New Year Yoga and Meditation Retreat "The Seed of Change" (Sintra)

The Seed of Change:

A small seed,
Pure and innocent,
Was planted in the heart.

Watered with Love,
And with the Sun of meditation,
It can become a vigorous tree.

Its shade is enough for everyone,
And the fruits are wonderful,
Wouldn't you also like to…

… come and help it grow?

We live in times of change. The ancient practices of yoga and meditation open doors to our deep being, doors to a broader vision of our true nature and inner strength. This is a transformative experience. This inner change can be shared. We can all make our contribution to a better world, and in that giving… receive.

At the foot of the mystical Sintra Mountains, the path will be guided by the ancestral wisdom of Tantra Yoga, teaching us techniques and practices that allow us to develop our full potential at the various levels of existence. And in the true spirit of living in the present, we will take a look at our life and ecosystem, and see that after all we can be… the Seed of Change!

Location:

Quinta de Santa Maria – at the foot of the Sintra Mountains, a welcoming farm characterized by serenity and natural beauty. The interior setting will be altered to reflect the spirit of simplicity of the retreat. The activity room is a very large and bright space, with a view of the mountains, including the Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. A place with the right energy for deep moments of inspiration and introspection.

More information about the Quinta and photos: see here
Map: see here

A moment of inspiration

This is an opportunity to enjoy moments of introspection in a tranquil and inspiring environment. Come and meditate in silence, do daily yoga practices, walk in nature, eat delicious vegetarian food, and find that inner space where you are allowed to connect peacefully and harmoniously with other beings and the whole universe. At the same time we will have moments of interaction and of reflection on our life and on our role on this planet.

The Indian monk Dada Dhyanananda will be present, a teacher of yoga and meditation who for the last 25 years has worked on social entrepreneurship projects around the world, including humanitarian aid in the context of natural disasters in African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries. For the past decade and a half he has taught the Intuitional Science of Tantra Yoga and Meditation with the aim of bringing health, inner peace and spiritual development to human beings – conditions indispensable for creating a better society.

All moments of the retreat are opportunities to receive and share inspiration in a familiar and relaxed atmosphere.

Program:

During the times marked "Morning / afternoon program" there will be workshops, presentations, games and activities related to the practice of yoga and meditation, and also reflection on personal transformation and our role in a changing world. All programs are optional.

At any time it is possible to take a walk around the Quinta.

Accommodation:

Lodging will be in shared rooms, with people of the same gender. The rooms will be in the main building of the farm for the first people to register, and then in a nearby building. The rooms are heated. There are about 20 beds available, which will be reserved for those who request them, in order of confirmation of registration. Those who do not get one of the available beds should bring what they need for sleeping (sleeping bag, mat, pillow, blanket).
A separate room in a nearby hostel is possible, at an extra cost.

Items to bring:

• Sleeping bag and mat
• Shoes for walking outdoors
• Shoes for indoors (e.g. indoor slippers)
• Comfortable clothing
• Personal hygiene items including a bath towel
• Paper and pen
• Yoga mat (some will be available for those who do not have one)

Arrival and departure options (the prices indicated include food, lodging and participation in all activities):

(*) Option 3 is for those who really have to work on Friday, January 2, and therefore leave the retreat at the end of the day on January 1 (which is a holiday) and return on January 2 in the late afternoon.

The prices include lodging, food and participation in all activities.

We are making an effort to keep the cost affordable.

The food is vegetarian (sattvika vegan) and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is possible to eat a piece of fruit between meals.

For those who want a single room, it is possible to stay in a nearby hostel, for which we can give a price.

Registration and more information

The number of participants is limited by the capacity of the space. The first people to register will be able to stay in the main building, where the activities take place. Beds will be assigned in order of confirmation of registrations.

Registration:

Information:

• Telephone 961486347
• Email: [email protected]

This activity is organized by volunteers; we will answer the questions asked as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Film and testimonials from previous retreats

Here are short films of the last retreats, with images from the last retreat, in narrative style:

April 2014 Retreat: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSWst4VaxQI]

December 2013 Retreat: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZKBwiFwA0o]

Testimonials from retreats:

A moment of inspiration took me to the foot of the enchanted mountain. Sintra, a dream town built by imagination, was an idyllic setting, suited to my staying in deeper contact with my Self. The search for the magical, for inner peace and for the encounter with the spirit thus became the proposal for a noble journey. I stayed in one place and so I let myself go. This allowed me to leave my life's baggage at some spiritual check-in and freed me for the encounter with my most diverse and varied senses, those that everyday life did not let me glimpse. Meditating at 6 in the morning I found in myself a vague but virtuous sensation: I knew my place; I know it is not here, I know it was not there, but right in the center of my soul. Welcome, Rui.
Rui Ferreira

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Going on a retreat at the very end of the year has, in itself, a special connotation. The decision to do it came from wanting something new, stepping out of the routine that the whole year obliges us to follow, and being able to recharge the batteries for a new year approaching. So there was not much searching for possible programs. The New Year Retreat 2013/2014 "The Spirit of Yoga" of Ananda Marga came up because it had to be… everything is what it has to be!! After looking at the program and the place where it would be experienced, it resonated fully with me and I did not hesitate to sign up!!!
And yes, it was a fantastic, unique experience… from the moment of check-in, through an excellent intensive program of activities, as well as the tireless and loving coordinating team, without exception, who managed to do their work with nobility, providing unforgettable moments. To the sound of the Mantra "Baba Nam Kevalam," which means "Everything is Love," I lived the days of the Retreat with a full Heart.
I AM GRATEFUL, IMMENSELY GRATEFUL, ETERNALLY GRATEFUL to the Universe, for everything I allowed myself to experience, enjoy and manage to Be, in these last days of the Year 2013.
I come away with more than I brought in my luggage, on this wonderful Spiritual Journey!
BABA NAM KEVALAM
Isabel Aparício

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After little searching but a great desire to have a calm and different New Year's Eve, an opportunity arose not only to see in the new year but also to spend the last days of that same year in a special place. A retreat in a beautiful space that gave me an unexpected inner journey through different wonderful moments such as the meditations and the dance of Kiirtan to the sound of the chanting of the mantra Baba Nam Kevalam, talks, games, classes, walks, delicious food prepared by the fantastic Shiila, and the music of Pedro de Faro that enchanted our ears. Another aspect I particularly liked was the contagious joy of all the participants, which made all the tasks we carried out very pleasant and inspiring moments, with a lot of mutual help among everyone. For me, in particular, it was a great joy how I overcame the difficulties with movement and balance that I faced on the walk we took in the mountains, which was only possible with the help of the people who supported me and who knew how to convey to me the necessary strength and confidence. It was a hard moment but a great lesson that will last for the rest of my life.. My heartfelt thanks.
I left a different person, calmer and better equipped to face life and the problems with which it surprises us. I thank from the bottom of my heart all those who contributed to giving me this unique experience. (Miguel Moreira)

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Going to the retreat was an opportunity to dive into my depths. The life that pulsed in the green of the imposing mountains, the sound of nature, the meditation, the practice of yoga and the inspiration conveyed by the Dadas awakened in me a growing awareness and inner well-being. To recall the moments when I watched the first rays of the sun of the day appear, cradled by the sound of a melody that vibrates with the meaning of "love is all that exists," is to be touched once more by that feeling of universal love. (…) May all beings thirsty for life, for freedom and for divine love be able to dive into this fantastic journey. (Nádia Cordeiro)