Family Retreat - The Great Adventure
THE GREAT ADVENTURE
7 days to bond and be nurtured
5th - 11th August 2021
‘When you realise how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky’ - Buddha
5th - 11th August 2021
‘When you realise how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky’ - Buddha
A chance for family members to breathe, connect and have fun together.
We start and end each day together with a short meditation and sharing circle, which provides a chance to reconnect with one another, to set any intentions and to offer thanks. Meal times are also spent together and are a wonderful opportunity to share stores about your activities in the day so far.
Around these communal times, our wonderful children’s team will care for the younger members of the family, leading sessions in yoga, nature exploring, singing, art and storytelling. All of our children’s team are experienced in working with children in ways that allow each child to shine as an individual while practising working together as a team. As well as being yoga teachers, many of the team have backgrounds in children’s social work, neuro-linguistics, outdoor activity leading, and special needs education, so you can be sure your children are in safe hands.
For the adults, we offer a daily yoga and meditation session, and then plenty of free time for relaxation or a taster session – this is the perfect time and place to explore something new, so why not book in for a poetry workshop, a painting session or a private yoga class? One to one sessions are available, or book in with your partner for a shared experience that provides a new and joyful way of engaging together. Massage therapies will also be available; these and the taster sessions can be arranged at the time of booking – though we’ll keep a few spots free just in case you want to go back for more!
Every other day, we’ll arrange a families’ yoga session – these are great fun and suited to all ages and abilities. Together you’ll learn simple routines, games and partner poses that the whole family can use together or individually. Stretch together, get creative with animals and shapes and enjoy calm time to bond and relax with your children. We’ll also look at some simple family massage techniques in these sessions – a beautiful practice to help bond and reconnect.
The Riverheart book collection has a range of novels, modern fiction, children’s books and teen literature, as well as books on spirituality from Buddhism to shamanism, natural healing and creative wellbeing. Take advantage of a glass of organic wine or beer or a pot of fresh tea, and lounge by the pool to soak up the sun and some time to yourself.
Meditation spaces are dotted along the riverside and with hammocks, swinging chairs, poolside loungers and shady trees you’ll have plenty of time to carve out your very own piece of Riverheart’s peace and quiet.
Food is vegetarian and sugar-free with vegan options for each meal, cooked with love and using only organic and locally produced ingredients wherever possible. Tea, herbal infusions, fresh coffee and organic wines and beers are all self-service and are included in the cost of the retreat. Allergies and intolerances can be catered for – please inform us in advance so we can best prepare to care for your needs.
'I can not recommend Riverheart family retreat enough (although I'd like to keep it a secret) as it's the go-to in my head when I want to reconnect with my heart and remember what is important to me.
Beautiful souls Mike and Samm have created a beautiful space amidst stunning nature and views. The warmth and humble nature of these guys is moving. Robbie, another beautiful soul (workshop leader) is full of energy and zeal and models a presence to all.
The food is stunning, all vegetarian ... Shonet, the lovely cook, beavers away in the kitchen and is always around to offer a treat... and amazing delights appear at meal times.
My 8 year old son has treasures he made whilst at the retreat and even after a year talks about it and says "I wish we could go back to Spain" - he knows he felt connected and wants more! A retreat at Riverheaert is in essence a coming home to yourself.' - Natalie, August 2019
Beautiful souls Mike and Samm have created a beautiful space amidst stunning nature and views. The warmth and humble nature of these guys is moving. Robbie, another beautiful soul (workshop leader) is full of energy and zeal and models a presence to all.
The food is stunning, all vegetarian ... Shonet, the lovely cook, beavers away in the kitchen and is always around to offer a treat... and amazing delights appear at meal times.
My 8 year old son has treasures he made whilst at the retreat and even after a year talks about it and says "I wish we could go back to Spain" - he knows he felt connected and wants more! A retreat at Riverheaert is in essence a coming home to yourself.' - Natalie, August 2019
A typical day looks like this:
08:30 - 09:00 Morning meditation and sharing circle
09:00 – 10:00 Breakfast, a delicious assortment of fresh fruit, whole cereals, porridge with superfood supplements, and Spanish tostadas with herby tomatoes, as well as jams and spreads.
10:00 – 12:00 Kids’ activities / Free time for adults
12:00 – 13:30 Kids’ activities / Adults’ yoga and meditation class
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch – a colourful buffet of superfood salads, fresh breads (including wheat-free), and local olives and cheeses
14:30 – 16:00 Siesta, time for everyone to rest and digest, play in the pool, or book in for a taster session
16:00 – 18:00 Kids’ activities / Free time for adults / Family yoga session
18:00 – 19:00 Evening meditation and sharing circle
19:00 – 20:00 Supper – paellas, tortillas, or sensational stews depending on what culinary inspiration guides our chef that day!
20:00 – 21:00 Evening session – this may be a dreamy yoga nidra, a fire clearing ritual, a cacao ceremony or an evening of music around the fire.
21:00 onwards Quiet time
'My then 9 year old daughter and I went to Riverheart Retreats for the family yoga retreat in 2019. I wanted a slightly offbeat holiday more suited to my desire to slow down and switch off, whilst keeping active, and feed our souls as well as be a holiday that would satisfy a fun loving daughter. Our one stipulation was we needed a pool or the sea!
I did an extensive search on yoga holidays and I kept being drawn back to riverheart retreats (no sea but there was a pool!). Going on faith and intuition alone I made contact with Robbie and Samm and booked our 6 days 7 nights family retreat. We decided 2 ladies needed their own toilet so we booked one of the cabanas - A double bed and en suite bathroom. We also decided to ask our hosts to organise a taxi and when we arrived at Malaga airport we, along with another mum and son also going to the retreat piled in to the taxi headed for Coin.
We did not know what to expect but the site was how it was described so close to nature, calm, tranquil and a place to really switch off and tune out. Our cabin was perfect for our requirements, small, but sizeable double bed, very clean with a beautifully hand decorated stone shower and the requested toilet en-suite. A large tent and a dome on site where the 2 other families were staying were investigated by my daughter and she has since told me she thought they were nice places to stay in too!
Our hosts were Robbie, Samm and Mike with chefs Shonet and along with baby Alba, dog Magic and 2 gentle natured cats made us so truly welcome.
Riverheart Retreats had a wonderful mix of being able to make us feel at home yet also on holiday so any asks or quirks were all met with kindness and understanding. My daughter was disappointed not to see another girl her age and was dubious of the fact she would be with 2 boys a year or so younger. But I can honestly say before long we all quickly realised our group had come together for a reason as we all explored yoga, family life, vegan meals, an amazing outdoor massage, play time and adventure together. We could not have asked for more wonderful hosts, gorgeous vegan meals and snacks, that inspired us all to cook beans with cacao or boost our smoothies with colours and flavours and eat tacos and vegan stews that were out of this world. While the inland Spanish weather was a tad on the hot side for our sensibilities - again our amazing hosts have listened and we’ve been told there will be even more areas to relax with more shade in the coming months!
For the children Robbie was a ball of energy, creative, patient, enthusiastic and inspiring in his approach to entertaining 3 very different children, life and yoga. Mike was such a steadying fun presence and had all three children looking up to him (and not just because of his considerable height!) Samm provided adult (in this case 3 mums) yoga and for her teaching alone I’d go back! If you want to learn about aspects of yoga outside of the exercise where the mind and breath are as, if not more important than the physical, then this is the place to go. All in all our Spanish retreat is one we will not forget; our time there left such an amazing impression and had one of those life changing positive impacts on us both. Thank you.' - Shannon, August 2019
I did an extensive search on yoga holidays and I kept being drawn back to riverheart retreats (no sea but there was a pool!). Going on faith and intuition alone I made contact with Robbie and Samm and booked our 6 days 7 nights family retreat. We decided 2 ladies needed their own toilet so we booked one of the cabanas - A double bed and en suite bathroom. We also decided to ask our hosts to organise a taxi and when we arrived at Malaga airport we, along with another mum and son also going to the retreat piled in to the taxi headed for Coin.
We did not know what to expect but the site was how it was described so close to nature, calm, tranquil and a place to really switch off and tune out. Our cabin was perfect for our requirements, small, but sizeable double bed, very clean with a beautifully hand decorated stone shower and the requested toilet en-suite. A large tent and a dome on site where the 2 other families were staying were investigated by my daughter and she has since told me she thought they were nice places to stay in too!
Our hosts were Robbie, Samm and Mike with chefs Shonet and along with baby Alba, dog Magic and 2 gentle natured cats made us so truly welcome.
Riverheart Retreats had a wonderful mix of being able to make us feel at home yet also on holiday so any asks or quirks were all met with kindness and understanding. My daughter was disappointed not to see another girl her age and was dubious of the fact she would be with 2 boys a year or so younger. But I can honestly say before long we all quickly realised our group had come together for a reason as we all explored yoga, family life, vegan meals, an amazing outdoor massage, play time and adventure together. We could not have asked for more wonderful hosts, gorgeous vegan meals and snacks, that inspired us all to cook beans with cacao or boost our smoothies with colours and flavours and eat tacos and vegan stews that were out of this world. While the inland Spanish weather was a tad on the hot side for our sensibilities - again our amazing hosts have listened and we’ve been told there will be even more areas to relax with more shade in the coming months!
For the children Robbie was a ball of energy, creative, patient, enthusiastic and inspiring in his approach to entertaining 3 very different children, life and yoga. Mike was such a steadying fun presence and had all three children looking up to him (and not just because of his considerable height!) Samm provided adult (in this case 3 mums) yoga and for her teaching alone I’d go back! If you want to learn about aspects of yoga outside of the exercise where the mind and breath are as, if not more important than the physical, then this is the place to go. All in all our Spanish retreat is one we will not forget; our time there left such an amazing impression and had one of those life changing positive impacts on us both. Thank you.' - Shannon, August 2019
Contact Samm for more information or to book your place - samantha@riverheartretreats.com / +34 671465611
On some retreats we have Karma Yoga places available for guests wanting to offer a few hours of their time each day in return for a reduced fee. Roles typically include social media and blog writing, but please enquire for full details of what’s available.
INSPIRING A GREATER LOVE OF LIFE
