Whole
Autumn Yoga & Self-Discovery Retreat
Oct 16 - 23rd, Monchique, Portugal
Have you been longing for nourishment, deep healing and rest?
Are you willing and ready to meet what has been avoided, heal what has been wounded, reclaim what has been denied and return to your innate wholeness?
This Autumn retreat is for you. Don’t postpone, dear One - your life is sacred. Join us for a loving and carefully designed week of soulful yoga beyond asana, self-inquiry, cacao rituals, voice work & sound for those who are ready to shine light upon, heal and reclaim all parts of their being to return to their natural wholeness.
Enjoy a 10% Early Bird discount until July 1
Take a week out of your busy life and pause. Turn your phone off, turn your gaze in. Bring the light of your loving attention to all the parts of you that need it. To heal means to return to our natural wholeness and the warm nourishing Autumn months in Southern Portugal are so supportive of this intention. Join a sweet group of like-minded people and immerse yourself in the most medicinal setting in the magical Monchique mountain. We will reclaim the parts of ourselves that we may have disowned due to conditioning, trauma or just life. We will remember and rest in our innate wholeness, so that we can cut the cycle of self-abandonment and live in integrity with our true self.
In this retreat you will:
Receive support to discover your essential desire
Discover all the ways in which you abandon it by continuously choosing something else
Uncover the wounds that are at the root of these patterns of self-abandonment and tend to them with love
Reclaim all seeming fragments of your being and return to your innate wholeness
Shift from patterning to presence; move forward equipped with practical steps and commitment to lead a life of integrity with yourself
Places available from £920
10% Early Bird discount until July 1
To reserve a spot, a £200 non-refundable deposit will be required.
See our updated Terms and Conditions
“I feel so well rested and healed in so many ways. I learnt so much and came back full of joy and love for life.”
What am I in for?
7 deep, but also nourishing and light-hearted days.
What if you were never really broken, but simply breaking open? Each day will include open level flow and restorative yoga, yoga nidra, rituals & sound. Yet the purpose of this retreat is not so much to practice - these beautiful tools are simply a means to an end. They are there to help us remove the clutter of our minds so that some important and difficult questions can land in a deeper place inside us and reveal aspects of ourselves that need healing . As we reclaim and welcome them without trying to deny or fix them, our innate wholeness shines naturally - simple, clear, loving and always present.
“I would return in a heartbeat.”
Each day will include 5 pillars
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Slow and soulful vinyasa yoga to start the day, restorative yoga or dance at sunset. Allow yourself to drop from your busy mind down into your body. Our bodies have natural wisdom that we largely ignore - this is an opportunity to listen in.
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Daily guided meditation, curated to the theme and exploration of the day. Discover the art of being intimately and silently present with yourself. Discipline the mind so that it can consciously turn inwardly towards its own source - the Heart.
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Otherworldly yoga nidra (my favourite part of yoga), infused with sound healing & dream songs. Yoga nidra is sometimes called the practice of yogic sleep, as it allows the body and conscious mind to rest fully. It is also the practice of wakefulness - as the deeper, more essential and awake Presence is revealed - the Heart itself.
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Here, we’ll pose some deep and difficult questions about your nature, your essential desire and the ways in which you betray yourself that only the Heart can answer. As the mind settles down, your can finally hear the true answers.
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We will sit together in circle, drink ceremonial cacao and share our realisations of the day. Time and time again, I have witnessed the protective walls around our Hearts soften here. In the holding of the group, everything that we needed to see is suddenly and effortlessly revealed. This is where all the practices and questions of the retreat combust into healing, courage and magic.
Where?
The holy mountain of Monchique in the South of Portugal.
Hidden from the hustle and bustle of the usual tourist destinations on the Algarve coast, Monchique has all the natural elements present in abundance: grounding Earth and lush forests, natural Water sources, evening Fire ceremonies, clean Air and cozy morning mists, open Space and majestic views of the Atlantic coast (we are a 30-40min drive away from both the South AND the West coast). The nearest airport is Faro.
Bodhi Bhavan, you Beauty!
The retreat will take place at beautiful Bodhi Bhavan Right at the top of the mountain, this place is a hidden gem of serenity, silence and mystery that we will have all to ourselves. Beyond its beauty, which is very hard to capture in pictures, it has the perfect balance of coziness, simplicity & comfort. Our welcoming hosts Sita and Michael have created it with much love - they are usually present and add so much joy and warmth to the experience.
I’m in. How can I book?
Enjoy a 10% Early Bird discount by booking before July 1.
To reserve a spot, a non-refundable deposit of £200 is required*.
The balance of the payment is due before Aug 16. Places are limited to 10, so don’t leave it until the last moment.
Shared Twin or Double Room: £920 per person
Single Room: £1490
*Given the fluid and uncertain situation with regards to international travel, I have offered greater flexibility around cancellations. See Terms and Conditions.
This price includes
Your stay at Bodhi Bhavan (7 nights)
Two yoga & self-inquiry sessions daily + evening circles/ceremonies/sound baths
Two delicious vegan/vegetarian meals a day (7 full days) + snacks
Ceremonial cacao & tea for the ceremonies
This price does NOT include
Flights and transport from the airport
Massage and other self-care services
1:1 Mentoring and therapy sessions (50% discount available)
An optional Enneagram exploration session
What do past participants say?
100% said we exceeded their expectations
100% found the retreat was good value for money
100% said they would recommend the retreat to a friend and here is why
“This retreat was one of the most magical experiences of my life...from the quiet, mountaintop location, to the beautiful Bodhi Bhavan resort, to your powerful and kind guidance throughout the workshops, yoga, meditations and daily prompts. I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone in need of reconnecting with themselves, their body and their spirit. HIGHLY transformative. Plus, the group was amazing and I’ve made friends for life from this experience. ”
“What an experience!
I had such a special time with the October 2021 crew. It was my first retreat so I didn’t know what to expect. But I knew with Iri leading it, I was in safe hands.
From the moment we arrived, we were in this kind of safe bubble. We were invited to leave our predetermined beliefs & judgements as we entered the space - just listening and caring. I felt part of something really special with 9 complete strangers that became close friends.
And the gravity that pulled us all together was Iri. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers/be perfect and that makes the experience so much more real and authentic. 10/10 would recommend and will return.”
And who are you?
My name is Irena Sekulska, but for most people I’m Iri. I support people to ground down, heal and discover their True Nature through 1:1 sessions and group events, which combine embodiment practices (soulful yoga & mindfulness), Leela therapy & sefl-inquiry. I have been offering Sunday MindRest immersions, which mix all these elements, online and in person since 2019. If you are unfamiliar with my style and work, this is a good way for you to check if it feels good for you.
I'm trained in Rasa yoga, trauma-informed mindfulness, sound healing, somatic experiencing & polyvagal theory and advanced Ericksonian hypnosis for healing.
Although my offering takes many different shapes, the essence is the same - I don’t really have anything to “offer”. It is my lived experience that you have all the answers within you - I’m simply a loving, empty and skilful mirror for your own self-discovery. I’m here to reflect back to you the possibility to live a free, naturally joyful and fulfilled life as your true natural Self.
“Iri was perfection. The way she managed everything and gently but firmly guided us into deeper inquiry was absolutely beautiful.”
“Iri’s warm and kind presence is such a blessing during this tough year. My life has changed in so many subtle and deep ways since I started working with her - not so much on the outside, but oh so much on the inside!”
FAQ
Some boring but important logistics + some juicy stuff you may want to know about
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The retreat will only take place if travelling to Portugal is safe and stress-free at the time of the retreat. In light of recent developments, travel conditions have eased significantly for fully vaccinated travellers and we are expected to go ahead with the retreat as planned. However, we advise you to check the latest travel restrictions for your country of origin before booking a spot. We also require a travel insurance as a condition to participate in the retreat. For further details, please read our Terms and Conditions. https://letyourmindrest.com/terms-and-conditions
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We require all participants to present a negative COVID test taken no later than 48h prior to the retreat. Please be sure to have your negative test certificate.
Our team and venue have adjusted and will continue to update the running of the retreat to meet government guidelines, so that we can spend this time together safely.
Please read our updated Terms & Conditions for further information. https://letyourmindrest.com/terms-and-conditions
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Given the uncertainty that these times represent, we have allowed for greater flexibility in our cancellation policy:
100% refund for cancellation up to 2 months before the retreat start date (minus the £200 deposit)
50% refund for cancellation up to 1 month before the retreat start date (minus the £200 deposit)
No refund for cancellation within the final month of retreat commencement date.
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Guest cancellations due to COVID-19 travel restrictions will receive a full refund minus their £200 non-refundable deposit.
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Should the entire retreat get cancelled due to travel restrictions, I will refund the totality of any monetary transfers you have made to me, including the non-refundable deposit.
However, I am not liable for any other expenses you may have incurred with regards to this retreat booking, including flights, COVID tests and transfers. Therefore, we require that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance to participate in this retreat.
For further details, please read our Terms and Conditions: https://letyourmindrest.com/terms-and-conditions.
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Anyone who needs some quiet time to rest, reset and reconnect with their True Nature...which is anyone really.
Anyone who feels tired of the status quo and has a deep longing for a different, more heart-centred and self-aware life.
Anyone who has remaining questions around what that looks like, how to move practically forward with Grace, how to communicate this change and take the leap.
All yogi levels are welcome, though the retreat is best suited for Beginner and Intermediate students.
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Each day will weave a mix of activities, from yoga through self-inquiry, to sound healing, outdoor and indoor rituals, dance - a skilfully created journey through the 5 Elements and beyond.
Day 1 - Arrival between 4.30 & 6.30pm, early dinner, opening circle & yoga nidra
Day 2 - We start at the end - What do you really want? Discovering and deepening our essential desire.
Day 3 - Earth - Discovering trustworthiness
Day 4 - Water - Discovering true intimacy
Day 5 - Fire - Discovering true belonging
Day 6 - Air - Returning to Wholeness
Day 7 -Space - Embracing the unknown
Day 8 - Final breakfast & check-out at 10.30am
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Faro Airport. It takes 1h to get from the airport to Bodhi Bhavan, Monchique.
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Most likely not. There are usually at least a couple of men at my retreats and we’ve had times where half of the group was men.
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Transfer from the airport to the retreat is not included in the price, but I can arrange it for you if you prefer this option. Alternatively, Uber is operational in the Algarve and you can order one at the airport.
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Though it is not required, hiring a car is the best option. In Portugal, everything is spread out - having a car will give you the flexibility to explore beautiful beaches and different walks on your own terms, but also access simple things like the grocery shop. If you would like to share a car-pool with some of the other participants, you can let us know in the sign-up questionnaire.
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The second part of October is usually quite warm in Monchique with summer temperatures during the day (21-24 C), yet cool nights and mornings (11 C). I live in the UK, so for me, that’s pretty much summer. Still , you definitely need a warm jumper, mountain shoes, warm socks for the house & a rain jacket + some lighter clothes for the day & a swim suit.
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No. This time is your sacred time and how you spend it is entirely up to you. We encourage you to listen in deeply, feel into what serves you, participate as much as you wish, rest as much as you like and trust your instinct with regards to what you truly need.
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A mix of warm and light clothes + a swim suit if you are feeling brave
A rain jacket
Mountain shoes or trainers
Warm socks or slippers for the house
A torch light if you don’t want to use your phone
A water bottle
Some cash if you are planning on having massages, participating in some of the other activities or purchasing ceremonial cacao
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During the retreat, I will be supported by a few retreat angels who are there to help you have the best experience possible - my partner in life, tireless support and second-best friend Greg, the hosts Sita and Michael, our local chef Markus & dear friends with many artistic and healing talents.
My best friend is a small dog called Sam Pawsome - he will come to visit me daily, so let us know if you are scared of dogs and we will adjust.
If your question hasn’t been answered, please reach out. For further updates, sign up to our newsletter.