Join us and recharge in the Spring light and warmth of the Algarve!

Spark your energy, kindle your creativity and revitalise your body, heart and mind. This is Ostara's promise.

Enjoy a powerful combination of yoga, breath work, meditation, and relaxation classes and workshops to help you to be at your best. All are set within the luxurious Casa Fuzetta in the old town of Olhão close to the ocean.

Receive lots of attention and the benefits of a highly experienced guide who knows how to meet you where you are.

Indulge in delicious local, seasonal food in the beautiful dining spaces of the house lovingly prepared by the house team. 

Relax in the rooftop pool, spacious lounge areas and terraces. 

Explore the old town’s winding streets, or take a bike ride along the coastal path, visit the nearby islands, or indulge in a massage or acupuncture treatment back at the house.

Treat yourself to six days where you can enjoy lots of practice, great food, and soulful company - all set within a beautiful location. We will gather just after the Spring Equinox, Ostara, which is a celebration of renewal. The Spring sun warms the earth and the birds sing to a different tune. Everything is starting to bloom and grow.

Casa Fuzetta is a historic townhouse located in the heart of Olhão’s old town. Originally, a classical gentleman’s residence, it has been lovingly restored and is now rated as one of the top ten retreats in the world. You can find aout more about the house and its renovations as well as getting a real flavour of the area by listening to the Casa Fuzetta podcast: “Casa Fuzetta - the House of Stories” - available in all the usual places.

Olhão is an authentic, traditional fishing town far from mass, blending seaside tranquility with authentic charm. Famed for its waterfront market and cobbled streets, lined with cubic houses bearing Moorish influences, Olhão tells the story of a rich past. It has a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle with a mix of simplicity, nature and hospitality.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit with its mild climate and the hiking trails of the Ria Formosa National Park on your doorstep or for enjoying café life, browsing art galleries or one of the many decent local restaurants.

Your time on retreat

This is a practice-rich retreat. Days will begin with breathwork and meditation and a more dynamic and energizing movement morning practice. In the afternoons there will be a variety of offerings: talks and workshop style classes, yoga nidra and a sound bath. You can expect lots of attention and tailoring of practices to meet you where you are. There will be plenty of time for you to rest, explore and do as your heart desires. I really welcome people to be as engaged socially or to be as quiet as they wish. I will be around all of the time.

All levels of experience are welcome, whether you are just beginning your yoga explorations or have been teaching for many years. I teach in such a way that allows plenty of options within the sequencing making it suitable for those newer to yoga, or that prefer a less dynamic practice, and those with more experience or who like more of a physical challenge. If you are a complete beginner I do recommend joining some online sessions with me before the retreat. In the words of a previous retreat participant:

"Mandy is a brilliant teacher, so well prepared, every session a delightful journey for the mind body & spirit.  She has a wonderful skill for reaching everyone in the group & offering different ranges & levels of practice for each individual to choose from."

Wonderful, seasonal food is included with daily brunch and dinner. There will be the option of fish one evening at the house. For our two dinners out you can choose from a selection of options to cater for all diets. For special dietary requirements, please advise when booking.

All the sessions, planned activities and meals are optional, so you are free to choose how much to join in. However, over the years, I have found that most people love not having to decide or choose what to do each day and participate fully.

We will be a small group of 9-13 people with the luxury of Casa Fuzetta to ourselves. The house can accommodate 22 people comfortably so there will be plenty of space for chilling out.

This retreat is all about Spring energy and nourishing you on all levels. Combining ancient and modern practices of yoga, breath work, meditation, yoga nidra and sound work. Together these practices will help to restore your reserves, renew energy and spark your creativity and passion. 

You can expect lots of attention and tailoring of the practices to meet you where you are. I want you to return home refreshed and with tools that you can apply in your daily life to continue the benefits of the retreat.

Benefits

• Recharge your batteries and renew your energy.
• Clarify and connect with your deeper purpose and passions in life
• Feel better and understand how to use the breath to support all layers of your being
• Explore ways of practising yoga - asana that will strengthen, reinvigorate you and kindle your creativity
• Enjoy the benefit of a highly experienced guide that knows how to meet you where you are
• Expand your knowledge and experience of yoga beyond postures
• Deepen your meditation practice
• Drop into the deep relaxation and restoration of a sound bath

Programme

You are welcome to arrive from 4pm onwards on Wednesday 26th March. You can take the afternoon to relax, maybe to enjoy Casa Fuzetta’s pool and terraces, or talk a stroll through the old town or waterfront. That evening there will be a welcome talk at dinner and a short wind down and relaxation session afterward.

Closer to the time, a full schedule will be confirmed and emailed to all participants. To give you an idea...

Mandy will offer 2-3 practices a day, beginning with breathwork and meditation and a more dynamic and energizing movement morning practice. The afternoons will focus more on restorative yoga, yoga nidra, a sound bath and more meditation and breathwork. 

There will be 1 group excursion to one of the local islands to explore and have dinner. We will also walk into town one night for dinner at a local, recommended restaurant. Both dinners out are included.

You will have free time to explore on your own . The Saturday morning market is highly recommended!

Daily breakfast/brunch will be around 10:30 and dinner from around 7pm.

On the final day, there will be a morning practice, then brunch, with departures by 11am. You are welcome to leave your bag at the house while you continue your adventures out and about in Olhaõ, in the event of late flights

• Daily Brunch and three dinners prepared by the Casa Fuzetta team at the house
• A trip to one of the islands with dinner there
• Dinner in Olhão
• Daily yoga and meditation with Mandy
• Sound bath
• All the wonderful spaces, including rooftop pool (heated when needed), to enjoy at the house
• Time to explore the quaint, fisherman’s village and harbour. Saturday morning market is highly recommended!
• Time and space to be as active or as quiet as you wish
• Bespoke welcome gift
• Yoga mats and props to use in the indoor yoga space and roof top deck
• LaEva gold standard organic units of well-being (wash, lotion, shampoo & conditioner)
• Stylish hammam towels and umbrellas for the beach
• Hand made local wicker baskets for trips to the beach or the market

• Travel 
• Taxi transfer (just 15 minutes from Faro airport) - Mandy can help you to meet others arriving at the same time
• Massages and acupuncture treatments (to be booked before arrival-please indicate interest when booking)
• Travel insurance
• Alcohol
• Ferry to the beach (about 5 Euros each way).

Arrivals from 4pm on Wednesday 26th March.

Check-out by 11:00 Monday 31st March. You are welcome to leave your bags at the house while you continue your adventures in Olhâo if you have later onward travel that day.

FARO (FAO) is the nearest international airport.

Example flights from the UK:

Depart Manchester Wednesday 26 March 10:25, Arrive Faro 13:20

Depart Faro Monday 31 March 18:20, Arrive Manchester 21:20

With Ryan Air, approx £100 return

Depart London Stansted Wed 26 March 10:10, Arrive Faro 13:05

Depart Faro Monday 31 March 20:35, Arrive London Stansted 23:25

With Ryan Air, approx £70 return

For travelling to Portugal from outside of Europe you can fly to Lisbon and then a connecting flight to Faro or via coach, train or private transfer from Lisbon to Faro (see below).

The journey from Faro airport should be no more than 20 mins. 

There are always plenty of taxis outside the arrivals terminal. The cost per car is 20-25€.

The house is in the old town of Olhão. Many of the taxi drivers know the house, but not all. If you put Casa Fuzetta into google maps, it will pop up and if you use What3words /// politics.times.mergers it will bring you straight to the front door. 

Otherwise, the GPS coordinates are 37.026272 -7.842708.

When you book you will have access to the  Casa Fuzetta app which contains dynamic maps.

If you are travelling from LISBON

Transport options are: coach, train, or private transfer all of which need a minimum of 3-3.5hrs.

NOTE: trains will be to Faro, from where a taxi on to Olhão will be needed for last leg of the journey (approx.20min).

The public bus/coach, which is highly rated,  goes from Lisbon Sete Rios (central area) to just around the corner from Casa Fuzetta  in Olhão- price currently approx 10-20€pp - see: https://rede-expressos.pt/en/timetables ). This is definitely the cheapest option. Takes the same amount of time as any of the other options and usually operates several times per day. 

For a private transfer from Lisbon Casa Fuzetta suggest speaking to Joao Cordeiro at Domitur Transfers.

Email: transfers.domitur@domitur.pt

Mobile: +351968711581 

Daily brunch and dinner is included.

We will mainly be looked after by the Casa Fuzetta house team.

On one of the days we will take a boat trip to one of the islands and have dinner there - we may be lucky enough to see dolphins!

Another evening we will wander into Olhão to a local restaurant.

All your dinners are included. 

Juice, teas, coffee and water are included at brunch.

Filtered water is freely available at the house.

Alcohol is not included.

Your €650 deposit is not refundable.

For bookings before the end of June, you will pay your deposit in  two parts: €350 when you book and a second payment on June 30th.

Payment plans are automatically added to bookings -you can also pay the balance off at any time. If you prefer not to have the payment plan, please be in touch and it can be removed.

Final payments are due by February 2nd 2025. If booking on or after February 2nd, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Please ensure you have travel insurance. Deposits cannot be refunded. Balance payments can be refunded up to 8 weeks before the retreat. After that I can only refund you if I am able to fill your space - minus your deposit.