The Wim Hof Method was created by Dutch athlete and motivational speaker, Wim Hof, through decades of self-exploration and scientific studies. It combines cold therapy, specialised breathing techniques, and willpower/commitment to provide potential benefits such as: increased energy, improved sleep, reduced stress levels, heightened focus and determination, and a stronger immune system. In this retreat, which is ideal for beginners through to experienced practitioners, certified Wim Hof Method instructor James Dawson will guide you through the three pillars of the Wim Hof Method and the science behind it. Join in relaxing meditation, yoga, and nature immersion sessions, nurture your body with healthy, whole foods, and feel fully rested and rejuvenated in comfortable ensuite rooms on our tranquil mountainside property.
Participants will learn the science behind the Wim Hof Method and experience the transformative benefits of the three pillars:
Retreat sessions will cover Wim Hof Method education, ice baths, natural cold exposure/swimming, breathwork, sharing circles, and group bonding exercises. You’ll be further reinvigorated with meditation, nature immersion, and yoga sessions. Enjoy our excellent wellness facilities including pool, sauna, and gym or our Wellness Menu of add-on options including massage therapy.
The retreat is suitable for complete beginners through to individuals who are already familiar with the Wim Hof Method, yoga, meditation, and other wellbeing practices taught in this course.
Join us for a long weekend of reconnecting with yourself, others, and nature. This retreat offers simple, effective techniques to help you tap into your full potential and inner resilience.
The retreat will be held at our secluded property in the mountains of the Serra da Estrela natural park, a certified UNESCO geopark and an important conservation and biodiversity site in Portugal.
You’ll stay in the comfort and privacy of an ensuite room in one of our beautifully remodelled quintas. For an even more unique experience, opt for a premium room with a terrace and breathtaking mountain and valley views.
Unwind in our brand new facilities including a sauna, heated pool, gym, dining hall, and lounge with library and fireplace. You’ll also feel nourished with balanced Portuguese and Mediterranean meals based on whole foods, lovingly prepared by our team of chefs.
Participants who would like to take more time to relax and make use of our wellness facilities, explore our stunning property or the surrounding area, or add on options from our Wellness Menu, can choose to arrive on Thursday, 2nd March and stay until the morning of Monday, 6th March (4-NIGHT OPTION)
The language of the retreat is English.
Day 1 (Thursday, 2nd March 2023):
14.00: Check In
17.00: Orientation tour and community guidelines
18.00 – 19:00: Dinner
19.15 – 20:15: Welcome circle and introduction to the theme of the workshop
21.30: Rest and noble silence until 08.30 the next morning
Day 2 (Friday, 3rd March 2023):
07.00 – 07.30: Meditation in Contemplative Hall
07:30 – 08:30: Breakfast in noble silence
08.30 – 09.00: Morning meeting with the community
09.30 – 12.00: Morning session
12.00 – 13:30: Lunch
13:30 – 16.00: Afternoon session
16.30 – 17.30: Yoga
18.00 – 19:15: Dinner
19.30 – 21.00: Evening session
21.30: Rest and noble silence until 08.30 the next morning
Day 3 (Saturday, 4th March 2023):
07.00 – 07.30: Meditation in Contemplative Hall
07:30 – 08:30: Breakfast in noble silence
08.30 – 09.00: Morning meeting with the community
09.30 – 12.00: Morning session
12.00 – 13:30: Lunch
13:30 – 16.00: Afternoon session
16.30 – 17.30: Yoga
18.00 – 19:15: Dinner
19.30 – 21.00: Evening session
21.30: Rest and noble silence until 08.30 the next morning
Day 4 (Sunday, 5th March 2023):
07:30 – 08:30: Breakfast in noble silence
09.30 – 12.00: Morning session
12.00 – 13:30: Lunch
13:30 – 16.00: Integration of the experience / How to implement in daily life
16.00: Retreat finishes
18.00 – 19:15: Dinner
Course instruction, private ensuite accommodation at our beautiful Serra da Estrela retreat centre, 3 balanced meals per day, and access to our wellness facilities are included with the fee.
Option 1: 3-NIGHT STAY
ARRIVAL: Thursday, 2nd March (afternoon, before 5.00 pm)
DEPARTURE: Sunday, 5th (afternoon after retreat ends)
Not included: Shuttle transfer between Porto Airport and New Life Portugal (€70 each way), extras from our Wellness Menu, any other transport costs.
Option 2: 4-NIGHT STAY
ARRIVAL: Thursday, 2nd March (afternoon, before 5.00pm)
DEPARTURE: Monday, 6th March (morning)
Not included: Shuttle transfer between Porto Airport and New Life Portugal (€70 each way), extras from our Wellness Menu, any other transport costs.
Accommodation
Retreat participants will stay in private ensuite rooms in our newly remodelled quintas at our Serra da Estrela property in the central Portuguese countryside. The rooms are modern and cosy. Premium rooms come with terraces and mountain and valley views. All rooms feature a queen-sized bed, private bathroom, shower, reading lamp, sink, and floor heating during the colder months. Towels, soap, shower gel, facial tissues, water pitcher, and bedding are provided. Hair dryers are available upon request.
Meals
At New Life Portugal we serve three buffet-style meals per day. The dishes feature plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. We try our best to cater to a diverse range of dietary preferences. However, due to the large range of ingredients used in our kitchen, we are not able to guarantee that all our dishes are allergen-free. If you have special requirements, please feel free to get in touch to see how we can best meet your needs.
Travel Information
Our address is: Caminho das Regadas 1, Folgosinho, Gouveia 6290-081, Portugal
We are an approximately 2-hour drive from Porto, a 3.5-hour drive from Lisbon, and a 4.5-hour drive from Madrid. The nearest airport is Porto airport and the nearest bus station is in the city of Gouveia, which is a 30-minute drive from us.
If you have any questions about how to reach us, our team will gladly assist you with your enquiries.
Things to Bring
For further information on travelling to or staying with us, please see our Practical Information page or get in touch with our friendly team.
Wellness Menu
Feel like indulging in a massage? Want to make the most of your time with us by adding extra sessions? Our custom options are ideal if there are any special areas you’d like to focus on, or if you’d like to fit more activities into your wellness retreat with us. Please enquire about cost and availability.
Life coaching at New Life Portugal is about deep listening, mutual exploration, and compassion. Your personal coach will support you in slowing down and listening to what’s inside you. You’ll be guided towards feeling the deeper rhythm of life from a grounded and resourceful place within yourself. Self-care is an important focus of the coaching sessions and you’ll find it easier to make better choices and adjustments for your wellbeing. Our coach will also guide you in making decisions, finding answers, and developing healthier habits.
In a private session with our experienced meditation teacher, you’ll have one-on-one time to ask questions or receive guidance on how to improve your practice. You can also choose a specific exercise to work on, or study topics relating to mindfulness and meditation that you have a particular interest in. It’s an excellent way to enhance your progress and gain the full benefits that mindfulness and meditation can bring to your life.
Mindful movement can be excellent for easing tension or pain. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety. Book private sessions with our body-mind teachers specialising in qigong, yoga therapy, and breathwork. Depending on your needs, choose specific themes and practices to work on for effectively targeted relief.
Let your worries melt away. Soothe aches and pains. We work with different specialised professionals who offer full body therapeutic or relaxing massage, Swedish massage, sound massage, and acupuncture. With our skilled massage therapists, you’ll be able to give yourself the permission you need to truly unwind.
We feature regular psycho-educational and body-mind workshops as part of our weekly program. Feel free to add optional workshops to your program path for a more intensive experience of exploration and growth. On weekends we may also have additional workshops with invited teachers. Just share your interests with us and we’ll happily let you know what’s on.
We offer weekend and one-day retreats with our resident and guest teachers based on various themes, including meditation, yoga, dance, coaching, and noble silence. If there’s something specific you’d like to work on, feel free to design your own retreat experience with our Meditation Teacher or Program Manager.
Nature is a very important healing component of our program. Participate in a forest bath or mindful walk experience, sit on our contemplative benches, and listen to the surrounding sound of birds and streams. It sounds simple but you’ll be amazed at how calm, rested, and at peace you’ll feel by connecting with the natural environment around us.
Our centre is located in the stunning Serra da Estrela natural park, which features hundreds of walking and cycling trails. Ask us about the menu of hikes (with maps in Alltrails) and bike trails (GPS) that you can do on your own. You can also join the weekly scheduled group activity if you feel like some company and good conversation as you explore.
Central Portugal offers so many options that it’s sometimes difficult to choose what activity to do. We’re fortunate enough to be situated in a mountain region rich with history. Join a trip guided by local experts and explore fascinating cities and villages located nearby such as Gouveia, Seia, Celorico da Beira, Linhares, and Folgosinho.
Make your visit even fuller by connecting with the local culture. Participate in seasonal activities such as the shepherds’ summer festivities, cheese and chestnut festivals, cherry tree blooming, mushroom hunting, and more. You’ll learn about the region, make friends - and have lots of fun.
It is possible to join this retreat as part of your stay in one of our program pathways (Rest + Rejuvenate Path, Wellness Path, and Resilience Path). If you’re interested in this option, please get in touch.
Please book using the buttons below or ask any questions through the form. You can also give us a call on +351 238 249 925 or or send us an email.
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