A green hilltop paradise for wellbeing and inspiration ! A place to dirty your sleeves with colored paint if you wish, to sit and write on a piece of shiny fresh grass or remember your old guitar bits. A place to (re)discover and spread your creativity! Or to simply STOP and listen to the singing birds and the sweet hubbud of the ocean waves, and just be, here and now, with yourself, in the very present. Sometimes, even though we are in a magical place, we still find it hard to let go of worries and blocks. It is because true happiness does not come from any external condition, it is inside us, and the most important place we need to connect to is OURSELVES! Here's why we decided to bring yoga to our beautiful home. Yoga is about listening to our deepest selves, from our body sensations to what they tell about our mind and soul. From that awareness, we can connect to what truly drives and inspires us, and let it flow! The house:
The house is situated in Caminha, on the far north west coast of Portugal. You can actually see the Spanish border right from your yoga mat, as it melts into the river Minho just down the hill. The sun sets every day in front of us, behind the Spanish hills, illuminating the ocean, the beautiful forests and green fields around. You can chill out in our sunny and flourishing garden, admiring the view and listening to the calming lapping of the swimming pool from your hammock. For a different atmosphere, our charming meridional style terrace at the back, filled with flowers and vegetation, is the perfect place for reading in the morning light or taking a nap in the shade of the fresh stone walls. The villa is an authentic Portuguese stone house, beautifully renovated and decorated. We have 3 large double rooms, each with their own bathroom and direct access to a private little terrace on the garden. You will love our zen living room, where you can use our books, guitar, and board games, or simply rest from the midday heat, daydreaming to the muted and relaxing music of our vintage record deck. What is included:
-Welcoming drink with Porto wine!
-7 nights in a luxurious double room, with private bathroom, ocean/river view, and direct access to the garden and swimming pool
-7 succulent and nutritious vegetarian breakfasts and dinners
-As much tea, detox and refreshing drinks and infusions as you want (coffee on request)
-Daily fresh juice and smoothies
-6 energizing morning yoga classes
-6 restorative evening yoga classes
-1 surf lesson with board and instructor, from beginner to advanced level, if conditions permitting (lessons in English)
-Various activities around art, nature and well-being, subject to guest interests and availability
-Wifi on request
-Continuous access to the swimming pool, with stunning view over the river Minho and the ocean
-A one billion star sky! Package price:
Couple or 2 friends sharing double bed: 1100 euros (550 per person)
Single: 800 euros
Other exciting features on request:
-Extra collective Yoga classes for 15 euros (3 people minimum)
-Extra private Yoga classes for 35 euros
-Additional Surf lessons with our instructor Kiko for 15 euros
-Thaï Yoga massage: 60 min for 50 euros, 90 min for 60 euros, 120 min for 70 euros (availability depending on the week you book, ask for our special brochure on Thaï Yoga massage)
-Lunch snack for 8 euros (picnic bag possible if you wish to spend the day outside)
What we don't provide:
Airfare
Airport pickup
Transport from and to the house during the retreat
Yoga:
Our yoga retreat welcomes all types of yoga practitioners, from beginner to advanced level. Our yoga teachers are all certified, with many years of experience working in Portugal and overseas. They either have a Hatha yoga or Iyengar yoga training, both very suitable for a first approach of yoga. They are used to adapt their courses according to different needs and will provide both restorative and more dynamic classes. The exclusive condition of a group of 6 people maximum only allows to provide a very personalized attention and guidance to each guest’s preferences and goals. We encourage you to work at your level of ability when doing the postures. Remember, yoga is not about performance but about awareness! All classes will take place outside, in our beautiful garden by the pool, unless the weather doesn’t permit it. Ask for our complete brochure and check our page to get all the information about our 3 Yoga teachers: Luísa Geraldes, Johanna Hellinger and Martina Vonkomerova. Food:
All our meals are vegetarian and cooked with love by our chef Floraine. Both breakfasts and dinners will be served on a buffet where you can choose from a selection of delicious dishes prepared with organic and local products only. Yummy snacks and seasonal fruits will be served during the day, along with smoothies and teas. All meals are studied to provide the most nutritious, balanced and healthy diet. So if you're usually a meat eater and worry for your protein intake, fear no more! You will be provided with all the nutriments and energy you need and you will just feel awesome for your yoga classes and surf sessions! Please, inform us of any special diet and food allergies or intolerance so that we can adapt the meals for you. What a day with us looks like:
7:30am: Open your eyes to the incredible view from your beautiful bedroom and jump on your mat for an energizing yoga class in the morning light.
9am: Treat yourself with our delicious and nourishing breakfast buffet, filled with seasonal fruit, juice, fresh bread and much more. Day free to chill out by the pool, read in the hammock, explore the beautiful surroundings, cycle to the beach and jump on a surfboard. Plenty of material to paint, draw, and create will be available in the house for you to use at your convenience, along with a guitar, games, a slackline and hula hoops! If you wish, you can also join one of our free workshops around wellbeing, art and nature (program to be discovered on arrival, subject to intervenors availability).
6:30pm: Let's meet again for our restorative evening yoga class, a blissful moment to process all the happiness refill of the day, connect to your breathing and relax deeply!
8pm: Our dinner buffet is open! Choose between our fresh salads, our yummy summer soups, our veggie gratins, pastas and much more. Yes you deserve what is best to eat: chocolate cake is invited to the retreat! Spend the evening contemplating the sunset, with a group meditation session if you wish. Then, count the stars, play guitar, write your journal or enjoy a glass of wine in one of the local bars of the beautiful medieval town of Caminha. Surroundings:
-Go walk on the beautiful beaches of Moledo, Vila Praia de Ancora, Afife, Arda, etc, minutes away from the house. They are some of the best surf spots in Europe! Great also for kitesurfing or just flying a kite (available).
-Walk around the beautiful town of Caminha and try a caminhese cake and a coffee “pingo”.
-Discover a unique experience walking a piece of the Camino de Santiago (10 minutes from the house!).
-Hang around medieval town of Vila Nova de Cerveira with its castel and church and do shopping in the traditional Saturday market (you can buy EVERYTHING there, even chickens!).
-Cycle along the river Minho on the ecotrail.
-Have a swim in the river from the quiet river beach on both Spanish and Portuguese borders.
-Visit the famous wine region and taste great wines from O Rosal and Goian (Spain).
-Relax in hot springs in Galicia at Ourense and eat the best “pulpo a la gallega”.
-Cross the border and visit Spain (Galicia) and the colorful harbor of A Guarda where you can have the best seafood of Galicia!
-Visit the famous “islas Cies” (from Vigo or Baiona) and relax on the stunning white sandy beaches.
-Jump into the industrial charms and heritage of the city of Vigo.
-Count 30 mns drive to the town of Viana do Castelo with its beautiful castle and historic center.
-Braga and Guimaraes are also a must if you want to discover Portugal!
-Climb and drink a coffee “cortado” on the Castro de Santa Trega with a 360° view on the ocean and surroundings and visit the world famous celtic archeological site.
-Hike in the Parque Nacional Peneda – Geres for stunning landscapes and waterfalls.
…and much more. Transport:
Car (recommended)
Count 1 hour drive from/to Porto Airport on the A28
Count 45 minutes drive from/to Vigo Airport
Count 1h45 from/to Santiago de Compostela Airport
Bus
You have daily buses from Porto to Caminha (2h)
Train
Jump on a local train and follow the coast from Porto to Caminha/Seixas (2h30)
Arrivals and departures on Saturdays. Yoga classes from Sunday to Friday
Check in at 5pm
Check out at 12am
Languages spoken:
English, French, Spanish, Italian (yoga classes in English)
Important:
All participants must declare that they're not suffering from any injury or physical condition that could be a contraindication to the practice of yoga. All participants must hold a personal travel insurance. For any further information and complete brochure, please contact us on yogahappyplace@gmail.com. We've got a long section about the team and Yoga teachers that you can also find on our page. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram:
We are looking forward to welcoming you in YOUR Happy Place!! Obrigada and Namaste!
