What To Expect
This week-long retreat will be full of yoga, meditation, inquiry, yoga Nidra, pranayama and restorative sessions to bring you more peace, awareness, strength and stability in both your body and mind. There will be a maximum of 26 people on the retreat.
This is so much more than a yoga and meditation retreat! Esther will give you plenty of other tools you can use so you can navigate your life with more ease and joy after the retreat. You will learn about your nervous system and you will learn to be able to sense the state your nervous system is in, at any given moment. It is the state of your nervous system that causes most of your suffering and struggles. When you know where you are, you can find your way back home to a state of connection and safety, where you can be present and restoration, healing, and growth are taking place. All the tools you learn including yoga and meditation are ways for you to find your way back home so you feel safe enough again to fall in love with life.
This transformative retreat takes place in the beautiful surroundings of the D’alijo centre, surrounded by nature with great hiking trails, leading you to rivers, waterfalls and natural pools.
Wake up to the mountain views enjoying the special energy of the early morning as Esther guides you through meditation. When the weather supports it, some of the Meditation and Pranayama sessions can be taught outside in nature with stunning views of the valley.
After breakfast, we will continue with a mindful flowing yoga practice that focuses on loosening the body as well as strengthening and stabilizing the body and easing the mind. Everybody can work at their own level. After lunch we'll have a break where you can relax by the swimming pool, rest in your cabin or go for walks in the beautiful surroundings of the centre.
In the late afternoon, we come together for some more yoga and awareness practices. The afternoon focus will be on deeply relaxing and restoring the body and mind while beginning to open to the mystery of the present moment, which is made so easy in this beautiful place. The day will end with a lovely dinner and a beautiful dessert. Please visit the Dalijo website to view pictures of the centre, its facilities, and its stunning surroundings.
More About this Retreat
Open To All Levels
This retreat is open to all levels, but not for complete beginners. As a guideline, you should be able to follow the level 1 and level 1-2 classes on ekhartyoga.com with relative ease. It is important you know your boundaries and are aware of when to back off to keep yourself safe. If you are very new to yoga and want to join, please follow Esther's Yoga for Beginners Course on Ekhartyoga.com and then practise some level 1 and level 1-2 classes to prepare.
Daily Schedule
08:00 - 09:00 Meditation and Pranayama 09:00 - 11:00 Breakfast and break - in silence 11:00 - 13:00 Yoga practice 13:00 - 17:00 Lunch and free time 17:00 - 18:30 / 19:00 Talks, Awareness practices/ Inquiries, Yin and/or Restorative yoga leading into Yoga Nidra 19:00 - 20:00 Dinner and free time 20:15 - Optional extra meditation or restorative yoga Please note: To allow for restoration of body and mind we usually spend the mornings in silence until the morning yoga practice at 11:00. Wednesday afternoon is free.
Arrival & Departure
Arrival is on Sunday, Sept 10. You can check in from 14.00 onwards. We will come together for a grounding yoga practice in the evening to help everyone settle in. Departure is on Sunday, Sept 17 after a short practice and breakfast.
Pricing Per Person
The cost includes seven nights of accommodation, great vegetarian meals served three times daily, plus the complete yoga, meditation and awareness program.
• Shared/twin accommodation with en-suite facilities (2 persons) | €1475 ONE SPACE LEFT
• Single with shared bathroom facilities | €1650 (FULLY BOOKED)
• Single with en-suite facilities | €1790 (FULLY BOOKED)
• Single luxury cabin | €1850 (FULLY BOOKED)
To secure your spot a non-refundable deposit of €350 is required.
Book & Pay Online Today
You can secure your spot immediately be selecting to pay your deposit or full amount. Accepted payments include credit/debit cards, iDeal and Klarna (online bank transfer for specific countries)
Book and Pay by Bank Transfer
You can also choose to pay via bank transfer. If you want to book via this option please fill out our registration form.
We Are Proud Tree Sisters
By booking an in-person training with us, you are actively contributing to the global tree-planting efforts led by Tree Sisters. For every individual attending our retreats and trainings, we make a donation on your behalf.
About Esther Ekhart
Esther, the founder of EkhartYoga.com, is a down to earth well-loved spiritual teacher and a renowned global authority on yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Esther has a reputation for providing exceptional guidance both online and offline and has captivated countless students over 25 years. Esther's teachings incorporate diverse influences, making her online classes, “live” workshops, and trainings a fusion of wisdom. Her practice has evolved from dynamic styles like Hatha and Vinyasa flow to include slower practices such as Yin Yoga and Meditation & Mindfulness. Continually expanding her knowledge, she remains open-minded and integrates new insights into her work all the time.
More Information
How To Get There
D’Alijo centre is around 70 minutes by car from Porto airport (the closest airport). There are no public transport options to the centre. We can arrange shared airport transfers to and from Porto airport at € 110 per car one way, a maximum of three persons. Transfers to and from the D'Alijo centre are not included in the prices.
You can find cheap car rental options via https://www.rentalcars.com or Transavia and RyanAir. Please make sure you travel with valid travel insurance.
About D’Alijo Retreat Center
D’Alijo Retreat Center in North Portugal is an exclusive retreat centre located in the village of Cabeceiras de Basto in the province of Minho, with its beautiful city of Porto. Porto offers an international airport just one hour away from our retreat centre. The area is well known for its Vinho Verde vineyards, olive fields and beautiful national parks. Their studio and accommodations are cohesively blended with nature and are sure to awaken the mind, body and spirit.
D'Alijo has a vast knowledge of hospitality and is capable of tailoring your needs as you desire. D’Alijo’s intention is to nurture its guests by providing a space to learn, develop and grow, coupled with outstanding client communication and customer service.
Since they do have mild winters and can heat all buildings, bookings are accepted year around. D’Alijo boasts an inspiring studio space, along with stylish accommodations, and a gorgeous terrace surrounded restaurant set amongst vibrant lush gardens. Those who come to this centre will feel empowered to reconnect with nature, in a truly spectacular location.