Namaste
my name is Martha
founder of
I was born in Ioannina, Greece, on February 14, 1972. Because of my father’s profession as a sailor, I had the opportunity to travel around the world from a very young age. These early journeys exposed me to different cultures, people, traditions, aromas, flavors, and ways of thinking. They became my first real school and deeply influenced how I understand life, health, and human wellbeing.
In 1989, I graduated from the 1st High School of Ioannina and soon after moved to Italy to pursue my studies. In 1993, I graduated from the Institute of Physical Education (ISEF – Istituto Superiore di Educazione Fisica) in Perugia, fulfilling my first dream of becoming a fitness instructor.
Very soon, however, a deeper curiosity emerged: I wanted to understand nutrition – the food – the fuel that gives us energy, movement, balance, and quality of life. This led me to continue my studies, and in 1997 I graduated in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition from the University of Perugia.
Alongside my studies (1991–1997), I worked in fitness centers in Perugia, including “Perfect Body” and “Sport’s Connection”, teaching aerobic classes, step, hip hop, spinning, and other fitness programs. At the same time, I continuously attended seminars and training programs in fitness and nutrition.
After completing my degree in nutrition, I traveled to the United States. From 1997 to 1998, I participated in an educational clinical research program focused on children’s nutrition as a visiting assistant researcher at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. During this period, I also obtained my AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America) and ACE (American Council on Exercise) certifications.
In November 1998, I opened my private nutrition practice in Ioannina. Since then, lifelong learning has been a central part of my journey. I have attended numerous educational programs in Greece and abroad, exploring a wide range of nutritional and holistic approaches, including macrobiotics, orthomolecular nutrition, raw food, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese diet therapy, alkaline nutrition, and more.
Over the years, I have participated as a speaker in conferences, workshops, TEDx events, and television and radio programs, sharing my work and perspective on nutrition, wellbeing, and positive thinking
My strong interest in Eastern philosophy and holistic health led me to travel extensively across Asia. In Thailand, I attended seminars in yoga, Tai Chi, and Ayurveda. In 2006, I spent over a month in Nepal (Kathmandu and Pokhara), where I practiced yoga, trained in Su Jok therapy, completed my second-degree Reiki certification, and studied Ayurveda.
In 2008, I trained as a Laughter Yoga leader under Dr. Kataria. Later that year, I traveled to China, where I studied Traditional Chinese Diet Therapy and Tai Chi at the Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Wuhan. I then continued to the sacred Wudang Mountains, living and training at a Kung Fu school, where I studied Qi Gong.
In 2010, I traveled to India (Mumbai and Goa) to deepen my practice in yoga and Ayurvedic nutrition. That same year, I moved my practice to a larger space in Ioannina, with the intention of sharing everything I had gathered throughout the years. Alongside nutritional therapy, I offered Hatha, Yin, and Nidra yoga, breathing techniques, stress-relief practices, longevity exercises, prenatal yoga, and laughter therapy.
Also in 2010, I founded the first Laughter Club in Ioannina, offering free weekly sessions open to the community. In the years that followed, I continued traveling and training in India, including extended stays in Rishikesh, New Delhi, and Rajasthan, deepening my understanding of yoga and holistic living.
In 2019, I created the Happiness Yoga Camp Retreat, which ran successfully for five consecutive years in Kanali, Preveza.
In 2023, I closed my studio in Ioannina, completing a meaningful 25-year professional cycle filled with growth, learning, and human connection.
After two years of intense personal and creative work—together with my 83-year-old father, a gifted craftsman, inventor, and lifelong sailor—and after navigating permits, regulations, challenges, hard work, and deep emotion, DeepZeN finally became a reality in 2025. a life dream that combines knowledge, experience, nature and heart
our philosophy
Since ancient times, humans have known that the body has a unique ability: to heal itself. All it needs are the right conditions :
- nutritious, wholesome food
- clean oxygen and mindful breathing
- pure water
- positive emotional environment
- and the right kind of movement, which helps nutrients circulate and toxins leave the body effectively
Modern science confirms what ancient wisdom already knew: poor nutrition, lack of movement, and negative emotions poison both body and mind, leading to premature aging and disease.
One of the main causes of illness today is chronic toxicity.
Toxins don’t just come from the outside world—they are also produced within us, primarily through the gut, which acts as our largest “toxin factory.”
We take in toxins, both literally and metaphorically, through what we eat, drink, and breathe, affecting not just our body, but also our mind and emotions. Anger, guilt, fear—these are part of what we ingest daily.
The result? A gradual weakening of our defenses and the emergence of psychosomatic symptoms, unique to each person.
Today, we consume far too many processed foods, rich in chemical additives, which contribute to chronic illnesses. The worrying part? We’ve started to accept being unwell as normal.
In contrast, proper nutrition, movement, and positive emotions boost immunity, increase energy, and enhance creativity.
Neuroscience reveals something even more profound: there is one factor that affects our health more than diet, stress, genetics, smoking, and exercise combined.
And that is joy.
We’ve lost laughter, optimism, and our connection to life’s simple pleasures. Often, we’re afraid or embarrassed to laugh, worried about being judged. Yet laughter remains one of the most natural paths to balance.
Return to nature, simplicity, and the joy of life
Did you know that just three minutes of laughter
can strengthen your immune system
for up to five hours?
Laughter is a free medicine,
with no side effects,
available anytime.
It is the easiest, fastest form of meditation.
Also
for us, nature is not just the backdrop of the retreat…..it is an active part of the experience and the healing process.
Our retreat takes place on our estate, a living space that offers natural calm, clean air, grounding, and connection to life’s authentic rhythm.
Being in nature helps the nervous system relax, reduces stress, and reminds us of something deeply human: how to live more simply, more authentically, more consciously.
The sea, with its salt, sound, and wide horizon, has a cleansing effect on body, mind, and soul.
At DeepZeN, this creates an informal community of like-minded people who share values: love and respect for nature, humanity and all living beings, simplicity, joy of being together…. cultivate empathy, care, and a sense of belonging.
We believe there is
a joyful, unique way of living for each of us
one that detoxifies the body, mind, and emotions.
And this is not something we want you
to just hear about
we want you to experience it.
…..and return home radiating DeepZeN bliss …
the 
tribe
DeepZeN is an informal, values-based community.
You are welcome to join our tribe if you are
between 18 and 128 years old
love nature, animals, people and yourself
and feel drawn to a meaningful experience in nature
From May to October
DeepZeN hosts weekend and weekly retreats or drop in experiene
Groups are small and intimate, maximum 16 participants. Participation requires advance booking for a specific retreat and dates, with a deposit to secure your place.
