About The Retreat
Embrace the beauty of autumn as we embark on a transformative journey combining the power of Pilates and Yoga with art.
In a playful way, without expectations or previous experience, let’s discover together how the season of autumn can be a catalyst for outer and inner transformation.
Tom will help you unleash your creativity, Mareile’s Pilates classes will invigorate your body. Dom and Mary-Ann will guide you into deeper explorations through Yoga and Breathwork…all you have to do is show up.
When we first came to visit Quinta Marugo in the search for the perfect Portuguese spring location, we instantly knew that we had found the right place. When we later sat in the Yoga Pagoda, doors wide open, smelling the breeze, watching the moon rise, we never wanted to leave again.
We can’t wait to introduce you to Mary Ann and Ugo, who built their dream with Quinta Marugo: an eco-sustainable retreat and wellbeing center in Portugal with the vision of bringing a bit more peace, calm and connection to the world.
The tastefully designed Quinta with its pagoda, living spaces, library, massage room, swimming pond, sunset point, lakes, island and other landmarks all combine to provide the best experience for you to retreat, reconnect and regenerate.
Tucked into the heart of Portugal’s Alentejo region, Quinta Marugo is ‘off the beaten track’ and perfect for a gentle awakening of our senses surrounded by endless horizons of oak trees and herbal meadows.
Art Explorations
Have you ever written a black-out poem? Made paint from what nature has to offer? As this retreat stands for the Art of Transformation, we have invited Lisbon-based artist Tom Maryniak to expand the creative horizon within you. We are as new to this as you are and can’t wait to find out what unfolds. And we believe Tom when he says: “Everyone is an artist. Art is everywhere.”
Accommodation
Quinta Marugo feels like home, the moment you step in. Mary Ann and Ugo, the owners, will kindly invite you to leave your shoes and your worries at the door and to indulge in a few days of barefoot luxury.
One can feel the attention to detail and deep connection to the venue’s origins that went into the creation of this 35ha healing space. Quinta Marugo gives you all the reasons to ‘just be’.
The only sound we heard at night was the chirping of the crickets and a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves of the trees.
Infused with a sense of fine luxury and a strong mission for regenerative and mindful living Quinta Marugo is a perfect fit for those who want to connect with nature in the most comfortable possible way.
We will snuggle up into soft pillows and lounge on inviting sofas. We will get lost in the Quinta’s expansive library of stimulating reads and eat and laugh together around the large communal tables crafted from fallen olive trees.
The outdoor pool is 100% natural, and while it might be a bit late for some of you to jump in in October, if you do… you will find yourself gliding through the most delicious fresh water.
How to get here
Quinta Marugo is located just outside of the small village of Serpa. Unless you arrive with your own car, we will pick yo up and drop you in Beja (30 min drive), from where there are reliable connections to Lisbon by bus and train.
On arrival day, you can check in from 3pm and we will officially commence our retreat around 5.30pm. On departure day, official retreat closing is after breakfast, check-out by 11am.
Transportation to and from the venue will be provided to/from the town of Beja or Serpa on arrival and departure days.
BY CAR
By far the easiest is to arrive by car. Driving is safe in Portugal with good highways for most of the way from Lisbon (2 hrs) or Faro (2 hrs). Rental cars are generally cheap. We can help with car pooling options.
BY TRAIN
You can reach Beja from Lisbon Oriente by train – check the CP website for details. It’s not the quickest way, but Portuguese trains are generally reliable and comfortable.
BY BUS
There is a direct bus from Lisbon all the way to Serpa with Rede Expresso, which takes about 4,5 hrs.
Food
Food served is vegetarian and 90% seasonal and local within the Iberian Peninsula. Most of our food is sourced from our own vegetable gardens, bee hives, tea trees/bushes/flowers and olive trees, which are organic and follow permaculture principles of giving back to nature. We have agreements with organic farmers in the area to source from them when needed.
We make our own home made breads and baked goods and we aim for no refined sugar baked goods. We cater towards allergies such as gluten, nuts, etc. Just let us know in advance.
Teachers
Dominique Vieira
Dom teaches Vinyasa & Restorative Yoga, as well as a meditation and breathwork. She firmly believes that yoga is for everybody and every body and carries that ethos throughout her teachings.
Her classes focus on intelligent sequencing and making the practice as accessible as possible. She places a lot of value on the connection to breath and cultivating that beautiful feeling of presence and connection through breath, movement and stillness.
For her, the yoga practice is really a practice of coming back home to oneself with loving-kindness. She can’t wait to guide you through your own practice.
Mareile Paley
Owner of Life in Movement, retreat host, Pilates & Wellness Guide
If a retreat is a beautiful piece of art, Mareile is the glue that holds all the pieces together. Having started in 2010 leading her own Pilates retreats, she soon found her true calling and strength in connecting people, in crafting and curating truly exceptional retreat experiences and in finding the best teachers.
The personal attention you will receive before, during and after the retreat can all be attributed to Mareile’s deep desire to make people happy and to make you feel valued and special.
This retreat will take place on Mareile’s ‘home turf’ – Portugal. Passionate as she is, she will share with you all her local insight and best-kept secrets. Mareile will also teach your daily dose of Pilates, so you are in for a treat from our founder herself.
Tom Maryniak
Artist & Creative Wellbeing Facilitator
With a background in Fine Art Printmaking, Tom Maryniak co-founded Lisboa Social Press in 2018 with the vision of making creativity accessible to everybody.
Since then, alongside hosting exhibitions, retreats, artist residencies and events, he has developed a wide range of workshops that seek to unite creative pursuits with wellbeing practices.
From a Meditative Walk, Draw & Forage, to Stretch & Sketch, Tom continues to ensure that each of his offerings are carefully curated so that participants feel nurtured and gently guided to a place of full creative expression. We are super excited to see what he has in store for us on this retreat.
Mary Ann Voli
Venue host, Qi Gong, Breathwork facilitator and Mindfulness coach
A former Hong Kong-based executive coach running a successful business in leadership development and corporate mindfulness, Mary Ann built her dream in Portugal by creating Quinta Marugo – A place where she could put her certifications in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living to greater use.
We are excited to collaborate with Mary Ann not only as our venue host, but to share some of her wisdom and magic with you. Mary Ann will be teaching Breathwork and Qi Gong providing you with more space to reconnect with your inner resources, wisdom, compassion, and power.
Room options & Retreat Price
Shared Room from €1200
Single Room €1,550
Includes
- 4 nights accommodation in shared or single elegant bedrooms
- Daily healthy breakfast, light lunch and dinner
- One-on-one assessment / private Pilates or Yoga session with Mareile or Dom
- Daily movement classes including Pilates, Vinyasa and Restorative Yoga
- Creative workshops and artistic explorations guided by Tom Maryniak
- 2.5 hr breathwork session with Mary Ann
- Unlimited herbal teas picked straight from the garden
- Unexpected friendships, cosy nights around the bonfire
- Round trip transfers between Beja & retreat venue. (Transfers from Lisbon can be arranged at extra charge)
- Round trip local transfer to/from Paros airport or port
Optional activities
- Additional private sessions with your teachers
- Visit to the village of Serpa
- Massage
Not included
- International flights & travel up to Beja/Serpa
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
Booking
To enquire about or make a booking on this Pilates and Art Retreat in Portugal, fill in the form below.
First booking with us? Get £20 off here.
