A life-changing retreat in the beautiful surroundings of the Algarve, Portugal
This upcoming edition of the Essential MRP promises to be a beautiful experience. The first edition of this retreat in Portugal in January 2024 turned out to be a great success, with beautiful reviews and positive experiences among the participants.

In 2025, we will return to the secluded location of the serene and nature-surrounded property of Bodhi Bhavan, a retreat center in the Algarve region in southern Portugal. At this location, our group will perceive the most profound teachings of mindfulness. It will be an experience that will change your life for the better. An experience you will never forget.

During this retreat, you can expect an immersive experience focused on intensive mindfulness practice for an extended duration. It’s an opportunity to delve into profound self-discovery, particularly when you find yourself at a crossroads in life, seeking answers to existential questions, and craving a boost of energy for your endeavors.

The retreat fosters a strong sense of connection with fellow participants while granting you the freedom to retreat into silence and introspection. It offers ample space for relaxation, complemented by delectable meals to nourish both body and soul.

Throughout the retreat, you’ll encounter a multitude of potent mindfulness techniques, each leaving a lasting impact on your overall well-being. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this retreat serves as a solid starting point or a continuation of your mindfulness journey.

Upon its conclusion, you’ll not only have a clearer understanding of your next steps, but you’ll also possess a roadmap for ensuring this experience serves as a pivotal stepping stone on your spiritual path, rather than a singular event.

A departure from our usual retreat in Thailand
In recent years, the Inner Mind Institute traveled to northern Thailand to host a retreat in a secluded Buddhist temple. Due to a large fire, the temple will be closed for visitors for the following years. That’s why we have decided to host our 7-day Essential Mind Retreat at Bodhi Bhavan in Portugal for the upcoming years.

Replicating the experience of the temple, where monks and nuns practice, and where you can immediately feel the mindfulness energy upon arrival, is not straightforward. While it is indeed a unique experience to witness, it is not essential for the success of this retreat. After this year’s edition, we can confidently say that Bodhi Bhavan turned out to be an excellent and even more accessible alternative.

The next edition of the 7-day Essential Mind Retreat Program will occur from Saturday, 25 January until Saturday, 1 February 2025. We will gather in Faro, Portugal on 25 January and travel to the retreat center together. It is not necessary to travel together to Portugal, so feel free to arrive a few days earlier to enjoy the country.

We will travel to the beautifully situated and isolated retreat center Bodhi Bhavan in the Algarve in the south of Portugal, just outside of the idyllic city of Monchique. The retreat center is located little over an hour’s drive from Faro international airport and close to the famous cities of Portimão and Lagos.

Bodhi Bhavan is located on a Picota mountain (774m) and is surrounded by beautiful nature. The isolated character gives you the feeling of really being able to escape from your daily life and focus on the retreat without distraction. The ground has a strong energy supporting any practice of self exploration and peacefulness. It is a great place for deep rest, healing as well as centering yourself in clarity and finding your inner strength. When the weather allows, there is definitely an opportunity to meditate and recreate in nature.

On the grounds of the retreat center, our group has access to accommodation that is equipped with all amenities. During the retreat, participants stay in a shared house with bedrooms spread over three floors. In another higher building we have a studio with a view over a hill at our disposal for our meditations. During rest periods, participants can even use an outdoor swimming pool.

The food during the retreat is prepared daily by a chef. To get the most out of your mindfulness practice, we recommend not eating more than twice a day. We therefore offer you two delicious vegetarian meals: brunch at 10 am and dinner at 6 pm. You can experience the effect of only having two meals during the retreat. During breaks there will be tea, coffee, nuts, and fruits at your disposal.

During our previous retreats in the temple in Thailand we were used to certain rules. These rules are intended to show respect to the monks and nuns and to keep us focused on our mindfulness practice.

Although this year’s retreat is being organized at a different location, we believe it is important to also observe some of the Buddhist precepts during our stay in the retreat center Bodhi Bhavan.

• Do not kill (humans nor animals)
• Do not steal
• Do not lie
• Do not commit adultery
• Do not take intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs

• 3 to 4 sets of comfortable yoga clothing to wear during our meditation sessions;
• Shawl or a thick sweater against the cold in the early mornings and evenings;
• Toiletries;
• Slippers, normal shoes, and hiking shoes for a mindful walk on the mountain trail (partially tarmac, partially forest);
• A flashlight;
• A pen and notepad to take notes.

The climate in the Algarve is still pleasant in January/February. The temperature generally fluctuates somewhere between 9 and 16 degrees, depending on the wind direction. Since it is winter, there is always a chance of rain. However, it can also be dry, so you can also wear a T-shirt during the day. We recommend that you bring suitable clothes. It is good to know that the living area, bedrooms, and the practice room are all heated.

Right in the middle of the terraced land lies the main house. The house offers space to fourteen participants divided over seven fully renovated heated bedrooms, offering two single beds and an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower. The interior design is kept uncluttered with elegant simplicity.

All rooms are individual in character and shape but all share the same features. Each bed is fitted with memory foam mattresses for your sleeping comfort. The rooms are located so that they provide privacy for all participants. The rooms are situated on the ground floor, and the first and second floor.

Living room
The living room is very much the center and heart of the house. Everybody can eat together in a cozy atmosphere around the big table. The room has a front opening up to the patio and features a sitting area in front of the window with a fireplace.

Kitchen
The kitchen is designed in the traditional Portuguese style and is conveniently connected to the main living area and the outside patio. Brunch and dinner are served as a buffet in the kitchen, and are consumed at a large table in the (heated) patio. Tea, coffee, and fresh water from the mountain are available at your disposal in the kitchen throughout the day.

Swimming pool
While the lower part of the land is kept for food forests, as well as vegetable gardens and wild nature, the upper half of the land opens up the pool area. The 15-meter long pool will allow to have a real swim. Around the pool is a chill-out area with sun beds.

By walking a small path uphill you will arrive at a yoga shala or practice studio for our meditation. It is 50 sqm building with a breathtaking view over the hills and you can see to Portugal’s wild West coast in the distance. In front of the shala stretches an even bigger wooden platform, which can be used for all outdoor activities.

The approximately six-hectare ground impresses with its natural stone terraces dating back to the traditional agricultural use of the property.

The garden has many fruit trees like fig, apple, orange & apricot, as well as palms, cork oaks, and medronheiro (strawberry) trees. Trees and terraces are interspersed with rock formations shaping and softening the structure of the land.

On the land there are lots of hidden spaces and quiet spots to inquire within, meditate, rest and simply enjoy nature while offering a vastness that permits the soul to expand. Buddha statues and a water Devi are placed around the land to protect and support us.

Natural spring water comes directly out of the mountain and is drinkable straight from the source.

It doesn’t matter if you have just started or that you have a lot of experience with mindfulness. The retreat will be tailored to your level. During the retreat period, most people feel as if they are stepping into a warm bath. At the same time, you will also experience that your mindfulness sessions can be challenging. It therefore requires perseverance that will lead to deep insights and relaxation.

• Patience – Try not to pay attention to the time during the retreat. This can sometimes be challenging because perhaps you are not yet used to the mindfulness sessions and discipline during a retreat.
• Dedication – Make it clear to yourself why you have decided to go on this special journey. The more dedication you have during the retreat, the more you can reap the benefits at the end of this beautiful period.
• Willingness – The willingness to grow and develop. Self-development is a conscious choice for a higher growth rate. This means that new insights will arise, and where new insights arise, change will follow.
• Kindness and compassion – Be kind to yourself and others.
• Positivity – Try to stay positive during the retreat and during the trip itself. By dealing mindfully with your feelings you give yourself a very big gift.

Direct flights from most European countries go to Faro International Airport. If you fly from outside Europe, you will most likely have to make a connection at another airport, such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, or Lisbon.

Retreat 1: 25 January – 1 February 2025

Our accommodation at Bodhi Bhavan offers space to 14 practitioners divided over 7 shared bedrooms with single beds.

Shared bedrooms
Men and women typically sleep separately during this retreat. Although the thought of sharing a room with a stranger may initially put you off, we have experienced that it actually enhances your overall experience of the retreat and contributes to the cohesion of the group. That’s why most participants express positive opinions on sharing a room afterwards. It is possible, however, to book a room for yourself against an additional fee if you prefer to have a room to yourself.

Couples
We understand that it’s your preference to share a room with your partner when you decide to join this retreat as a couple. Although we can’t make any guarantees, we always try to provide couples with a shared bedroom.

The price includes accommodation, food, guidance, organization, and VAT. If you wish to have a room to yourself, you can select this in below registration form.

* Flight tickets are booked by the participants themselves. Cost of the airline tickets depends on the time of booking.

* The Inner Mind Institute will arrange a group transport to our accommodation from Faro. Make sure you arrive in Faro on time to use this service.

* To make sure that this retreat suits you, Master Niels can invite you for an intake interview after reviewing your registration. Your participation in this retreat is not guaranteed until you have received a confirmation from our side.

* By submitting your registration, you confirm your participation in the retreat and agree to the obligation to pay for your participation. After we have received your registration, we will send you an invoice, which must be paid within 14 days. Your payment is the confirmation or your participation in the retreat.

Travel and cancellation insurance
We advise everyone who wants to participate in this retreat to take out good travel and cancellation insurance.

Paying with your card
As a resident of the European Union, you can simply pay or withdraw money with your debit card in most European countries. If in doubt, make sure you check with your bank before you travel to Portugal whether you can use your debit card and whether there are additional costs involved. If you live outside Europe, we recommend that you find out in advance whether you can use your debit card in Portugal. Please note that a daily limit may apply to your debit card.

Each retreat has a maximum capacity of 14 participants.

We wish you a very pleasant and inspiring journey!