Ground and Flow Retreat
A retreat to slow down, rest and reconnect with your body through movement and grounding practices, immersed in the Azorean nature.
What is this retreat about?
This retreat is for those who need to slow down, quiet their minds, and reconnect with their bodies.
Through movement, rest, breathwork, journaling, and connection with nature, we will explore gentle practices that help reconnect with your body and create room for calm and presence.
No perfection or performance — just simple, honest practices that help regulate the nervous system, ease mental overload and bring you back to the gentle strength that comes from being connected to your body and to nature.
The volcanic landscape of São Miguel island and the intimate
environment of Quinta Morazes give us the ground to slow down and turn our bodies into a journey to embodied self-exploration.
Price
Here’s what you can expect during the retreat at Quinta Morazes:
Mindful Movement
Move with intuition and reconnect with your inner calm through gentle Yin and Vinyasa Yoga classes, in the serene setting of Quinta Morazes’ shala and surrounding gardens.
Grounding practices
From meditation to breathwork and journaling sessions, we will explore techniques that help regulate the nervous system and cultivate inner calm through stillness, softness and presence.
Island Exploration
This retreat is an opportunity to experience what is often called ‘The European Hawaii’.
In the heart of São Miguel, we will enjoy warm volcanic baths, explore scenic hiking trails, and immerse ourselves in the island’s lush, breathtaking landscapes.
Painting workshop
Nature codes: Just like the fractal patterns in a fern, we weave our lives every day. From afar, all moments may seem alike, but up close, we realize that each day, each moment, is unique.
Create your own nature-inspired color palette and produce a personal painting through a guided yet free process, while focusing on experience rather than technique.Add workshop info here...
Where?
Quinta Morazes
Quinta Morazes is a serene retreat venue in the heart of the Atlantic, on the beautiful island of São Miguel, Azores.
It is an old vineyard property with green gardens, and charming details designed to welcome retreats and small groups. The gardens include restful and playful areas, fruit trees, and a greenhouse with vegetables.
Quinta Morazes’ light-filled wooden Yoga shala is perfect for movement practices and group activities.
Surrounded by nature, this property provides an ideal setting for a wellness
experience fully immersed in the Azorean volcanic landscape.
Host & Partners
Maria Venâncio
Maria is a Yoga teacher, host and curator of the signature retreats at Quinta Morazes.
With over 500 hours of certified teacher training in Vinyasa Yoga, combined with an academic background in classical and contemporary dance, Maria’s connection to movement has shaped her path from a very young age.
She was introduced to Yoga through Iyengar, where she developed a strong understanding of alignment and foundations. Over time, she moved into Vinyasa Yoga, which became her true passion thanks to its connection between movement and breath.
Drawing from Yoga and somatic movement practices, Maria’s classes and retreats invite self-exploration and reflection through embodied movement.
Originally from the Alentejo region in southern Portugal, Maria fell in love with the raw natural beauty of the Azores and the authenticity of its people. At Quinta Morazes, she brings together her passion for movement, nature, self-development and the joy in welcoming groups.
Melissa Kılıç
Melisa Kılıç San Bento Luis De Melo is a visual artist, arts researcher, and muralist of Turkish origin, currently developing her work in the Azores.
Her trajectory began in Istanbul and, through the experience of migration, she has found in insularity a new field for reflection and creation. Within the scope of her doctoral research, she brings together painting, public space, and critical thought, focusing on ecological ethics, materiality, and circular economy in artistic production. In the municipality of Ribeira Grande, she created a series of five murals in different locations, relating the Priolo (an endemic species of the Azores) to five distinct types of waste, with the aim of promoting eco-ethical awareness and environmental responsibility.
Vegan for over a decade, she seeks to maintain coherence between her personal values and artistic practice. She has also developed an original children’s book dedicated to endemic species of the Azores, conceived as a silent book (entirely visual) encouraging creativity and visual literacy among children. As a cultural entrepreneur, she develops independent projects, workshops, and community interventions, and has experience in volunteer art education for children, culminating in the realization of a collective exhibition.
Retreat schedule
Day 1
Day 2
- Make your own energy-bar
- Nourishment’s different dimensions (intro)
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
What’s included
- 5 nights accommodation at Quinta Morazes
- Transfer/táxi from and to the airport
- Three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Cooking classes
- Water, tea, coffee and fruit
- Healthy snacks
- Discount for massage at Quinta Morazes
What’s not included
- Flights
- Visa fees and travel insurance