6 Day Rewilding Retreat: Soairse Yoga and Meditation in Asturias, Spain
Spain Wellness Retreat
The goal of this retreat is to disconnect from the endless distraction of a digital world with its attendant sensation of never having time, and reconnect to the timeless forces of nature.
Meet the instructors
Read more
Highlights
- Daily Saoirse yoga and Vipassana class
- Pranayama and yoga philosophy discourse
- Rewilding activities and workshops
- Guided excursions
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Asturias Airport (Oviedo Airport) (US$ 140 per person)
Santander Airport (US$ 117 per person)
Accommodation
Facilities
- Dining area
- Garden
- Kitchen
The Asturias Yoga Center is a restored and self-sufficient village in the middle of a lush chestnut forest, 100% off the grid. Once upon a time, shepherds used this group of huts and land as a rest and grazing stop on their way to the high peaks. Throughout the restoration process of this village, their goal has been to do so in collaboration with the surrounding environment and protect the precious simplicity of the space. Your accommodation during your stay has traditional stone cabins and furnished tents located on a picturesque ridge.
The hamlet is off-grid and self-sufficient (wood-fired stove, 100% solar electricity, water from their own mountain source). There is a vegetable garden and a young orchard, free-ranging cows, and various wild animals such as deer, fox, and boar. Asturias Yoga Center feels fortunate to be stewarding this land and to have the capacity to share this unique space with others. It features traditional stone cabins and furnished tents perched on a picturesque ridge. The price of your retreat depends on the accommodation you choose. You can choose between a tent, a private room, a shared room, or a private cabin.
Private cabin
Ideal for couples, friends, or individuals looking for private facilities. The private cabin has its own bathroom, fireplace, and kitchen.
Bell tents ("Glamping")
The tents are for nature lovers. Located on a ridge, they have spectacular views of the Picos de Europa and the Gueña valley. The tents are equipped with comfortable mattresses and feature an outdoor solar shower and an ecological dry toilet.
Bedrooms
The rooms are in a mountain house next to the shala. It is surrounded by a chestnut forest and has a stone fireplace and a supply of firewood. It has a capacity for up to four people. You can rent a private room or share with another person. Both options have a shared bathroom.
Program
You will bring the benefits of yoga and meditation into your body and mind and thus reconnect with yourself. You wish then to bring that state of natural presence into the wild and rugged, beautiful elements of the Picos de Europa, Europe’s most biodiverse area and location of the Asturias yoga shala. Mornings will be spent practicing Saoirse yoga and Vipassana meditation. Saoirse is a holistic approach to yoga practice, designed to provide a strong base from which to practice subtler forms of meditation.
The key to this practice is learning how to work at the right level of effort, to develop a personal practice that is neither too easy nor too difficult. This, linked with breathing techniques, will bring you to awareness of your core being. Through practice and workshops, you will design your own most efficient yoga practice, and have enough understanding that you can then practice it at home. Practicing Saoirse will prepare you for meditation, and during the five days, you will do meditations both in the yoga shala and in the wild nature that surrounds it. The principal technique you will practice is Vipassana.
Vipassana is a form of meditation that involves directly observing your own nature. Vipassana is not esoteric, you simply observe the state of your being in the present moment with no sense of attachment. It is at once a simple yet profound practice. Having spent mornings connecting with your individual nature, you will spend your afternoons connecting with the surrounding nature.
You may find yourself walking silently in an ancient forest or on a scenic mountain ridge; diving into the cold water of a waterfall pool in a secret canyon; exploring a forgotten limestone cave; or foraging for your evening meal amidst the surrounding natural diversity. This retreat is for adventurous souls who wish to connect to themselves, the Earth, and fellow beings in meaningful ways. Arrival on the first day of this retreat may be anytime after 4:00 p.m. The program begins with dinner at 8:00 p.m. and finishes on the last day after lunch around 3:00 p.m.
Workshops
The idea of the workshops is to understand each element of each phase and enable you to practice Saoirse yoga without the need for a teacher to be present
1. Balance, twisting, and bringing lightness to movement
In this workshop, you will learn the fundamentals that apply to all twisting and balance postures and learn how these develop your concentration and improve spinal mobility and digestion. You will also use Samasthiti, a simple standing pose, to contemplate the force of prana as it exists within your own body, and learn how it can be cultivated in order to bring lightness into your practice and life.
2. Back bending
In this workshop, you will learn how to work towards deeper backward bending and see how this can improve your breathing and clear your nerve pathways.
3. Inversion and hand balance
In this workshop, you will experiment with inverted postures and understand how they help move your awareness into subtler planes. You will also experiment with the exciting world of hand balance, thus developing strength and concentration.
4. Pranayama
The practice of pranayama is based on using the breath to invoke positive physical and psychological effects. It is recommended to be practiced after significant experience with asana. The effects of pranayama are similar to asana, but it is more subtle. It is a gateway to meditation. In this workshop, you will look at some of the most important pranayamas and how to incorporate them in your practice.
5. Vipassana meditation
In this workshop, you will delve into the Vipassana meditation technique that comes at the end of the practice. This technique provides insight into the workings of your own mind and helps you break out of deeply ingrained reaction patterns and conditioning. By recognizing and removing reaction patterns, the practice of meditation can free you from conditioning and enable direct perception.
Saoirse yoga: Origin and significance
Saoirse is a Gaelic word meaning freedom, the ultimate goal of any true yoga practice. The practice grew out of Simon’s goals to focus on certain challenging aspects of Ashtanga and to include the most inspiring and effective elements of the practices he has studied and practiced extensively over the last 20 years (Vipassana meditation, Trika yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, and pranayama). If you already practice Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, you will find Saoirse yoga a powerful support. If your interest is in accessing deeper meditation, you may find this practice opens unexpected doorways.
Daily schedule
- 08:30 Saoirse yoga and Vipassana
- 10:30 Breakfast
- 12:30 Rewilding activity
- 14:30 Lunch
- 18:00 Activity in nature or workshop
- 20:00 Evening meal
Included excursions
The included excursions are:
- A waterfall pool in a wild and unvisited canyon
- A vast cave with giant stalagmites and stalactites and magical acoustics
- A small peak with spectacular views over the Picos de Europa and the ocean
- A deserted beach on the Cantabrian coastline
Instructors
Simon
Born in 1971, Simon’s fascination with yoga began in 2000 upon completing a solo journey on a bicycle from his native Ireland to India. After exploring various styles and traditions, he found Ashtanga to be what he was most inspired to practice and teach, initially due to its obvious benefits for surfing, biking, and rock climbing, and subsequently due to understanding it as a path to meditation. He has published a novel based on yoga philosophy, In Darkness the Seed of Light.
Location
Asturias Yoga Center is located on the lower slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains, not so far from the ocean, a hamlet in a quiet chestnut, hazel, and oak forest. Asturias Yoga is located in Los Quintanales, a small village in the Asturian mountain forest that they have restored over the last 15 years. Known in Spain as "El Paraíso Natural," Asturias has spectacular geographical characteristics, the most diverse ecosystem in Europe, and traditional culture. It is a land of high mountain peaks in juxtaposition with sandy beaches and cliffs overlooking the sea, green forests, mountains, green valleys, and renowned cave cheeses.
Food
You will be provided three vegetarian meals per day, breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner. They do their best to source their vegetables locally according to the season, use primarily organic and vegan ingredients, and provide many homemade specialties such as sourdough bread, spicy chai, garden pesto, mountain spring water, fresh herbs for infusions, and marmalades from their fruit trees. Meals are designed for a nutritionally balanced diet with foods that are easy to digest, grow in a sustainable way, and are full of vitality.
If you are someone who traditionally has a large appetite or prefers multiple snacks throughout the day, you may also bring your own food or snacks to supplement. The closest large supermarkets are in Cangas de Onis or Posada, both approximately 20 kilometers away. There are various smaller shops nearby in Benia (two kilometers from the yoga center) and at the “Campsite Picos de Europa” (one kilometer downhill from the yoga center).
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Organic
Things to do (optional)
Nearby visits to
- Covadonga / Los Lagos de Covadonga
- Cangas de Onis
- Rock climbing
- Surf
- Trekking in Los Picos de Europa (the Cares Gorge, Naranjo de Bulnes, etc.)
Professional massage is available upon appointment. Asturias Yoga Center collaborates with terrific local masseurs. They specialize in massages, relaxants, lymph drainage, and contractures, all of which can be very beneficial to receive in conjunction with the practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa.
What's included
- Daily pranayama, Saoirse yoga classes, asana workshop, and yoga philosophy discourse
- Guided excursions
- 5 nights accommodation
- 3 large vegetarian and vegan meals daily
- Snacks and teas
What's not included
- Airfare
- Any transport to and from Asturias Yoga Center
- Personal expenses
- Extra activities
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Asturias Airport (Oviedo Airport)
39 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 140 per person
Santander Airport
152 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 117 per person
Driving directions from Avin
- Avin is on the AS 114 halfway between Cangas de Onis and Arenas de Cabrales.
- In Avin, turn off the main road at the sign, "Camping Picos de Europa".
- Continue on the small road that runs adjacent to the campsite.
- Up the steep concrete path for one kilometer until you come to a fork.
- From there, take a right on the gravel track.
- Continue for another kilometer.
- First, you will arrive at a small restored cabin, followed by two cabins placed together on the right. Asturias Yoga will greet you here.
Arrival by airplane
Please arrange your flight to arrive at Asturias Airport (Oviedo Airport) (OVD) or Santander Airport (SDR). Asturias Yoga offers pick-up on the first day of the retreat, from Posada to the center at 5:40 p.m. Please note that all times below are for weekdays and do not include festivals.
Arrival by bus
From Llanes station to Posada station, the schedule of the bus is as follows:
- 10:30 - 10:45 (15 minutes)
- 13:00 - 13:15 (15 minutes)
- 13:30 - 13:45 (15 minutes)
- 17:30 - 17:40 (10 minutes)
If arriving from Oviedo-Arriondas-Cangas De Onis direction, see the ALSA website for their extensive list of arrival and departure times. There are multiple options per day. See below for bus options from Cangas de Onis that will drop you just down the hill from Asturias Yoga Center in the small village of Avin.
- 12:00 - 12:17 (17 minutes)
- 14:45 - 15:02 (17 minutes)
- 18:05 - 18:22 (17 minutes)
- 20:00 - 20:17 (17 minutes)
Arrival by shuttle
Spain's ride-share system is called “Bla Bla Car” and may be utilized after having made an account on their website. Please contact Asturias Yoga Center if you are interested in sharing a ride with other retreat participants who are traveling from the same direction.
Arrival by train
From Llanes station to Posada station, the schedule of the train is as follows:
- 07:40 - 07:51 (11 minutes)
- 11:21 - 11:32 (11 minutes)
- 14:42 - 14:53 (11 minutes)
- 18:26 - 18:37 (11 minutes)
From Oviedo station to Arriondas station, the schedule of the train is as follows:
- 08:35 - 10:13 (1 hour and 38 minutes)
- 10:45 - 12:28 (1 hour and 43 minutes)
- 15:35 - 17:17 (1 hour and 42 minutes)
- 18:55 - 20:38 (1 hour and 43 minutes)
Arrival by taxi
Asturias Yoga can arrange taxi pick-ups from either airport, as well as from nearby villages, which will take you directly to Asturias Yoga Center.
- Cangas de Onis - 25 EUR (20 minutes)
- Llanes - 30 EUR (30 minutes)
They also recommend the "Rome2Rio" website for additional transportation options.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 33.88% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.