The Scientific Journey to Longevity

BEST OF | Issue 3 | Spring 2025

The five-star Minos Palace Resort in Crete, member of the bluegr Hotels & Resorts, announces with pride the opening of its transformative Nao longevity centre. The opening will take place in May 2025. The new Nao method, thoroughly underpinned by scientific data, brings years into your life and life into your years.

Nao offers nothing short of a revolutionary, evidence-based approach to unify and interweave ancient healing practices with progressive prognostics, treatments and interventions. It is Greece’s newest luxury-wellbeing destination designed to offer prestige personalisation in every aspect of its guest experience. To formulate it in the words of Gina Mamidaki, the visionary CEO behind this project: “Nao came into being as the purely natural answer to a universal call for a happier and healthier world – the concept genuinely embodies our profound engagement in the demanding spheres of care, sustainability, innovation and excellence which have developed over the course of more than 50 years. Through a deeply rooted belief system, Nao redefines longevity by blending scientific longevity science with ancient wisdom.

A new era for longevity

At the heart of Minos Palace Resort, whose splendid site is a secluded private peninsula with 360° views of the Aegean, Nao is destined to provide inspiration for the ongoing evolution of a newborn lifestyle. Designed for transformation, it offers sensory-rich spaces that immerse guests in an environment crafted to awaken the senses and encourage self-discovery. Here, the surroundings themselves become an integral part of the journey, reinforcing wellbeing through design, nature, and intentional curation. Derived from the ancient Greek meaning “to flow,” Nao symbolises harmony and continuous transformation. Its centrepiece is a groundbreaking approach to wellbeing which targets the 12 hallmarks of ageing, encompassing fundamental biological processes which drive the passage of time. Guests thereby receive support in both the temporal extension of their lives and the qualitative enhancement of their health. Each and every Nao journey is guided by four lodestars, the major pillars which bear wellbeing: nutrition, sleep, movement and self-mastery. For each of these, measures are undertaken which focus on certain aspects of the 12 hallmarks of ageing. Together they constitute an integrated path to wellbeing which addresses body, mindset and emotional health both carefully and precisely.

The | Tides – A luxury wellness brand blending science, nature, and 30 years of clinical expertise. 100 % natural skincare and transformative BrainBodyMind Wellness™ treatments to help you look, feel, and perform your best.

Scientific underpinning, highly personal methods

The first step in the Nao method is to communicate to the guests a deeper understanding of their own health and wellbeing. This process begins even before their arrival when guests fill out a detailed questionnaire and uncover their initial prognostics. This provides the basis for the planning of their own highly personal journey. Upon arrival, further tests coupled with expert consultations culminate in a comprehensive analysis of their state of health. These tests are based on latest knowledge and longevity research. They target the most important biometrics. This information gives the Nao wellness team the wide-reaching data it needs to generate custom-made treatments ranging from individual diet plans and optimised sleeping times all the way to personalised fitness programs and exercises in mental attentiveness. The programs focus on physical, mental and emotional health, and aid guests in reaching their fullest potential.

Signature Therapies

Nao provides meaningful experiences through innovative therapies that connect modern technology with holistic approaches:

• PBM Red Light therapy for cellular regeneration and vitality
• Cryo Chamber therapy mollifies/arrests inflammations and accelerates healing
• Vibroacoustic therapy uses sound healing sessions for relaxation and improved sleep
• Functional Body therapies: evidence-based treatments which merge advanced techniques with premium care products in order to restore equilibrium and resilience.

A transformative journey

Nao programs are tailored to highly diverse individual needs, they extend from kickstart entry-point programs to deep reaching two-week therapy journeys. During these programs, advanced prognostics are combined with highly curated modern treatments and interventions. Precision strategies for a recommended lifestyle are worked out which are capable of being implemented. It is thus ensured that guests are not only revitalised while they are here, they are also given the requisite tools for their own sustainable transformation after they depart.

An incomparable place for longevity

Minos Palace Resort is located on a tranquil private peninsula. It is an exclusively adults-only sanctuary ensconced in a splendid setting with 360° views for serene healing experiences. Two restaurants pamper guests with seasonal, curated menus composed of sustainably cultivated products which are proven to reinforce good health. Equally enjoyable are the two unusual bars. Here cocktails and drinks are served which have been meticulously curated by Baba au Rum in Athens, one of the best bars in the world. The activity program extends from water sports and tennis to hikes and wellness courses, while at the same time, tranquil gardens, private beach and an infinity pool reflect the nearly boundless reaches of the site. The 121 rooms, bungalows and 28 suites (some with private pond), the pools, the reception and the F&B zone were thoroughly renovated in 2024. Starting with the completion of its expansion through Nao which will be launched in May 2025, the Minos Palace Resort becomes a leading luxury-wellness destination which draws science, nature and individual supervision into profound harmony in order to make a longer, happier and more fulfilled life possible for its guests.

Vitality Pool – At Nao, every space is thoughtfully designed to be an integral part of the guest’s transformative journey.

About bluegr Hotels & Resorts

The family-run concern bluegr Hotels & Resorts has in its repertoire some of the best hotels in Greece which unite the three pillars of quality tourism: extraordinary service, outstanding hospitality and breathtaking sites. With hotels in Crete and Athens, bluegr Hotels & Resorts have redefined the concept of luxury hotels in Greece for more than 50 years. Striving unflaggingly towards continuously evolving excellence, bluegr Hotels & Resorts also undertakes initiatives for ethical, responsible and sustainable business practices. This eco-culture and sustainability philosophy is based on four pillars: environment, solidarity/voluntary work, cultural heritage and sustainable education. The paramount commitments of bluegr are sustainable luxury, the support of local communities, responsible waste management and the protection of natural resources.