YOGA AZORES - Yoga Azores Blog

Yoga booze fests

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 16:19:14 GMT

WINE BOTTLES CLANG as José Manuel cleans out the recycling bin from the previous night’s post-dinner gathering. I am keenly aware of the high-pitched sound as each bottle drops into the bin when only three out of 12 people show up for morning meditation.

The clatter continues and distracts me from my meditation.
I am to observe, not react.

I observed that 10 people routinely consumed over 10 bottles of wine per night.

Here’s where I am reacting.

We’ve witnessed that abusive behaviour and alcohol consumption seems to go hand-in-hand with yoga “retreats.” We’re not austere or particularly fundamentalist about yoga practice or yoga retreats. But, seriously, is drinking so important during your “yoga retreat” that your yoga practice becomes optional?

“Have we once again fallen prey to the lure of always needing more? Always needing to enhance our experiences, instead of enjoying them for what they are?” an editorial posted by drinktank.org reads.

But, are we alone?
"We pretty much allow anything as long as you show up for class, even if that means that you just lie on the floor and sleep," said Heather Lilleston, the co-founder of Yoga For Bad People, in an article penned by Mia Adorante in W magazine.

Look, we’re not anti alcohol or anti fun. We highlight local wines (hey, we’re in Portugal after all!) and even dish out our home-made liqueurs during our dinners. We develop yoga programs that include opportunities for leisure and adventure. Our higher aim is to help people to Discover and Feel the Azores, not discover and feel another hangover.

In the 35 yoga retreats we’ve organized and hosted in the last three years we have witnessed addictions, abuse and overstimulation during many of them.

So, I don’t know if I buy the “anything to get someone in my retreat” or “at least they’re trying yoga and starting their journey” mantras.

Not when it seems that the transformation we hoped for isn’t happening.

Our higher aim is to help people to Discover and Feel the Azores, not discover and feel another hangover.

Once during a retreat here I heard a shriek from our innkeeper upstairs. One of the retreat participants partied so hard he literally shat himself and left the soiled underpants in the middle of the room.

During another retreat the cleaning staff informed me that nearly half of the participants had been regularly vomiting from over drinking and we needed to call a plumber to clear out the system.

For some groups the abuse is coffee and overstimulation. During a retreat we averaged about four mugs of coffee per person at breakfast. In another retreat the addiction was overplanning, where every moment of free time during the retreat was planned and often double-booked with a constant low-level anxiety and FOMO.

The real problem
How did we forget to just BE? How did vacationing turn into more ways we abuse and overstimulate ourselves? After a recent read of How Much is Enough, the authors refer to John Keynes famous economic essay from the 1930s that (wrongly) predicted after the Industrial Revolution man would move to a four-hour work week. But he (correctly) predicted that man would be faced with his real dilemma: What to do with his leisure time?

Abuse and addiction are labels many of us distance ourselves from. But without the labels we can recognize them in their many forms: The way our inner voice incessantly criticizes us, the way we eat or don’t eat nourishing foods or control our diets. Addiction can include over-stimulating with caffeine or busying ourselves with endless plans and to do lists. If we constantly busy or numb ourselves in our free time we never have to face up to the fact that we may not be living our best life.

Brene Brown says, “Numbing vulnerability also dulls our experience of love, joy, belonging, creativity, and empathy. We can’t selectively numb emotion. Numb the dark and you numb the light.”

Sober curious founder Ruby Warrington shares, “What I’ve realized is that while I was drinking regularly (meaning 3–4 times per week, like most people I knew), I was living with constant low-level anxiety that the fake alcohol ‘high’ simply numbed out for a few hours. Without alcohol in my system, I am able to feel everything, all the time, and this actually means many more ‘ups and downs’ — the ups being sustainable and genuine, and the downs being so much more short-lived and easier to handle.”

Maybe our life really does suck. But we can’t be present to follow the path to better our life when we’re drunk, high, over-caffeinated or running from one plan to another.

So why do we care?
In all of these retreats our guests left with smiles on their faces and even left us glowing reviews. Many of them did Discover and Feel the Azores and many had positive transformational life experiences. Nothing on our property was broken or damaged (other than the clogged toilet issue…) and so no harm, no foul, right?

Well actually NO. We put a LOT of intention into our property. We routinely hold ceremonies of gratitude and reflection. We set an altar for each group inviting in “good energies.” I put Reiki in the rooms before guests arrive to welcome them with good intentions. We are a sacred space. So making money off of people abusing themselves literally makes us sick to our stomach.

Maybe it’s because we live on-site and our center is also our home, but when people abuse themselves the pain reverberates through the property. We feel it.

And while we’re going on about the Amazon burning and Climate Change, did you ever stop to think that the way we treat ourselves directly affects the planet? Everything is connected. If you can drink a bottle of wine a night whatever self-hatred or lack of self-care reverberates down to how we treat Mama Earth.

So let’s embrace the light. Let’s embrace the truth of our addictions and on retreat let’s nourish our mind, body and spirit so we can safely go deeper and face the challenges, fears and pain that nudge us toward addiction.

As Yoga or Retreat Leaders let’s set the tone of our retreats. Let’s be clear on our intentions. Let us lead with love but not turn a blind eye when we see our participants’ retreat behavior out of line with our ethos for self-care. We can enjoy a glass of wine and savor it with our farm-to-table meal. We can also go to bed rested and fresh for the day of adventure and exploration ahead.

Happy faces, happy retreats

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 10:51:11 GMT

ARRIVAL DAY on retreat at quinta minuvida: It's 7AM and Guest Manager Luís greets the weary eyed yogis arriving from the overnight flight. The verdant green of the orchards and the smell of incense and jasmine perfumes the air and awakens some to their senses. Luckily Luís succeeds in convincing them to sleep a few hours so they can prepare for the magical week ahead.

Posing for the postcard photo in Sete Cidades. Don't look below...

After a few days the vibration of the group is higher. Must be all that incredible food! Fresh, local and in-season highlighting our partners for some of the meals out. Retreaters take their practice outside during our hiking and sightseeing excursions. Off the mat they are fully present for the sounds, smells and sights of the bubbling geysers and volcanic craters.

By the end of the retreat faces glow brighter. Hearts are full from enriching experiences in food, yoga and time in nature. The yoga practice that glued it all together becomes the foundation for continued self-inquiry beyond the time on retreat.

Yoga Azores is a mission-driven business and retreats are a special way to collaborate with other mindful leaders around the world. There are all sorts of retreats out there these days but we work hard to co-create meaningful and yoga-centric retreats that connect visitors with themselves, the magic of the Azorean culture, food and volcanic energy.

As we reflect back on the six retreats we hosted this Spring we are filled with fond memories and grateful for the work we get to do.

Starting in September we'll be hosting our Fall Retreats, there's still room left on a few of them, check out what's open!

Join or Host a Retreat

And the hightlights...

Kim Smarr's February retreat and the lush green landscapes for the group from Colorado!

Alice Riccardi's March retreat organized and led by SolSeed Retreats with tons of awesome Mainers!

CoachMe Maria's March beautiful + impactful coaching retreat

Missy Hatch + Deb Keene's April retreat another group of rockin' Mainers! We <3 MAINE!

Elaine O'Rourke garnered so much interest she led two retreats bringing people from Ireland and the US together!

Top 3 lessons in running a retreat in the Azores

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:08:20 GMT

A string of nine dark pearls in the North Atlantic, 900 miles west of Portugal and about 3,000 miles due east of Richmond, Va., the Azores are an authentic paradise that hopefully will remain so by attracting the right travelers. We are not a resort destination with perfect weather and senseless entertainment. Thankfully.

We have run over 30 international yoga retreats in São Miguel. Here are our top three lessons as you embark on planning yours!

1) Why the Azores? Come for the magical volcanic energy, the nature, the authentic. Don’t come for the weather.

There are many other more reliable weather destinations, but the discerning traveler will experience the Azores as so much more.

Soak in a geothermal hot spring or have your dinner cooked by a volcanic vent. Hike challenging volcanic slopes, through Jurassic-like forests and end with waterfall soaks.

We are blessed with a cool to warm subtropical climate, heavily influenced by the ocean. We get enough rain to look lush and green year-round :) Temps average 18c (64F) year-round, rarely dropping below 10c (50F) or rising above 30c (86F).

There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear and bad attitudes.

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.

Photo by Josh Alves @mr.a_visuals

2) When to hold your retreat?

We hold retreats at quinta minuvida in the Autumn, Fall, Winter and Spring, when we can have the island mostly to ourselves and avoid the summer crowds. If you’re hell-bent on running a summer retreat consider renting a house or property on AirBnB or VRBO but be sure to hire on-the-ground support for logistics.

Our most popular retreat months are October and November (it can still be summer-like), followed by April in the spring.

There's never, however any guarantee on weather;-)
One day could have sunshine on the north coast of the island while rain on the other. So it’s best to be flexible. And yes you may be hiking in the rain at some point;-)

3) Less is more

Even though São Miguel is only 300 square miles (750 square kilometers) there is a LOT to see. As the island was created over a period of four million years there are several distinct areas and differences from one side of the island to the other.

It’s important to know the type of participant you’re seeking to attract in how you plan your retreat pace. You could easily fill a week with non-stop sightseeing and never get bored, but it’s likely you and your retreaters will need a retreat to recover from the experience!

This island is very much alive. It’s a truly magical place if you slow down and really feel it, so allowing space for rest and reflection is a precious gift you can give your retreaters.

In our five-or six-night retreats we curate two full-day hiking and sightseeing excursions for the group, but leave at least two full days open for longer yoga/meditation workshops and free time.

We are now accepting 2020 retreat bookings, contact us!

We also have some double and triple spots remaining on our upcoming Yoga + Hiking Retreat in October hosted by the co-founders of Yoga Azores, Rimi + Mandy. Early bird discount ends March 31!

Yes, yes, yes! Gratitude for our Hiking + Mindfulness Retreat

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:40:21 GMT

Photo by Catherine Anne Curtis

Photo by Missy Hatch

Post by Rimi

I glanced across the studio at the unfamiliar faces I met just hours before, in anxious anticipation of whether anyone would join me in the deep guttural "LAM" chant I led us through in our first class.

Our Hiking + Mindfulness Retreat was our first as Yoga Azores, taught by Mandy Brinkley and myself. We were joined by 11 incredible women who started as strangers and left as as sisters. It was truly touching to see the impact that our practice can have on us and as individuals and as a group.

We chanted LAM in a resounding vibration, grounding us into our muladhara (root chakra). Each day that followed we explored VAM, RAM, and other beeja mantras as well as asana, mudra and meditation that guided us through each chakra and element (earth, water, fire, air, ether).

We meditated in nature, got to know one another on cliff hikes and through enchanted forests. We ooo'd and aaah'd in the warm thermal waters of the volcanic hot springs. And we sang.

I was able to experience São Miguel in all it's beauty & enchantment, a healthy daily yoga practice, hiking in the hills, and getting to know some of its people - participant testimonial

There are many yoga retreats out there. Yoga Azores retreats will always stay true to the richness and authenticity of the practice and integrate it to the energy and elements of nature in the Azores.

As residents of the islands our retreats not only provide the teachings and practices of yoga, but also an understanding of where you are, an invitation to feel the earth breathe and an opportunity to connect with the energy of the earth.

I feel like I'm thinking about yoga all the time, even when not on the mat. Getting to know myself better I like this feeling. I feel more peaceful - participant testimonial

We hope you'll join us on our next Yoga Azores retreat, April 6-12, 2019 and October 26 - Nov. 2.

Send me 2019 Retreat Info

Local teacher highlight: Mandy Brinkley in Santa Maria

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 12:25:45 GMT

A little look into the background and world of Yoga Azores co-founder Mandy in our teacher highlight series.

What got you into yoga?
When I was 21 I lived in Singapore for a few months and visited other south east Asian countries whilst there. It opened my eyes to different ways of understanding the world. I became interested in Buddhism and read lots of books about it - in one of them Yoga was mentioned so I looked for a yoga book. There began my first dip into yoga with Richard Hittleman's 28 day exercise plan! I didn't take it that seriously but it was something that I kept coming back to. Then upon return to England I started going to classes. What really 'got me into it' was realising that here was something that addressed body, heart and mind and I felt better for doing it.
What is yoga to you?
A practice. A way of life. A way of understanding the world. My practice on the mat includes mindful movement, breathing, mantra, mudra, reflection and meditation. For me the main practice is meditation because it is the most direct way to experience yoga. I am really interested in all the ways we practice and experience yoga off the mat.
How do you practice sustainability or social awareness?
Moving to the Azores from England was largely motivated by a desire to try to live in a more sustainable way. We live in a yurt which is a very low impact dwelling and have a couple of sheds for our kitchen space etc. We compost everything, including our own waste, we generate our electricity via solar and wind, we use all of our grey water on the garden, we grow a lot of our own food (organically), we buy very little stuff apart from food that we can't grow and a few extras. Every decision I make, especially when consuming, has the question 'what is/has been the impact of this to the environment and people?'. So that means being mainly vegan and always going for organic and fair trade when it is an option.
What do you love about the Azores?
Well, speaking from the perspective of this little Azorean island of Santa Maria, I love the quiet, the nature, the lack of pollution, the laid back culture, the slow pace and the climate!
What are you grateful for today?
My beautiful daughter Ostara who reminds me every day of all that is good in the world.

Visit Mandy's website for retreats, trainings and online classes

Building connections and raising awareness!

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:00:28 GMT

Our second Yoga & Hike event...
As February is the month of "love" we were inspired to offer a collaborative event, raising funds and awareness for a local charity. We synchronised two hikes on the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria with almost 50 people raising €200 for APAV, a non-profit that helps victims of crime in the Azores! More on APAV: www.apav.pt

You can see from the photos that we were blessed with a bright, warm February day! As Yoga Azores, we enjoyed sharing some yoga breathing, movement and mindfulness practices that we are confident helped everyone to enjoy their hike more!

Sustainability: once again, one of our aims was to leave as light a footprint as possible as we enjoyed the beauty of nature. We asked everyone to consider the packaging used for their food and drink and to reduce as much as possible e.g buy less packaged snacks and to have a reusable water bottle. We also encouraged carpooling to get to the meeting points!

Find out about all of our upcoming events and receive exclusive special offers by joining our newsletter!

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Starting the year with good vibrations!

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 17:25:30 GMT

The moon shone bright overhead, a positive omen and reflection of what was to come. Children gathered around the gong, innocently aware of its powerful vibrations. We all felt a bit giddy, warmed by the thermal waters, floating gently toward each other.

There was something truly magical about this experience.

In the first week of January on São Miguel island, locals and visitors soaked in the hot thermal waters of Terra Nostra Garden, guided by Arnbjörg Kristín Konráðsdóttir, who led us in the first Yoga in Water event in the Azores.

Inextricably linked to her home in Iceland (both are on the same Mid-Atlantic ridge), São Miguel gave Arnbjörg an opportunity to make recordings for her new album, which will be out soon on www.peaceresound.com.

Yoga Azores' mission is to connect the global yoga community to the Azores and the Azores to the global yoga community. Many locals gained their first ever sound therapy experience and their first yoga in water class. We proudly enabled a powerful exchange of culture and experience, aligned with our mission, in our first event of 2017.

We intend to offer community events with every international retreat and workshop we bring to the Azores. Are you interested in hosting an event here? Contact us!

Local teacher highlight: Daniela Garrido in Terceira Island

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:57:00 GMT

We (Rimi and Mandy, co-founders of Yoga Azores) are physically located on São Miguel, and Santa Maria, respectively.

While we are a group of nine volcanic islands, inter-island connectivity and travel isn't as easy, nor as common as you'd think. So we are incredibly excited to be connecting the Azores islands through yoga!

This month we're highlighting Daniela Garrido from Terceira Island. Check out a bit about Daniela and check out her classes on your visit here!

Yoga made me realize that I belong to something.

What got you into yoga?
Yoga just happened to me. Walking in East Village, Manhattan I once saw a sign about yoga classes in a place that looked like a temple. I got curious and went in for my
first yoga class and since then yoga never left me. It just feels like the right
thing for me. Yoga made me realize that I belong to something. And exploring
this feeling of belonging through yoga made me a better person. Also, it makes feel wonderful and calm.
What is yoga to you?
For me yoga is everything. Is a way of living, seeing and acepting life. It's getting to know myself on a daily basis, taking care of myself and continually learning through my actions and thoughts. It is my journey of awareness into love and relaxation.
How do you practice sustainability or social awareness?
I recycle, I make my own soap (soon I will start with laundry detergent, softner
and toothpaste). I try to avoid all products that are tested on animals and
the ones with palm tree oil (which is very difficult, most of all the
products have palm oil). I usually look for organic and local produts.
What do you love about the Azores?
Everything! I like the feeling of living in a tiny point in the middle of
atlantic ocean. Being surrounded by nature, allows me to realize how lucky
I am for the gift of being alive.
What are you grateful for today?
Grateful for having a crazy wonderful family and friends. For all the
people that crossed my path and allowed me to grow, for being born on this
special "rock" of the Azores, the gift of being alive.

Contact Daniela to take a class!

São Miguel gets on yoga map with retreat resources

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 11:22:20 GMT

We've criss-crossed the island over the past few months personally vetting options for yoga workshops and retreats. We seek venues that support the local community and are committed to sustainable tourism. Below are four of our top picks in São Miguel.

quinta minuvida orchard lodge

Why it's on our list: quinta minuvida orchard lodge celebrates the traditional Azorean fruit orchard with an acre of enclosed fruit frees, gardens and pathways. Guests are immersed in Azorean culture, food, and natural wonders through the hosts' on-site organic cuisine and experiences in hiking and food.
Yoga + Workshop spaces: A new indoor yoga studio with adjacent outdoor patio and grill area. There are also several outdoor spaces, including a roof terrace and pool deck.
Great for: Intimate retreat groups (up to 13 participants) who want to stay in a boutique B&B farmhouse with creative organic meals offered on-site.
Room types: Five spacious suites, each with en suite bathrooms. Capacity of up to 13, including the host teacher.
Price range*: Average room rates for shared double suite in low season range between 75 and 85 euros per night.

*These prices are "a la carte" room rates only in low season between October and May. Contact Yoga Azores for retreat packages, including use of yoga spaces, inclusion of meal program and other specifics.

Caloura Hotel Resort

Why it's on our list: Caloura Hotel Resort is a 4-star facility on five acres of environmentally protected land. Caloura Hotel promotes endemic plants, uses local products in food and events and invests in employee wellness.
Yoga + Workshop spaces: Multipurpose conference room with ocean views can fit up to 40 people.
Great for: Larger retreats (over 15 people) who want the resort experience.
Room types: 80-room hotel with pool, private ocean access to natural swimming pools, nearby beach, and on-site restaurant and bar.
Price range*: Average room rates for shared double room in low season range between 80 and 90 euros per night.

*These prices are "a la carte" room rates only in low season between October and May. Contact Yoga Azores for retreat packages including use of yoga spaces, inclusion of meal program and other specifics.

Quinta do Bom Despacho

Why it's on our list: Quinta do Bom Despacho is committed to sustainability with it's state-of-the-art composting toilets, natural swimming pool and edibles forest offering guests organic fruits and veggies and fresh eggs to use in self catering kitchens.
Yoga + Workshop spaces: A charming indoor space for smaller groups (less than 10 participants) and several covered outdoor spaces in the gardens.
Great for: Retreats that want to focus on sustainable living concepts, desire the option to cook meals and seek a city setting (downtown PDL is about a 15 minute walk).
Room types: 10 double bedrooms, 7 of which share bathrooms. Capacity of up to 30 people.
Price range*: Average room rates for shared double room in low season range between 50 and 60 euros per night.

*These prices are "a la carte" room rates only in low season between October and May. Contact Yoga Azores for retreat packages including use of yoga spaces, inclusion of meal program and other specifics.

Maison d'hote Archipels

Why it's on our list: Archipels is a quaint "ashram" style guesthouse in remote Faial de Terra. Archipels runs a small organic farm growing fresh fruits and veggies for guests. The guesthouse is also walking distance to the small town, beach, and great hiking trails.
Yoga + Workshop spaces: The school adjacent to the guesthouse offers a beautiful wooden floor room as a yoga space.
Great for: Retreats that seek a more secluded and remote setting. A budget-friendly option with tastefully appointed, basic accommodation.
Room types: 7 double / triple rooms, all of which share bathrooms. Capacity of up to 14 people.
Price range*: Average room rates for shared double room in low season range between 40 and 50 euros per night.

*These prices are "a la carte" room rates only in low season between October and May. Contact Yoga Azores for retreat packages including use of yoga spaces, inclusion of meal program and other specifics.

Local teacher highlight! Joana Cadete, Casa Vinyasa Azores

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 14:12:52 GMT

Continuing our local teacher highlight series which we launched in February, this month we are highlighting one of the Azores' first big names in yoga, Joana Cadete. Joana taught for many years at Casa Vinyasa Azores, São Miguel's first yoga studio, located in the city of Ponta Delgada in São Miguel. Joana has been tremendous help and collaborator for us at Yoga Azores, sharing info about exciting events and being one of our personally vetted host studios. Learn more about Joana and her passion for yoga!

What got you into yoga?
I was challenged by my neighbor to go with him to try a class. After class, I realized what a great experience it was to my stiff body, and that my mind felt really quiet.

What is yoga to you?
A path to self-knowledge.

How do you practise sustainability or social awareness?
I try to apply the "3 R´s policy": reduce, re-use and recycle.
Regarding social awareness, I do my best to listen, help and be open to others needs.

What do you love about the Azores?
The wild nature.

What are you grateful for today?
To the universe! That brought Yoga to my life, and helped me to be aware of who I am, and be a better human being so i can better serve others.

You can find more about Joana and her studio below!
Facebook page
Studio website
Studio email
telem: (+351) 917 074 826 / 919 535 963