This is the yoga hall in Eftalou, on the north coast of Lesvos in Greece, where longtime teachers Angela Farmer and Victor van Kooten run two-week courses a few times a year. It's best for practitioners who want an exploratory, body-led style of yoga and are happy to arrange their own room and meals nearby.
What it's like
This isn't a resort or an all-inclusive retreat. It's a teaching hall on Lesvos, the large Greek island close to the Turkish coast, where two of yoga's most respected senior teachers hold courses. The hall sits in Eftalou, just outside the village of Molyvos, at the top of a winding dirt road with a view out over the Aegean.
Angela Farmer trained for around ten years with B. K. S. Iyengar before moving away from that method and developing a freer, more personal way of practicing. She and her husband, Victor van Kooten, have taught together for decades. Their classes mix posture work, breath and meditation, and they put far more weight on exploring how a pose feels from the inside than on getting it to look perfect. Their own site describes the classes as playful and deeply experiential, which is a fair summary of the reputation they've built.
The atmosphere is serious about practice but not stiff. Students come back year after year, and many treat a course here as a reset for their whole approach to yoga.
The programs
Courses run for two weeks. In 2026 there were four on the calendar: two in spring and two in autumn. Some are taught by Angela and Victor together and are open to everyone, while others are taught by Angela alone and are for women only.
On teaching days there's a long morning class of about three hours and a shorter evening class of about an hour and a half. Weekdays are for teaching. Weekends are free, apart from optional self-practice sessions on Saturday mornings.
The teachers prefer that you come for the full two weeks. If you can only manage one, it has to be the first week, so you don't join a group partway through.
Booking is simple but a little different from most retreats. You check the dates, sort out your own flights and accommodation, and then send a confirmation form from the schedule page. Each person fills in their own form. You don't need to ask whether there's space: full courses are taken off the website. Payment details are explained on the schedule page, and you'll want to read them before you travel.
If you can't get to Greece, the website also sells recorded online classes.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
It's a great match if you already practice and want to learn from teachers with a lifetime of experience, especially if you're curious about a softer, more intuitive approach than strict alignment-based styles. It also suits independent travelers who like choosing their own room and eating out in a Greek village.
It won't suit anyone wanting a packaged holiday with meals, rooms and transfers included. There's no spa and no pool on offer here, just the hall and the teaching.
Getting there
Lesvos has an airport near Mytilene, the island's main town, and Molyvos is on the north coast. Molyvos and the surrounding area have plenty of places to stay. The teachers no longer keep a list of recommended rooms, so you'll book your own. They also note that the payment for courses is handled in cash, and that there are cash machines at the airport and in Molyvos.
Frequently asked questions
Is accommodation included?
No. You arrange your own travel, rooms and meals on Lesvos, then confirm your place on the course.
How long is each course?
Two weeks, with classes on weekdays and free weekends.
Can I come for just one week?
It's discouraged, and if you do it must be the first week of the course.
Are all courses open to men?
No. Courses taught by Angela and Victor together are open to all, while those taught by Angela alone are for women.
Where do I find the current dates?
The schedule page on the official website lists upcoming courses.
