Monte de Velho, Portugal
27th August – 4th September 2010
Hatha yoga retreat for wellbeing with Heather Mason
About Heather Mason
Heather Mason offers Yoga Therapy for the mind and the body based on her extensive training in psychotherapy, yoga therapy, and mindfulness-based practice; offering an approach that is both experientially and scientifically based. Her company, Yoga for the Mind, integrates the benefits of yoga postures, breath practices, mindfulness techniques, and psychotherapeutic principles to help people alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Through this combined approach Heather works on both psychological and physiological aspects of mental-health through a process of mutual cure. Heather holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from SOAS University London, and is presently completing a three year MA in Clinical Buddhist-Based Psychotherapy.
This educational journey is an accompaniment to a three year meditative and yogic journey in South East Asia where she resided in Buddhist monasteries and learning practices to transcend emotional suffering. Heather has been teaching yoga since 2001 and is also a qualified yoga therapist; she is a Lifeforce practitioner having trained with Amy Weintraub in the US for Yoga for Depression. Additionally, Heather is the only person in the UK to have trained extensively with the Boston Trauma Center Massachusetts on how to use yoga as a complementary treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD and is about to undertake an MSc in the Psychobiology of Stress at Roehampton University to conduct research on how Yoga can positively influence the brain.
Itinerary
7.30 am Daily topical discussion followed by specifically designed and sequenced asana practice to calm the nervous system
9.45am Breakfast
11.45 – 12.45 Mindfulness practice each day: based on each morning’s topical discussion
1pm Sattvic Ayurvedic lunch to aid detoxification and restore body’s constitutional balance
5.00 pm yoga practice every day (Pranayama, asana, relaxation)
7.30pm Sattvic Ayurvedic Dinner
Evening group chanting/ Satsang/Discussion or Meditation
Destination: Ecological awareness
Monte de velho retreat centre was a pioneer and one of the first guest houses in Portugal to use reusable energy sources, installing 20 solar panels in 2000, to supply it with its energy. A windmill also produces eolic power for the hot water. They have also built natural ponds and lakes that collect rainwater, to water the animals and to grow fruit and vegetables, (that are later served at the breakfast to their guests!) The horses and donkeys also help (!), fertilising the flora and areas of the centre’s umbrella pines and cork trees forest. Even the pine-nuts that are collected are then sold on to the local community.
This retreat includes:
Twice daily yoga and meditation practices
All workshops and course by Heather Mason
8 nights accommodation
Vegetarian/Vegan food created by in house chef
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Daily housekeeping
Group transfer to and from airport
Heated/vaulted indoor meditation and yoga room
Swimming pool and outdoor shower
Garden and forest trails to walk around
Mountain bikes
Activities and other features available
Horse riding
Donkey rides
Mountain biking
Surfing
Massage, Shiatsu and Cranio Sacral therapists available
Accomodation:
14 x suites
All rooms with en suite bathroom
Central heating
Outside space (porch, balcony or outside area)
daily room service
In-house music system in each room
Flights to Faro
EasyJet
British Airways
Aerlingus
BMI
TAP
Monarch
Flight time: 1.25 hours
Location Photos
