Yoga & Adventure Retreat

Location and Atmosphere

What is up with Portugal? It seems like everyone wants to travel there, move there, live there nowadays! Come explore the colourful, chilled-out Portuguese way of life with us at this yoga retreat at this unique, sustainable venue. Sip an abatanado (espresso to you and me) and watch the world go by at a street-side cafe. Explore beautiful beaches, paddle board along coastal rivers and if you’re lucky spot a dolphin on the horizon. And most importantly, get to know yourself better while you slow down and soak in the natural beauty of our home base in Portugal’s southern “Algarve” region.

Rural Escapes Portugal provides an inviting atmosphere surrounded by lush greenery and panoramic views of the mountains. The property features charming, eco-friendly accommodations designed to make you feel at home in the surrounding nature while providing all the amenities you need for a restful stay. From cozy, communal spaces to tranquil gardens, you’ll find plenty of spots to unwind, reflect, and connect with fellow participants.

The retreat location is strategically positioned for easy access to Monchique, a charming typically Portuguese town. The town itself boasts cobbled streets, traditional Portuguese houses, and stunning views over the surrounding hills and coastline. You’ll discover local shops, quaint cafés, and markets where you can experience authentic Portuguese culture.

Daily Schedule

Each day of the retreat is thoughtfully structured to provide a balanced mix of yoga, adventure, and relaxation. Mornings typically start with a sunrise meditation and then an invigorating yoga session led by Carrie. Carrie’s classes are designed thoughtfully to awaken and energize both body and mind, while weaving in mythology and the philosophical “off-the-mat” principles of yoga along the way. Carrie’s classes are trauma-informed with lots of options for beginners and experienced yogis alike! She does her best to make every practice inclusive and keep everyone engaged and learning throughout the week!

After a wholesome breakfast prepared by Zach, the midday schedule will include either an adventurous hike, beach day, or town exploration, or a special workshop on mindfulness, Ayurveda, or yoga for recovery. These interactive sessions offer practical insights that you can integrate into your daily life long after the retreat ends.

Afternoons are designed for relaxation and self-exploration. You might enjoy a leisurely walk in the surrounding hills, spend time at the pool, or engage in one of the optional additional activities offered.

Evenings culminate in yin or restorative yoga sessions, and then a chance to share experiences with fellow participants over a delicious dinner. Each meal is a celebration of local ingredients, reflecting our commitment to wellness and nourishment throughout your stay. More about the food below…

What activities are included in this Portugal yoga retreat?

This Portugal yoga retreat will have lots of included activities, along with optional add-on adventures. What’s included:

  • Mount Fóia highest point in  Southern Portugal – a hike (5 miles, 1000 feet of elevation gain)
  • Beach day at a popular nearby beach in the Algarve region
  • Sea cave kayaking tour
  • Half-day town exploration in Monchique
  • Daily or twice-daily yoga & mindfulness practices
  • Special Summer Solstice ceremony, other special workshops
  • Plenty of time to relax at Rural Escapes Portugal, hike around the area, or relax by the pool
  • Optional additional activities:
  • Surf lesson
  • Massage or treatment
  • Additional town or beach trips

To book

For more details and to book visit  Bigger Life Adventures website

https://www.biggerlifeadventures.com/product/monchique-portugal-europe-summer-solstice-yoga-retreat/

Multidimensional Sound Healing with Social Psychology Retreat

Join us for five days of self-discovery, connection with others, and a deep re-connection with your heart, soul, and inner being. Immerse yourself in the healing practice of yoga and Social Psychology, coupled with the vibration of crystal bowls, gongs and the didgeridoo as you relax into and embrace the boundless presence within. This retreat is designed to guide you toward profound inner peace in the tranquil heart of the Monchique Mountains, where nature’s serenity surrounds and embraces you.

 


Schedule

Day 1

We begin with a welcome circle, connecting our souls through mindfulness practices, followed by a healthy, delicious, and nutritious dinner. A complimentary shuttle from Faro airport is available on this day for your convenience. Please contact us about the flight transfer before booking your flight.

Day 2

We start the day with hatha yoga, combining meditation, pranayama, asanas, and a soothing gong meditation. Afterwards, we gather together to enjoy a deliciously nutritious brunch. In the afternoon, Maria leads a therapeutic group session, and in the evening João offers a calming sound healing experience.

Day 3

On this day, we begin with a beautiful sound yoga practice, blending mantras, mudras, kundalini yoga, and gentle breathwork. The soothing sounds of the Gong and Didgeridoo will leave you feeling calm and rejuvenated.

In the afternoon, Maria will guide a psychodrama session, followed by a transformative evening featuring a Cacao ceremony, Ecstatic Dance, and Sound Healing—an unforgettable experience.

Day 4

Our fourth day begins with yoga and gong meditation, followed by a delicious brunch.

In the afternoon, João leads a Puja Sound Healing session using the Gong, crystal bowls, shamanic instruments, and light language activation. These transformative practices help you reconnect with your true self and inner purpose, opening your heart to greater abundance and love.

Day 5

Start your day with Sound Yoga and a delightful brunch.

In the afternoon, reconnect with your essence through Art Therapy led by Maria. As the evening unfolds, prepare for a profound experience: João, Jean-Jacques, and Vanessa will perform a seven-and-a-half-hour Gong Puja while you sleep. This immersive sound journey will impact you on a deep, subconscious level, reaching beyond what you can consciously observe.

Day 6

We wake up early after the regenerative Gong Puja, allowing you to watch a sunrise or take some time to integrate all activations of this week.

We get together for our final brunch and end this magical retreat in a sharing circle. For those needing an airport transfer we will leave Rural Escapes after 12 noon.


Meet the Facilitators

João Rafael Viana
Sound Healing / Gong Bath / Meditation

João a certified holistic therapist from Portugal, his mission is to spread love, peace, and light to all he encounters. His spiritual journey began in his childhood, when his mother introduced him to the world of energy and healing. At the age of twelve, João discovered Reiki, which sparked a deep and lifelong passion for holistic healing.

João embarked on a six-month pilgrimage through South America, where he encountered the ancient practice of Crystalline Sound healing. This modality initially came to him as a whisper during meditation, has become his calling.

Today, João integrates the wisdom gained from his travels, continuous study, and meditation into his therapeutic practices. Specialising in Crystalline Sound healing, which he offers to individuals and groups within the Algarve.


Maria Jose
Social Psychologist / Yoga Instructor

Maria shares her elder wisdom and uses creative approaches to help you awaken to a deeper awareness. She will guide you in processing internal challenges and unconscious patterns with compassion, facilitating the release of old structures that no longer serve your growth. This process opens the way for a more loving and liberated connection with all aspects of your life, including relationships, your profession, habits, and your soul’s path.


Jean Jacques
From a very young age, music has accompanied Jacques at every step of his journey. For him, music is vibration, and everything that lives vibrates. Life itself pulses in a constant search for harmony.
Jacques is a dedicated therapist specializing in Tui-Na massage, a sound therapist since 2018, a certified Gong Master since 2020, and an accredited facilitator of Biodanza SRT®.  He conducts individual and group sessions, utilizing Tibetan singing bowls and planetary gongs to foster balance and well-being.

Costs: €850 per person (all incl.)

Includes: Shared accommodation, all meals, all sessions, and airport pick-up and drop-off.

Continue reading “Multidimensional Sound Healing with Social Psychology Retreat”

Summer Solstice Yoga & Adventure Retreat

Location and Atmosphere

What is up with Portugal? It seems like everyone wants to travel there, move there, live there nowadays! Come explore the colourful, chilled-out Portuguese way of life with us at this yoga retreat at this unique, sustainable venue. Sip an abatanado (espresso to you and me) and watch the world go by at a street-side cafe. Explore beautiful beaches, paddle board along coastal rivers and if you’re lucky spot a dolphin on the horizon. And most importantly, get to know yourself better while you slow down and soak in the natural beauty of our home base in Portugal’s southern “Algarve” region.

Rural Escapes Portugal provides an inviting atmosphere surrounded by lush greenery and panoramic views of the mountains. The property features charming, eco-friendly accommodations designed to make you feel at home in the surrounding nature while providing all the amenities you need for a restful stay. From cozy, communal spaces to tranquil gardens, you’ll find plenty of spots to unwind, reflect, and connect with fellow participants.

The retreat location is strategically positioned for easy access to Monchique, a charming typically Portuguese town. The town itself boasts cobbled streets, traditional Portuguese houses, and stunning views over the surrounding hills and coastline. You’ll discover local shops, quaint cafés, and markets where you can experience authentic Portuguese culture.

Daily Schedule

Each day of the retreat is thoughtfully structured to provide a balanced mix of yoga, adventure, and relaxation. Mornings typically start with a sunrise meditation and then an invigorating yoga session led by Carrie. Carrie’s classes are designed thoughtfully to awaken and energize both body and mind, while weaving in mythology and the philosophical “off-the-mat” principles of yoga along the way. Carrie’s classes are trauma-informed with lots of options for beginners and experienced yogis alike! She does her best to make every practice inclusive and keep everyone engaged and learning throughout the week!

After a wholesome breakfast prepared by Zach, the midday schedule will include either an adventurous hike, beach day, or town exploration, or a special workshop on mindfulness, Ayurveda, or yoga for recovery. These interactive sessions offer practical insights that you can integrate into your daily life long after the retreat ends.

Afternoons are designed for relaxation and self-exploration. You might enjoy a leisurely walk in the surrounding hills, spend time at the pool, or engage in one of the optional additional activities offered.

Evenings culminate in yin or restorative yoga sessions, and then a chance to share experiences with fellow participants over a delicious dinner. Each meal is a celebration of local ingredients, reflecting our commitment to wellness and nourishment throughout your stay. More about the food below…

What activities are included in this Portugal yoga retreat?

This Portugal yoga retreat will have lots of included activities, along with optional add-on adventures. What’s included:

  • Mount Fóia highest point in  Southern Portugal – a hike (5 miles, 1000 feet of elevation gain)
  • Beach day at a popular nearby beach in the Algarve region
  • Sea cave kayaking tour
  • Half-day town exploration in Monchique
  • Daily or twice-daily yoga & mindfulness practices
  • Special Summer Solstice ceremony, other special workshops
  • Plenty of time to relax at Rural Escapes Portugal, hike around the area, or relax by the pool
  • Optional additional activities:
  • Surf lesson
  • Massage or treatment
  • Additional town or beach trips

To book

For more details and to book visit  Bigger Life Adventures website

Rebirth Kundalini Retreat – harmonise your natural rhythm

Gift yourself 7 days of deep immersion as you submerge yourself in nature and reconnect with her natural flow in this stunning off-grid retreat centre in its own private mountain valley.

The invitation for this retreat is to fully immerse ourselves in nature and connect with its flow as we tap into the alchemical tools of transformation that are inherent in Integrated Kundalini Yoga, cultivate a deeply satisfying connection to the wild nature within as well without.

Dial down your screen time for a digital detox. Overloaded by screen time we become disconnected from our true nature, experiencing the joy that comes from simply being.

There will be plenty of time to relax and explore the landscape, to be still and alone in nature or together with the group. Time to read, time to rest, swing in the hammock, swim in the pool. From a place of stillness and relaxation insights spring forth and natural flow is restored.

THE YOGA

Kundalini yoga brings into sharp focus awareness of the self that is deeper than whatever the mind narrates. What better to bring that awareness to but the deep nourishing connection to self and other that is lived in real time and in person.

The morning sessions will focus on dynamic practice and transformation, working with the body in specific and healing ways using a powerful combination of posture, pranayama (breath), music, mantra and meditation to bring into balance the hormonal system, mood and emotions. Strengthen the entire body and nervous system. Create inner vitality. Cultivate the ability to completely relax. All of which foster expanded states of consciousness, awareness and healing.

The evening sessions will focus on rejuvenation and relaxation, using meditation, yoga nidra and gong baths. Guided meditation practices with the rejuvenating practice of Yoga Nidra enable a state of deepest relaxation and conscious awareness to be realised, supporting the body and mind to fully reboot and recharge. One evening we will have a Cacao Ceremony. Cacao is known as one of the foods of the Gods, it is a powerful but soft feminine plant medicine. The spirit of which brings a subtle opening of the heart to welcome more love in and release fears that may be blocking us from thriving and living a life full of joy and bliss.

For accommodation and location information visit ruralescapesportugal.com

Price and what’s included

Please note these prices are in Pounds NOT euros.

Shared accommodation is £680 (approximately 790 euros) early-bird price before April 1st £750 (approx 880 euros) thereafter.
Single accommodation is £820 (approximately 960 euros) early-bird price before April 1st £900 (approx 1055 euros) thereafter. Instalment payment plan is possible please contact Ashley for details

  • Airport transfers to and from Faro airport to the mountain retreat
  • 6 nights accommodation
  • All food and snacks are deliciously, nourishing & lovingly prepared
  • Twice daily – Kundalini Yoga / Meditation / Yoga Nidra / Gong Bath
  • Trip Out To The Beach
  • Manifestation rituals
  • Swimming pool
  • Dawn walk through the forest to a secret swimming lake
  • Guided journaling / mindful creativity sessions
  • Cacao Ceremony
  • Plenty of free time to play, explore, relax or swim
  • Fun, friendliness, connection
Where there is love, there is no effort – AMMA

A Heroine’s Journey

“There will come a time when you can accept nothing less than the breath-taking truth of your soul, the voice of divine love within you.” Meggan Watterson

 

Based on my book, Falling Awake – A Heroine’s Journey, this week-long immersion retreat invites you to answer the call to explore your own Heroine’s Journey. Come and join me in the beautiful mountains of southern Portugal, for a deep dive into the many practices and experiences that helped me tell my story.

This retreat for women will offer you a deep dive into healing practices including Qoya, mindfulness, writing, sharing, ceremony and ritual. Through the connection and support of each other, we will be able to delve deep, to go within, to feel, to let go, to find our voices, find our truth…and emerge through the other side!

About me:

With over twenty years’ experience as a psychotherapist and group facilitator, I am also a fully qualified mindfulness instructor, and three years ago I became a certified Qoya teacher. Last year I wrote and published my first book, a memoir. This process added to an already unfolding journey of discovering my true self – not the one I had been programmed to be! My passion is to help others to access their authentic selves and find their voices through a combination of these practices. For more information about me and my work, click here.

A bit about Qoya:

“We dance because we can no longer not dance.”- Rochelle Schieck, founder of Qoya.

Qoya is a movement practice designed for women based on the idea that through movement we remember that our essence is Wise, Wild and Free. Often described as movement as medicine, Qoya incorporates free dance, feminine movement and yoga. There is no way you can do Qoya wrong and no previous experience of any of the above is required. For more information on Qoya, click here.

A bit about what else you can expect:

  • Daily mindfulness practices including some time spent in noble silence.
  • Writing practices with the opportunity to share.
  • Dispacho (native American gratitude) and cacao ceremony.
  • Sharing and singing circles.
  • Other ceremonies and rituals.
  • The invitation for daily journaling (writing and artwork)
  • Delicious locally produced plant-based food.
  • Time for resting, digesting and processing.

Price

£777/900€

The Heroine’s Journey Retreat – Come as you are…and leave as more of who you are!

Kundalini Yoga retreat : Harmonise with the rhythm of nature

Ashley Jones

Join Kundalini Yoga teacher trainer Ashley on this 6-day immersion in nature in a private mountain valley – the invitation is to connect deeply to the energy of Gaia and fully surrender to her rhythm.

Tap into the alchemical tools of transformation that are inherent in Integrated Kundalini Yoga practices, combined with journaling, ceremony and tranquility you will cultivate a deeply satisfying connection to the wild nature within as well as without.

We will dial down our screen time for a complete digital detox as we go offline, giving our overloaded nervous systems time to heal and experience the joy that comes from simply being in the present moment.

THE YOGA

Integrated Kundalini brings into sharp focus awareness of the self that is deeper than whatever the mind narrates.  What better way to bring in that awareness through the deep nourishing connection to self and other that is lived in real time, in person and with Gaia.

The morning sessions will focus on dynamic practice and transformation, working with the body in specific and healing ways using a powerful combination of posture, pranayama (breath), music, mantra and meditation to bring into balance the hormonal system, mood and emotions. Strengthen the entire body and nervous system. Create inner vitality. Cultivate the ability to completely relax. All of which foster expanded states of consciousness, awareness and healing.

The evening sessions will focus on rejuvenation and relaxation, using meditation, yoga nidra and gong baths. Ashley will guide you through meditation practices including the rejuvenating practice of Yoga Nidra enabling a state of deepest relaxation and conscious awareness to be realised, supporting the body and mind to fully reboot and recharge.

Ashley will offer a sacred Cacao Ceremony. Cacao is known as one of the foods of the Gods, it is a powerful but soft feminine plant medicine. The spirit of which brings a subtle opening of the heart to welcome more love in and release fears that may be blocking us from thriving and living a life full of joy and bliss.

For accommodation and location information email info@ruralescapesportugal.com

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • Airport transfers to and from Faro airport to the mountain retreat 
  • 5 nights accommodation
  • All food and snacks Deliciously Nourishing & Lovingly Prepared
  • Twice daily – Kundalini Yoga / Meditation / Yoga Nidra / Gong Bath/Ceremony
  • Manifestation Rituals
  • Swimming Pool
  • Dawn walk through the forest to a secret lake where you can take a dip
  • Guided journaling / mindful creativity sessions
  • Cacao Ceremony
  • Plenty of free time to play, explore, relax or swim
  • Fun, friendliness, connection 

To Book

Shared accommodation is £620/730€ early-bird price before April 1st £690/815€ thereafter

Single accommodation is £720/845€ (early-bird price before April 1st £790/930€  thereafter

 

Interested?

Get in touch!