September on Kos: The Season Begins to Change

There is something about September on Kos that I have always loved.

You can feel it in the air.

It is subtle at first. The mornings feel a little different. The evenings arrive a little earlier. The heat of August begins to soften, and there is a slight change in the breeze that tells you summer is slowly starting to loosen its grip.

September doesn't feel like summer is over.

Not yet.

It feels more like a gentle transition.

And perhaps that is why I love it so much.

September feels different on Kos

For those of us who live here, September is when the island begins to breathe again.

The busiest months of summer start to ease. The beaches become a little quieter, the roads a little calmer and life begins to return to something that feels more like normality.

But we still have sunshine. We still have warm days. We can still swim, walk, sit outside for dinner and enjoy all the things that make Kos such a beautiful place to live.

It is one of those lovely in-between periods where you don't quite want summer to end, but you are also starting to look forward to what comes next.

I think that is why September has always felt like a month of change to me.

A time to slow down a little.

A time to take stock.

And a time to start thinking about the months ahead.

We can see the seasons changing at Evexia too

At Evexia, we notice the changing season through our classes.

Our sunset Pilates sessions are a perfect example.

For months, we have been finishing our Pilates practice as the sun disappears and the sky changes colour around us. There is something very special about moving your body outside while watching another beautiful Kos sunset.

But now, the days are getting shorter.

We are reaching the point where sunset Pilates is finishing in the dark — and as much as I love the evening atmosphere, there is something rather impractical about doing Pilates when you can barely see!

So sunset Pilates will come to an end at the end of September, before we move our classes indoors for the winter months.

Our aqua Pilates season will also be coming to an end.

Our regular aqua Pilates group are starting to feel that first little chill in the water and, understandably, are beginning to think about their winter exercise programmes.

And then there is beach Pilates.

Thankfully, we aren't quite ready to give that one up yet.

Weather permitting, we will keep our beach Pilates sessions going into October.

Because October on Kos can be absolutely glorious.

And quite honestly, it would be rude not to make the most of it.

October on Kos can be beautiful

There is sometimes a perception that once September arrives, the season is finished and summer is over.

I don't think that is true at all.

October can bring some fantastic weather to Kos.

The temperatures are usually much more comfortable for walking and exercising outdoors, the island is quieter, and there is something incredibly enjoyable about being outside without the intensity of the summer heat.

For me, this is when Kos really comes into its own for movement.

Walking.

Pilates.

Exploring.

Being outdoors.

And simply enjoying the island.

Which brings me nicely to something I am very excited about bringing back this autumn...

Our Evexia community walks are returning

October will see the return of our Evexia community walking group.

These walks are open to everybody.

You don't need to be an Evexia client. You don't need to be a fitness fanatic. You don't need to be able to walk a certain distance or keep up with anyone.

You simply need to want to come along for a walk and some social time.

Because although walking is fantastic for our physical health, I think we sometimes forget how important the social side of movement can be too.

Getting outside.

Meeting people.

Having a chat.

Discovering another part of Kos.

And spending a little time away from our usual routines.

We will be starting the voting for our first walking route in just a few weeks, so keep an eye on Evexia's social media for details.

I am really looking forward to seeing familiar faces and hopefully lots of new ones too.

But before October walking begins...

September is going to end with another very special walk.

Every year, on the last Sunday of September, Kardamena hosts the Goodbye to Cancer Annual Walk.

This year's walk takes place on Sunday 27 September, with everyone gathering in Kardamena at 4pm.

It is an event that brings the community together for an important cause, and everyone is welcome to join.

You don't have to be a regular walker.

You don't have to be particularly fit.

You don't have to know anyone else going.

Just come along.

There are fundraising T-shirts available to buy in Kardamena, as well as raffle tickets, so there are plenty of ways to support the event.

And Evexia is very happy to be contributing too.

We have donated some free Evexia classes and money-off vouchers for Retreats in Greece to the raffle.

So you never know...

You might even get lucky!

Goodbye summer, hello autumn

I think that is what I love most about this time of year on Kos.

There isn't really a hard ending.

Summer doesn't suddenly disappear.

Instead, the island slowly changes around us.

The light changes.

The evenings change.

Our routines change.

The classes change.

And we start to move towards a different kind of season.

One that is perhaps a little slower, a little calmer and, for me, one of the best times of the year to be outside.

So goodbye, summer.

Not quite yet, though.

We've still got a few September sunsets to enjoy, a few more beach Pilates sessions to squeeze in and, hopefully, plenty of sunshine still to come.

And then we'll welcome October with open arms — walking shoes on, Pilates mat ready, and fingers crossed for some of that beautiful Kos autumn weather.

See you out there.