A transformative experience
This retreat is carefully curated with a well balanced mix of scientifically tried-and-tested techniques and holistic, therapeutic tools to restore fully.
This is a transformative experience that you will not forget easily.
Ellen has designed an 8-day program combining her in depth knowledge on stress relief and the workings of the body and brain, developed over the last decade to deliver an unforgettable retreat.
Retreat Dates
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16th - 23rd September
2nd - 9th December
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13th of January - 20th of January
16th of March - 23rd of March (This retreat will be cancelled as I will be on maternity leave)
A message from Ellen
I have been doing these retreats for a few years now and I have been tweaking and improving the program ever since.
This program is not only a direct reflection of my own journey, learnings and deep inner work I have been doing and that I love to share with you but it is also based on years of professional experience working with many clients from all over the world. Most of my clients are ambitious, highly intelligent people with a lot of responsibilities and a deep yearning to slow down, still the mind and learn to deal with a range of anxieties or unprocessed emotions or life-events.
I consider myself to be a healer, coach and teacher and what I share with you will come from deeply felt experiences. What I don’t know or what I have not experienced I will not share. My work is embodied on a body, mind and heart level.
Having a journalistic and academic background, I also want to share with you what really works, pulling from a big body of clinical scientific work. What happens to your brain when you experience stress (of trauma even), how does this affect your body and how can you turn it around? How can we truly heal from events and bodily states that seem to have trapped us? What does science really tell us about coming back to true relaxation, especially when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel? How can we truly feel empowered with existing tools?
I would say my classes and what I share can be quite deep and profound and yet I like to keep things down-to-earth, playful and fun. This retreat combines everything I relate to: Integrity, stillness, the mystical and subtle realms, science, heartfelt & severe professional experience, true connection, playfulness, love, safety and heart.
I would be delighted to welcome you and to get to know you!
Ellen
What is included
Yoga & Meditation
Excellent morning vinyasa classes
Daily therapeutic 2 hour long yoga practices - either Yin yoga or Restorative Yoga
Profound guided visualization meditation in the Meditation Garden
Guided stress relief meditations
Bedtime yoga nidra sessions in the Om Dome
Experiences
High end masterclass on the nervous system
Fairytale 2 hour hike through natural reserve of Sierra de Grazalema
Healing work
Inspiring workshop on the art and the power of Yin
Visit to the Hamam - a heavenly experience
Local lunch in ‘pueblo blanco’ with gorgeous Andalusian food
Extras
Pre-retreat coaching call
1:1 Coaching (multiple moments throughout the retreat)
A digital Relax & Restore at home package (with recordings of tried-and-tested best practices including yoga Nidra, yin yoga and meditations, by Ellen)
3 delicious vegetarian meals a day
Free use of Suryalila's facilitates (eco pool, sauna and many more)
Post-retreat video call
Example of a day on the retreat
Beautifully led vigorous vinyasa class in the morning (only if you feel like it!)
A delicious, copious breakfast (where you probably eat gluttonously because it is too delicious!)
Reading a book, having a great conversation with your fellow participants or some downtime at the pool.
Inspiring masterclass led by Ellen that will leave you with new knowledge, insights and sets you up for sustainable changes.
Gorgeous lunch
A nap, a delicious coffee from the cafe or perhaps a little lie down in the Andalusian sun, it is hard to pick.
2 hour Yin yoga class designed to help you unwind fully and tap deep into the subtler parts of your body and mind, led with a touch of magic and stillness by Ellen in the beautiful Dome.
Delicious dinner
Bedtime Yoga Nidra with candle light in the Dome followed by the deepest sleep you have had in a long time.
What to expect
Pick your room
Deluxe Ananda Laxmi (the most spacious room in Suryalila with ensuite bathroom, double bed king size and own sitting area).
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Sole Occupancy 2222€ pp.
Shared with two people (friend or partner) 1888€ pp.
Superior Double (Shared Bathroom). Double bed and shared bathroom (1 or 2 others).
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Sole Occupancy: 1650€ pp.
Superior Double shared with two people (friend or partner) 1555€ pp.
Deluxe Double is a private, spacious room with own bathroom.
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Sole Occupancy: 1888€ pp.
Deluxe Double shared with two people (friend or partner) 1650€ pp.
Twin Room (Shared Bathroom). Separate twin beds with shared bathroom (1 or 2 others). Single occupancy possible.
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Sole occupancy: 1650€ pp.
Twin Room shared with two people (friend or partner) 1555€ pp.
Dates & Location
Available dates:
16th of September - 23rd of September 2023
2nd of December - 9th of December 2023
13th of January - 20th of January 2024
16th of March - 23rd of March 2024
Location:
Suryalila Retreat Centre
Pago del Pagarete
Cortijo La Fabrica
11650 Villamartín, Cádiz, Spain
Included in the retreat cost:
7 nights all inclusive, 8 days
3 delicious vegetarian meals a day
Free use of Suryalila’s facilities (sauna, eco pool, relaxation areas, beautiful pagodas with hammocks)
Daily therapeutic Yoga session – either Yin Yoga or Restorative Yoga
4 bed time Yoga Nidra sessions
Potent & guided meditations in the Shala or Meditation Garden
High end Masterclass on the nervous system
Inspring esoteric workshop on the art and the power of Yin
Hike through natural reserve Sierra de Grazalema
Trip (and entrance) to the hamam
Local lunch in Pueblo Blanco Prado del Rey
Multiple coaching moments during consultation hours and 1:1’s
Pre-retreat coaching call and post-retreat coaching call
Digital Relax & Restore at home package (with recordings of tried-and-tested best practices of Ellen, including yoga Nidra, yin yoga and meditations) so you can maximize your relaxation, before and after the retreat
The cost of the retreat is dependant on the accommodation you choose.
Fill in the form to book your spot
Testimonials
Kate McCarthy
I am very grateful for this wonderful retreat and the brilliant guidance from Ellen. I was put on gardening leave as I left one large tech company to join another and I knew I needed to get away from my day-to-day and deeply rest my mind and body.
The pandemic had affected me in more ways than I knew, and I felt like I was flat-lining through life, a sort of numbness to everything around me. With the added stress of my job, I felt I had lost a sense of self and direction. I accidentally stumbled on this retreat, but from the moment I read about the course and I spoke to Ellen on the phone, I knew it was the right fit!
I have to admit, I am not a deeply spiritual person so reading about the types of yoga and meditation we were going to do, I had a lot of skepticism. I shared my concerns with Ellen, but I need not be worried as it turns out there were a lot of people like me on the course and with Ellen's guidance, the process was well worth my time! She is a brilliant teacher, and explains both the science and the benefits behind the sessions, which for me was essential.
The types of yoga, specifically Nidra and the meditation sessions for me were really powerful, and I felt an overwhelming sense of calm and clarity after the retreat. I took away some relaxation techniques and a better understanding of what is important to me. When you take the time to stop, focus on yourself and relax, its amazing what you can get from it.
Lia Muczenski
Sometimes you just know, or feel rather, that you are just right where you need to be. I arrived at Ellen's Relax & Restore retreat with a strong desire of 'me time'. I have met Ellen already a few years ago were she shared her ideas with me of creating a Yoga Retreat focusing on stress relief, self-empowerment, slowing down & nourishment. It was the simplicity and beauty of this idea combined with the brightness in her eyes talking what her deepest heart desire is that struck me and made me remember when I most needed it. So I followed this call.
Yin & Restorative Yoga as well Yoga Nidra is not my strongest side as I tend to go for strenuous and vigorous practices and I love them. But Ellen´s voice makes you relax and simply follow her suggestions had made this so easy for me. I feel Ellen does everything to make you feel comfortable and I was very touched by her kindness, authenticity, pureness and her availability to just be there for you. I felt secure in the safe environment that she created with her knowledge and warm-hearted being. After a month back home I still feel the impact and my heart keeps on smiling. Thank you Ellen for a wonderful time.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need any yoga or meditation experience?
Ofcourse, it is great if you already have some meditation experience (this can also be ‘just tuning in’ and taking a few deep breaths!) but no this is not necessary. When you book the retreat, you will have a call will Ellen in which she will explain more in detail and you will also receive a digital package will all the best practices (meditations, yoga nidra, yin yoga) so you can start at home before the retreat. This will enhance your experience for sure and will ensure things won’t feel ‘so new’.
Which language will this retreat be in?
This retreat will be held in English. So it is recommended that your English is well enough, if you are not native.
What is the average age of participants?
Between 28 and 65, men and women!
What if I don’t want to partake in all classes?
This is not a bootcamp, this is your retreat. I encourage you to do what you need, so if that means that you want to skip a class, please do so. Please communicate this with Ellen.
Is everything included in the retreat price?
Yes, all accommodation, food and classes are included in the retreat. Even the lunch in the local town and the transfers to the hike, the transfer to the hamam and the entrance of the haman. There are absolutely no surprises here, that’s a promise.
How do I get to the retreat centre?
The centre is beautifully remote but it is very accessible. The easiest way is to get an organized transfer (this is done for you). The closest airports are Jerez de la Frontera (70 minutes), Sevilla (75 minutes) and Malaga (2,5 hours). You can also get there by bus or with a rental car. Your transfer to Suryalila and your flights are not included.
This retreat sounds great, but what happens when I am back home again?
Sometimes it can be challenging to be back at home. You may be worried about how to stick to your relaxation practice. To help you with this you will receive a digital package with all the best practices from meditation to yin yoga to yoga nidra, recorded and curated by Ellen. Ellen will also check in with you personally when the retreat ends and see if there is anything you need. It is also possible to continue a 1:1 process with Ellen after the retreat.
I really crave personal attention and coaching, is this retreat a fit for me?
This retreat only has smaller groups only (max. 14 people) to ensure a certain quality, personal space and depth of the work. Ellen holds pre-retreat calls and post-retreat calls; these are calls of a coaching, therapeutic kind to make sure you can get the most out of the work you will be doing. The program has different consultation hours, where 1:1 coaching is possible. On top of that, there a plenty options for extra coaching conversations.
This Retreat is for you if:
You find yourself in need of a break and to recharge your batteries in a safe and guided way
You find yourself fatigued, stressed, overstimulated or overwhelmed
You are in a pivotal moment in your life and you know you need to reconnect with a deeper part of yourself
You need a space to reconnect with yourself, beyond all the layers of tensions, to do’s and musts you surround yourself with in your current life
You want to be facilitated and guided by an expert in deep relaxation and healing
You would love to surround yourself with likeminded people
You crave inspiration, learnings and knowledge on what you can do yourself to deepen and cultivate your healing journey
Fill in the form to book your spot
About Ellen
Ellen Aarts has lived a busy, rather cosmopolitan life in Amsterdam having a managerial role in an international emergency coordination centre and being a journalist. She worked in different communication agencies, has a masters in International Business Communications and a masters in Journalism, she has traveled the world and once was a real ‘party girl’.
Experiencing life altering events brought burnout, PTSD and anxiety into Ellen’s life and made her change her life completely in 2016. She moved to the foreign countries, having her own healing & coaching practice and living a conscious, more natural life.
She found the courage to not only start a deep journey within but later on to embrace her truest and most authentic mission: to reconnect people with who they really are, underneath all the tension, the ‘masks’ and the idea of who we should be. Ellen has seen tremendous transformation in her own life and now in many of her clients lives.
As seen in
Relax & Restore
Gift yourself the joy and power of silence and come back to your centre.