Meet Adrienne and Victoria – mother and daughter who travelled from the US to More Life Adventures’ August retreat in Crete. For both of them, it was an opportunity to step away from their routines and share an experience they wouldn’t typically get closer to home.

Their relationship has always been strong, as we’ll discover, but a week away together in Crete was a chance to experience each other in a completely different way.

And it all began with Coach Kayla Marie, a returning coach to More Life Adventures’ Europe retreats.

Victoria first met Kayla through hot yoga, and was drawn to the way she taught and the environment she created. “There was just something about her classes,” she explains. “The way she led and the way she connected with people, it set a standard for me.”

When Kayla later opened her own CrossFit gym, Victoria joined, just as she was recovering from surgery. “The coaches were amazing at modifying things and meeting me where I was at,” she says. “They didn’t see my post-surgery limitations as limitations – it was all about working with them to get better and stronger.”

Adrienne’s introduction took a little longer.

“It took Victoria a year of pushing me,” she admits. “I kept saying, ‘I’m too old, I won’t fit in, I’ll slow people down.’ I didn’t know the movements, the lingo, any of it. I was such a beginner. But I was preparing for a double hip replacement and knew I needed to get stronger before the surgeries, which pushed me to meet Kayla.”

And there was no looking back from there.

“I started working with her one-on-one, and then gradually built up to classes,” she says. “She completely worked with me at my level to start, and now I’ve been doing classes for two years. And I’m so proud that I’m not holding anyone back, and have urged several people my age to join.”

August In Greece: An Easy Decision

Deciding to go to Crete together was not a difficult decision for either of them.

“We’ve travelled as a family a fair bit, and Mum and I had been away once before just the two of us, so when I saw that Kayla was running her retreat for a second year, I just asked Mum if she wanted to go,” says Victoria.

A few years before, they had travelled through Amsterdam and France just the two of them, following Van Gogh’s footsteps, which was something particularly meaningful for Adrienne, who is an art teacher.

“It’s the best thing in the world, both mentally and physically, being able to experience these things with Victoria,” adds Adrienne. “I feel 100% blessed that my daughter – and her husband on our other trips – want to share experiences and time with us like this. It really is the biggest gift.”

Pre-Retreat Expectations

Before arriving in Crete, Adrienne had one wish. “To survive it,” she says, laughing. “And to be able to move afterwards.”

She went with a focus on purely the physical side of the week, but the reality was far from simply workouts and training. “I left with a new community of like-minded family-oriented people that I could turn to. They’re people who now check in on me and text me – I left with a group of friends which I never thought would happen. I didn’t know them beforehand but now they’re part of the fundraisers I run, they get me to the group classes at the gym on Saturdays, and even encouraged me to do the CrossFit Open this year. All from that one week in Crete.”

Victoria’s expectations were more centred around the travel itself.

“I’ve always loved travelling, and had been to Greece before and absolutely loved it, so I was so excited to go back,” she says. “But I’d never done a fitness retreat before.”

Similar to Adrienne, the community element really left its mark, but also the shock of wanting to get up early whilst on vacation was definitely far from what she expected.

“It was just such a special group of people who belong. There was so much connection and community. And it was so grounding in a way that I didn’t expect. I would willingly set my alarm early to get up for the sunrise – who does that on vacation?!”

Facing The Fear

As someone who joined a gym in her sixties, the biggest challenge for Adrienne was doing something that felt so unfamiliar.

“I had MAJOR fears,” she says. “I had this voice in my head telling me ‘you’re not at the same level as the other people; they know what weight to grab rather than ask a coach; they know what every move is.’ So yes, I had a lot of apprehension. Especially on the day we did the triathlon when there’s running involved. I did not know I was capable, but my darling daughter had every confidence in the world.

I hadn’t swam in 30-odd years, so going into the ocean to do the swimming part gave me such anxiety. But Kayla – the loving person that she is – got into the water and gave me a pool noodle. So just like in the gym, she modified it to accommodate me. And I felt so proud of myself. I 100% would not have done it if she didn’t modify it and make it accessible.”

Magical Moments

When asked to reflect on the week and any particular moments that really stood out, it wasn’t one specific activity.

“For me, it was the camaraderie,” Adrienne says. “That one word. It fills my bucket and my heart, and it completely rejuvenated me.”

Victoria describes it slightly differently.

“There was such a strong connection throughout the whole week – to the people, but also to the world,” she says. “To finish a workout and walk straight into the ocean, I couldn’t think of anything better.”

What They Took Home

We always ask our guests if there’s anything they did or experienced during the retreat that they’re going to take home and implement in their daily life.

For Adrienne, it was something more emotional and internal rather than a daily habit.

“I can be hard on myself,” she says. “I sometimes think that because I’m middle aged, I’m not capable. But my takeaway from the week was that yes, I absolutely can do this. I shouldn’t hold myself back and not try things because of the anxiety. I know I’m physically capable, and Kayla continues to create this space for me.”

For Victoria, it was the perspective that we can often lose when we’re caught up in the routines of our lives at home.

“It just made me realise how important it is to take the time and space for yourself,” she says. “You need to put yourself first physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s so easy to forget, but you can’t be there for other people if you don’t do that for yourself first. So even in your everyday life, whether it’s just sitting and focusing on yourself, working out, watching tv, or reading a book – you just need space to be.”

She also saw the impact the week had on her Mum.

“There was a lot mum got anxious about during the week – things like the boat, the ocean, and the waterfall. But the community got her to see the perspective of how strong she is. She has taken on the role of caretaker so much in her life that she is afraid to do anything that might make her unavailable to us. But she is so strong and amazing, and needs to recognise all of this more in herself.”

Crete in Three Words

When asked to describe the week, both Adrienne and Victoria answered with words that encompassed so much more than the activities.

Adrienne chose: “challenging, amazing, and filled with love and compassion.”

Victoria described it as: “connection, restorative, and beauty.”

Their experience shows how powerful it can be to step out of your day-to-day life and routine and into something – and somewhere – new. Especially when shared with the right people.

So the question is, who would you bring? Whether it’s a parent, a child, a friend, or simply time for yourself, experiences like this are always better shared. Explore our 2026 retreats in Greece, Madeira and Chamonix here.