Deepen your mindfulness practice and discover practical ways to integrate it into your everyday life in this special retreat. Whether it’s finding calm during a busy workday, being present in family moments, staying grounded at social gatherings, or even approaching daily chores with awareness, you’ll discover how mindfulness can transform all aspects of your life.

Join us for a peaceful and enriching experience at Bodhi Bhavan, near the pittoresque town of Monchique, where you’ll leave with tools to carry mindfulness with you, long after the retreat ends.

During this immersive 7-day vipassana mindfulness retreat, you’ll undergo a transformative journey—deeply focused on cultivating mindfulness and integrating it into your everyday life. The MRP Mindful Living Retreat offers an opportunity for profound self-discovery, especially if you find yourself at a crossroads, seeking clarity on existential questions, or want to do things differently in life.

Throughout the week, you’ll learn how to stay mindful in your everyday life. This retreat teaches you how you to approach situations differently. It is the perfect time to let go of habits that no longer serves you.  The intensive mindfulness practices you will explore, will give you the space to retreat into silence and introspection. You will find a unique balance of quiet contemplation and learning to integrate mindfulness into all of your daily activities.

While this investment in yourself requires hard work, there will be time to enjoy a swim in the pool, connect with the other participants, or retreat in one of the silent corners of Bodhi Bhavan’s garden.

Whether you’re new to mindfulness or a seasoned practitioner, this retreat will either serve as a fresh starting point or a deepening of your existing journey.

For nearly 15 years, Master Niels has guided retreats in one of the most remarkable temple in northern Thailand. These sacred retreats, rooted in centuries-old traditions, have profoundly transformed the lives of those who participated.

Recently, Master Niels has decided to expand the reach of this ancient wisdom by offering retreats closer to home in Europe. By making these teachings more accessible, more people can experience the deep impact of retreat practice without the need to travel far.

Our experience has shown that the power of these retreats is just as profound in Europe as it is in Thailand. The essence of transformation lies not in the location, but in the practice itself.

Thailand will always hold a special place within our institute, and we remain committed to our long-standing collaboration with the temple and teachers there. This connection will continue to inspire and enrich everything we offer.

We will gather in Faro, Portugal, on 25 January and travel to the retreat center together. Traveling together to Portugal is unnecessary, so feel free to arrive a few days earlier to enjoy the country. If you feel nervous about flying alone, please let us know. In most cases, we can arrange for you to travel together with us or one of the other participants.

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 stay at Bodhi Bhavan we adhere to a number of rules in respect of the guesthouse and surrounding nature. You can think of water and energy consumption, taking off your shoes in the guesthouse, etc.

August days in the Algarve are typically hot with balmy evenings. The average daily maximum is 29 °C with a minimum of 21 °C. Rainfall during this period is extremely rare, with an average of 0-5 mm through the month.

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.

Direct flights from most European countries go to Faro International Airport in Portugal. 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 International Airport Humberto Delgado.

The price includes accommodation, food, guidance, organization, and VAT.

* Your donation at the end of the retreat is not included.

* 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 and from our accommodation from Faro. Make sure you arrive in Faro on time to use this service. You may also travel to Bodhi Bhavan on your own. Reception is at 4:30 pm CET on Saturday, August 2. As the guest house will be prepared for our stay, it is not possible to arrive earlier.

* If you want to book a double room for yourself, email us at mindful@innermindinstitute.org.

* By submitting your registration, you confirm your participation in the retreat and agree to the obligation to pay for your participation. 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.