8 Days Fitness And Embodiment Retreat With Alex Crockford And Yorgos Karamalegos In Crete, Greece

The Physical Lab Fitness & Embodiment retreat will return for its 3rd consecutive year in 2025! This is your invitation to join Alex and Yorgos on the beautiful island of Crete for the opportunity to improve your overall well-being. This retreat is geared to leave you feeling healthy, energized, and supported with the tools you need to make long-lasting changes over these 8 days and beyond!

Arrival, Day 1

• Welcome dinner: Join instructors Alex and Yorgos and all of this year's participants as we kick off the retreat with a welcome dinner at Armonia Retreat Centre in Chania!

Day 2

• Morning stretch - A nice gentle wake-up for the body, giving awareness to any tight areas or parts of your body you need to be conscious of during the training.
• Personal fitness benchmark - The workout will begin with fun fitness tests (planks, wall sits, push-ups, etc.) to spark motivation and track your progress throughout the week.
• Dive into the body - Gently reconnecting with the body and with other people's bodies, post-lunch break.
• Forest walk - Enjoy a walk out into the woods and explore the surrounding area as well as ground down into nature.
• Breathwork and meditation - Focus on breathing techniques to calm the nervous system and relax your mind and body.

Day 3

• Pleasure exercise - A gentle stretching exercise to activate the body
• Team workout: In this session, you will get together in groups to challenge yourself whilst also building team energy for the week.
• Party through the body - An energizing, improvisational session that frees the body and mind, encouraging new movements, sensations, and ways of thinking.
• Beach / free time - Take advantage of staying so close to the sea and enjoy some time with Alex and Yorgos on one of Crete's famous beaches.

Day 4

• Stretching and mobility session - Targeted stretches and mobility exercises to help release tension, enhance range of motion, and cultivate better body awareness.
• Strength and cardio gym workout - Let's get the music pumping, and get the body moving to a mixed gym-based circuit to get strong and fit!
• Technique masterclass: The squat - One of the most daunting but effective lower-body exercises, learn the proper way to do a squat.
• Dive into the body - Gently reconnect with the body and other people's bodies after the lunch break.
• Grounding: Unleash your inner warrior - Embrace the core principles of pleasure as you channel your strength with confidence and joy. Prepare to explore, energize, and elevate yourself in a vibrant, supportive environment.
• Nutrition lifestyle and the microbiome - Explore the fascinating world of the microbiome and its surprising impact on our health and well-being.with Dr. Lena Kantzou.

Day 5

• Pleasure exercise - A gentle and stretchy morning session for a smooth start.
• Individual challenge workout with Alex - In this session, you'll channel the same competitive energy from team day to push yourself personally, tackling workouts that challenge you.
• Embodied expression: Part 1 - In this first segment, you'll explore how to use your voice, body language, and facial expressions to communicate with confidence.
• Sleep secrets for optimal life performance with Dr. Lena Kantzou - Learn how quality sleep impacts your health, performance, and mental clarity, and gain tools to optimize rest for better vitality.

Day 6

• Beach workout - Have fun on the beach with some relays, games, and bodyweight exercises before you chill in the sun.
• Dive into the body - Gently reconnect with the body and other people's bodies after the lunch break.
• Embodied expression: Part 2 - In this second segment, you'll employ the Lab methodology to delve into the fundamental aspects of acting, enhancing your expression and communication skills.
• Healing breathwork and meditation - In this breathwork and meditation session, you will go a little deeper, allowing the depths of your being to come to the surface for whatever healing is needed in this moment.

Day 7

• Integration - After a week of intense training and practice, it's time to fully integrate all you've learned while enjoying the beautiful beach, sea, and sun in the south of Crete.
• Farewell dinner - Celebrate the incredible week of fun, laughter, challenge, growth, and embodiment together around the dinner table one final time.

Day 8

• Farewell - Take all you've learned over this transformative week and return home with new knowledge and tools on how to live a more healthy, balanced life.

All sessions are suitable for all fitness levels and adjustments can always be made. Certain exercises and fitness aspects can also be skipped entirely to suit each individual's comfort level. You should also be aware that some of the sessions may take place outdoors.

Enhancing expression and communication skills

In this two-part session, you will learn how to effectively use your voice, body language, and facial expressions to convey your message with confidence. You will also identify and release any restricting habits and incorporate fun acting exercises to improve your comfort speaking in front of others.

Introduction to embodiment masterclass

This masterclass will introduce you to the concept of embodiment and its benefits. You will explore the importance of presence and how embodiment can enhance it. Get ready for a fun and immersive experience as you dive into your body and move like never before.

Teambuilding masterclass

In this workshop, you will utilize the bodywork from the previous day and introduce a voice element to encourage team building through embodiment. By working together, you will feel more at ease with yourself and the group.

Improvisational embodiment

Get ready to let go, have fun, and connect with your body and others in a unique and memorable way.

Iliopetra Apartments

A stone's throw from Armonia Retreat Centre, Iliopetra offers fully-equipped apartments complete with a kitchen and bathroom. All rooms are cozy and follow the local tradition in combination with modern comforts.

Natalia's Houses

Also near to Armonia Retreat Centre, Natalia's Village Houses are just a half-hour drive from the Venetian-influenced city of Chania and its international airport. It is also just a ten-minute drive from the nearest beaches of Almirida and Kalives. Exclusively offered for this retreat, the village houses of Dias and Hera are both suitable for up to three people. Each house has a lounge, kitchen, dining space, and shower room, plus a staircase leading to a wooden mezzanine floor, with a large double bed.

A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price. The deposit will not be refunded if the booking is cancelled. The remaining balance is to be paid 30 days before arrival.