Sat 15 Feb 2025
Marietta Shares What It Truly Means to Design a Retreat that Leads to Self-Discovery
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The founder of MYND believes that “happiness is not a destination — it’s the way you choose to walk the path.” And sometimes, that path leads you on a journey that transforms you.
The light of Mani is truly unique. It blends with the raw, rugged landscape, where stone-built houses and dramatic cliffs embrace crystal-clear shores. In villages like Oitylo, Limeni, and Areopoli, visiting in autumn feels like stepping into a medieval novel. You wander between ancient towers, cobbled alleys, and blooming bougainvillea.
And naturally, your fairytale stay belongs in a place like "Petra & Fos", Mani’s most iconic boutique hotel. With 23 fully equipped rooms and suites, all designed with refined aesthetics and cozy decor, Petra & Fos is more than just accommodation. Every room offers breathtaking views of the magical Oitylo Bay, and the hotel’s purpose is not only to provide exceptional hospitality, but to embody a sense of authentic warmth, rooted in excellence and harmony.
And true harmony can only be achieved when you allow the light to bathe not just your body, but your spirit as well.
With this in mind, we spent a November weekend in this magical place, attending a retreat led by Nikolas Smyrnakis. It was the perfect experience for anyone longing to explore their inner map and find their true destination.
Beyond this journey of self-awareness, we also looked for the woman behind some of the most unique and meaningful retreats in Greece. Marietta Sarigiannidou, Founder of MYND Metamorphose’s Retreats, shared with us everything you’d want to know about how a journey can be thoughtfully designed to truly change your life.
– From the corporate world of multinationals to journeys of self-discovery across every corner of the earth. How did you make that transition first personally, and then professionally?
You know, life has a strange way of showing us the path. In my case, it took a serious health challenge for me to realize just how far I had drifted from what truly matters. I was working as a marketing manager in multinational companies, chasing deadlines and targets, until my body sent a loud, undeniable message.
In that moment, I understood that real happiness is found in the small moments we share with others, in laughter, hugs, and meaningful conversations. That’s when the desire was born within me to help others discover that same truth.
– The name MYND, combining "MY" and "MIND", is a brilliant marketing concept. But on a deeper level, do you believe finding ourselves is a conscious act, something we can reason through?
MYND is something deeply personal to me. It reflects each person’s journey back to themselves, a journey that is not just mental, but profoundly emotional. You can't find yourself through logic alone. You have to listen to your heart, to feel, to question, to cry, to laugh.
It’s like peeling back the layers of an onion, and with each layer, you get closer to your truth.
– Besides MYND Retreats, you also run a digital marketing agency and often speak about “meaningful interactions.” Can those really exist in the world of marketing?
Absolutely. Marketing can be something completely different when you approach it from the heart.
At MYNDigital, we don’t just see numbers and metrics, we see people with dreams, fears, and hopes. Every campaign is an opportunity to build bridges, to touch lives, to create something that actually matters.
– Can you describe what a retreat really is? Many people think it’s just a place for yoga or meditation.
Imagine waking up in a place where time flows differently. Where every moment becomes an invitation to discover something new about yourself. Our retreats are so much more than a holiday, they are journeys of the soul.
We choose magical locations that call you to reconnect with nature, with others, and most importantly, with yourself. Yes, we do yoga and meditation, but we also laugh, dance, cry, share stories with locals, cook together, we live. We become a family that embraces each person exactly as they are.
– In 2025, you’ve planned 10 more retreats, from Iceland to Lake Como and Cappadocia. How do you go about “building” each one?
Each retreat is a mosaic of experiences, crafted with love and meticulous attention to detail.
I always visit the destination myself first. I meet the people, listen to their stories. I look for hidden trails, secret corners, the quiet little wonders you won’t find in any travel guide.
I build relationships with local families, artists, chefs, people who will share with us the soul of their homeland. That’s where the real magic begins.
– You have a loyal community that returns to your retreats again and again, mostly women who seem to thrive within a circle of empowerment. Do you believe a woman can gain real strength through a journey like this?
Every time I witness a woman rediscover her strength at one of our retreats, my heart overflows.
It’s not about becoming stronger, they already are. It’s about remembering who they truly are, beyond the roles they’ve taken on.
It’s about allowing themselves to be cared for, to be vulnerable, to dream again.
Watching that transformation is pure magic, the sparkle returning to their eyes, the smiles blooming, the confidence rising back to the surface.
– What’s the most moving and the most unexpected moment you’ve experienced on a journey?
There’s a moment in the Seychelles that will forever stay etched in my heart.
We had discovered a small, hidden beach, the kind you usually only see on Google Maps. Suddenly, as if the universe opened its arms, we were surrounded by locals, families with children who approached us with the purest joy and curiosity.
We didn’t speak the same language, but we danced, laughed, and played together as if we had known each other forever. In that moment, with tears of joy in my eyes, I understood what life is truly about, real connection that transcends all barriers.
– What’s the first thing most people are looking for when they choose to trust you?
You know, behind every booking there’s a deeper longing.
People come to us because they’re thirsty for something real. They’re looking for a space where they can take off the mask, take a deep breath, and say, "Here, I can finally just be myself."
It’s like returning home, to a home they didn’t even know they were searching for.
– You also organize corporate retreats. What do companies typically ask for, and what do you offer them in return?
Having walked the corridors of multinational companies myself, I deeply understand what it means to feel trapped in the corporate world.
When companies reach out to us, I often see beyond terms like "team building" and "employee wellness" to the real need underneath, people who need to breathe, to reconnect with themselves and with their colleagues.
We create experiences that blend professional growth with personal wellbeing, from talks and workshops to breathwork and sound healing.
It’s deeply moving to witness executives shedding their titles, even briefly, and becoming simply people again, people who share, laugh, and dream together.
– Marietta, does the secret to happiness really exist?
After so many journeys and so many encounters with people from every corner of the world, I’ve come to realize something beautifully simple, almost magical:
Happiness is not a destination. It’s the way you choose to walk the path.
It lives in the small moments when you choose to be present, in the courage to live a life that reflects who you truly are, and in the freedom to simply be yourself.
It’s not a secret. It’s a choice. And every single day, we are given the chance to choose it again.
By Dionysia Kalapotharakou Editor at QUEEN.GR
This interview was originally published on the Greek news platform QUEEN.GR.
