Unleashing the Power of Yoga & Pilates Pt1 : Combining Yoga, Pilates and Hiking on The NorthWest side of Skiathos

Sunday had finally arrived, and I had been eagerly anticipating its arrival all week long. During the winter months on the island, we dedicate our Sundays to hiking excursions, allowing us to further explore our beautiful surroundings. However, this Sunday was particularly special. We had planned to do yogalates at a specific spot along the trail, with a breathtaking view of Kexria and the Aegean Sea.

We started from our usual meeting point at the park of the elementary school by the port, arriving in our cars. Today, it was just us girls. We drove to the northwest side of the island, to the monastery of Panagia Eikonistria. From there, we took the path behind the monastery that leads to Saint John the Hidden. Turning right from there, we followed the path that brought us to our scenic destination. The journey was enchanting, with lush vegetation and pine trees lining the rocky terrain. It reminded me of Narnia landscapes.

The path led us to an animal pen with many goats, roaming free around it. As we passed through the animal pen, the path was lined with thistles up to our knees. We got stung a bit, but we managed to push through. It took us about an hour to reach the spot where we would practice our yoga and pilates sessions, but every minute was worth it. The sun was shining, and its rays warmed us up, making the day feel like summer.

We laid our mats at the edge of the dirt road, overlooking the azure sea and Kehria beach, and began with our breathing exercises. It was a wonderful session, and we truly managed to relax and connect with nature, leaving all our worries behind. The weather was so lovely that we didn't want to leave. On our way back along the dirt road, walking amidst dense vegetation and pine trees in absolute silence, it was so beautiful. A little further down, about 1 km away, we turned left and climbed the steps that led us back to Saint John the Hidden. It felt like stepping into a fairytale, with improvised steps and lush greenery all around. The path was a little challenging, with some uphill sections and uneven terrain, but generally it was a beautiful and manageable hike. We reached the chapel of Agio Ioanni Krifo and then turned right from the road we had come from, which led us back to the monastery where we had our cars parked.

It was an experience I will never forget, and I would love to repeat it many times with more people to show them how beautiful the island is and how many things you can do here.