RETREATS · MONTE VELHO, ALGARVE

A week of movement and rest in the Algarve

Every year since 2022, a group gathers on the wild coast of Portugal.
Movement, stillness, and the Atlantic.

Both upcoming retreats — November 2026 and November 2027 — are fully booked.

↓  Join the waiting list below  ↓

  • "It is, as more than one student has told me, a reset for the body, the mind, and the sense of what is possible."

    Stephanie Ross-Russell

Upcoming retreats

If one of these dates interests you, join the waiting list using the relevant form below.

I will be in touch if a place becomes available, or when the next retreat is announced.

NOVEMBER 2026

Movement For Living Well Retreat

1 – 7 November 2026

Arrival: Sunday 1 November from 4pm

Departure: Saturday 7 November after breakfast

Monte Velho Retreat Centre · Algarve, Portugal

FULLY
BOOKED

NOVEMBER 2027

Movement For Living Well Retreat

31 October – 6 November 2027

Arrival: Sunday 31 October from 4pm

Departure: Saturday 6 November after breakfast

Monte Velho Retreat Centre · Algarve, Portugal

FULLY
BOOKED

Join the waiting list

One of the most nourishing things I offer. One of the most transformative experiences my students have done.

Each November I bring a small group together for a week of movement, rest and discovery on the south-western coast of Portugal. The setting is Monte Velho Retreat Centre, surrounded by pine trees, open skies and sweeping views of the Atlantic.

The south-western Algarve coastline is one of the most unspoilt stretches of Portugal, with wild beaches, high cliffs, and a quality of light that is very special.

"It was with trepidation that I approached my first Yoga Retreat, as I really didn't know what to expect - I am not a big one for navel gazing on the top of a mountain at sunrise. This week was the exact opposite."

Allan Fraser-Rush

Group of people posing outdoors in front of a wooden building with a round roof, some are standing, others sitting on the ground, with trees and a paved area around them.
People practicing yoga on mats outside a rustic house with large glass windows, stone pathway, and surrounding trees.

MORNING

Before the day begins.

Early breathing practice - Tibetan rites, purification breath - that tones the abdomen and sets a clear, energised mindset for the day.

“To leave all decision-making behind and rediscover what's important.”

Joy Weideman

A group of people participating in a yoga class in a yoga studio with high wooden ceilings and skylight windows, practicing poses with arms raised overhead, using yoga mats and bolsters.

MID-MORNING

75-90 minutes in the shala.

Movement for Living Well, drawing from FAMO Fascia Movement and Dynamic Hatha Yoga in the circular pavilion — a space with heated cork floors and light from all sides.

“One of the highlights for me was the circular Yoga Shala — a harmonious and inspiring space in which to practise.”

Lorraine Orders

AFTERNOON

The afternoon is yours.

Beaches of Amado and Bordeira, 5-10 minutes away.
Cliff walks. Horse riding. Dolphin watching. Massage.

“A retreat in the true sense of the word. A break from the daily rhythm of life in a peaceful, beautiful spot.”

Justin Snoxall

People gathered on a small wooden platform outdoors during sunset, with shrubbery and hills in the background.

LATE-AFTERNOON

60 minutes of stillness.

Slower, restorative practice - deep stretches, myofascial release using props, breathing and stillness. The day settles.

"The lessons were well balanced, no element of yoga was neglected, the retreat had it all — asana practice, breathing techniques, mantras reciting, mudras, deep relaxation.”

Michaela Grimmova

Assorted dishes including a vegetable salad, a dish with broccoli, a vegetable pizza with toppings like corn and tomatoes, and a pie or quiche on a light-colored wooden table.

EVENING

Three meals daily, freshly prepared.

Vegetarian and vegan, from locally sourced produce. Dinner on arrival day. Breakfast on departure morning.

“The food was amazing — and lots of it! Hard to resist seconds.”

Roz Warren

The practice

The week combines three complementary movement disciplines.

Dynamic Hatha Yoga

Alignment, breath, progressive sequencing. Builds strength, flexibility and a quality of attention that carries beyond the mat.

FAMO Fascia Movement®

Myofascial meridians, integrated system, improving posture, multidimensional strength and ease of movement at every age.

Low Pressure Fitness

Deep core, pelvic floor and breathing. Foundational work with lasting effects on how you carry yourself day to day.

Read more about the disciplines →

Prices

Values include accommodation at Monte Velho, with comfortable, simply decorated rooms designed for rest and letting go. The main house includes a large common living room, dining room, outdoor breakfast veranda, sauna, steam bath and therapy room.

MONTE VELHO RETREAT CENTRE OFFICIAL WEBSITE ↗

Two neatly made beds with white pillows and blue bedspreads in a cozy bedroom with wood-paneled wall, white nightstands, lamps, and a window.

SINGLE: 1950€ (pp) ● DOUBLE: 1650€ (pp)

Standard Room

Main house.
All amenities included.

A man standing outside a modern wooden house on a stone terrace, holding a glass and looking into the distance, surrounded by trees and under a clear blue sky.

1700€ (pp, double occupancy)

Tree Suite

Independent of main building.
Ideal for a couple.

View from a wooden deck overlooking a landscape with trees and hills at sunset, with a wooden ceiling and partial roof structure in the foreground.

1800€ (pp, double/twin)

Forest House

Independent unit, 2 double rooms, bathroom, living room, porch.
Ocean view. 2 couples or 2 singles.

What's included

  • Six nights at Monte Velho Retreat Centre.

  • Three daily meals: Vegetarian and vegan, freshly prepared from locally sourced produce. Dinner on arrival day, breakfast on departure day.

  • Three daily movement practices (Monday to Friday).

  • All mats and props provided (bring your own mat if you prefer).

What’s not included

  • Travel to Portugal and transfers to Monte Velho.

    • Nearest airport: Faro, approx. 90 min from Monte Velho.

    • Car hire or private transfer available.

    • WhatsApp group for shared transfers.

  • Massage treatments and extra activities.

  • Bottled drinks.

Bright living room with white walls, wooden ceiling, white curtains, and a large window. Contains a beige sofa with multiple pillows, a floor lamp, a small wooden table, a textured ottoman, a small chair, a rug, and framed pictures on a shelf. Sunlig
Living room with wooden ceiling and flooring, two sofas with decorative pillows, a small wooden coffee table, colorful woven ottomans, and wall art including a circular woven piece and a landscape painting.
Hotel bedroom with an orange bedspread, a colorful striped pillow, a red bedside lamp, a decorative mirror, and a white armchair with a blue pillow. There are glass doors leading to a balcony with greenery outside.
A colorful hammock with a blue pillow hanging between two dark wooden posts outside a blue house with white shutters and a window.
A round stone building with a conical red roof located in a grassy landscape at sunset, with trees in the background and wood posts along a path in the foreground.
A neatly made bed with white pillows and a blue bedspread, in a room with white walls, wooden ceiling beams, and two white bedside tables with lamps. Two blue and white artwork pieces are hanging above the bed.
Cliffs overlooking a sandy beach and clear blue ocean under a bright sky.
A bedroom with a bed, white pillows, bedside lamp, and a blue door with a black handle.
Outdoor seating area with white walls, blue cushions, red and white striped pillow, wooden shutters, and colorful towels hanging on a rack, sunlit with shadows.
A bedroom with a wooden four-poster bed, white pillows, and a blue throw blanket, with a person lounging in a striped hammock on a balcony outside the open door.
A glass garden room with yoga mats inside, surrounded by lush greenery and pink flowers, with a wooden deck and small pond outside.
A rustic cabin with large glass windows, a tiled roof, and stone walls, featuring an outdoor stone pathway, wooden benches, and two people exercising on yoga mats inside.
Bedroom with bed covered in a colorful striped blanket, nightstand with a lamp and flowers, wicker chair with an orange cushion, red and yellow striped rug, sliding glass door leading to an outdoor space with a person relaxing in a hammock.
Yoga studio with green mats, yoga blocks, and bolsters, situated in a room with large windows overlooking a garden with plants and rocks.
Outdoor dining table set with plates and flowers on a terrace overlooking a lush green landscape with trees and hills.

  • "After experiencing a term of weekly classes with Stephanie, I did not hesitate to sign up for the Movement for Living Well Retreat in the stunning location of Monte Velho in the south west of Portugal."

    Lucy

  • "Stephanie Ross Russell is more than an instructor and author of the retreat curriculum. Her life experiences, extensive trainings, abilities to demonstrate, keen observations, and passion to share are all exceptional."

    Brian

  • "With my whole heart I thank you so much for the fantastic week at Monte Velho. Such a beautiful place, the nature, the food and the very beautiful comfortable rooms."

    Karin

Before you book

Deposit: 300€, non-refundable. Balance due 90 days before retreat.

Cancellation: 100% balance refunded up to 120 days before ● 50% up to 90 days ● no refund within 30 days.

Full terms and conditions →

Travel insurance strongly recommended. Flights not included.

Have a question before joining the waiting list?

Feel free to get in touch! Stephanie is happy to answer anything about the week, the practice, the accommodation, or anything else.

GET IN TOUCH

See what previous retreats looked like

Students photos from past years.

Previous retreats