Finding Wellness In Greece - Gilly's Story Of Transformation, Purpose & Healing

For many people, Greece is a dream holiday destination. For Gilly, it became something much more, a place of healing, purpose, and transformation.

In this interview, we sat down with Gilly, founder of Evexia and Retreats in Greece, to discuss her journey building a wellness-focused life on the island of Kos. We explore the inspiration behind her businesses, the power of retreats, the lessons she's learned from Greek living, and why she believes Greece is one of the world's most powerful destinations for wellbeing and personal growth.

From Pilates on the beach to helping people discover life-changing retreat experiences, Gilly shares her story, her philosophy, and her vision for a healthier, more connected way of living.

I live on the island of Kos, which is somewhere my family always came to on holiday. I'm originally from the UK, and like many British people, Greece was a favourite destination for us. I think I was about 5 or 6 years old when I first visited Kos, and we returned year after year.

Before moving here, I had a career in the British Army and spent 7 years working in intelligence. It was a completely different life; very stressful, demanding work. During that time, I experienced a number of health issues, but they were often dismissed by doctors, so I never fully understood what was going on.

Eventually, I reached a point where I knew I wanted to leave the Army, but I wasn't sure what came next. I'd trained as a fitness instructor and loved teaching, so I made what seemed like an impulse decision: I moved to Kos to see if I could build a life here.

I got a job as a fitness instructor and spent the first 6 months settling in. As I connected with more people, I eventually created Evexia, where I started personal training and teaching Pilates on the beach during the summer. In winter, most of my clients were expats, although it's never been exclusively for expats.

Originally, the business was called Victory Fitness Beach, inspired by my military background. But as I changed as a person, the business evolved too. I became more interested in wellness rather than just fitness. I trained in breathwork and focused more on helping people improve their wellbeing rather than pushing intense military-style workouts. In fact, I don't train that way at all anymore.

From there, I moved into retreats. I started organising fitness and wellness retreats, even though I had no real idea how to do it at first. Luckily, through the network I'd built, I met the right people who helped guide me. In my first year, I ran 3 retreats, and for several years after that I was hosting 3 or 4 retreats annually.

As the retreats grew, I realised that in Greece you need to be a licensed travel agent if you want to legally sell retreat packages. So I invested time in doing things properly and became a travel agent.

Around the same time, I noticed how difficult it was to market retreats. Through Facebook, I realised there wasn't a single group dedicated to all retreats happening in Greece. There were yoga groups, but nothing broader. So I created one and within a short time, it grew to around 1,500 members. That made me realise there was something missing in the market.

Because I was already organising retreats and operating as a travel agent, I decided to bring everything together and create Retreats in Greece. I built the website myself with virtually no investment because I didn't know how it would develop. But there was immediate interest, and since then it's continued to grow.

Retreats in Greece officially launched last year, so it's still very new. But this was really the birth of the idea. There are so many magical things happening in Greece, and everyone involved shares the belief that there's something special here. Greece is the perfect place for a retreat because even people who come here without attending one often leave feeling better.

That was certainly my experience. Moving here changed my life completely, and for the better. I'll never leave. Many expats say exactly the same thing. Even more Greeks are beginning to appreciate just how special their country is as a wellness destination, and we're now receiving increasing interest from Greek groups looking for retreat experiences too, which is something I never expected.

We're quite different from a typical booking site. Most retreat platforms simply present a long list of retreats and leave you to scroll through them. We wanted to create something more personal.

Visitors come to our website and complete a discovery form. We ask a variety of questions about how they're currently feeling, how they want to feel, whether they'd prefer the mainland or an island, and several other factors. Based on those answers, we match them with retreats we believe are genuinely suited to them. Sometimes we'll ask follow-up questions to narrow things down further.

Of course, if someone has already seen a retreat we've advertised, they can book that directly. But I always encourage people to let us get to know them first.

A retreat is a significant investment. People spend a lot of money and often arrive at a point in their lives where they're not feeling 100% themselves. The right environment and the right group can completely shape the experience. Our role is to remove some of that stress and help people find the retreat that's truly right for them.

For me, Kos is deeply connected to my childhood. Moving here wasn't a random decision. I already knew the feeling the island gave me. Even before I moved here, I always felt safe in Kos. There's just something special about it; the beaches, the pace of life, the atmosphere. Most people struggle to describe it, but it has a grounding effect.

Historically, Kos wasn't a tourist island. It was an agricultural island, known for farming. I live in the countryside, surrounded by fields rather than hotels and resorts. I wake up every morning looking out across open land. The sea is only a kilometre away, 2 minutes by car or 15 minutes on foot.

And I genuinely have my dream job. I'm not caught up in the tourist rush. I teach Pilates on the beach at sunrise and sunset. To be able to do that every day is incredible. When I compare it to my previous life, they're complete opposites.

I wake up each day with gratitude.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily say Kos is the best Greek island. There are many islands that are absolutely stunning. But for me, for my business, and for the life I want to live, it's perfect.

The people are welcoming. Everyone feels accepted here. Whether it's the island's history, its connection to Hippocrates, its volcanic landscape, or something we can't explain, there is definitely a special energy here. I think that connection is deeply personal, but it's very real.

A lot of it starts with food. In the UK, you go to the supermarket and buy what's on the shelves. Here, I buy vegetables from local producers and roadside shops. We eat seasonal, local food rather than heavily processed supermarket food. 

Nature also plays a huge role. In summer, I'll be sitting by the sea drinking my coffee by 10 o'clock in the morning. In winter, I swap beach days for hiking. Being outdoors is simply part of daily life. Whether you're by the sea or in the mountains, nature is always accessible.

It's taught me the importance of slowing down, connecting with your surroundings, and making time for simple pleasures.

There's also a strong social culture. People spend time together. They sit for coffee. They connect.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that many of the things that genuinely make me happy don't cost money. In the UK, entertainment often meant spending money. Here, some of life's greatest pleasures are free.

Without question, the biggest challenge has been bureaucracy. Especially when you're building a business, the system can feel incredibly complicated. Nothing seems straightforward, and everything goes through an accountant. If you don't have an accountant in Greece, you're completely lost.

That was a steep learning curve for me. When I was setting up my business, I was often given conflicting information. I would be told one thing, only to discover a year later that the rules were different. At times it feels like you're banging your head against a brick wall over something that should be simple.

That said, I've embraced both the good and the bad. No place is perfect, and I've built a life here that I love.

Originally, I simply wanted to talk about wellness. My work had become centred around wellbeing, and I was so passionate about both Kos and the lifestyle I'd created here.

I also love learning. I was constantly meeting fascinating people and discovering new ideas, so the podcast became a way to share those conversations.

When Retreats in Greece launched, the scope expanded. Instead of focusing only on Kos, I started interviewing retreat hosts from all over Greece. It gave them a platform to share their work while also allowing me to explore topics like nutrition, breathwork, sound healing, and many other wellness practices.

The podcast started as a passion project, and it still is. I do it because I genuinely enjoy learning and sharing knowledge. Even if only one person listens to an episode and learns something that improves their life, then I consider it a success.

Absolutely. Emily from Lemonpeels immediately comes to mind.

She's Greek/British living in Greece and specialises in nutrition. She talks about natural approaches to healing conditions such as IBS, digestive issues, and skin problems.

Both she and her husband faced significant health challenges, and through nutrition and lifestyle changes they were able to dramatically improve their health.

She focuses heavily on gut health, fermented foods, and the power of nutrition. I mention her work to clients all the time because it's so relevant. We live in a world where there's often a tablet for everything. Emily reminds us that food can be incredibly powerful medicine.

The episode is called Healing from the Inside Out: How Emily Transformed IBS, PCOS & Skin Issues Through FoodHealing from the Inside Out: How Emily Transformed IBS, PCOS & Skin Issues Through Food.

That said, every guest has inspired me in some way. I've learned something valuable from every conversation.

For me, genuine wellbeing is about conscious daily choices. It's being aware of the decisions you're making every day, from the food you buy to how you move your body.

We all have opportunities to move with purpose. We can walk instead of driving. We can swim, exercise, spend time outdoors, or connect with nature. It's about asking yourself: "Is this going to make me feel better or worse?"

Every day we have choices.I have health challenges myself, but I still choose to do the things that help me feel good. Exercise makes me feel better. Eating nutritious food makes me feel better. I know that if I eat a bag of sweets or a giant chocolate bar, I'll feel worse afterwards. Perfection isn't the goal. It's simply about making more conscious choices that support your wellbeing.

One place that really surprised me was Galaxidi. It's not a destination many people immediately think of, but it has a wonderful sense of calm and connection.

The nearby area around Delphi is also incredibly powerful. The history alone makes it worth experiencing.

People often focus on the islands, but there are so many beautiful places on the mainland and in northern Greece that deserve attention.

That said, one of my favourite islands is definitely Leros. I absolutely loved it.

I've learned that planning too far ahead doesn't always work because life rarely goes exactly to plan. But what I'd really like to see is a growing community.

Of course I want the business to grow, but more importantly, I want to help more people. I'd love people to think of Retreats in Greece and Evexia whenever they think about wellness in Greece.

I want to help shift the perception of Greece from being just a holiday destination to being recognised as one of the world's leading wellness destinations. There's a reason so many retreats take place here. Whether that happens in five years or ten years, I don't know. But that's the vision.

I've experienced my own struggles with physical and mental health. Moving to Greece played a huge role in my recovery and wellbeing. Because of that, my purpose isn't simply about building a successful business. Success matters—we all need to make a living—but for me, it's about helping as many people as possible improve their lives. That's what motivates me every day. 

We'd like to thank Gilly for taking the time to speak with us and for sharing her experiences, insights, and passion for wellness. We look forward to following the continued growth of Evexia and Retreats in Greece, and to seeing more people discover Greece not only as a holiday destination, but as a place for genuine wellbeing and personal transformation.