16 – 22 May, 2025

Join us for a rejuvenating, transformative and grounding retreat, whose purpose evolves around the cultivation of a nourishing mental state, mindfulness and self-awareness through our deep connection with nature and cultural roots. An embodied experience of life awareness exploration facilitated by clay.

The focus of the retreat is clay; a powerful, malleable, tactile, transformative, forgiving medium. We will be reconnecting with the primary matter, through which the body can effortlessly, almost subconsciously, express itself.

During the retreat you will:

• play and experiment with clay materiality
• enjoy the rich culture and biodiverse nature of Skyros island
• actively engage in life awareness practices (reconnection within)

The retreat package includes:

• 6 night stay at Ammos Hotel 4* in Skyros with homemade breakfast buffet included
• 4 ‘play & explore with clay’ sessions (min 2h – max 3h each)
• 2 outdoor ‘connect with nature & culture’ activities and transportation to the respective locations
• 5 lunches at the hotel (vegetarian meals)
• further optional cultural activities to join in your free time

Kindly note: Transportation costs to and from the island and transportation to the hotel upon arrival and from the hotel upon departure are not included. Dinner is not included.

Why clay?

Clay is messy, wet, malleable; it can be squished, rolled, cut, shaped in any form. This gives us the ability to make, remake and transform it multiple times. Clay can also be fired, entering a solid and durable state, while retaining its fragility, which is a reflection of the human experience. Moreover, it is three dimensional and allows for play and reflection in ways that two dimensional media do not. You can move things around, pull things apart and put them back together, look at it from multiple perspectives. All these wonderful properties of clay allow for the creation of metaphors relating to feelings, thoughts, the human experience in its totality.

Through this retreat we will:

• explore different life perspectives through interacting with clay and immersing ourselves in the rich natural environment and culture of Skyros

• equip ourselves with tools that we can use in our daily life to express ourselves creatively, to create space, and to ground ourselves

• nurture a sense of freedom that encourages exploration and experimentation, which foster a deep, conscious connection to one’s inner world

• expose ourselves to the sense of wonder towards the world, which is so often lost in the rhythm and limiting beliefs of modern life

Location Focus

Skyros Island

Skyros is where Hyle and Stefania’s family hold roots from. It is also an island with rich ceramic art heritage and an ever-expanding art scene. A hidden gem of Sporades, Skyros remains one of Greece’s most charming, non-touristy, serene islands, with a laid-back atmosphere. It is known for its pristine, raw natural landscapes and crystal waters, as well as for the pride it takes into its strong traditions and its residents’ self-sufficient lifestyle. This unspoilt heaven will allow us to explore the ceramic art further and immerse ourselves in its slow pace of life and nature’s wise rhythm.

Ammos Hotel

The retreat will take place at Ammos, a four-star boutique hotel in Skyros, renowned for its authentic hospitality. With its charming blend of luxury and sophistication, Ammos captures the essence of the island, offering impressive architecture and a prime location just 60 meters from the crystal-clear waters of Magazia Beach, and only 2 kilometers south of Skyros Town.

Built amphitheatrically, the hotel seamlessly integrates with the natural surroundings, featuring sharp stone-based lines, beautifully manicured gardens, and a soothing color palette of pure white and dove grey. This picturesque setting offers a peaceful sanctuary with a serene ambiance, providing an unforgettable experience of Greek hospitality in the heart of the Aegean.

MEET THE RETREAT TEAM

STEFANIA MAROUDI, CURATOR & FACILITATOR OF THE RETREAT

Stefania Maroudi is the founder of HYLE, a brand that merges conservation, culture, and artistic expression. With a background in biology and a deep love for nature, travel, and wildlife, she draws inspiration from diverse arts and cultures. Her years working in cultural tourism on her home island of Skyros immersed her in the simplicity of island life, which, combined with the meditative process of ceramics, led her to embrace her artistic self.

Through HYLE, Stefania curates cultural and conservation projects, organizes fundraising initiatives for wildlife and heritage preservation, and creates unique stoneware and ceramics that reflect her connection to the natural world. As a life awareness facilitator and breathworker, she integrates mindfulness into her creative practice, using clay as a tool for self-expression and transformation.
Her work is a celebration of nature, culture, and mindful living,
weaving together art, conservation, and the essence of island life.

AIMILIA DOUKA, CLAY WORKSHOPS INSTRUCTOR

Aimilia first discovered ceramics in a small pottery studio in her neighbourhood in Patras. At the age of 12, after moving to Athens, she developed a deep passion for ceramics and began training at the studio of M. & E. Sklavaina in Marousi. Although her dream was to become a ceramist, she pursued studies in Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology at the Kapodistrian University of Athens, followed by a specialisation in Special Education and Alternative Approaches in Psychopedagogy. Despite following an academic path, she never lost her passion for clay, continuing her practice with F. Bora in Rethymno.

Working as a ceramics educator for disabled adults later provided her with a broader perspective on the art form. Her collaboration with friends and partners, Nikolina and Antigone, eventually led to the fulfilment of a long-held dream—the co-founding of the
cooperative studio Yfi. For Aimilia, Yfi represents a space of freedom, experimentation, and artistic expression, aiming to cultivate a harmonious relationship with clay throughout the creative process. Currently, she is also studying Somatic Psychotherapy (Reichian Psychotherapy) and is eager to further explore the therapeutic potential of clay and its materiality