Ikaria Longevity Retreat was awarded three awards at the WELLNESS AWARDS 2025:
- GOLD Best Wellness Program for Active Seniors
- SILVER Best Wellness Retreat
- SILVER Best Health & Wellness Consulting -Education and Training Program
OUR STORY
Kyriaki & Angeliki
My name is Kyriaki and I come from Ikaria.I know the Ikarians, their stories, their joys andsorrows, their victories and defeats, but most of all, I know their generosity and pride for their “ancient” way of life.
I am a theatre practitioner and I have worked in different places around Greece. During the years of Greek crisis I went through a really hard time. What helped me recover, was the experience of my home island, Ikaria. Being there, meeting the people, eating, talking, celebrating, felt like a protective shell, a safe haven. I saw the essential ingredients of life anew. It felt like a revelation.
I was tasting vegetables and fruits from my mother’s garden, swimming, walking and celebrating with people I felt intimate and familiar with. Although an Ikarian, due to a difficult period, I rediscovered the wisdom and warmth of Ikarian way of life that makes you feel safe, healthy, and in harmony with the outside world.
My name is Angeliki and I am Greek. I always felt like my country defines my whole being like nothing else. As I was at school learning all about the Greek philosophy of life of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and so many others philosophers, mathematicians, astronomers, physicians, poets, writers… that have lived in this land, I always wanted to spread the message of life as THEY defined it! In Ikaria I found the answer of how I can teach people to live a long healthy life as Greeks did it for centuries and Ikarians have preserve it like an ark through the ages!! My profession as a physical education teacher was the ticket to introduce to the people this healthy and long Ikarian life.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The 5-STEPS to LONGEVITY, the Ikarian way is a thorough elaboration of the secrets of the Ikarian Longevity into a comprehensive and playful weekly program. We have created a unique recreational Retreat where we encourage our participants to reboot their lives and to learn playfully the secrets of a long and happy life.
” Come with us, we promise you a life-changing experience “
5 STEPS TO LONGEVITY RETREAT
«THE IKARIAN WAY»
MEDITATION
Meditative Techniques
DIET
Breakfast with detox herbs, local honey and Greek coffee.
Lunch/Dinner according to the local plant-based diet, cooked the Ikarian way, slow eating with company.
MILD MOVEMENT
Hatha Yoga, Aqua Fitness, Ai- Chi, Trekking.
SIESTA
We recommend midday rest
CONNECTING
Open-up – trust- relate – laugh
(empowerment through theatre techniques)
ABOUT IKARIAN LONGEVITY
Dan Beuttner, founder of Blue Zones , has announced that IKARIA is the “5th land of longevity” on the planet. The inhabitants of Ikaria are globally famous for living a long and serene life due to their stress – free everyday life, healthy nutrition, community bonds and their easy going philosophy of living. Nearly one of three Ikarians make it to their 90s.
Their diet contains over 150 different antioxidant-rich wild greens, organic fruits and vegetables, unique and rich flavored, honey, fresh goat milk and organic herbs. Most Ikarians eat little and walk long distances from one place to another. They laugh and greet you with warmth and sincerity. They will often take you to their homes. One thing most Ikarians will never stop doing is: GIVING.
In the unspoiled island of Ikaria, where people forget to die, we designed the 5th STEPS Program that offers an altogether “different” life changing experience based on a holistic approach to being as understood by Greek philosophy, preserved by Ikarian people.
The program has been developed and applied by both Angeliki Douka (Bs of Physical Education, MA in Psychology of Motor Behavior, PhD in Psychology of Sports and Aqua Fitness Expert) and Kyriaki Spanou (BS in Philosophy, MA in Theatre)
« Aristotle was convinced that a genuinely happy life requires the fulfillment of a broad range of conditions, including physical as well as mental. »
MEDITATION
ʽʽ Ikaria Longevity Retreats Program first step is meditation. It deepens our relationship to ourselves and the world around us ʼʼ
The people in Ikaria island used to have many lonely hours working in the fields and moving around.That gave them the time to contemplate on life. Meditation is the ideal practice in order to reinvent this life – invigorating habit. The meditative techniques of our Program are Silence Session and Nidra Yoga. The quality of the relationship to ourselves enriches the quality of our life.
PLANT BASED
DIET
Eating is our most direct and close relationship to the world (next to breathing). It shows deep respect to ourselves to get the best food we can and also to make it an enjoyable experience by eating slowly with company. That’s life!
Ikarian diet is a plant and fish based diet. The island has more than 150 anioxidant-rich herbs and wild greens due to Ikaria’s acidic soil that helps the plants to develop antioxidant qualities. It is a diet poor in meat and the only meat they consume comes from home-grown chickens and wild goats that are free on the mountains. Additionally fresh fish is an essential part of their diet.
IKARIA LONGEVITY RETREAT introduces the guests to the secrets of Ikarian diet and they enjoy three daily meals designed accordingly to Ikarian diet by local cooks with local ingredients.
MILD MOVEMENT
Aqua Fitness Exercising in the sea or in a pool can include different types of exercise like kardio, flexibility or conditioning with no harm for your skeleton, joints or muscles. Combining aerobic exercise with water resistance, aqua fitness can burn more calories in 30 minutes than you would if you were running the double time outside of the water! Suitable for all levels.
Ai Chi (Aqua Tai-Chi) is based on many years of study and research into the use of Tai-Chi Chi Kung for health and rejuvenation. It is a form of meditation in movement, which can be practiced easily by people of all abilities, including beginners who are non-swimmers as well as enthusiastic students of the art of relaxation.
Hatha Yoga. We strongly believe that the relaxing and fresh air along with the remarkable physical scenery of Ikaria’s nature is the perfect place to practice Hatha Yoga discipline along with Meditation (Nidra Yoga).
SIESTA
At the IKARIA LONGEVITY RETREAT we encourage our guests to have a midday rest or siesta for half an hour. Harvard School of Public Health has done a long-term study of more than 23,000 healthy Greek adults, and found that those who took midday naps, or siestas, for at least 30 minutes, three times a week or more were less likely to die of heart disease than those who never napped.
CONNECTING
The famous longevity of the inhabitants of Ikaria is due to their carefree attitude. This attitude is built during their lifetime through openness, communication, solidarity, responsibility and festive spirit!
«Ikaria Longevity Retreat has designed some unique
sessions of connecting and empowering a group»
ACCOMMODATION
Kavos hotel & Suites
Ktima Spanos
Toxotis Villas in Armenistis Ikaria
Karras hotel
ABOUT US
Angeliki Douka PhD
email : geldouka@ikaria-longevity.com
Angeliki Douka is a Physical Education teacher and is currently teaching Swimming and Water Polo at the Aquatics Division of the Physical Education and Sports Science Department of the University of Athens. She holds a BS (1984), on Physical Education with a specialization of Aquatics, which was followed by a Master’s Degree in Psychology of Motor Behavior at McGill University Montreal Canada MA (1990) and a PhD (2008), in Adapted Physical Education from the University of Athens.
She served as a lecturer at the Department of Sports Management of the University of the Peloponnese (Sparta) where she taught the courses “Management of aquatic competitive events” and “Sea Sports”.
Watsu first level certificate, Aqua Yoga and Ai Chi.
She is a Master 500h Hatha Yoga & Meditation Teacher (2018) -RYT500 Y.A. (U.S.A.) & Y.A.I. (INDIAN).
She also holds a “Life Coaching Certificate” from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Member of the Hellenic Institute of Coaching-HIC.
She is a member of the Hellenic Union of Physical Education Professionals (PEPFA),the Association of Greek Aquatic Coaches (SEPKYSK), the Greek Society of Sport Psychology (ΕΑΨ) and
Technical Commissioner of the International School Federation (ISF) for Swimming and Triathlon.
She has an extensive research work through publications, research projects, participation in conferences and announcements both in Greece and abroad. She also has book notes and writings in Adapted Physical Education in Sport Psychology and Aquatics.
National level swimmer and water polo player!
Kyriaki Spanou (MA)
email : kyrspanou@ikaria-longevity.com
Kyriaki Spanou is a successful theatre director, playwright and translator. She has taught theatre at the Drama Dept. of the Aristotle University, Salonica for 17 years. She also has taught extensively at Drama Schools, Amateur Adult Theatre Groups etc.
She has been the Artistic Director of Thessaly Theatre for six years (the most important Municipal Repertory Theatre in Greece).
Currently she is Cultural Advisor to the local government of Thessaly.
She graduated from the School of Philosophy (BA) University of Athens and also the Drama school “Veaki”. She also holds an MA (with distinction) on theatre directing from the Royal Holloway College (University of London). She has directed extensively freelance, for National Theatres and for her own theatre group. She has won theatre awards in New York, Vietnam, Albania, North Macedonia e.tc.
She has written three full-length theatre plays. She is a reader for the EURODRAM network of playwrights.
She combines theatre work with a philosophical perspective and uses theatre techniques for joyous self-awareness and empowerment. Ikaria-Longevity is her ideal field of applying this unique perspective and knowledge.
GALLERY
SINCE 2017
Visit Christos Raches,
Ikaria island Greece.
Telephone: (+30) 6942645913
Telephone: (+30) 6973339781
E-mail: reservation@ikaria-longevity.com
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Relaxing, insightful, gorgeous Ikaria
Apocalypsis, the Ikarian way!
