The Location
Vida Pura is an eco-friendly retreat in the middle of a reserve close to the town of Odeceixe and its marvellous beach. We’re in the South West of Portugal, in the most amazing area you can imagine.
Faro airport is about 1,5 hour drive away, Lisbon about 3 hours.
During the day and especially at night it is so quiet you can hear a pin drop, the nocturnal animals sing their songs and the stream that divides the Algarve and the Alentejo trickles endlessly over the land.
You can take great hikes by the river stream and up or down the valley.
Odeceixe Beach is a 1st price winning beach in the huge Natural Park that surrounds it. The beach is great for surfing, body boarding and sunbathing. The beach is about 6 kilometers away and there is a daily shuttle to take you to the beach and back!
Around the area traditionalism is very tangible, agriculture and fishery are one of the main activities. It’s an area where you can still find donkeys ploughing the fields and the fish is served straight from the boat onto your plate.
The nature of this entire project is humanitarian and the profit is put towards people and animals in need or towards projects that help creating a more sustainable planet.
Sustainable – Ecological – Humanitarian
Flights and Transfers
The airport to fly into is Faro, from there transfers can be arranged for you.
At the time of writing, Ryanair and Transavia seem to have interesting flights when you fly out of Europe.
There is one included group transfers on Saturday, leaving the Faro airport at 13:00.
Our beautiful venue is about 1,5 hour drive.
On the departure day, there is an organised included group transfer to the airport of Faro at 10:30.
You can also rent a car as car rental is very reasonably priced in Portugal.
We can organise alternative transfers for you, at extra cost. Just send us an email if you have questions about this, and we’ll be happy to help you out or see if you can share a ride with someone.
A one way trip to Faro airport is 130 Euro. From or to Lisbon airport is 230 Euro.
Divine Cuisine
Utterly divine cuisine will be served by our personal chef, Hayley North.
In yoga land, Hayley needs no introduction as she’s famous for her nutritious and balanced way of making meals. Being a yoga teacher herself, Hayley understands exactly how our meals can support our practise.
This goes way beyond any cookbook or recipe. This is also about the ‘how’, about having over ten years of experience in ayurveda, raw food and having studied every possible angle in serving balanced food.
What Hayley does in the kitchen is difficult to describe, but you taste it. And will want to continue tasting it! You feel nourished, healthy and light after her meals. And, completely guilt free of course as she only uses the best ingredients and cooks 95% vegan.
Eating in silence is a great way to experience mindfulness and become more present.
Without conversation and distraction, increases our awareness of others, our surroundings and the food on our plate. Our senses wake up, with the visual, smells, colours, tastes and textures coming alive in a way that can be easily missed when eating in a hurry, on the go, watching TV, using the phone or when talking.
Optimum health starts in the digestive system and the process of digestion begins way before we take the first bite. There are many positive benefits to be gained from slowing down and becoming more connected to the food we eat – affecting everything from weight, overeating, emotional and comfort eating, depression and stress. It can even open our eyes to the choices we are making with regards to the food we buy and eat.
Mealtimes are also undeniably a chance to share, socialise and enjoy time with others. Periods of time spent eating in silence help us become significantly more aware of how we speak and what we choose to talk about.
Paying more attention to how we are eating can help deepen and strengthen the connection we have with ourselves and with others and is a process that brings us benefits physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Without any effort, after a week of tasting what is possible in a vegan cuisine, you will be inspired to the max to eat more conscious and make healthy choices when you get back home.
This retreat is now over for this year..
Please contact Rachel at rb@revealingvajra.com to find out about dates next year or other Revaling Vajra retreats.
Your Host during this silence retreat
Rachel Bonkink
As an experienced personal life coach, I have guided hundreds of people over the past years in my practice in Antwerp, via Skype and on my retreats. I live in Essaouira, a sleepy little fishermen’s town in Morocco.
Before I founded Revealing Vajra, I built on a strong corporate career. At a certain point, managing huge international teams in three different continents. This unique combination – a deep understanding of corporate life alongside a vast experience of mind-body trainings and retreats – gives my holidays a very POWERFUL edge.
In the past ten years, I have followed loads of teacher trainings and (silence) retreats, usually 2 to 3 per year. Ranging from Ashtanga to Iyengar inspired teachers. My very first training was in India, in Rishikesh, a simple standard 200 hours on Hatha and Ashtanga. 20 years ago, I studied Traditional Chinese Medecine in the Netherlands.
I am grateful to have studied with truly amazing teachers such as Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Bernie Clark and Alan Wallace. Every year, I follow at least 2 to 3 retreats with these wonderful teachers to enhance my knowledge on yoga and meditation. At least one silent retreat a year is also on my personal agenda.
You can read a little more about me here….
Cancellation Policy
The 500 Euro deposit is non refundable.
There are no partial refunds for late arrivals or if you need to leave the retreat early.
Balance refunds depend on the timing of your cancellation:
A 90% refund will be provided on cancellations, up to 60 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
A 50% refund will be provided on cancellations between 30-59 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
No refunds will be provided on cancellation between 29-0 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
I had a great week in Portugal with Rachel as my yoga teacher. This silent retreat was just perfect and exactly what I needed. The hatha and yin classes supported the silence days really well. All I can say is that you will not regret joining one of Rachel's retreats. Everything is so very well organised that you can be completely worry free, she takes care of it all.
Lovely food, great people. If you have the chance to join: Do it!
June 2017
Trine Johansen, Norway
They say 3rd time is a charme and I can tell you that this silent retreat in Portugal absolutely was a charme! From the yoga and meditation to the food, the location and the great company. I so appreciated the super relaxed atmosphere of it all.
You always know you're in for a treat when booking with Rachel!
June 2017
Carole Dieltiens, Belgium
Going for the 6th time on a yoga retreat with Rachel !
Her lessons and retreats keep being different and she's keeps coming up with the most amazing locations so I like this way of traveling and seeing the world. She only goes for the best locations, the best chefs and knows the best way of teaching yoga so that everyone is able to follow her classes. From being super flexible and very experienced to not being flexible at all and having no experience at all. I appreciated her philosophy that all is well and that she allows everyone to just be themselves.
Korine den Blanken, the Netherlands
Lovely yoga retreat! Rachel and Hayley are both so very warm, helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you!
Lisa, UK
A very professional set up to a yoga retreat. Very organised and wholesome. Great!
Azi, UK
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
This is not a meditation nor a silence boot camp. We will guide you every step of the way with advice, guidelines and a schedule to hold on to.
This is the Perfect preparation for a 10 day Vipassana meditation retreat. Familiarising yourself with silence and learning how to “sit and meditate”.
You will get more insight in your mental landscape and guidelines on how to get a grip on your thoughts.
You will learn how to meditate.
You will enjoy wonderful meals, prepared by our personal chef Hayley North. The meals will support our practise every step of the way.
After one week, you will feel fully recharged to step back into the world.
You came to the right place if you are looking for some quiet time in a world full of noise.
