Accommodation

Check-in Time:

15:00

Check-out Time:

11:00

Companhia das Culturas Ecodesign & Spa Hotel

Open since 2008, it is a sustainable and organic ecotourism located in the extreme southeast of the Algarve, bordering the Castro Marim Nature Reserve.

Without television or background music, Companhia das Culturas offers unique stays of contemplation, recollection, sharing, and relaxation, and today welcomes those who want to enjoy the magnificence of such time that passes without haste.

Imagine a place where every day, the slow passage of time and the beauty of nature’s cycles is celebrated - a place where the remnants of walls are cherished, owing to the life stories that they tell in each of their layers, and where silence is not deafening, but rather joyfully imbibed as a source of harmony.

Rooms

You will be accommodated in one of the rooms (four rooms and four suites) where, architecturally, the presence of lime, smoothed cement, wood, and cork prevails.

Each room is a room with different sizes, layouts, decorations, and specifics. All rooms, suites, and apartments are equipped with air conditioning. And, from the huge garage of the thresher, a surprising cork box was made. It is a space where, in addition to the program, you can also enjoy Tuesday and Saturday yoga classes, included in the stay.

Program

The program is based on the content of the famous Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, created by Jon Kabat Zinn. By enrolling in this program, you will be able transform your perspective and beliefs, understanding the crucial impact they currently have in shaping your reality.

You will feel relaxed, calm, and inspired to go back into your life and take action to achieve the results you're aiming for.

At the mental level, the relentless cycle of negative thoughts cultivates an enduring sense of melancholy, overshadowing your capacity to embrace life’s joys and perceive the abundance of possibilities before you. This incessant sadness, coupled with feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, can make it challenging to engage with the world positively.

Physically, the toll of depression can manifest as persistent fatigue, disrupted sleep patterns, fluctuating appetite leading to weight changes, and unexplained bodily discomfort. This might be experienced as unrelenting tiredness, disrupted sleep or appetite, and even inexplicable body aches or pains.

This program offers a unique approach rooted in mindfulness practices, aimed at guiding you toward a renewed sense of joy and peace in life. Tailored specifically to address the complexities of depression, this retreat delves into the depths of your emotional state through a mindful lens.

This specialized program is dedicated to addressing emotion of sadness through the lens of mindfulness, tailored to provide a comprehensive support and strategies for transformation.

The six sessions and one day of silence will be held over four consecutive days, mornings and in the afternoons, combining theory with meditation and Yin yoga practices.

One-on-one retreats provide you with undivided attention from the mindfulness instructor. This allows for a tailored program that addresses your specific needs, challenges, and goals. The personalized guidance and feedback can accelerate your progress and deepen your mindfulness practice.

During your stay, you will learn a variety of mindfulness meditation techniques such as mindful eating, body scan, attention to the breath meditation, mindful walking, as well as proactive ways to approach stress. Between sessions, you will have mindfulness assignments to fulfill and integrate want you have learned, extending the practice to the full duration of your stay.

Benefits

Avoid burnout by learning to relax
Reduce stress and make better decisions
Reduce anxiety and negative thoughts
Improve the quality of sleep
Increase concentration and memory by training the mind
Increased energy levels
Learn effective tools that improve your life

Content of the sessions

Session 1 - Intro to mindfulness

You will start by exploring the concept of mindfulness, what it consists of, and how it is practiced. Mindful Intelligence Algarve will conduct an informal introduction practice of conscious eating and a formal meditation practice called body scan.

In order for practice throughout the stay to be continuous, each session will end with a mindful investigation and activity plan to practice until the next session. You will also have an informal practice and a formal meditation practice every session.

Session 2 - Reality perception

Your beliefs and assumptions -your perception of reality - profoundly influence how you see and interact with yourself, other people, and your surroundings. In this session, you will discover which beliefs associated with fear are most present in your life, understand how they influence your day-to-day experience, and be able to deconstruct them.

Session 3 - Power of emotions

You will take a look at the message behind each emotion, and how you can manage its ups and downs through mindfulness practice. By the end of this session, you will be able to recognize, manage, and mindfully respond to challenging emotional states.

Session 4 - Creating new strategies

Depression and persistent sadness can profoundly hinder your joy and personal growth, causing a significant disconnection within yourself and your relationships. Together with Mindful Intelligence Algarve, you'll explore tailored strategies to navigate through these challenging emotional landscapes

Session 5 - Mindful communication

This session is dedicated to exploring how you can communicate in a mindful way and achieve the best results both at a professional and relational level (family, partners, or co-workers).

Session 6 - Integrating mindfulness into everyday life

At the end of the program, you will gather all the knowledge acquired and prepare a plan in order to integrate the practice of mindfulness into your daily life. This plan consists of a wise combination of formal and informal practices that will help you to achieve your goals.

Sample daily schedule

09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Mindfulness session I (two hours)
12:00 Lunch and free time
16:00 Mindfulness session II (two hours)
18:00 Free time

Day 1

From 15:00 Check in and welcome
Arrive calmly
Take the rest of the day to relax and get to know the hotel

Day 2

08:30 Breakfast
10:00 to 12:00 Intro to mindfulness
13:30 Lunch and free time
16:00 to 18:00 Reality perception

Day 3

08:30 Breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 Power of emotions
13:30 Lunch and free time
16:00 - 18:00 Creating new strategies

Day 4

08:30 Breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 Mindful communication
13:30 Lunch and free time
16:00 - 18:00 Integrating mindfulness

Day 5

Until 11:00 Check out
Return home calmly

If you have time, you can enjoy the morning and after breakfast, take a walk in the countryside or on the beach. Bon voyage and great homecoming!

Location

Castro Marim, Algarve

This program will take place at Companhia das Culturas in the municipality of Castro Marim in the Faro District of Algarve in Southern Portugal.

About the location

Companhia das Culturas is a sustainable and organic eco-tourism located in the southeastern tip of the Algarve. It is set one and a half kilometers from the Praia Verde beach, four kilometers from the historical town of Castro Marim, and six kilometers from Ria Formosa Nature Reserve.

Distances

Praia Verde beach, 1.5 kilometers
Castro Marim, 4 kilometers (10 minutes)
Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, 6 kilometers
Beaches - 10 minutes
Cacela Velha - 20 minutes
Tavira - 25 minutes
Olhao - 35 minutes
Faro Airport (FAO) - 45 minutes

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Food

The landscape on the plate

You will be served with vegetarian breakfast and lunch designed based on the Mediterranean diet. About 70% of the manufactured products are produced by Companhia das Culturas, and the rest are from small local producers. There, landscape and culture meet at the table.

The aromatic and edible plants that grow spontaneously around the cultivated fields - the so-called roderal plants such as nettles, thistles, Swiss chard, white tergarettes, or purslane - are the hallmark of this cuisine that marks the age-old connection of man and animals with the place.

Four breakfasts and three vegetarian Mediterranean-style lunches are included in the price. Based exclusively on the southern Portuguese diet, breakfast and small dishes served at Companhia das Culturas are made entirely from local produce of the season: eggs straight from the coop, fruit from the orchards, vegetables from the garden and other nearby plantations, sheep and goat cheeses, smoked meats, and preserved fish from Isla Cristina to Faro (salted or smoked).

The compotes and chutneys also come from the farm’s own fruits.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Experiences:

1. Monte Rosa olive oil

20 hectares of an olive grove that produces one of the most international and recognized olive oils made in Portugal. It features five mono-casts and a blend.

2. Salina spa at Barquinha

This is a floating mineral bath and application of saline clay.

3. Salmarim

Go on walks accompanied by artisanal salt pans in the Castro Marim Nature Reserve. It includes gastronomic tastings at one of the companies that have most contributed to the valorization of artisanal salt and fleur de sel in the region.

4. Solar boat

Stroll in the Ria Formosa without the noise of engines in an unprecedented approach and intimacy in one of the richest fish and birdlife ecosystems.

Places to eat

Noélia and Jerónimo
Casa de Pasto Fernanda and Campinas
À Terra
Chá com Água Salgada

Available at Companhia das Culturas Spa and Hammam (additional cost):

Hammam

Experience the hammam and the ancient Mediterranean tradition of Arab baths available at Companhia das Culturas.

45-minute massages:

Adapted back massage

Essential oils are applied in this therapeutic massage to relieve tension in the back, neck, and shoulders

Reflexology

Essential oils are used in this stimulating massage of specific points of the feet for the relaxation of the whole body

75-minute massages:

Tranquilizing massage

Relaxing techniques with essential oils

Energizing massage

Stretching and invigorating techniques; use of essential oils

Jet lag zero

Adapted for those who come to Mindful Intelligence Algarve from an exhausting trip, this massage uses essential oils depending on their specific needs.

Aromatherapy

A set of essential oils designed on the spot and applied to the body using oriental techniques and stretches, ending with a massage to the head and face

Spa treatments

Hammam and spa treatment

Included in this retreat is a therapeutic full-body massage for you to enjoy, with exclusive use of 8950-COSMETICA products. You can also experience the hammam and the ancient Mediterranean tradition of Arab baths available at Companhia das Culturas.

What's included

6 sessions of two hours each
4 nights accommodation
4 breakfasts
3 vegetarian Mediterranean-style lunches
Program manual

What's not included

Airfare
Transfers to and from the airport
Dinners

How to get there

Recommended Airports

FAO

Faro Airport

46 km

Transfer not provided

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Faro Airport (FAO). It is 40 minutes away from Companhia das Culturas.

When you book, Mindful Intelligence Algarve will send you a welcome email with a map and all details on how to get to the venue.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 20.57% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.

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