22-28/05/2026
BOC RETREAT, Skyros Island
BODY OF CLAY
Clay· Breath · Journaling · Nature · Awareness · Connection
A five day retreat in Skyros, where nature, culture, breath, and clay become pathways of reconnection with the self.
Clay workshops ~ breathwork practices ~ intuitive journaling ~ mindful immersion in nature ~ cultural integration and experiential awareness practices that cultivate connection with oneself and others, fostering a gentle positive impact.
Private room €1250
Double room €1190
10% off for bookings made until February 8th
Bookings open on the 12th of January
Location
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.
Taste
Natasa, a warm and radiant soul, becomes one with the group through her food and her love for sharing. During the retreat, meals are prepared and offered in different settings, becoming part of the experience itself; an invitation to connect, taste, and be present. The cuisine in the retreat is inspired by Mediterranean traditions, with vegetarian creations and international touches, always using Greek and Skyrian products. Each dish is handmade, simple, and meaningful; a small ritual of care and awareness.
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)
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.
Mindful Living & Practices
Introduction and experiential practice of key concepts such as mindfulness, conscious breathing, journaling, and empathetic listening — both toward oneself and others. These concepts will be introduced through guided moments and naturally integrated throughout the retreat, through personal initiatives and daily experiences.
Community Building Benefits
We will be creating a safe space, an environment free of judgement and criticism, in the realm of which we will be practicing compassion and empathy. Time and space will be given for the individual’s unique interpretation of emotions through interacting with clay.
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)
- introduction and practice in mindfulness, breathing, journaling, and empathetic listening.
- 2 outdoor ‘connect with nature & culture’ activities and transportation to the respective locations
- 5 lunches (vegetarian meals)
- further optional cultural activities to join in your free time
Climate resilience tax is not included (€10/night)
Flights and transfers are not included in the retreat cost.
If you wish, we can arrange your transfer at an additional cost.
Accomodation
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.
Getting to Skyros
By Boat
There are direct ferry routes from Kymi port in Euboea to Skyros daily. The journey lasts 1 hour and a half. Kymi port can be reached by car
(2.5hr drive from Athens).
By Airplane
There are direct flights from Athens to Skyros operated by Aegean Airlines, Olympic Airlines and Sky express. Flight availability is limited, so if you are planning to join us by airplane, make sure to check the flights before booking the retreat.
Getting to Ammos Hotel
You can reach the hotel by taxi or by taking the bus that links Linaria port to Skyros Chora and getting off at the roundabout stop before the bus turns on the road to Chora (15′ walk from the hotel).
Depending on availability, a member of our team might be able to pick you up with a car from the roundabout stop.
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Moving Around Skyros
The most convenient way to move around the island is with a private vehicle, as many island locations cannot be reached with public transport. The public bus links Linaria Port to Skyros Chora, making a stop at the roundabout close to the hotel (15′ walk). Taxi service is available around
the island, although you might need to book a ride in advance for the best service possible.
Bookings & Questions
Joining a retreat is a personal commitment to yourself, and the timing always carries its own meaning.
We are open to conversation and happy to share any information that can support you in planning this journey and your participation in the retreat.
If you have any questions or wish to learn more, feel free to send me an email and we can arrange a short chat.
A payment plan can also be arranged if that feels more supportive at this moment.
You can contact us for any additional information
Private room €1250
Double room €1190
10% off for bookings made until February 8th
Bookings open on the 12th of January
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.
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
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
Retreaters’ Words
“A true labor of love. A safe yet challenging space that allowed for tuning out of modern life’s draining fuss to look deep within and connect on a fundamental level with the living, breathing world around us. I feel very lucky to have been part of this community, in that moment in time, in that magical, grounding place on Earth.”
~
“I had the joy of taking part in the first Body of Clay on the magical island of Skyros.
It was an experience not only of creating with clay, but of deep connection with ourselves. The body remembered, the heart opened, and for a moment, time stood still. Stefania and Emilia guided us with a smile, strength, and wisdom through every activity,
creating a space of safety, tenderness, and inner release.I left with creations… but above all, with peace.And, of course, with the light of an experience that continues to live within me.”