience that I will always cherish! The Fire Ceremony was another retreat highlight! I had a very profound experience with the fire ritual and loved dancing on the beach by moonlight.
Monique, UK