From inner clarity to outer impact
6-day Yoga Retreats in Portugal – small group of 11 people only
25 - 30 April and 23 - 28th, May 2027
More than a yoga retreat: A chance to step away from the noise, slow down and reconnect with yourself.
Join us for six restorative days in beautiful Tavira, Portugal, where gentle yoga, breathwork, nourishing food and meaningful connection create the space to truly unwind.
Returning for our sixth retreat at the much-loved Monte do Álamo, we'll spend our days moving, breathing, resting and enjoying the simple pleasures of life in the Portuguese countryside.
Small group. Beautiful surroundings. No pressure. Just time to breathe, restore and reconnect.
The venue
Monte do Álamo is an expertly converted portuguese farm house merging the modern with the ancient design gracefully. It is located in the hills of the quiet countryside overlooking Tavira.
There are only 6 rooms available (max. 11 people total) making it an exlusive and perfect place to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy complete tranquillity. The rooms are all stylishly designed and with unique interiors and original artworks and all with ensuite bathrooms. Two rooms have garden views to the front of the house and four rooms offer stunning views of the sea and the ancient town of Tavira. From this hill top perch, it is a 15-20 minute walk to Tavira, either by country lane or down hill via scrub land.
Transfers from Faro airport take about 30 minutes.
Yoga & breath awareness
Each day begins with a gentle flow practice to awaken the body, improve mobility and build strength in a way that feels supportive rather than demanding. Suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike, the classes encourage you to move mindfully, reconnect with your body and simply enjoy being present.
As the day draws to a close, our shorter evening sessions become slower and more restorative, drawing inspiration from yin yoga and relaxation practices to help release tension and invite a sense of ease.
Breath awareness is woven throughout the retreat. Alongside the yoga, you'll learn simple yet effective breathing techniques that can help you regulate stress, improve self-awareness and cultivate a greater sense of calm in everyday life.
The intention is not to achieve more, but to create space to slow down, listen and reconnect with yourself.
A breathwork experience
Alongside yoga, the retreat includes two guided Conscious Connected Breathwork sessions.
For some guests these sessions offer a chance to release tension, gain fresh perspective and reconnect with themselves in a deeper way. Others simply enjoy the opportunity to slow down, let go and experience a profound sense of calm.
As with everything on the retreat, participation is entirely optional and you're encouraged to listen to your own needs throughout the week.
Reviews
5 out of 5 stars for activities, food, location of retreats and duration.
The most wonderful week, very relaxed, just how I had wanted it. Wonderful food, thank you, Ines and Rosario! And perfect amount of yoga and breathwork, excellent guidance. Loved the sea swims and hikes. I've had a most wonderful week, thank you.
Paula H.
5 out of 5 stars! The yoga, the breathwork, comfort and ease of layout, landscape, rural scenery, and staff are incredible. Wouldn’t change anything about this retreat
J. Murnaghan
Sirkka is such a wonderful yoga teacher – providing such a lovely space and atmosphere. I give 5 out of 5 for the retreat!
Kate F.
Environment, food, staff, homely but luxurious. Schedule was perfect, the right amount of relaxation and yoga & breathwork
5 out of 5.
Susan T.
Sirkka you are fab and the retreat is lovely. The only thing that matters to everyone here I believe is you and your yoga so keep that central and nothing else matters.
S. F.
Absolutely lovely, relaxing, delicious food, wonderfully supportive staff, very comfortable rooms,
lovely mix of scheduled acitivitires + free time
Commuicatoin was excellent.
Loved it!
P. Pror
Seasonal 1-Day Yoga Retreats in the beautiful South Downs, West Sussex
Surfhippie Seasonal Day Retreats:
Dates available soon.
Join us at The Mill Yard in Duncton (Petworth, West Sussex) for our next 1-Day Yoga Retreat of slowing down, letting go, and restoring with the seasons.
Location: Mill Yard, Duncton Mill, Dye House Lane Duncton, Petworth, GU28 0LF
A typical retreat day looks a bit like this:
9:00 – 9:15 | Arrival and welcome
Nuts, dried fruits, teas and coffee.
9:15 – 10:30 | Opening Yoga & Meditation (75 min)
Grounding yoga and gentle breathwork to settle into stillness and welcome the rhythm of the season.
10:30 – 12:00 | Nourishing Vegetarian Brunch (90 min)
12:00 – 13:00 | Guided Walk (60 min)
A mindful walk from the Millyard through the South Downs, returning for the sauna sessions with a sense of renewal.
13:00 – 15:00 | Sauna & Cold Water Refresh (120 min)
Cycle gently between warmth and cold, wood-fired sauna sessions in 2 small groups (60 mins for each group) and invigorating dips in metal tubs filled from the fresh mill stream water, designed to release tension and awaken vitality.
15:00 – 15:30 | Rest & Snacks to Recharge
Homemade cake, nuts, dried fruits, tea, and coffee.
15:30 – 16:30 | Slow yoga (60 min)
A guided slow flow yoga practice to gently close the day. This calming, meditative practice invites the body into deep relaxation and the mind into spacious awareness. Through restful stillness, participants are supported to integrate the experiences of the day, restore balance, and leave with a sense of calm clarity.
16.30 - 17.00 | Closing
Optional: massages available, enquire about prices.
To book massage please email.
Price: £130 / pp
Book your place today:
Be the first to know about our upcoming retreats, or if this retreat is full, join the waitlist for the next one:
Here are some comments of what our Mill Yard 'retreaters' are saying:
“Thank you Sirkka,
it was a GREAT day!" Book me in for the next one."
C.S.
"Thank you Sirkka and Les for such a beautiful and powerful experience."
M. M.
“Such a wonderful day, loved the flow of it. The woodland mindful walk was beautiful and loved(!) the sauna .”
E. A.
“I have never done yoga before, I really enjoyed it. The place is beautiful, the food super yummy, when is the next one?”
L.M.
“I loved the mixture of things we did throughout the day, active, relaxing, chatting and just being, it was a real pause.”
J.L.
In depth: Yoga courses and classes
With a focus on gentle strength, resilience, and inner calm, I guide you through practices that not only improve flexibility and vitality but also deepen self-awareness and emotional wellbeing.
Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or looking to take your practice further, these sessions offer a chance to pause, restore, and leave feeling grounded and renewed.
Each yoga sequence combined with breathwork practices is crafted to allow for deeper immersion supporting your physical wellbeing and also cultivating mindfulness. With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, this practice offers an antidote to stress: a chance to pause, restore clarity, and build resilience.
Throughout each practice, we’ll place special emphasis on the breath. By learning to regulate your breathing, you’ll activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calm the mind, and discover how to respond to life with more ease rather than reactivity.
Meet Sirkka
Hi, and welcome.
For more than three decades I worked in the world of design, helping organisations communicate clearly, think creatively and navigate change.
Alongside that professional path, yoga, breathwork and mindfulness have been steady companions in my own life for over 25 years, helping me find balance amidst the busyness and complexity of modern living.
In 2009 I became a yoga teacher and have since trained in mindfulness, emotional intelligence and breathwork. Today, I bring these worlds together through Surfhippie retreats, creating welcoming spaces where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves and return home feeling calmer, lighter and more grounded.
My approach is gentle, supportive and down-to-earth. There is no pressure to achieve, perform or be anything other than yourself. Whether you're completely new to yoga or have been practising for years, you'll be warmly welcomed.
When I'm not teaching, you'll usually find me by the sea, on a yoga mat, or exploring new places with a sense of curiosity and adventure.
What else I do...
Yoga:
-
Group and 1:1 sessions
-
Courses and workshops
-
In person or online
Mindfulness:
-
1:1 and group sessions
- Keynote and online
- For corporates, teams or individuals
- Coaching of neuroscience based micro practices to improve performance and resilience
Breathwork:
-
Functional and performance breathing coaching for individuals and teams
- Self regulation practices for calm and clarity when under stress
Qualifications:
READY TO GET STARTED?
I love to hear from you.
Design by: Design Syndicate • All rights: Surfhippie™ • 2026