RETREATS

REJUVENATE YOUR SENSES: AZORES

September 22-28, 2024

with Dr. Abbey Leigh & René Quenell

Relax your nervous system while gazing at the lush, green tropical landscape, misty waterfalls, rolling pastures, and the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean.

Our retreat on the beautiful Portuguese island of São Miguel, Azores is the perfect way to nourish and rejuvenate your senses.

The Azores are a stunningly beautiful group of islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Owned by Portugal, they have a delightful tropical island vibe with Old World Portuguese charm.

Beautiful blue seas and green hills covered in ginger and hydrangeas with waterfalls galore are our backdrop for this exquisite experience.

Slow your pace on the beautiful island of São Miguel. Rich in culture, profoundly quiet, humble and serene - the perfect way to relax your nervous system.

We will be staying in a 500-year-old whitewashed Monastery that is shaped in the form of the Big Dipper - said to be reminiscent of the way we are scooped up to the heavens. Every summer solstice, it aligns with this brilliant star constellation.

The Monastery’s three floors represent the body, mind and spirit. At its center is a three-tiered, octagonal fountain allowing us to see the 4 directions. It calls us to change our perspective by shifting to another side, presenting a new view.

Our rooms are elegant and simple. The high ceilings and 200- and 300-year-old furniture remind us of life’s uncomplicated pleasures. Our vegan chefs will prepare fresh, local farm-to-table delicacies. We will visit the island’s lush hiking trails, volcanoes, big wave beaches and natural hot springs.

Returning to harmony and refreshing the senses, we will rest deeply, held by history and nature in the arms of the nourishing energy of this tranquil sacred space.

Retreat includes:

6 nights shared accommodation with ensuite bathroom
Sunday welcome dinner
Farm-to-table Ayurvedic vegan meals prepared by our amazing Azorean chefs
Morning and evening meditation, hatha yoga, restorative yoga & yoga nidra combos with Dr. Abbey & René - to leave you in the perfect, blissful state
Day excursion, hiking and picnic at the beautiful island volcano Sete Cidade, with stunning Mosteiros beach break views and a visit to Ferarria natural ocean hot springs
Fire ceremony
Healing sound bath
Waterfall hikes
Small farm tour and garden dinner
Rest and pool time
Bonfire, kirtan & dance party
Saturday farewell brunch
Limited airport transfer from Ponta Delgada airport in São Miguel, Azores
Massage therapy appointments available (at additional cost)

Small Group Rate: $2,699 (excluding airfare)

There is one remaining single room supplement available, please inquire with Abbey or René.

Spots are filling quickly - we have only a few left. Please email us with any questions and secure your spot today!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

About the Azores:

The Azores are an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 870 miles west of Lisbon. Here are some interesting articles to read about them.

Getting There:

Azores Airlines (SATA) and TAP Portugal fly directly from many European cities to Ponta Delgada (PDL) on the island of São Miguel.

You can also fly from New York or Boston. United Airlines and other major airlines have flights from the US as well.

Note: You may see flights priced extremely high on popular websites - however Abbey and René have access to massively discounted flight deals. Please don't hesitate to reach out and ask so you can view options, if you might be interested in the retreat!

Your Amazing Retreat Guides:

René Quenell, E-RYT 500, IAYT

René has helped thousands find joy and access their inner wisdom through radically transformative practices of meditation, yoga therapy, Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology. She holds a BA in Communications from the University of Southern California and founded Yoga Madre studio more than 20 years ago. She has developed renowned meditation trainings and 200- and 500-hour Yoga Alliance-accredited teacher training programs. She leads live, online master trainings, interactive workshops, retreats, personal counseling sessions and the monthly JoyWork Academy.

René loves sharing the teachings of a living lineage where spiritual practice serves as an instrument for navigating modern life with grace and ease. With reverence for the teachings, she weaves together humor, joy and everyday wisdom. Her life’s work is to share with students the tools to brighten their inner light, move toward self-mastery and live a life that’s happy and purposeful.

A devoted student and practitioner, René also supports the Himalayan Institute's work in the US, India and Cameroon.

Dr. Abbey Leigh, E-RYT 500

For Dr. Abbey Leigh, the practice of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation has been a journey of coming home to her own true nature. Having healed her own physical and spiritual diseases through these modalities, Abbey has guided hundreds of patients to access their innate healing capacities through Ayurvedic diet, lifestyle, herbology, body therapies and sadhana.

It is Dr. Abbey Leigh’s mission to empower people to reconnect with their bodies, tap into their innate wisdom, and embrace the natural rhythms and cycles of life. She advocates for freedom, sustainability, self-love, and compassion as integral aspects of holistic wellbeing.

Currently, Dr. Abbey Leigh holds her private practice in the Azores islands, Portugal and is the founder of Sacred Maternal Wisdom Method which supports mothers-to-be to consciously conceive through the wisdom of Ayurveda. She holds an Ayurvedic Doctor Degree from California College of Ayurveda, certified by NAMA and is a E-RYT-500 yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance.

In Abbey’s spare time she loves to take dance classes, admire the plant kingdom, and hike the volcanic mountains.