FORGET RETREATING FROM LIFE – ITS TIME TO GET LIFE INSPIRED!

Deepen your holistic experience and learn valuable knowledge which also benefits your everyday life.

It's easy to attend a retreat and receive a dose of 'paradise' but the real value is accumulating wisdom and skills which you can then apply to your life back home. So this programme uniquely offers both. You get paradise, a truly nourishing, relaxing connection holistic experience, encompassing yoga, a range of holistic workshops, and therapies. But crucially there are also holistic education sessions to help to nourish the mind, to help you understand the stress factors which are acting on you and creating frustration, confusion and strain in your everyday life.

There is also a healthy focus on group connection and fun with planned excursions to the beach and a meal out at the local vibrant town of Lagos.

Creative Wellness founder Richard Brook's skill is in helping people to understand and value all areas of their life as being equally important and learning what practices and knowledge you need physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally to thrive as a human being. So his retreat ethos is to treat, teach, connect and educate and on this programme you have all in abundance in one of the most energetically potent places on Earth, the beautiful Moinhos Velhos retreat. And just to be clear - the yoga is an accessible style that is suitable for all.

Highlights

• Daily Yoga Classes
• Holistic Activity Workshops
• Holistic Education Sessions
• Therapies
• Vegetarian Meals
• Sauna and Jacuzzi
• Salt Water Pool
• Use of Electromagnetic Bed
• Trip to Lagos and the Beach

Who is it For?

The programme is perfect for newcomers and experienced alike, as the yoga and workshops are nourishing and suitable for all. Newcomers benefit from Richard’s ability to explain holistic principles in a clear accessible way.

And the programme is also perfect for those who may have lots of experience with holistic practices but are inquisitive to understand more about the principles behind them, or feel like they may have hit a block or plateau as there is some level of understanding missing. Of particular interest may be Richard's speciality of the Body-mind connection or Environment-body-mind connection which is often a missing link in people's understanding.

Embodied Knowledge is Power

These 4 days are less of a retreat and more of a source of inspiration. Sometimes daily life beats us up a little, but without the necessary tools we often return back to the same situations without really understanding why. And then we spiral back through the same situations without really developing, which can also lead us into what Richard calls the 'antidote syndrome' where big elements of our life feel unsatisfactory and we have to seek solace in other areas, exercise, food, socialising, relationships, therapies.

But why not have it all? You have choice. Your body and subconscious registers every moment you are alive, so the opportunity is there to choose to feed yourself with nourishing lifestyle choices, occupations, circumstances, relationships rather than making choices which make you contract and close.

Holistic Education

But we need to know the rules of the game of life, so this retreat contains an emphasis on holistic education alongside the practical activities that we will be offered. The holistic education that Richard delivers enables you to understand some of the fundamental basics of being a healthy being, which isn't something we usually get taught in school. The wisdom on offer bypasses your socialized intellect as goes straight for a deeper, more primal level of your understanding.

• Easily accessible principles of yoga and meditation
• Eating & digestion
• The Body - mind connection
• Understanding universal principles of nature such as Yin & Yang and the 5 Elements

The Physical Need

On a physiological level just the general stresses of modern urban life call us to slow down and retreat from time to time. The average day for Londoners generally consists of pollution, stress, over-adrenalization (leading to poor digestion), sedentary work environments, stagnant electromagnetic energy and generally over stimulated and under nourished nervous systems. Well folks a good 4 days at beautiful Moinhos Velhos will make massive strides to rebalance all these things.

The programme culminates with Richard's signature Spiral Walk Meditation, a heart opening letting go and creative visioning workshop, and a magnificent end to a fabulous programme.

Holistic Therapies

In addition, there is a superb line up of therapists on hand, so if you want to take advantage of the relaxed space that you find yourself in to give your body a helping hand in cleansing, rebalancing or relaxing even more then we are there for you! In addition, parts of our psyche or subconscious that can often be neglected in our busy everyday life often naturally come up to the surface when given the space of a retreat and can benefit from a skilled treatment.

Therapies include

• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Shiatsu
• Reflexology
• Physiospect Analysis (cutting edge Russian bio-feedback technology)

And...being healthy does not mean being boring!

This all sounds great, lots of information and some yoga practice, but what are we still missing? We also need some Heart. Richard and his team are masters at facilitating an environment which is fun and joyful, with an emphasis on connection. The balance in life is always between content and space, and you'll also have plenty of space just to be, or to connect with your fellow participants.

What else will we be doing?

A trip is planned to the local vibrant town of Lagos, we will eat out there one night with the option to sample some of the nightlife too! We will also be taking walks - there is a stunning lake nearby and a trip to the beach!

About Richard

Richard is founder of Creative Wellness and a true holistic expert, specializing in 5 Elements acupuncture, Dru yoga, holistic coaching, holistic education and corporate wellbeing. He facilitates wellness retreats and programmes at Moinhos Velhos retreat in Portugal that are rated in the top 10 in the world by The Times. He works deeply on whichever level of your health calls for support - physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. However his work is truly holistic and empowering as it also considers, and helps you understand, how your environment and life choices also affect your health.

Location

Moinhos Velhos is usually home to juice detox retreats (and has been rated in the top 10 in the World by The Times newspaper) and has an astonishingly rich and abundant energy, not to mention all the years of experience which come together to make the place what it is. The centre is also located directly on one of twelve synchronicity lines which join together at only 2 places on Earth, one is at Damanhur in Italy and the other is in Tibet.

There are also thousands of small quartz crystals in the ground all around in the valley. The original founders, now in their 80's still live on site, remarkable people

On-site facilities

In keeping with it's status as one of the top detox retreats in the world, there are numerous on-site facilities to attract your time, attention and further aid relaxation! Including; Sauna, Hot Tub, Swimming Pool, Electro-Magnetic Bed, extensive library.

What they are saying!

"I found your sessions incredible and the whole experience was certainly life changing for me. I arrived a stressed out, burnt out workaholic and mum to two young boys and left ready to follow a more spiritual path. Thank you so much for your time, knowledge and presence." Take care Kaye x

"It’s not an exaggeration to say that this retreat has been one of the most profound and transformative experiences I’ve ever had! The amazing teachers, the magical location, the bonding experience with the other participants and Richard’s overall attention to detail creates a truly unique experience." Michael

"Hi Richard, I hope you are well. I wanted to thank you personally for taking care of me during my stay in Moinhos Velhos. The changes were subtle at first after your acupuncture treatments, and as the days, weeks and months went by I realised a transformation had taken place. Maybe also with the spiral ceremony…

I no longer burst into tears when looking at my brother’s photos or when something reminds me of him. It is more peaceful in my heart and I am convinced you helped that happen. So a huge THANK YOU.

I jumped right back into “life” after Moinhos Velhos (MV). It gave me strength to go forward with a few things that were weighing heavily on me. Although it has been a rocky road, taking up much of my time and energy, exercising, mediation, and juicing have beena bit sporadic to say the least, I have been keeping it up all the same a few times a week.

MV enabled all of us in some way to make big life changes and it’s great to see!

Take care
Have a nice weekend
Big hug

Amanda x"

Accommodation

Whilst Moinhos Velhos is a beautiful energetically abundant place, just to be clear it's not a Spa or high end hotel! Accommodation is comfortable and basic; There is a choice of Shared rooms (for 2 people), Single rooms, Shared Cottages (for 2 people) and Single Cottages. All rooms have attached bathrooms with shower, toilet, and the cottages have two separate bathrooms. There is Wi-fi on site.

Practicals

Retreat Starts with a late Lunch on Saturday at 3pm and Ends with Lunch on Tuesday.

Shared Room: £420
Single Room: £460
Shared Cottage: £460

Early Bird Discount - £399 for shared, £439 for single and shared cottage, Valid till April 31st

Additional Nights Stay - Available on Tuesday Evening. Includes meals.

Shared Room £75
Single Room £85
Shared Cottage £85

A non-refundable deposit of £100 needs to be paid to secure your place. Please note, until the deposit is paid your place is not confirmed. The final balance payment must be received no later than 1 month prior to the start of the retreat, or your place will be considered forfeited.

Any booking made after May 24th has to be paid in full. Please contact me for payment details to arrange a transfer.

Not included in the cost, but available

Individual Therapy sessions (€65 each) - e.g acupuncture, shiatsu, massage

Transfers to and from Faro airport:

for 4 or more people €25 each way
for 3 person €35 each way
for 2 people €45 each way
for 1 person €78 each way
Pickup from Lagos are free

If for any reason you found yourself arriving alone, there are also less expensive ways of getting from Faro to Lagos without having to pay the €78 solo transfer fee - there are buses and trains. However, would be much more useful if you could arrive together!

What’s not included

Airfare to and from Portugal
The cost of your meal and share of taxi (approx €5) when we eat out in Lagos
Urban Stress or misery :-)

There are only very limited spaces available - please bear this in mind to avoid disappointment!

Recommended flights

24th June, London Stansted-Faro, Jet 2, 08:10-11:05 = £100

24th June, London Stansted-Faro, Ryanair, 10:35-13.40= £135

27th June, Faro-London Luton, Ryanair, 16:15-19.05 = £52

27th June, Faro-London Southend, Easyjet, 20.15-23.00 = £48

(checked on 2nd April)

Taken from flight aggregate site: www.momondo.co.uk

Terms and Conditions

The deposit is non-refundable. If cancellation is made after May 24th you will forfeit 100% of the cost of the retreat. However, I do understand that things happen, so if another person can be found to take your place, then you may be offered a partial refund at my discretion.

For cancellations made prior to May 24th, you will forfeit your deposit.

Once your retreat has begun, no refund or part refund or unused portion of the retreat will be repaid in the event of cancellation by you. Bookings are for the stated period of your retreat. There are no refunds for an unused portion of your retreat. If the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of your personal Insurance Policy, you may be able to make a claim.

I reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel a retreat, in which case I will offer a full refund of all monies paid.

More information can be found about retreats at www.creativewellness.co.uk