Discover the Azores:
Yoga, Adventure, and Reset Retreat
2022: October 4 - 10
SOLD OUT
Join the waitlist here.
(Overnight flight from Boston will leave Tuesday, October 4th, arriving in the Azores October 5th. Official retreat dates are October 5 - 10)
The Azores Islands, Portugal
Mindfully explore the natural beauty of the Azores through daily yoga, meditation, and excursions to the hidden gems of the volcanic island of Sao Miguel.
Come join Eva Christopherson and Anne Koza in discovering the Portuguese Azores Islands. This is the third time Anne is returning to lead a retreat to the Azores and knows the magic of the island first hand. Located in the Atlantic Ocean just about 1,000 miles off the coast of Portugal, the Azores are an island full of natural, raw beauty, a temperate climate, and endless outdoor activities.
Discover the Island
Our week will include opportunities for deep connection with the senses in nature. There is no better way to get to know and feel a place than through the locals. We partner with local guides to explore the island and aid you in your journey of self-discovery. Discover some of the most pristine corners of the island during our hikes. Breathe and feel the breeze on your skin, smell the mineral-rich soil, step on the black sand beaches and verdant green hillsides and taste the ocean air.
You'll also have free time on your own to explore the island and find calm moments to rest. For those adventure seekers, flights on SATA/Azores Airlines include a free piece of checked sporting gear - so you can take a surfboard or a bike along for free! Love adrenaline? Ledge jump or rappel with a canyoning or coasteering excursion, or opt to commune with nature on horseback. Need time to rest? There are beautiful gardens at our guesthouse with hammocks to read, nap, and sip on tea.
Yoga & Mindfulness
Deepen your yoga practice:
Begin each day with a guided morning yoga flow led by Anne or Eva in the beautiful yoga studio located in the guest house of our retreat center. Our yoga space is a cozy well lit room, with Japanese cedar floors. These classes welcome all levels of yoga with variations and options to support your practice. Some evenings we will offer a second yin/gentle slow flow class to help us restore and unwind from the day. Additionally we will host two specialty workshops, and deepen our practice of movement, breathwork, mediation, and living your yoga in day to day life. All classes and workshops are optional - this retreat is about tuning in, connecting back to yourself, and finding ways to best support you. We will close the week with a group ceremony on the final evening.
Our yoga style
Anne and Eva bring a combined teaching experience of two decades. Their classes are welcoming and warm, always giving you options to bring your practice to where you need that day, whether encouraging you to try something for the first time, or to really slow down and tune in. Like each day, each practice is different, and we believe the practice of yoga offers you the space to really listen to what your body needs when you step on your mat. Our goal is to learn supportive lessons on the mat we can apply to our daily life.
New to yoga?
It's a great time to get outside your comfort zone and try something new. We have experience working with all levels and ages. Whether you are just beginning your yoga journey or looking to advance your practice, we are here for you. All classes and workshops will be tailored to you and the group's needs. Remember classes and workshops are optional so feel free to just skip a day and take some free time, this is your trip!
Thoughtful lodging
Our home away from home will be Quinta Minuvida, a beautiful orchard lodge nestled on the slopes of the Fogo volcano. Quinta Minuvida is centrally located, only 15 minutes from the airport and about 30 minutes from most attractions. The lodge features five thoughtfully appointed suites, large outdoors pool, yoga studio, guest kitchen, fireplace living area, outdoors grills, fire-pit, observatory tower, organic vegetable garden, and one acre of orchards. We will be close to beaches, walking trails, hotsprings and bike paths, not to mention the largest fishing port in the Azores. For even more photos of Quinta Minuvida and its grounds, click here.
An added bonus is spending time with very special and friendly residents - the dogs Biscoito and Moo!
Here's a peek at your digs:
Local Cuisine
Most meals are included, and will be nourishing, fresh, and delicious, so that you can get a true taste of Azorean fare.
Our home, Quinta Minuvida, is located on an orchard - feel free to wander around and pick delicious fresh fruits and herbs. Each morning's breakfast will include a sampling of fresh fruits, jams, and teas that are grown on the grounds.
A highlight in our culinary experience is the Minuvida Dinner, a five-course sensory food journey inspired by local cuisine using traditional ingredients with a creative twist. Includes local wine pairings and liqueur.
Connection
To yourself, to others, to nature
Our fast-paced digital lifestyle is draining us more than ever before. Unplug from your daily grind for a week, and truly recharge your body, mind, and soul. Whether it's with nature, with yourself, or with like-minded people, this retreat offers you the opportunity for true connection.
What's Included?
5 Nights / 6 Days lodging at Quinta Minuvida
A unique orchard lodge surrounded by gardens, fruit orchards (help yourself!), a pool, and plenty of private areas for relaxation
Locally sourced brunch and dinner daily. Some meals will be at Quinta Minuvida and some out at nearby restaurants (one optional alcoholic beverage provided at each dinner). We will work to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Two group excursions to some of the island's best hikes, relaxing hot springs, and local towns - all guides and transportation to and from group excursions are included.
Daily yoga and meditation lead by Anne and Eva.
Two signature workshops.
Roundtrip airport transfers from Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) to Quinta Minuvida and back (about a 15 minute ride each way).
What's Not Included:
Airfare to Ponta Delgada (PDL) - We will provide you with information on which flights to book. Currently, they are around $750 from Boston.
Some lunches. We have provided free time for a few lunches so that you can explore the Azorean restaurants and local cuisine at your leisure.
Transport or taxis for additional excursions on free days or during free time. In additional, airport transfers are not included for those not traveling on the group flights.
Massage with Stephanie Marenna who will be an attendee on this retreat. We will share info on how to book a session with her while her closer to the date for those who want one.
Pricing
Early bird pricing only valid through April 30, 2022
SOLD OUT Triple Room - Twin Beds + Shared Private Bath: $2150 Early Bird / $2350 Regular SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT Double Room - Double Bed + Private Bath: $2450 Early Bird / $2650 Regular SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT Single Room - Double Bed + Private Bath: $2950 Early Bird / $3150 Regular SOLD OUT
Join the waitlist here.
Enroll with a $450 non-refundable deposit and save $200!
Contact us with any questions and to reserve your space. This is an intimate retreat and only 12 spots are available!
Meet Your Retreat Leaders
Anne Koza
An adventurous and playful yogi at heart, Anne believes in the connecting power of yoga. Teaching since 2009, Anne leads with a desire to create a supportive space for her students to reconnect to themselves through being present in breath and to explore through mindful movement. She designs her sequences to be both challenging and rejuvenating. Deeply caring about the structural alignment of each pose, Anne first addresses the physicality, then layers in the subtle elements of the practice. With a degree in Biology and Psychology, Anne studied the impact of yoga on the mind and body and believes in yoga’s inherent value for holistic wellbeing. Anne received her 200HR from Back Bay Yoga, and her 500HR from Super Soul Farm led by Raghunath Cappo, where she spent a month living and learning at Radhanath Swami’s Govardhan Eco Village in Mumbai, India. Anne knows that oftentimes things don't work out according to plan, but it's in the discoveries we learn along the way we get to know the beauty of ourselves and the world. Anne has a cat named Charlie, a community garden plot she loves to dig in, and when traveling enjoys sitting with a cup of coffee in a corner cafe and just watching the world go by.
Eva Christopherson
Eva is a certified Yoga teacher and studying to be an Ayurvedic health counselor. She works with the time-tested wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda to help others deepen their connection to their true nature, and live life with more ease and balance. She found Yoga while studying music at Berklee College of Music, and found the practice to bring her a sense of calm and joy while being at a competitive school. Eva has been teaching since 2014 and brings a balance of structure and alignment to her classes, with a sense of play and curiosity, all while deepening one’s awareness. Eva has completed Yoga training with Back Bay Yoga, Down Under School of Yoga, Yoga Works, Om Births and more, and completed Ayurvedic Health Counselor training at Kripalu. She shares her passions for movement, breath work, meditation, food, and holistic living to help others reconnect with their inner wisdom and live a more balanced life. In her down time she enjoys hiking with her dog Kaia, cooking, going to live music, and watching a good movie.
