About Us

Who We Are

angelis Syrigos, owner of Ananda Wellness Resort, was born in the picturesque resort town of Lavrio, Greece in 1968. In Greece he had several successful businesses; teacher and owner of a computer school for children and unemployed adults and a director of stock brokerage office. Despite his financial success at age 35, Vangelis started to wonder if there is more to life than financial rewards. Poor health contributed to his inner turmoil as well. More specifically, doctors in Greece advised Vangelis that the only way to heal his back was through surgery. Driven by thirst to find something of higher value, Vangelis took a journey to holy mountain, Athos in 2003.

Later on, a path of exploration led him to Thailand. When he arrived at Koh Panghan he felt at home. Vangelis returned to Greece with an idea in his mind to return to Thailand for good. In 2004, during his second visit at Koh Panghan, Vangelis stayed at Thai Temple with monks and meditated. This was a time of emotional turmoil for Vangelis. He felt emotionally drained and physically weak. At some point he couldn’t stand up as his back was locked and in pain. He received a healing massage from a monk. He was amazed how this helped him without medication or surgery, which was advised to him back in Greece. This experience gave him new hope for different methods of healing. This also helped him to understand his emotions, accept himself and made him feel stronger to start over again.

At Koh Panghan, Vangelis discovered Agama Yoga School. After one month of yoga Vangelis realized that teachings of the Swami Vivekananda Saraswati are important to his life. He felt connected to the people he met and felt inspired by the teachers and the Swami. At this time there was only one yoga hall and Agama school wasn’t well known. Vangelis felt inspired to build a home for Agama school teachings with yoga halls and accommodations, a swimming pool, sauna and restaurant all on the same property. Vangelis was sure that the school had a bright future and he received Swami’s blessing.

Nonetheless, the decision to move wasn’t that simple. Vangelis returned to Greece to volunteer for the Olympics. This was a time of confusion as one side of him wanted to explore a new path in Koh Panghan and the other to stay safe in familiar Greece. In beginning of 2005, Vangelis arrived at Koh Panghan with no return ticket.

By this time, Agama school was growing and more people moved to the island after a tsunami, making it more difficult to find land for the resort. After a long search for available land, Vangelis’ destiny changed. He was able to find land, make a deal, sign papers and put down the deposit all in one day! He knew he was meant to be here! He started to build Ananda Wellness Resort. During this time, Vangelis practiced yoga and body purification methods. His back was getting stronger, he was becoming happier and more fulfilled. Vangelis knew that he was on the right path, despite all of the challenges while building this resort. In January 2006 Ananda Wellness Resort was completed with accommodation, restaurant with healthy meals, swimming pool, sauna and yoga hall. His struggles were rewarded when the government constructed a paved road and the local people came to realize the benefits of employment and expanded business as a result of Ananda.

Through experimentation on himself and learning from other yogis about body purification, Vangelis understood how important detox is to well-being. As a result he experienced more clarity in his thinking, more energy, feeling bliss and joy for life and good health. In 2007 Ananda Resort started to provide detox as a compliment to the other well-being services at the resort. Over 4,000 people have come from all around the world to undertake detox programs at Ananda. Vangelis has received lots of thank you letters and “you changed my life” feedback, which inspires him to continue with his mission.

Vangelis continues his personal growth and spiritual evolution. He continues to practice tantric yoga at Agama and he is always furthering his knowledge about body purification methods to offer best services to the people who are seeking well-being and happiness. In Spring 2007 one of the Vangelis dreams came true to see Tibet and learn about their spirituality and tradition. In Patala Vangelis was inspired by the humbleness of the monk and a way of kindness that still resonates with him today.

In 2011, Vangelis visited Shaolin temple in China and experienced powerful emotional energy healing, which widened his vision and expanded the concept of well-being.

Vangelis enjoys living in Koh Panghan and can often be seen swimming, kayaking, bicycling or simply meditating at sunset. He especially enjoys meeting like-minded people. Vangelis reflects on his journey and talks about tantric yoga and detox with a gratitude in his eyes as it has brought good health, joy and bliss back to his life. With passion and enthusiasm in his eyes, Vangelis exclaims: “ I know that I am in the right place and doing the right thing at the right time”.

vasiliki Terzi (known as “Villy”)who comes from Kilkis in Northern Greece, studied at the Macedonia School of Tourism Professions (O.T.E.K.) and then entered Greece’s hospitality industry, landing jobs at several hotels and restaurants. In 2010 she met Vangelis who invited her to join the staff of Ananda Wellness Resort in Thailand. Villy accepted the challenge with alacrity, enthused by the prospect of supervising the resort’s Detox programs and assisting its constant stream of guests to cleanse their bodies and develop a healthy lifestyle. Today, everyone who spends time at Ananda is inspired by the joyful vitality and energy that Villy presents.

“I’ve always been an energetic person,” says Villy, “and as a child in Northern Greece I was constantly active, played lots of basketball and did everything I could to maintain a good level of health and fitness. But then, in my late teens, I found myself partying too much, eating the wrong foods, drinking inappropriate beverages, engaging in insufficient exercise and sleeping too little at night. I knew nothing, and cared less, about purifying my body. The word ‘detox’ had never even entered my consciousness.”

reg McFarland found Ananda in 2010 while backpacking through Southeast Asia. After experiencing the transformations from a detox and yoga, he decided to stay and join Ananda. Using his skills in IT, Greg maintains the website and the tech-aspects of the resort. Always interested in playing music, Greg likes to collaborate with other musicians at the Sunday open mic sessions at Ananda.

Cho – Restaurant Reception

Naw – Cook

Phyu – Server

Mue – Cook

Doh – Maintenance

Lea – Detox