Life had not been particularly kind to me over the last two years. I had been emotionally knocked about, and by August 2024, I knew it was time to feed my soul. You don’t get to 68 without experiencing some hard knocks, but fortunately, the strong constitution of my mother and the fortitude of my father kicked in. Within two weeks, I found myself soaking in the thermal springs on the Greek island of Ikaria.
Known as one of the five blue zones in the world, where one in three residents lives beyond 90, Ikaria is renowned for its lower rates of chronic disease and longer life expectancy. I was fortunate enough to gain a last-minute place in a Longevity Retreat after an earlier applicant cancelled.
Greeted at the airport by two wonderful hosts, Angeliki and Kyriaki, they suggested a swim at one of the numerous beaches. Fortunately, I had been to Greece many times before and was familiar with their beach protocol.
This particular beach had no kiosk, no seats, no changing rooms—just small pebbles meeting the magic of the Mediterranean. Angeliki parked the car on the pebbles, opened three doors to create a makeshift change room, and within minutes, I was embraced by the warm waters of the motherland. In a few hours, Angeliki, Kyriaki, and I had exchanged life stories and felt like old friends, sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly.
With a Master of Arts in Theatre Directing from the University of London, Kyriaki joked that her next play would be called Three Women, Two Hours. That’s how quickly we connected and how much material she had gathered. The next day, seven ladies arrived from Toronto to join the retreat.
Suddenly, we were ten—seven Canadians, our two lovely Greek hosts, Angeliki and Kyriaki, and me, an Aussie Greek. Within hours of their arrival, we were all immersed in the therapeutic thermal springs at Ayios Kyrikos. The week ahead looked magnificent. The play’s title had evolved into Ten Women, One Week.
Angeliki, who holds a PhD in Physical Education, is a national-level swimmer and water polo player, certified life coach, yoga instructor, tai chi practitioner, and a member of the Greek Society of Sport Psychology. We knew we were in great hands.
Together, Angeliki and Kyriaki devised a program that included amazing food, theatre workshops, aqua tai chi, island tours, soaking in hot springs, massage, cooking demonstrations, friendship, swimming, sunsets, wine, farm and botanical tours, and even a village paniyiri (festival). We lasted until 2am, while the island’s hero, 99-year-old Nick, made it until 5am. Nick, a former research chemist who had lived in the United States for 30 years, had returned to Ikaria. At 99, with no hearing aids, no walking aids, a love of life, and a will to dance, Nick earned the respect of his fellow islanders.
The seven-day Ikarian Longevity Retreat was not a typical symposium. There were no lanyards, name badges, branded folders with itineraries, or cheap souvenirs. It was not filled with theories or principles—there were no psychological tests, guest speakers, butcher’s paper, or sticky notes with catchwords. No superfoods, herbal infusions, breakdowns, breakthroughs, or certificates of completion. Its simplicity and authenticity gave it its uniqueness.
It was a group of individuals in their sixth decade, and in a world that often feels scripted and styled, we experienced something cultural, culinary, and cathartic through friendship, conversation, walking, swimming, eating, and dancing. It was precisely what my emotionally knocked-about soul needed.
