Tense times for Greece mean potentially tense times for anyone visiting Greece.
With the country still gripped by a financial crisis that could yet push it out of the eurozone, anxiety is never far from many people's minds.
Except, perhaps, at some of Greece's finest yoga retreats, where meditating against a backdrop of the blue Mediterranean sea and sky is guaranteed to melt the stress away.
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Greece's tourism industry needs all the support it can get right now, so by heading to one of these oases of calm, visitors will help, in some small way, to ease that pressure.
Silver Island Yoga
A private island just a few miles off the mainland, set against the Aegean Sea, makes the perfect base for this exclusive yoga getaway.
Evia, Greece's second-largest island, is linked to the mainland by bridges and serves as the gateway to this sanctuary.
Silver Island has been home to the Christie family and a working olive farm for generations. Today sisters Lissa and Claire Christie run the yoga programs.
The island has no electricity or internet, which makes the retreat ideal for anyone seeking a digital detox, or an escape from the gloomy headlines about Greece.
It's eco-friendly too.
Two houses, the Main House and the Villa, provide accommodation for just a handful of guests at a time.
There are only five simply but beautifully decorated double rooms.
There's also a lighthouse, a small church, 2,000 olive trees and plenty of trails winding across the 60 acres of Silver Island.
Its name, "Silver," comes from the shimmering leaves of its countless olive trees.
Two two-hour yoga sessions a day take place outdoors, overlooking the ocean.
The outdoor and indoor dining areas, where vegetarian and organic dishes are served, enjoy equally stunning views.
Silver Island; +27 72 624 2242
Itha108 Yoga Studio, Ithaca
Tucked away in Piso Aetos, on the mythical island of Ithaca, this understated yet luxurious retreat is the creation of Ingrid Gottschalk.
"When I'm alone, I sit quietly and let the energy speak to me. It's a healing, creative energy, exactly what I felt the first time I saw this land," Gottschalk says.
Each of the six bedrooms was designed individually.
All come with ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning, mosquito nets, wooden ceilings and balconies with clear views over the Ionian Sea toward the island of Kefalonia.
Traditional craftsmanship from the Indian state of Rajasthan is used to decorate the place.
Three Mongolian yurts are also available, each sleeping one to four people, one of them with a removable roof that's perfect for stargazing.
Itha108 offers open classes to the public during the autumn, winter and spring months.
From May to September it hosts a series of retreats, during which the yoga shalas are closed to the public.
Yoga sessions take place in two yoga shalas, one outdoors and one indoors.
In the cooler months the indoor yoga shala has underfloor heating, while the outdoor "Sundara" shala is shaded by trees and cooled by breezes off the Ionian Sea.
Itha108, Agios Ioannis, 28300 Ithaca; +30 26740 31463
Aegialis Hotel & Spa, Amorgos
Even without the yoga, Amorgos, set in the easternmost part of the Cyclades island group, radiates a zen-like aura.
The island is known for its role in Luc Besson's film "The Big Blue" and is renowned for its excellent diving.
Perfectly positioned in the northern part of the island, the Aegialis Hotel & Spa sits on a hillside overlooking Aegiali Bay.
Owners Irene and Nikitas Giannakopoulos are both from the island, and their dream is to share the beauty of Amorgos with the world.
The hotel was significantly modernized in 2008, when the Lalon Idor Thalasso spa opened.
It offers yoga and holistic wellness retreats amid the island's Cycladic architecture and atmosphere of calm.
This year's calendar runs until October, with instructors from around the world.
The yoga retreats take place in two outdoor spaces that offer incredible views.
There's also an indoor space in the spa.
Yoga Rocks, Crete
Yoga Rocks occupies a breathtaking spot on a small cliff overlooking the unspoiled beaches of Triopetra on Crete's pristine southern coast.
Hosts Phil and Helen, both from the UK, offer week-long retreats designed to deepen your yoga practice far from everyday routines, led by well-known yoga retreat teachers.
The yoga menu caters to every type, from active styles such as Ashtanga to trendier approaches like Vinyasa Flow and Shiva Rea's Prana Flow.
Sessions of meditation, pranayama (control of breath and energy) and chanting are often available.
The simple ensuite rooms have stunning views of the Mediterranean from a balcony or terrace.
Outdoor and indoor yoga shalas, meditation on the beach and healthy food based on the world-famous Cretan diet all help take your yoga routine to a new level.
Atsitsa Bay, Skyros
Set on the lesser-known but gorgeous island of Skyros, on the calm side of the Aegean Sea, Atsitsa Bay offers yoga holidays in a relaxed yet lively setting.
The retreat sits right by the sea and is surrounded by a beautiful pine forest.
Atsitsa offers one- and two-week community holidays with morning and afternoon yoga sessions suitable for all levels.
This year's calendar runs until the end of September.
The yoga practice here can be further enriched with a range of other activities, such as mindfulness, life coaching, meditation and reflexology.
Guests can also take part in other fun pursuits, such as windsurfing, circus skills and music.
Simple, cozy bamboo double huts, set in Atsitsa's lush gardens among pine and fruit trees, provide basic but comfortable accommodation.
The retreat includes full board and healthy Mediterranean meals.
Atsitsa Bay, Skyros; +44 1983 865 566
