Ashtanga Yoga & Nature
A Retreat to Reconnect + Inquire in the Mountains of Portugal
Led by Monica Arellano and Leni Scherer
July 19 - August 2, 2025
one and two week options available
This will be our third time hosting our Ashtanga Retreat at Cara Creek in Portugal. We didn’t want to leave so soon last time so by popular demand, we’ve decided to offer 2 weeks in 2025.
You can choose week 1 (July 19-26), week 2 (July 26-August 2) or both weeks (July 19-August 2). Please clarify which week(s) you want to join when emailing to sign up.
Immerse in nature, dive deeply into Ashtanga yoga, meditation and the philosophies supporting it, stay in a sustainably built and run off-grid retreat center, connect with community, carve out time to pause and reflect, swim in rivers, sleep under the stars.
During this retreat, we will apply the techniques of Ashtanga Yoga with a therapeutic lens, so that it supports everything that’s uniquely present for you. We won’t force the practice to look any one particular way. Rather, we will work together to clear the path towards a practice that heals and reflects the process of knowing yourself more fully. There will be dedicated time in the Mysore room and workshops to explore the practice and how we can move through it with a compassionate and intelligent touch.
We limit sign ups to a small group offering each participant individualized attention so that we can create a practice that truly works for you, by not only using conventional Ashtanga but also by thinking outside the box to bring in other techniques where it’s helpful. We also enjoy the dynamic of a small group outside the yoga room, offering plenty of time and space to really get to know each other.
We’ll take time in nature, by immersing ourselves in its raw beauty and allowing our experiences to inspire and energize us. We settle in the mountains of Portugal for a week and live as close to nature as possible without sacrificing comfort. This isn’t a luxury retreat though, it’s one that will ask you to strip down to the essentials, because then it’s possible to truly settle into what nature wants us to experience… ourselves. The eco pods you’ll sleep in have comfortable warm beds during cool nights but are simple, so you’ll hear the sounds of nature and see the light from the stars. The foods you eat will be vegetarian and fresh from the local gardens so full of flavor and nourishment. The spa experience is spreading local clay all over your body before jumping into the cold rivers, spending nights in the sauna and swimming in the natural pool. Cara Creek is a little slice of paradise with quality where it matters - in its easy access to nature, cleanliness, well run facilities, and personal attention to each participant.
If you don’t have a lot of experience in the Mysore room, this is a great opportunity to ease into it with a welcoming space and intimate group. You’ll get plenty of one on one guidance so you’ll learn how to practice on your own with the support of community. After this week you’ll be ready to join any Mysore class or have a daily home practice, if you don’t already. If you aren’t sure if this retreat is for you, feel free to reach out and ask!
It would be an honor for you to join us for our third time at Cara Creek in the mountains of Portugal. The first two trips were magic and we can’t wait to see what the next retreat brings us all.
Daily Schedule
You will have the space to practice freely, following the conventional Ashtanga sequence or not. All with the support of Monica and Leni holding a safe nurturing space. Upon request, we will have a guided class once or twice. If you aren’t sure what to do, we’ll guide you.
Open Mysore Style Practice.
Coffee available before for those who need that extra dose of inspiration in the mornings :)
20 minute group meditation.
7:30am
8:00 - 10:00am
10:00 - 11:00pm
Brunch, coffee, tea
There is fruit and tea available at all times in case you want to snack outside meal times.
11:00pm - 4:30pm
A snack is prepare during the break for you to enjoy on your own time.
Free time in nature.
Topics covered will be asana, technique, pranayama, meditation and philosophy. Some days we will make this session a little shorter if we plan a longer outdoor activity. We’ll also leave plenty of space for your questions and requests.
4:30 - 6:30pm
Workshop / Lecture
7:00 - 8:00pm
Dinner
All meals are vegetarian with the ability to individually adapt them to your dietary needs or restrictions.
Private Session with Leni and Monica
Each student will have the opportunity to schedule a private session with both Leni and Monica. We will assess your practice and work with you based on your unique needs and intentions in the practice. In case you have any injuries, we will show you alternative practice forms and additional therapeutic sequencing addressing the issue. This way, you can develop a clear path for deepening your practice in a holistic way. We will also hold space for you to discuss anything that you are experiencing during practice or off the mat. Our intention is to support you in using the space of practice to reflect and guide you through what you’re going through in your life.
Activities for your free time
Natural swimming pool
Communal spaces
Mondego River
Stand up paddle board
Hike to nearby waterfall
Private river beach
Book a holistic therapy session
Cold Plunge
Swim in the creek
Hot tub + sauna
Gather around fire-pit
Visit a neolithic dolmen
Accommodations + Pricing
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Penta Pod
These pentagonal shaped structures have a small window and door that rolls up
Early Bird - Private: €1,475 / €2,802
Regular - Private: €1,675 / €3,182
*first price shown is for 1 week and second price shown is for 2 weeks.
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Tri Pod
Named for their triangle shape, they reach 5 meters high & have small decks in front
Early Bird - Private: €1,580 / €3,002
Regular - Private: €1,780 / €3,382
*first price shown is for 1 week and second price shown is for 2 weeks.
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Tetra Pod
The walls reach 6 meters high to a clear top, and have a large window with amazing views.
Early Bird - Private: €1,580 / €3,002
Regular - Private: €1,780 / €3,382
*first price shown is for 1 week and second price shown is for 2 weeks.
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Cabana
Unique pods with stunning views over the valley
Early Bird - Private: €1,580 / €3,002
Regular - Private: €1,780 / €3,382
*first price shown is for 1 week and second price shown is for 2 weeks.
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The Granite Room
Part of the original ruin which has been renovated to maintain it's rustic charm. For those who don’t like the idea of ‘glamping’.
Early Bird - Private: €1,720 / €3,268
Regular - Private: €1,920 / €3,648
*first price shown is for 1 week and second price shown is for 2 weeks.
What’s Included in Pricing
7 nights of accommodations where conscious living meets comfort. Shared accommodations available upon request
7 days of practice and 5 afternoon workshops
1 private session with Leni and Monica
Garden fresh meals prepared by retreat chef. All ingredients are locally sourced. 2 full meals and snacks included each day.
Train or bus station pick up and drop off included from Carrrgal do Sal, Oliveira do Hospital, or Tabua
Assistance with booking a shuttle transfer from Coimbra, Porto or Lisbon
Day time nature activities
A €500 deposit is required to reserve your spot, full payment due by May 20, 2025. Payment plans available upon request.
Early Bird pricing ends December 31, 2024
Meet the Teachers
Monica and Leni have crossed paths on their journeys several times, each time sharing ideas, perspectives and curiosities in the practice. Always finding common ground in their approach. They are thrilled to come together and share their passion for this practice.
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From an early age on, Leni has been fascinated with both human physiology and philosophy and how different paradigms of these two fields connect on a spiritual level. During her medical studies she stumbled upon the practice of Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga and meditation practice. She then fully immersed herself in that practice and began to study Yoga philosophy and Ayurveda more extensively. Along the way she has had the opportunity to study with and draw inspiration from teachers such as Dr. Ronald Steiner, Richard Freeman, Mary Taylor, Tim Feldmann, Kino Macgregor, Sharat Jois, Eddie Stern, David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, to name a few. Currently she is studying with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach in order to become a certified mindfulness meditation teacher. Leni is a licensed physician with a specialization in Integrative Medicine, an AYI Expert teacher and a 500-hour Yoga teacher trainer accredited by the Yoga Alliance. In the past few years she has been teaching in a variety of settings and has been a part of numerous teacher trainings. Being a dedicated practitioner herself, she combines her knowledge of Yoga philosophy and human physiology with her personal practical experience and manages to put it into a spiritual context with didactic aptitude. Leni enjoys sharing what she has learned so far with anyone who is sincerely interested in continuously exploring and developing their individual practices.
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Monica Arellano (500RYT) is a student and teacher of Ashtanga Yoga, pranayama and meditation practices.First connecting to yoga in 2010, looking for a more peaceful way of being and a tangible practice to reflect her inclination towards spirituality. Monica completed a 2 year Ashtanga Yoga apprenticeship with an emphasis on the mysore style method at Miami Life Center in 2018. After making multiple trips to India she received the formal blessing to teach from R. Sharath Jois. More recently she completed a yearlong philosophy immersion with Ty Landrum and a month-long teacher’s intensive with Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor. Monica is also the Programming Director for Omstars, an online yoga channel and community founded by Kino MacGregor. Being a student on a spiritual journey is a never ending process that keeps her connected to herself and the source which fuels her teaching. Monica’s classes emphasize the breath, internal form, and self-exploration; in hopes of feeling into the experience of yoga and giving space for sincere expression according to each student’s unique body and mind. Through mindful practice, she believes we can deconstruct unhealthy patterns, facilitate healing on many levels, and find our way back to the most honest version of ourselves.
FAQs
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December 31, 2024
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email Leni Scherer at hmscherer@yahoo.com
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All levels are welcome. We are here to accommodate the practice to your wants and needs, whatever the practice looks like for you and however you show up.
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You should have some sort of self-practice established, even if its minimal. But you don’t need to be a regular Mysore style practitioner or be a part of a mysore program. There are no strict qualifications or standards you need to meet. This is actually a great opportunity to get more comfortable with practicing in a Mysore style setting, if you aren’t already. The welcoming space and intimate group will allow you to ease into a mysore room or be clear on how to continue with a daily home practice.
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You can fly into Coimbra, Porto or Lisbon, all of which we can help arrange shuttle trasnfers from. Once you’ve booked your flight we will put you in touch with Ashley who runs Cara Creek and she will coordinate transportation for you to get to the retreat center. Plan to spend around 100 euros for round trip transportation to and from Cara Creek.
Often students like to spend some days in Porto or Lisbon after the retreat before continuing their journeys.
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Normally we say students/participants should arrive any time after lunch to Cara Creek on arrival day, and depart any time between breakfast and before lunch.
Arrival day — if traveling same day arrange a flight that arrives to Lisbon or Porto in the morning to allow for enough time to travel to Cara Creek.
Departure — if flying the same day book an evening flight to allow time to get back to the cities.
Often students like to spend some days in Porto or Lisbon before or after the retreat before continuing their journeys.
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By car about 3 hours, by train about 4 hours. Porto is just a little bit shorter.
Part of what makes Cara Creek so special is that you really feel disconnected from cities. The other side of that is that it is a bit of a journey to reach from the major airports. It’s totally worth it! And we will help you step by step to arrange transportation from either major airport.
So if long travel days aren’t your thing then maybe plan to spend a day or two before and/or after the retreat in Lisbon or Porto (both really awesome cities) to break up the travel.
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a €500 non-refundable deposit is due to hold your spot. Remaining balance is due by May 20, 2024. If you cancel before May 20, you will receive a refund for anything paid above the deposit. In case of an emergency siutation we can be flexible with this policy.
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There is pricing available for shared accommodations upon request
