Wilbur Hot Springs

Yoga in Mallorca

Facility: La Serrania Retreat Center
Location: Mallorca, Spain
Leaders: Thomas Fortel
Dates: May 17-24, 2008


About This Retreat

The island of Mallorca illicits an old memory from my first trip to Europe. I was 20 years old in 1978, taking an overnight boat from Barcelona, Spain to the Iberic islands on the Mediteranian sea. My destination was the island of Ibiza and the smallest island of Formentera. In the morning, after a very rough journey on the sea, we arrived in the port of Palma de Mallorca. Wow, what a beautiful place and city. While I did not disembark on that April day in 1978, I have returned these last 3 years to the city of Palma de Mallorca on the way to the retreat center, la Serrania. You too will fly into this city on the way to our retreat.

Palma has the distinct feel of being in Spain as well as being on an island. The city is very European with an elegant old world architecture crossed with the tiles and gardened courtyards of Spain. As well, there is a very hip, cosmopolitan feel in this old world city. The islands are a major destination for the European sun lovers, particularly the British and Germans. I have really, really enjoyed my time in this city and am always left longing for more.

Just outside the city, on the 50 minute drive to the northern shore of Mallorca, stretch many, many miles of Olive and Almond orchards, dotted with stunning colors of Bouganvilla and Oleanders. The landscape is filled with broud mountain vistas and long trails of ancient stone fences dividing the farmland and orchards. I get the feeling of abundance and a slower pace here in this arid, island environment. The retreat center, la Serrania (Serenity) is located on a mesa ridge overlooking a long and broad valley, just 10 minutes outside the town of Pollenca.The only sound I hear is the wind and the clinking of the bells from the goat herds as they wander in the landscape. So while there is the feeling of remoteness and peacefulnees here, we are indeed close to town and the Mediteranean sea.

Itinerary

We will arrive on Saturday afternoon, May 12, get into our fantastic rooms, and meet at 5 pm for a one and a half hour yoga practice, welcome and introductions. The rooms themselves are large and spacious with lot's of glass doors and windows opening out to terraced gardens. The rooms are stellar for sure and the bathroom/tubs are incredible. There are many patios around the main house as well as the awesome pool terrace and deck. (I did four weeks of painting workshops at la Serrania in 2002 and 2003, so I've spent alot of time working quietly in this mediteranean garden). There is housing only for 16 people so the retreat is guaranteed to be intimate and special in this way. Our yoga room is the living room of the main house and we have plenty of space for our practice on a two-leveled surface. Again, all the doors act as windows as well so everything reflects the light of this special environment.

There seems to be a nice European custom to gather for wine, olives and almonds before our gourmet dinner. The food at la Serrania is exquisite. The cook for breakfast and lunch is a native Mallorqean woman who fixes us delicious local dishes along with a host of Spanish cheeses and breads. Dinner is prepared by the owner, Tim Pinnel and his assistants, and is a great gourmet feast at the end of the day. We take our meals on the terrace or in the dining room.

Sunday will begin our yoga practice in earnest, before and after our trip to the Pollenca farmers market. I love going to this market as there is a broad range of produce, art objects, flowers and everything else. We usually take Wednesday afternoon for an adventure day, going on a trip to the sea and some fun tourists spots on the coast. I just love the feeling of being in Europe and watching how other people live and act. What a beautiful life and planet we have!!

We will complete our practice on Friday late afternoon with six full days of practice, and departure day will be Saturday. Please bring your yoga props if you have them, a sticky mat, block, yoga blanket and eyebag.

Daily Schedule

Cost

How to Register

For general information or to register, please contact Thomas.