Alma Ser
The retreat to nourish your soul being
A Mindfulness Retreat for Women in Healthcare
Lagos, Portugal
MAY 21-27th, 2023
Spend a week at our private luxury villa overlooking the ocean. Recharge your batteries, learn ancient wisdom, and explore a beautiful destination to learn, grow, and engage with the world in a more authentic & connected way.
Mindfulness, Yoga, Meditation, Breathwork, Self-reflection, Nourishing meals, Private massage, Relaxing on beaches, Reconnecting with play, Discovering Your Ikigai, Kayaking, Sailing, Hiking, Napping, Swimming...
Do you struggle with anxiety and stress? Do you feel burned out? Do you catch yourself trapped in a cycle of negative self-talk?
You will leave this retreat equipped with the techniques to slow down, reprogram your nervous system, and raise your level of self-awareness. You will learn to identify, accept, and detach from self-criticism, leading to self-love, compassion, and confidence. You will flow through daily challenges with ease and calm.
Do you make time to meditate every day, but still struggle to sit in silence? Do you find yourself running away from uncomfortable thoughts or emotions?
Anyone can meditate for 10 minutes a day, but this immersive retreat will allow you to unlock deeper levels within yourself. Once these levels are achieved, you can tap into this power throughout daily life. This program is based on enjoying the present moment giving you tools to relieve stress, manage stress better and to live a more present life. You will regain control of your life and make every moment count.
Are you ready for a life changing experience?
This will be a transformational experience that you will carry into your daily life. You will not only learn new tools during the retreat, you will learn how to integrate these tools into your everyday life. You will feel empowered and confident beyond our week together. You will experience stepping out of your comfort zone and the feelings coming with it.
How will we support you through this journey?
We are providing support before and after the retreat to ensure you can effectively integrate our teachings. This includes personal and group coaching, as well as access to an on-demand 'Introduction to Mindfulness' course to lay the groundwork for our retreat.
Our mission is to help you feel empowered and confident to live more mindfully beyond our 7 days together.
We have created this immersive experience so you can integrate the lessons learned into your everyday life.
You will leave stress free and equipped with the tools to manage stress in your life.
— Manuela & Shivani
Meet Manuela
Dr. Manuela Rodrigues is a general dentist and a mindfulness based stress reduction qualified teacher. In 2018 she stopped her clinical practice and founded Âncora Retreats and the Mindful Dentistry Training. Nowadays works with dentists and other physicians as a mindfulness coach, runs 8 weeks mindfulness-based stress reduction courses and retreats, and loves to teach mindfulness and meditation. She is passionate about helping people to develop a solid meditation practice, self-awareness and compassion.
Meet Shivani
Dr. Shivani Kamodia Barto Dr. Shivani Kamodia Barto is a general dentist, yoga teacher, and wellness coach. She has over ten years and 600 hours of experience in teaching yoga asana, facilitating personal-development workshops, hosting wellness retreats, and lecturing on the science of well-being.
Shivani teaches others how to prevent burnout and build stress resilience through nervous system regulation and the practical applications of yoga, meditation, and breathwork.
Shivani is passionate about helping others create an authentic vision, set meaningful goals, and take aligned action to design a more fulfilling and joyful life. She loves to create transformational experiences filled with nourishing rest, playful adventure, and deep connection.
Meet Chelsea
Dr. Chelsea Turgeon is an MD trained career coach, bestselling author, digital nomad, and host of the Life After Medicine podcast. In 2019 she left the hustle and grind of her OBGYN residency to travel the world and start her own online business. Now she helps healthcare professionals recover from burnout and forge their own unique path to fulfillment.
Chelsea is passionate about helping others learn how to tune into their intuition, cultivate self trust, overcome their fears and create a life and career that feels authentic for them. She travels full time and since 2019 has lived and worked in over 21 countries.
Retreat to our Private Luxury Villa:
Quinta Bonita
Quinta Bonita is the perfect oasis to completely relax and go deeper into mind, body and soul. With 2.5 acres of spectacular gardens including a beautiful yoga studio, large outdoor swimming pool, outdoor chess set and multi leveled terracing, you will have plenty of locations to relax and unwind in a safe and spacious environment.
The Yoga Studio
A glass-fronted studio overlooking the gardens and one of the fountains. With sides that open on all three sides for plenty of air flow sun, and birdsong, to pour in. With cork floor and traditional azulejos tiles, this will be our yoga and meditation oasis.
The Swimming Pool
In the centre of the gardens and overlooked by the majestic grandfather of the garden the Olive Tree and our delicious avocado tree lies our pool. Walled on all sides providing a calm, still oasis to relax.
Our pool is surrounded by terraces with sun loungers, tables and chairs – perfect for a lazy afternoon in the sun. Float on an enormous bean bag on the pool or cool yourself in the glistening turquoise water
The Surrounding Area
Hop on a bike and arrive at the beach, just a 15 minute cycle away. The villa is 4 km from the historic port town of Lagos with its many beautiful beaches, grottoes, shops, restaurants and museums. And 4km from Praia da Luz a quaint beachside village and the closest beach. In just half an hour the wild and unspoilt West Coast and Cape St Vincent in Sagres – the most South Westerly point of Europe.
The Food
We will provide nourishing, healthy, and delicious meals to allow you to feel your best. All meals use seasonal and local ingredients, sourcing herbs and fresh produce from the villa grounds and purchasing organically where possible. Meals will favor vegetarian cooking and take advantage of the wonderful local fare such as barbecued sea bass and slow roasted organic wild boar.
The food at Quinta Bonita emerges from the seasons, with as little footprint as possible and the kitchen is where our creative juices are allowed to flow according to the weather, the mood of those we are cooking for and that of those people who are creating it. Our philosophy is simple, tasty and local.
All meals are included;
- Fresh fruit, tea & coffee available throughout the day in the lounge
- Full buffet breakfast brunch daily
- Afternoon tea, cake, crudités, dip & fruit daily
- 3 course dinner daily
We are able to accommodate dietary needs, but we must be informed of these at least 30 days before the retreat.
The Sleeping Quarters
Quinta Bonita has eight spacious and beautifully decorated rooms, all with a private terrace or balcony with tables & chairs to enjoy the beautiful gardens and sparkling ocean views. All the bedrooms are equipped with two twin beds and an en suite bathroom. The house has a large dining area and entrance hall, as well as an outdoor lounge & dining area. If we get an evening chill, you can curl up in front of the log fire with a book or game from our library.
Please note that all rooms are shared with individual twin beds. All prices listed are per person.
There is only one room available that is private. If you are interested in the private room, please let us know in your application.
The Local Excursions
We will have a range of local excursions planned for you, including kayaking the grottos, exploring the the quaint town of Praia da Luz, and a tour of the countryside.
Retreat Schedule
The schedule will vary daily, but generally, it will follow the sample below. There will be plenty of time for rest, relaxation, and exploration. A more detailed schedule will be provided upon registration.
8:00 AM | Yoga & Meditation
10:00 AM | Healthy Brunch
11:00 AM | Workshop
1:00 AM | Excursion
4:00 PM | Free Time
7:00 PM | Nourishing Dinner
8:00 PM | Healing Ceremony
Join Us
It’s more than a retreat.
It’s a transformational experience.
Alma Ser is an All Inclusive Retreat
The investment for our Alma Ser experience is all inclusive! This means all accommodations, meals, airport transports, yoga, meditation, workshops, special ceremonies, listed excursions, and private massage.
What is Included?
- Access to 'Intro to Mindfulness,' a 4-module pre-retreat course ($999 value)
- 4 coaching sessions (1:1 and group) before and after the retreat ($999 value)
- 6 nights/7 days at Quinta Bonita, a private, luxury, boutique hotel
- All meals: 6 nourishing brunches buffets, 5 delicious 3-course dinners, 1 celebration dinner
- Roundtrip transfers to the Faro airport
- 3 half-day excursions to explore the beaches and countryside
- 8 guided yoga practices
- 9 guided meditation practices
- 5 specialized mindfulness workshops and healing ceremonies
- 60-minute private massage
- Daily bike rental
- Unlimited and exclusive access to villa gardens and outdoor pool
- Surprise gift!
As guests of Quinta Bonita, you will have the following:
- Exclusive use of all facilities, including outdoor swimming pool, 10,000m2 of gardens, and honesty bar
- Individually designed rooms with air-conditioning, electronic safe, luxury linen, lavish toiletries and bathrobes
- Complimentary wireless internet
- Pool towels; use of beach towels and beach umbrellas
- Onsite concierge for any guests requests
- Yoga equipment - mats, straps, blankets, blocks, bricks and eye pillows
What is Not Included?
- Any excursions in addition to the included three half-day excursions
- Alcohol, beverages other than tea, coffee, and water
- Any additional services offered by the spa which are not listed above
- Flights not included
- Travel insurance is not included, but recommended
Investment
€3,333 EUR
An investment in your personal growth.
Place your deposit before February 15, 2023 for a 10% discount!
A €500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot. The full balance is due 60 days before the start of the retreat.
See the full terms & conditions here.
Testimonials
Don't just take it from us. Here are some messages from our attendees.
"Life changing! Diana and Shivani are impeccable hosts, they leave no stone unturned. I missed the retreat the moment I got to the airport. I would go again and travel overseas to attend another retreat with these beautiful and humble women!"
- Sampada D. (Journey into your Wild Heart Retreat)
"This retreat is a healing experience for me, at the physical, emotional, and spiritual level. I love the fun water activities and restful stillness in yoga and cacao ceremony. Water is very healing and supportive with energy flow. Fire brings out the inner fire in us. The best part is the safe space created to connect with amazing women with different talents and gifts!"
- Mingxia Z. (Journey into your Wild Heart Retreat)
"Oh wow.. where to even begin. My experience during this retreat hosted by Dr. Shivani and Dr. Liu was nothing but magical and transformative. The experience as a whole has nourished my mind-body-soul on level that I had never experienced. Gathered together with such inspiring and strong individuals, we smiled, we laughed, we cried and we grew so much. Thank you for creating this special weekend and vessel for us to unleash our wild hearts!!!
- Delphine (Journey into your Wild Heart Retreat)
"If you are sitting on the fence debating if its really worth it, I promise you it is! Shivani thought of everything, the food was delicious and accommodating, the activities were so fun and she led us through a range of different wellness exercises that did wonders to reset my mind and my body. I felt truly taken care of both physically and emotionally, something I haven't felt in a while and I am so grateful to Shivani for giving me that gift."
- Natalie M. (The Unplug & Play Retreat)
"The retreat was exactly what I needed and when I needed it. Shivani makes it a complete stress free experience! Amazing experiences, great food, and even better company. I feel the effects of the retreat even afterwards."
- Allyssa (The Unplug & Play Retreat)
"Shivani put together an incredible experience for us. I didn't know anyone beforehand, but her professionalism and approachability allowed me to feel comfortable and welcome. I came away from the retreat with renewed energy and goals. The introspective time was invaluable and helped me recenter my life. I've already recommended it to anyone who will listen to me rave about it!"
- Brittany D. (The Unplug & Play Retreat)
Join our safe vessel of transformation and long-lasting community as we explore the art of living mindfully in the present moment.
Getting There
The Alma Ser Retreat will take place May 21-27, 2023 in Lagos, Portugal at Quinta Bonita Country House & Gardens.
We recommend that you fly into the Faro Airport, also known as the Algarve Airport, in Portugal. The Faro Airport is about 1-hour away from the villa. The most cost-effective international flights will likely fly through Lisbon, where you can connect domestically to the Faro airport, which is only a 45-minute flight and less than €80.
We have included roundtrip airport transfers between the Faro Airport to Quinta Bonita. If you chose to fly into Lisbon airport or to travel by train, you will be responsible for transferring to the Faro Airport. Please note that the Lisbon airport is about 3 hours away by car or train.
We recommend scheduling flights inbound flights to arrive at the Faro Airport on May 21st between 10:00am-1:00pm. We recommend scheduling outbound flights from the Faro Airport to depart on May 27th after 2:00pm.
Portugal is an extremely beautiful country with many other popular areas to travel! We suggest taking a few extra days to explore Lisbon before the retreat. If you would like to explore further, we can recommend some travel itineraries exploring day trips from Lisbon (Belem, Sintra) or Porto (Duoro Wine Valley).
©2022 Alma Ser Retreat