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Why combining strength training, Pilates and walking could be one of the best things you can do for your body – especially as you get older. If you have ever trained with me, you have probably heard me talk about three things again and again: Weight training. Pilates. Walking. These are the three forms of exercise I personally swear by, and they are also the three types of movement I encourage my clients to include in their lives – whether they are women in midlife or not. Th

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to have a “rich life”. And I want to make something very clear from the beginning: I am not financially rich. Not even remotely. I don’t have a huge house, a designer wardrobe, a fancy car or endless disposable income. There are plenty of things I would love to have, and plenty of times I have to think carefully about where my money is going. But despite that, I genuinely believe that I have a very rich life. And the older I

There is something incredibly frustrating about being injured when movement, exercise and feeling strong are such an important part of your life. You can go from feeling capable and confident in your body to suddenly questioning what you can do, what you should avoid, and whether you will ever get back to where you were. And when you don't know how long the injury will last, that uncertainty can make staying motivated even harder. I know this feeling personally at the moment.

Move, explore, swim, discover and slow down on the beautiful island of Kos When you think about wellness in Kos, you might immediately picture Pilates on the beach, Aqua Fitness in the Aegean or Sunset Pilates with the sun disappearing over Tigaki Beach. And yes — we absolutely love all of those things! At Evexia, our Pilates, Aqua Fitness, Sunset Pilates and Personal Training sessions are at the heart of what we do. There is something pretty special about moving your body wi

From wellness retreats in Greece to flights, accommodation, holidays and unforgettable travel experiences around the world — Retreats in Greece can now help you plan your entire trip. If you didn't know, Evexia-Kos is the mother ship of Retreats in Greece. Yes, that's right! We birthed this amazing venture last year, with a simple but very important mission: to help people discover Greece as a wellness destination and connect them with incredible retreats, hosts, venues and e

If you've spent even one August on Kos, you'll know that surviving the month isn't about being the fittest, the most organised or the most productive. It's about adapting. After eight summers on this beautiful island, I've realised there are a few unwritten rules that everyone who lives here eventually learns. If you're new to Kos, consider this your unofficial survival guide! 1. Freeze your water bottle overnight. Trust me on this one. Fill up your water bottle before bed an

There is a phrase I say all the time: "If I help at least one person today, then I'm happy. I feel like I'm fulfilling my purpose." It's something I've believed for years, and it is one of the reasons I became a fitness and Pilates instructor in the first place. My goal has never been to create elite athletes or chase numbers. It has always been about helping people feel better than they did when they walked through the door. Yet, despite helping people every single day, I st

There are moments in life that quietly change everything. Not through dramatic events or life-changing decisions, but through something beautifully simple. For me, that moment came with a snorkel. If you've read my previous blog about burnout, you'll know that the past few months have been challenging. Running two wellness businesses, supporting retreat hosts, teaching Pilates, creating content, planning retreats... it all adds up. Even when you love what you do, burnout has

If you've followed Evexia Kos for a while, you'll know that we absolutely love getting outdoors. For us, wellness has never just been about Pilates. It's about moving your body, breathing fresh air, discovering incredible places and reconnecting with nature. There's something incredibly special about standing on a mountain overlooking the Aegean Sea or following an ancient trail that has been walked for centuries. Hiking has always been one of our favourite ways to experience

Or the uncomfortable truth about helping everyone else while forgetting yourself. I have a confession to make. I run not one, but two wellness businesses. I spend my days talking to people about health, movement, rest, healing, stress management and creating lives that feel more balanced. And yet... I am exhausted. Not the kind of tired that disappears after one good night's sleep. The kind of tired that sits in your bones. The kind where you wake up already thinking about ev

When people think of the Greek islands, they often picture the height of summer—crowded beaches, bustling tavernas and busy ferry ports. But there is something truly special about visiting the islands once the summer season has gently faded away. This November, I'd love to invite you to join me for our Evexia Pilates & Wellness Weekend Retreat in Kalymnos—a chance to slow down, reset and experience one of Greece's most beautiful islands in a completely different light. A Week

Recently, I had the honour of being featured by XpatAthens in their Wellness Hub article: "Retreats in Greece: Your Gateway to Transformation & Lifelong Well-Being" You can read the feature here: XpatAthens Feature – Retreats in Greece: Your Gateway to Transformation & Lifelong Well-Being When I first saw the article published, I felt incredibly grateful. Not because of the recognition itself, but because it reminded me just how far this journey has come. What many people don

As summer reaches its peak on the beautiful Greek island of Kos, there is a special energy in the air. The days are long, the sea is warm, and life naturally slows down to a pace that encourages us to reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. At Evexia Wellness, we believe that summer is about more than holidays and sunshine. It is an opportunity to reset, recharge, and embrace a healthier, more balanced way of living. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Kos, wellness

When people think of the Greek islands, they often picture whitewashed villages, turquoise waters, delicious food, and endless sunshine. And while all of those things are certainly part of their charm, I believe there is something much deeper that draws people back to Greece year after year. Many visitors arrive looking for a holiday but leave feeling renewed, calmer, and more connected to themselves. Whether it's Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Naxos, Paros, or Kos, there is a reason

Wellness & Island Life There's a moment that happens every single evening here in Kos — one I've witnessed hundreds of times, and it still stops me in my tracks. The light shifts. The sky turns a deep, burnt amber over the water. The Aegean catches it and throws it back in a thousand fractured pieces of gold and rose. The air cools, just slightly. And somewhere in that transition — between the heat of the day and the stillness of the evening — something in you softens. That m

By Gilly Gwilliams | Evexia Kos I've lived in Tigaki, Kos for eight years now. Long enough to stop being a tourist. Long enough to notice things. And one of the things I notice most — especially when I scroll through wellness marketing — is how much money people spend recreating something that the locals here simply call Tuesday. That's not a criticism of wellness retreats (I run one, after all). But there's something quietly powerful about the way people live on this island

Published: May 2026 | Evexia Kos There is a moment — you will know it if you have ever stood at the edge of the sea, or sat beside a quietly moving river — when something inside you lets go. Your shoulders drop. Your jaw unclenches. Your breath deepens without you even trying. It is not your imagination. It is not simply a nice feeling. It is your nervous system responding to one of the most ancient, most powerful forms of healing available to us — and it costs nothing, requi

By Gilly Gwilliams | Evexia Kos | Wellness Education You already know that feeling. The one where you've been running on adrenaline for so long that you've forgotten what calm actually feels like. Where "relaxing" means scrolling your phone on the sofa. Where you wake up tired, push through the day, and collapse into bed — only to lie there, mind racing, wondering why you can't switch off. This isn't weakness. It isn't just tiredness. It's your nervous system signalling, quit

The Pilates “hype” (and why it’s not all bad) If you’ve been anywhere near the wellness world lately, you’ll have noticed it: Pilates is having a moment. Reformer studios are popping up everywhere, classes are booked out weeks in advance, and the word Pilates has somehow become shorthand for “toned, aligned, strong”. And honestly? I love seeing more people discover the method. Pilates works—when it’s taught well, it’s one of the most intelligent, body-respecting ways to build

There’s a particular kind of feeling that arrives on Kos right before the season begins. The light shifts. The sea starts to sparkle a little longer each evening. The island wakes up — not in a frantic, touristy way, but in that golden-hour, barefoot, breathe-deeper way that reminds me why I chose to make Kos my home. And this Monday, our summer season officially begins. As always, I’m genuinely excited to share Kos with you for another summer — because my dream has never bee