Eng 
Course Contents
We invite you to rebirth and renew yourself with a group of loving women in rural Portugal
The last year has been challenging and a strong reminder that change can rush through at any moment. In moments like this we can shrink into fear or expand forwards into love. Our invitation is to allow that change to clear us out from deep within and choose the women that we want to be. We offer nourishing practices to inspire you to unravel your wings and emerge anew.
As mother and daughter, Rosa and Suzanne will draw upon our different experiences of shiatsu, yoga, meditation and massage to embody our capacity for change.
We will celebrate and explore your life cycles from your time in the womb to your experience of ageing. This is for you, wherever you are at in your life cycle - menstruation, pregnancy, birth, motherhood or the menopause and whether or not you have had children. We will weave together the wisdom of each cycle to come into our wholeness.
Overview
Over five days, we will drop deep within through yoga, movement, meditation, workshops/touch based practices, creative & nature - based activities, sharing circles & ceremony. There will be opportunities to rest and reflect on your own as well as to enjoy good food and company. The mornings will be an energising practice to set the theme for the day and the evenings will close with a nurturing and relaxing practice to ease you into the night.
The retreat will include
- Opening ceremony to set your intentions for renewal
- Morning yoga and movement journeys with breath and sound to set the theme for the day
- Intuitive movement to awaken the Extraordinary Vessels, powerful vessels of Chinese medicine, and the deep energy pathways within
- Workshops to explore our life cycles including how the mother daughter relationship affects our later relationships
- Guided explorations of the surrounding nature (sea, land, plants) to connect with the cleansing and balancing power of the elements
- Mothering ourselves: time to rest and explore nature on your own, nurture and deepen our relationship
- A day in silence to go deep within
- Women’s sharing circles to honour what you have to bring to each other – where anyone can lead an exercise or meditation or share a song or poem
- Paired bodywork practices (no bodywork experience necessary)
- Guided visualizations in the meditation temple
- Shiatsu workshops (2) led by Suzanne for the therapists attending who want to apply their knowledge to their work
- Yoga workshops (2) led by Rosa for yoga practitioners and teachers who want to apply this to their practice
- Evening relaxing practices to integrate and rest/nourish
- Closing fire ceremony – to weave together the wisdom of each cycle and to celebrate your rebirth
The retreat space
We have chosen an inspiring rural space to support our work – Monte da Orada
“ an abundant green womb for expansion and transformation”
Click on the link above to be taken to their website where you can view a video.
April is the most beautiful month in terms of flowers and nature. We chose it to support the theme of rebirth and to kindle the fire within.
It is a family run, eco-sustainable, community based soul retreat centre, nestled in 71 hectares of nature and privacy. Located near Portugal's Southwest Atlantic Coast, bordering Algarve, Orada is near spectacular wild surf beaches (15 minutes from the coast) and the authentic countryside tranquillity of Alentejo.
There is a Bio pool and they grow most of their fruit and vegetables inspired by permaculture principles. The food will be nourishing, vegan and gluten and sugar free.
The nearest airport is Faro and takes 1.5 hours in a shared 8 seater minibus (about 20€ each way). Lisbon airport transfers take 2,5 hours and are about 30€ each way. There are also bus and train options to São Teotónio then a taxi.
A Typical Day
Timing varies depending on activity
07.00 -7.30 Meditation
07.30-08.30 Movement journey
09.00–10.00 Breakfast
10.30-13.00 Themed workshop
13.00-14.00 Lunch
15.00-18.00 Outside activity (includes trips and 1 or 2 afternoons free)
18.00 -19.00 Women’s sharing circle
19.00- 20.30 Dinner
20.30 -21.30 Nourishing practices (relaxing Yoga and breathwork)
Friday evening opening ceremony at 8 pm and Tuesday evening closing ceremony. Start 7pm dinner Friday, finish lunchtime Wednesday
Working with extraordinary women's cycles was particularly touching for me. I have done lots of personal development work, such as counselling, body therapy, psychotherapy, energetic work, but I have never connected with my womb in such a loving way.
I felt you held the space in a way that valued my womb, my femininity, my sexuality and made me aware of my female power in a way I had not experienced before.
It was like the permission to truly give birth to my real self!
Thank you so much Suzanne!
Brigitte Markl
Shiatsu-Practitioner and Coach for Personal Development
This course is a jewel for every woman!
I was standing at a threshold and needed to step back, reflect and get nourished in a way before moving on with my life. The course has exactly given me that. Right from our very first session, the threshold was gone and I felt whole again.
From that moment on, I felt completely happy with where I'm standing now, and open to whatever experience may arrive. Tears came... and went. No drama. No questions. Just me witnessing, and at the same time joy and gratefulness. A real treasure!
Thank you Rosa and Suzanne for having offered and continuing to offer such a beautiful opportunity for growth, reflection and awareness.
Cordula Quadt
Shiatsu therapist and Qi Gong teacher
Available languages
- English with French and Spanish support
Dates and location
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Monte da Orada, Portugal09/04/2021 - 14/04/2021
Teacher
Suzanne Yates
Suzanne is the founder and principal teacher at Wellmother, established 1990
Rosa Lia
Rosa is a yoga teacher & massage therapist, who helps copy edit Suzanne's writing and bring her work to a wider audience.Entrance Requirements
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Open to any woman who wants to rebirth and renew herself with a group of loving women in rural Portugal.
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You will get a certificate of attendance, which, if you are a professional, you can use for your CPD (40 hours).
More information
Price
Fully inclusive of teaching and full board accommodation at Orada. For early booking price pay in full by 9th February.
Triple room: £750 early booking (£800 standard price)
Twin room: £800/ £850
Single room: £900/£950
(Room options in Orada presentation booklet above)
Mother/daughter or 2 friend price – discount £50 per person. Email us for code.
One bursary place at £550 – email to apply with the reasons why you need it and how you would benefit.
To secure your place pay a non refundable deposit of £250. If the retreat is cancelled due to covid, you will be fully refunded. Check with us that your room choice is available.
3 meals a day (apart from arrival day, evening meal only and departure day breakfast and lunch only)
Start Friday dinner (7pm) with opening ceremony at 8pm. Finish lunchtime Wednesday
Flight and travel to venue not included.
You can arrive the day before (8th) and leave the day after (15th). Extra nights at 65 euros per night without food.
Apply for course