Description
Elemental Wisdom is a journey into the living intelligence of the elements—an invitation to reconnect with ancient knowledge, ancestral memory, and the depths of the inner world. Guided by Paula Gissel Yama, this retreat offers a sacred space where yogic teachings, meditative rituals, sound, movement, and artistic practices come together to awaken a deeper sense of presence and belonging.
Rooted in elemental teachings, the retreat places special focus on the Root and Throat Chakras, supporting participants in grounding into their foundations while finding the courage and clarity to express their deepest truths. Each practice is designed to cultivate reverence for one’s personal path and for the natural world, gently aligning body, mind, and spirit with the rhythms of life and nature.
Mornings begin by awakening the senses through Hatha Kriya Yoga, dhyāna (meditation), bija mantra, movement, and sound relaxation, creating a steady, energized foundation for the day. These practices invite clarity, vitality, and a grounded connection to breath and intention.
Evenings unfold through diverse and immersive offerings drawn from ancestral and global traditions—including ancestral voice work, tribal movement, and Yin or restorative yoga—allowing participants to shed old layers, soften the heart, and integrate the day’s experiences through rest and reflection.
Special offerings deepen the retreat’s transformative power. A Shamanic Drum Journey, rooted in Gissel’s lineage as a Zapotec woman from Oaxaca, opens a gateway to guidance from ancestors, spirit allies, and inner wisdom. The Painting Visionary Circle, inspired by her fine art background in blue watercolor technique, blends meditation and creativity to stimulate intuition, visualization, and manifestation. The Ajna Center Activation combines eye yoga, Trataka meditation, and the traditional Mexican use of melipona honey, offering a unique and holistic approach to perception, clarity, and inner vision.
Paula Gissel Yama is a painter, sound therapist, yoga instructor, massage therapist, and aquatic movement guide, whose work is deeply shaped by her Oaxacan heritage and ancestral healing traditions. Her journey across Mexico, India, Nepal, the Americas, and South America has woven together art, yoga, shamanic practices, sound healing, and water-based modalities such as Janzu and Aguahara, which inform her deeply embodied and ritual-based approach.
Throughout the retreat, guests are nourished with three abundant meals daily, prepared from fresh farm and sea produce, and supported by full board accommodation in traditionally designed cottages. Time is held between structured practice and spacious rest, with access to a private bay, swimming pool, gardens, and shared spaces that encourage integration, play, and connection.
Elemental Wisdom is an invitation to remember your roots, honor your voice, and reconnect with the wild, vibrational essence of who you are. Participants leave feeling grounded, inspired, creatively awakened, and deeply aligned—carrying home practices and insights that ripple gently into everyday life.
Accommodation
Accommodation is offered in traditionally designed cottages, with a small selection of room types to suit different preferences, all created to support rest, comfort, and privacy.
Guests may choose a shared twin or double room, ideal for those traveling with a friend or open to a communal retreat experience. These rooms are light-filled, thoughtfully furnished, and share bathrooms, fostering a sense of connection and ease.
For those seeking more solitude, private rooms are available, offering a quieter, more intimate personal space while still remaining immersed in the retreat’s communal rhythm.
Select accommodations feature a private balcony, opening onto views of the farm, sea, or surrounding nature, allowing guests to enjoy moments of stillness, reflection, and connection with the landscape throughout the day.
Instructors
Paula Gissel Yama
Paula Gissel Yama is a painter, sound therapist, yoga instructor, massage therapist, and ceremonial guide whose work is deeply rooted in her Oaxacan Zapotec heritage and ancestral healing traditions. Guided from an early age by her grandmothers, healers, and temazcaleras, she carries forward ancient wisdom through practices that honor ritual, earth, and spirit. Her path has taken her across Mexico, India, Nepal, the United States, and South America, where she has immersed herself in yoga, sound healing, shamanic practices, massage, and fine art. Alongside her artistic background, Paula’s deep relationship with water is expressed through aquatic movement modalities such as Janzu and Aguahara, offering profound experiences of healing, surrender, and liberation. Blending movement, sound, art, meditation, and ancestral ceremony, Paula creates spaces where healing unfolds naturally through presence and listening. Her offerings invite participants to reconnect with their roots, awaken their authentic voice, and return to the innate flow of life with clarity, balance, and embodied vitality.
Key features
- 5 days / nights, Sunday to Friday
- Full board, farm-to-table meals
- Elemental & ancestral retreat focus
- Root & Throat chakra activation
- Creative, sound & ritual-based practices
- Private bay, swimming pool & gardens
- Traditionally designed cottages with select private balconies
- Led by Paula Gissel Yama, artist & ancestral wisdom keeper
Meal Details
Three meals daily (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Farm-to-table cuisine using fresh garden and sea produce
Seasonal, nourishing, and abundant dishes
Vegetarian-friendly meals, with other dietary needs accommodated on request
One group dinner at the retreat family’s traditional taverna
Shared meals served in a communal, relaxed setting to support connection and community
Daily Schedule
Morning Kriya yoga, meditation, mantra & sound relaxation
Breakfast
Free time / rest / optional activities / swimming
Lunch
Afternoon integration, creative practice or nature time
Evening ancestral movement, yin/restorative yoga or ceremony
Dinner & quiet reflection / spontaneous dancing
Included activities
Two daily guided practices (morning & evening)
Hatha Kriya Yoga, dhyāna (meditation) & bija mantra
Sound relaxation & vibrational practices
Ancestral voice work & tribal movement
Yin & restorative yoga
Shamanic Drum Journey (Zapotec lineage)
Painting Visionary Circle (meditative watercolor practice)
Ajna Center Activation (eye yoga, Trataka & melipona honey ritual)
Chakra-focused practices (Root & Throat emphasis)
Use of yoga equipment (mats, blocks, bolsters, straps, blankets)
Access to private bay, swimming pool, gardens & communal spaces
Pickup & drop-off at the ferry station
Optional activities
Kayaking (single or double)
Snorkeling & shell diving
Guided hikes on ancient island trails
Sunset walk to Ioulida (ancient capital)
Island boat trip
Visit to Kastriani Monastery
Winery picnic & wine tasting
Arts & crafts
Music & instruments
Extra Reiki sessions
Activities Not Included
Ferry tickets to and from Kea
Optional island excursions & boat trips
Private healing sessions (unless booked separately)
Travel insurance
Extra snacks or drinks outside of provided meals
Special Requirements
Open to all levels, no prior yoga or art experience required
Comfortable with gentle to moderate movement
Openness to ancestral, ceremonial & creative practices
Ability to walk on uneven natural terrain
Advance notice requested for dietary needs, injuries, or health considerations
Directions
The nearest international airport is Athens International Airport (ATH). From Athens, travel to Lavrio Port by taxi or bus, then take a ferry to Kea (Tzia), where pickup is provided at the ferry station to bring you to the retreat.
Available Dates
Book Your Spot
Cancellation Policy