BEING AUTHENTIC
Kundalini Yoga, meditation, stress and emotional release, gong and deep relaxation, unspoilt nature, forest and crystal-clear river baths, nature walks, sweat lodge,
healthy food, new friendships.
5 days in the indigenous nature of central Portugal, in a magical and remote valley,
a deep immersion into purity and authenticity.
May 27 - June 1st, 2024
Vale de Moses, Oleiros, Castelo Branco province, central Portugal
Retreat organised by SoulsinNature, in collaboration with Travel Circle
and Mamaste Spirit
Facilitator/guide: Susana D. S. Tavares
LANGUAGE: The retreat will be held in Italian & English
10% discount if you're coming in two!
A 'Yoga and Nature' journey in the wild heart of Portugal
We nourish body, soul and spirit, we strip away what we are not, finding balance within, becoming closer to what we really are. We embrace simplicity and become more authentic.
Language: English & Italian
The retreat will be bilingual: the more practical sessions will be held in two languages, while for the more theoretical meetings and Breathwork sessions there will be different encounters, in Italian and English.
With the exception of the opening and closing meetings, all sessions are optional.
Program/Contents
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1 daily 2-hour Kundalini yoga & meditation session;
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3 evening sessions of gong, meditation and deep relaxation;
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2 Somatic Breathwork sessions for releasing blocked stress and emotions (1 in Italian and 1 in English);
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1 evening of chanting around the fire;
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3 vegetarian or vegan meals per day;
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Hiking in nature, forest and crystal river baths;
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Extra activities (not included in the price): massages, trip to the river beach, Sweat Lodge / temazcal (with the possibility of diving in the small crystal river of Vale of Moses).
Pure magic!
"Being Authentic" is a unique opportunity for those who want to immerse themselves in unspoilt nature, to find themselves, to regenerate, to reconnect with simple and authentic things, to dedicate time to their physical and mental health, and to enjoy a unique cultural landscape.
The 'Shale Villages', located right in the geographical centre of Portugal, are famous for their unspoilt beauty, vernacular architecture (i.e., designed according to local needs, the availability of building materials and local traditions) and, in particular, for the use of dark stone (schist or shale) in the construction of houses.
They are located between crystal-clear rivers and forests of chestnut, oak, strawberry, cherry, wild pine and holly. Rounded peaks and deep valleys give rise to an undulating landscape and the types of buildings left behind by thousands of years of human occupation. In this area, currently sparsely inhabited and hidden in the centre of the country, people have lived for centuries in communion with the land.
In addition to nature walks, massages, socialising and excellent local vegetarian food, the programme includes daily yoga practice (multi-level), meditation/mindfulness, breathing exercises to release stress and tension, gong baths, outdoor sauna (sweat lodge), and mantra chanting around the fire, all in a unique location: Vale de Moses, an internationally renowned retreat centre, listed as one of the best yoga retreat centres in the world by NatGeo UK Travel, Forbes Magazine and The Guardian. A place sought after by those who wish to find true balance within themselves.
Other activities that help guests unplug from the hectic pace of everyday life include swimming in wild waters, the wonder of sunrises and sunsets over valleys and exploratory nature walks. All embroidered with a sleep so deep and rejuvenating that you will feel new!
The 5-night retreat will be led by Susana Tavares, an experienced teacher and founder of Soulsinnature, born and raised in Portugal and fluent in Italian, English (in addition to Portuguese). Susana is also available for help with with suggestions in case you choose to stay for some nights in Lisbon before or after the retreat.
The retreat is open to all, from 16/17 years old, even those who have never practised yoga or meditation.
Start: Monday 27 May, 11.30 a.m. | End: Saturday 1 June, 8.30 a.m.
Please find details of transfer to and from Vale de Moses at the bottom of the page.
LOCATION: Vale de Moses Retreat Centre
Amieira-Oleiros, Castelo Branco district (approximately 2h50 from Lisbon and 2h40 from Oporto)
Amieira-Oleiros, district of Castelo Branco
Vale de Moses Retreat Center
We will be staying at Vale de Moses - ranked amongst the best yoga retreat centres in the world by NatGeo UK Travel, Forbes Magazine, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Yoga Journal, OmYoga Magazin.
Vale de Moses is located in Oleiros-Amieira, at an altitude of 500 metres, in the central heart of Portugal, where the landscape is characterised by houses with vernacular architecture, designed on the basis of local needs and materials, where the dark shale stone of the houses stands out, surrounded by wide valleys with undulating peaks, in an area rich in chestnut, pine and wild cherry forests, oaks, strawberries and holly trees.
We will be hosted by Andrew and Vonetta, a couple who in 2007 decided to leave London with their two children in exchange for a remote and abandoned valley in the heart of Portugal, with which they immediately fell in love. As well as rehabilitating the small valley, they have raised their children there and created a wonderful team of professionals in cooking and massage, happy to welcome us!
Accommodation
Guests can choose to stay in a variety of places, including the delightfully restored, open-plan stone cottages (shared or private), private rooms in the farmhouse or, for those who want to be even closer to nature, the Soulpad glamping tents under the wild trees.
Vale di Moses provides participants with the following accommodation
(Note: each room is different and all bathrooms are external to the rooms, but there are plenty):
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5 rooms for single use (stone cottages, farm hose or gamping tents)
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3 rooms for double use (couple or twin; stone cottages, farm hose or gampling tents)
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1 dormitory for 4/5 persons in shared cottage.
INVESTMENT
The investment includes a 5-night stay at the Vale of Moses, with full board.
For registrations until 15.03.2023 a 10% discount applies.
INCLUDED in the price are:
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Accommodation (5 nights),
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All group sessions (2-3 per day; yoga, meditation, breathwork, deep relaxation, singing around the fire),
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Delicious locally cooked food (3 vegetarian meals per day: breakfast, lunch and dinner),
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Towels and bed linen (free change every 3 days),
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Yoga mats, blankets and pillows (are provided by the centre),
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Transport by van from Oleiros to the Vale of Moses and back,
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An unforgettable personal, emotional, cultural, spiritual and social experience,
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Use of all areas of the Vale of Moses, indoor and outdoor, including the small river in the valley, with the exception of the Sweat Lodge (extra charge).
NOT INCLUDED:
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Travel to and from Oleiros,
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Massage,
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Trip to the river beach.
Retreat prices depend on type of accommodation (values per person):
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In a room for single use: € 1'450.- (€ 1'305.- until 15.03)
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In a room for double use (twin or couple): € 1'240.- (€ 1'116.- until 15.03)
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In a beautiful dormitory for 4/5 persons: € 960. (€ 864.- until 15.03)
In order to secure your place, a minimum fee of 50% of the total investment is required. For organisational reasons, the balance is due by 30.04.2023. In case you need a special payment plan do contact us at info@soulsinnature.net.
Cancellation policy
In the event of cancellation by the organisers, the fees paid will be refunded in full. In the event of cancellation by the participant, there will be no refund but it is possible to transfer one's fee to another participant or to a future retreat organised by SoulsinNature, with a penalty of CHF/Eur. 70.-.
The retreat will be confirmed with a minimum of 9 registrants by 31.03. Before reaching 9 registrants the retreat is not confirmed and we advise against buying tickets. You will be notified promptly by email as soon as it is confirmed.
Registration form HERE.
We advise you to register as soon as possible in order to facilitate the final confirmation of the trip as soon as possible and thus ensure more affordable flight prices!
TRAVELLING:
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Travel must be organised by the participants. In case of need Travel Circle is available to collaborate in finding flights and purchasing tickets from Porto or Lisbon to Oleiros (contact Roberta or Francesca).
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We recommend arriving in Lisbon or Porto and from there taking a bus (or hire car) to Oleiros/Vale de Moses. Read the page on the Vale of Moses website HERE.
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From Lisbon you have to rent a car or take the bus that leaves Sete Rios at 7:00 am on 27.05, arriving in Oleiros about 3 hours later. From there you will be transported about 15 minutes to Vale di Moses.
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From Porto one has to take the bus on Sunday 26.05, change in Castelo Branco, and spend one night in Oleiros in local accommodation (AL with Airbnb) or a hotel. The transfer from Oleiros to Vale di Moses is included in price/investment.
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For the return journey, Vale di Moses also organises transport to Oleiros so that everyone can take the bus to Lisbon or Porto on the morning of 1.06, at 8.15 am. The journey to Lisbon is direct, while to Porto it is necessary to make two changes (Sertã and Coimbra).
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Bus tickets can be bought HERE, or with the Myrne app, about 1 month in advance.
CONTACTS:
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With regards to the retreat program or contents or to journey from Lisbon/Porto to Oleiros: info@soulsinnature.net or susana.sousa.tavares@gmail.com
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On air travel or travel insurance: roberta.gota@travelcircle.ch
Susana D. S. Tavares
Kundalini yoga, meditation, gong, mindfulness & Breathwork
for emotional release
Susana began studying yoga and Eastern philosophies during her university years and soon began to feel an inner call to salutogenesis and spirituality. She began a path of personal growth, spiritual research and healing, cultivating an interest in physical, mental and holistic well-being. In her journey Susana has travelled, read and explored various spiritual lines and approaches to self-healing.
She certified in London as a Kundalini Yoga teacher under the guidance of Gurmukh Khalsa, learned about circular breathing techniques and perception tools under Michael Brown and trained in Somatic Breathwork with Tim Morrison.
Susana has several years of experience as a teacher and is the founder of SoulsinNature.
She is also a passionate practitioner of fasting as a purification and awareness technique, and is an eternal researcher in the field of trauma and self-healing.
Born in Lisbon (PT), in addition to Portuguese, Susana is fluent in Italian, English and Spanish.
More details on her website.
DETAILS FOR PAYMENTS
Payments to be made to Travel Circle, indicating "Retreat Vale de Moses 2024" as the reason for payment:
BANK DETAILS:
Bank: Post Finance SA | SWIFT: POFICHBEXXX | Clearing: 9000
CHF IBAN: CH48 0900 0000 6522 6773 1
EUR IBAN: CH54 0900 0000 9117 2632 7
Bank accounts in the name of:
Travel Circle SA | Via Livio, 5 | 6830 Chiasso
CHE-134.950.087 VAT
