AWAKENING
SICILY RETREAT
24th April — 1st May 2027
A spring retreat for body, breath & becoming.
The season of awakening…
A gradual return to sensation, aliveness, curiosity and connection.
Join me on the beautiful southern Italian island of Sicily, where the warmth of spring returns to the land, flowers begin to bloom, and the landscape awakens beneath the Mediterranean sun.
Here, among the olive groves and open landscapes of the Sicilian countryside, lies your invitation to awaken, to find your own way back to sensation, aliveness, curiosity and connection. To emerge from our own winters, to feel what is stirring beneath the surface, and to become a little more available to the life unfolding around and within us.
Awakening is an invitation to tend to this relationship between ourselves and the living world, exploring the reciprocity between the two through embodied movement, nature, exploration, curiosity and connection.
“Embodiment is about listening to the world through the body and feeling the world speak through you.”
Radical Wholeness, by Philip Shepherd
Ten years ago, I was lucky enough to call this beautiful island my home. A little piece of my heart has remained here ever since, rooted in the landscapes of the east coast where I once lived. My body remembers the warmth of the sun on my skin, the wild beauty of the land and its rhythms, and the particular magic of Sicily.
Ever since I began running retreats, it has been a dream of mine to bring people here, to share a place that has shaped part of my own becoming so much, and to create the opportunity for others to experience its beauty, its spirit and the way of life it invites us into.
To return with you and to share this little piece of my world feels like something rather special…
AWAKEN THE BODY
Immerse yourself in daily movement, breath and somatic exploration. Create an anchor in your routine that guides you to listen inwardly, follow sensation and reconnect with the innate intelligence of the body - cultivating a deeper sense of aliveness, presence and possibility.
Embodied movement & somatic practice
WANDER THE WILD
Plenty of time to wander, discover and be drawn into the natural beauty of the island. From Sicily’s wild coastlines, including the nature reserve Vendicari, to wandering the ancient streets of World Heritage towns Noto & Syracuse, we’ll explore the treasures of Sicily’s east coast.
Exploring Sicily & the natural world
SAVOUR THE STILLNESS
Enjoy the freedom of unhurried days at the villa - lingering poolside, soaking up the spring sunshine, sharing good food or finding a quiet corner for yourself. Time to soften into the moment, replenish your energy and enjoy the simple pleasure of being here.
Rest, replenish & simply be
The Experience Awaiting You
Our days will weave together embodied movement and somatic practice, nourishing food, time spent exploring the island, and plenty of space simply to be.
We'll gather for daily practices, share long meals around the table, wander historic streets, feel the sea air on our skin and enjoy the simple pleasure of afternoons spent at the villa by the pool. There will be a gentle rhythm to our days, with a balance of shared experiences and the freedom to follow your own curiosity and create space for yourself.
A DAY ON RETREAT
Tea, Coffee & Light Breakfast
Soft, spacious mornings
A gentle beginning to the day, with a warm cup of tea or coffee, fruit, and time to ease into the morning at your own pace.
Morning Practice
Awakening breath, pulse & aliveness
An invigorating embodied movement practice to awaken the senses, stir the body's natural rhythms and bring us into the fullness of being alive. We'll weave together somatic movement, breath, meditation and space for journaling and personal reflection.
Brunch
Nourishment for body & connection
A chance to replenish after practice, linger over delicious food, conversation, connection and the simple pleasure of being together.
Afternoons: Explore & Unwind
Follow your curiosity, find your own rhythm
Some days we'll venture out to discover the coast, historic towns and hidden gems of Sicily. Others will be yours to spend following what you feel you need - swimming, resting poolside, reading or wandering.
Afternoon Nourishment
A little something to sustain you
Time to pause for a light lunch or afternoon snack, enjoy the flavours of the island and replenish before the day gently unfolds into evening.
Evening Practice
Space to land, soften & listen within
A gentler practice of slow somatic exploration, inviting you to turn inward, settle into sensation and meet yourself just as you are. A space to release the day's activity, reconnect with the body and find a little more room to simply be.
Supper & Shared Feasts
The flavours of the land, the joy of gathering
Gather around the table to savour seasonal food, local ingredients and the richness of Sicilian flavours. Long conversations, shared stories, (a glass of wine), and the pleasure of coming together at the end of the day.
“...spring does not arrive because we demand it, but because life, given half a chance, inclines toward renewal.”
The Wild Within, by Brigit Anna McNeill
Expect Dancing, Shaking, Flowing, Softening & Resting in BEING
Location
Nestled in the serene Portuguese countryside on former farmland, surrounded by rolling hills, and lush landscapes. This enchanting, remote sanctuary offers a tranquil escape. The perfect space to disconnect and land your feet on the earth.
Our Sanctuary is based South of Grândola, 90 minutes from Lisbon Airport and is easy to arrive to directly.
Transfers are not included, but we shall connect everyone prior to travel so where possible we can organise transfers together. You can also get train from Lisbon to Grandola if you prefer.
What to expect
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Both from the UK, both full time yoga teachers with drama school degrees... Marie & Sadie met in Bali in 2022 on a transformational somatic teacher training with the school of ‘Authentic Flow’. After years of teaching under their belts already, training with Authentic Flow for Marie & Sadie felt like the shake up they had both been yearning for in their personal practices and careers and they have continued their studies in the field of somatics ever since. Both Marie & Sadie are now qualified somatic therapists.
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Practices are inspired by Marie & Sadie’s studies with the school of Authentic Flow, somatics, tantra & somatic therapy.
"Authentic Flow is a somatic approach to movement through which we listen, taste, see, feel, inquire and learn to embody our bodies as a living, feeling and exploring creative process of becoming."
Through somatic enquiry the intention is to cultivate a deeper connection to the body, learning to listen & respond to the internal language of the body through movement & somatic explorations of yoga asana and free movement.
You can expect 2 somatic & embodied yoga & movement practices a day, plus additional somatic workshops diving deeper into somatic principles and embodied anatomy.
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3 wholesome, nourishing meals a day from our incredible host Sophie’s heart directly to your soul using fresh, seasonal, local Portuguese produce straight from the land.
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Take a trip to the beautiful nearby beach
Explore the local land with our host Sophie
Unlimited use of the spectacular 16m pool
Time to relax & do as little or as much as you feel called to do
Accommodation
Whether your coming solo or with someone, there’s something to suit everyone.
Split across the 5 casolas, there are 15 rooms, each room can be put together as either a double or 2 single beds.
All rooms are en-suite.
The villas are scattered amongst the Montado (oak tree field), immersed in the natural landscape.
Each villa has expansive living space with the living room opening out to a terrace to enjoy your morning coffee. Plenty of space to sit and be.
SINGLE OCCUPANCY:
SOLO ROOM - DOUBLE BED
£1675 pp
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY:
SHARED ROOM - TWIN BEDS
£1250 pp
Frequently Asked Questions
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4 nights at Monte Das Casolas; a tranquil, secluded sanctuary in Alentejo, Portugal
3 wholesome, nourishing meals a day using fresh, seasonal, local Portuguese produce
2 somatic & embodied practices a day including Authentic Flow, Shake The Dust, Embodied Yin & more
Additional Somatic Workshops
One organised trip to the beach
A guided walk around the land
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Flights
Transfers (we will help you organise once we know everyone's flights)
Extra meals/food & drink out
Taxis if taking any extra trips exploring outside of what we have scheduled
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Secure your space today with a £250 non-refundable deposit.
The remainder of your balance is due 8 weeks prior to the retreat.
Payment plans can be arranged.
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A lot of love, energy & planning goes into these retreats & payments are put down in advance to make the magic happen. Please read the Terms & Conditions before confirming your adventure.
Portugal Retreat Testimonials
“5 days of total immersion in the beautiful Portuguese countryside. Inspirational teachers who could not have curated the experience and group better. I will definitely retreat with you again. Thank you.”
“This was a magical retreat for me. The care and attention given to the whole experience by Sadie & Marie was outstanding. The location, accommodation & care from the venue was equally brilliant. I loved it and have returned to home feeling restored. Thank you.”
“I loved the reawakening, right from cell to skin. The sessions were a good length, were relaxing, the music was amazing (I’m still playing it now), the instruction from both of you was appropriate and intuitive - it was perfect for me.”
For more information or to make a retreat booking, get in touch.
Please read the T's & C's outlining payment accountability.
For any inquiries ahead of booking, or to set up a payment plan following deposit payment, please email me at mariewilliamsyoga@gmail.com