Root & Rise
Wellbeing Retreat
12 - 16th of November in Melides, Portugal
Psychology, Breathwork, Somatics & Nature
You don’t have to be more ready. This is the moment.
This is a guided journey that begins before you arrive, deepens while you are here, and stays with you long after you return home. Root & Rise is the natural evolution of myalfazema, shaped by 5 years of experience, hundreds of guests, and everything we've learned along the way.
Are you ready for a magical experience? Over five days, you will be guided through breathwork, movement, psychology-based practices, journaling, and nature. Set in the golden autumn countryside of Alentejo, just 15 minutes from the beautiful beaches of Melides and Comporta, this retreat is for those looking to pause, reconnect, and shift what no longer feels aligned.
When you return home, you will feel not just recharged, but clear. Equipped. Resourced. You will leave with tools to support your nervous system, soften old patterns, and meet life with more confidence.Come tired, unclear, or overwhelmed. Leave grounded, honest, and alive.
Come as you are. We will meet you there. Let’s Root & Rise.
Why you will love this retreat
Don’t just take our word for it, scroll through the testimonials. But truly, you’ll love this retreat. It’s a space where you can have fun, evolve, rest, reflect, learn and genuinely enjoy yourself. This experience guides you back to who you are and brings clarity that carries into your everyday life. Few retreats bring East and West together in such a truly holistic way. Here, we combine the depth of psychology with the healing power of breathwork, somatic practices and meaningful community, all in a beautiful natural setting. It’s an integrated approach to nervous system regulation, emotional resilience and body-based self-trust. What makes this retreat special is how it meets you exactly where you are, through the presence of the facilitators, the energy of the place, the food, the precious group, the wellbeing tools you take home and the fact that this is a co-created experience you are fully part of.
The Retreat Experience
Our intention is to guide you to unleash the magic that comes from exploring the depths of your being, reconnecting with your core, and unlocking the power within. You’ll rest, turn inward, have individual sessions, embrace your spiritual practices, and reconnect with your heart, rediscovering just how beautiful and brave you are..
01
Before the Retreat
We want to ensure you have the best possible experience. So, before you join us here, you will have an online 1-on-1 intro session with Leonor, founder of myalfazema and who will guide the psychology-led sessions during the retreat. This is where we begin, by meeting you where you are. You’ll share what’s unfolding in your life, what you’re carrying, and what you’re seeking.
We’ve designed a journey for you, but you’re free to skip anything. Your retreat, your rhythm, your choice. Everything we offer is an invitation, not an obligation.
02
During the retreat
You’ll wake up in the beautiful Portuguese countryside and begin each day with movement, breathwork, and journaling. The rhythm of the day unfolds into peace, openness, and expansion. This is about returning to yourself and empowering you from within.
You’ll breathe, move, rest, reflect, have fun, explore, connect with others, and enjoy nourishing, delicious food. The practices, the setting, and the slow pace create space for whatever needs to shift to unfold naturally.
Inês will guide you through daily breathwork and somatic practices (somatic anchoring, somatic shaking, EFT tapping, mindful walking, heart-opening, intuitive journaling) along with reflective journaling; all to help you root into your body and rise into clarity in a way that feels truly your own.
With Leonor, you will have your second 1:1 psychology wellbeing session (on Day 2, 3, or 4) to explore what’s emerging and go deeper into your personal process.
There will be plenty of free time too: space to take a nap, reflect, and simply enjoy the beautiful nature around you. Whether it’s walking around, reading by the pool, journaling under a tree, or chilling in the quiet of the natural surroundings, this time is just as essential. Integration happens not only during sessions but also in the stillness in-between.
Each day ends with sunset, a moment to exhale and simply be.
03
After the retreat
Your experience does not end here. What you discover on retreat is meant to come with you. The tools and practices you explore are simple, sustainable, and designed to support you long after you leave, shaping how you move through your days, your relationships, and your life.
To empower your journey, two to three weeks after the retreat, you’ll have a third 1:1 session with Leo. This is the integration session which gives you space to reflect, anchor what you’ve learned, and create a clear path forward.
Who will guide your
Wellbeing Retreat?
Leonor and Inês are experienced facilitators with years of collaboration and deep passion for this work. Their grounded presence and authentic journey create a space where you can show up just as you are: supported, safe, and seen.
Leonor, Psychology Wellbeing Guide
Those who’ve journeyed with Leonor, the founder of myalfazema, know her as someone deeply devoted to inner work, emotional clarity, and grounded transformation. Her presence is steady, warm, and clear, inviting others to slow down, soften, do the inner work, and return to what really matters to them.
Leonor holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Amsterdam, with a focus on Social Psychology and expertise in emotion, motivation, and behavior change. Her path has taken her through over 50 countries and six universities, learning from different cultures, spiritual traditions, and teachers across the world. Her work brings together science and spirituality, structure and intuition, logic and feeling.
Ines,
Breathwork, Somatics & Mindfulness teacher
Inês is a somatic and breathwork practitioner, working in the field of trauma and embodiment for many years. She has been learning and deepening her practice all over the world, is now based in Thailand, and is bringing it to Portugal once again this year. Everyone loved her sessions and her presence last year, so we’ve invited her to return.
Her approach supports nervous system regulation, emotional expression, and embodied integration through the breath.
Please note that this retreat is not a substitute for medical or psychological advice, evaluation, or treatment. Each participant is responsible for ensuring that they are fit and adequately prepared to participate in the retreat.
Plant-based food in tune with season
Chef Sofia
In our kitchen, everything begins with a deep respect for nature. We follow the seasons, cook with simplicity, and believe that food should nourish more than the body. It should care for the planet and support the people and land around us.
We choose vegetarian cooking because it invites creativity. There is endless inspiration in flavor, texture, and color when you work closely with plants.
Where?
Monte das Casolas, Melides, Portugal
We visited many venues before finding the one that felt just right for Root & Rise. We chose this place for its peaceful setting in Alentejo, just over an hour from Lisbon and only 30 minutes from some of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches. Praia da Galé is my personal favorite. Monte das Casolas is more than a venue. It’s a peaceful sanctuary where you can reconnect with nature, slow down, and live with more purpose. The perfect spot for Root & Rise.
At Monte das Casolas, we believe in living with harmony and balance. Caring for your well-being, staying curious, and opening up to new passions, but returning to simple ways of living, staying close to nature, and honoring traditions in farming, food, and craft that have been passed down through generations.
Asking if this is for you? Let’s take a look.
You are in a moment of personal or emotional transition
• Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or burned out
• Going through a shift in your relationships or work
• Unsure about your next step or what you truly want
• Longing for a sense of connection, calmness, or clarity
You are curious, want to learn new tools and open to inner work
• Want to feel more connected to your body, breath, and intuition
• Looking for practices that are grounded, honest, and practical
• Did some therapy or self-development and want to keep exploring
• Value meaningful connections with others, but also need space for yourself
You value truth, nature,
and simplicity
• You want a break from the noise, but not from your own truth
• You appreciate a calm pace, thoughtful guidance, and real conversations
• You’re ready for lasting sustainable change (step by step) and not just a temporary reset
If your life feels full but your inner world feels off, this retreat is for you.A place to reset not by escaping, but by returning to yourself. Root & Rise gives you the tools and support to reconnect with your breath, your body, and your truth.
Everything that’s included:
- 4 nights, all-inclusive, at Monte das Casolas
- 3 daily plant-based meals by Chef Sofia
- 3 x 1:1 psychology wellbeing sessions with Leonor
- Breathwork Sessions
- Somatic Practice Sessions
- Journaling Sessions
- Intuitive Movement Sessions
- Talk: Regulating the Nervous System
- Yoga props (mats, bolsters, blocks, blankets)
- 20€ donation from your registration fee to a wellbeing
- And everything else that will flow into this experience…!
The investment
Curated with love, this retreat is an investment that goes beyond just joining. It's an investment in your health, happiness, and future.
Want to see more of the rooms? Just reach out, Leonor will help you choose what fits your heart (and your budget) best.
You can book directly with us via bank transfer (just reach out using the form below) or use online payment by clicking the button.
Shared Room
You'll be staying in a shared room with bathroom inside the room which you will share with one more person.
899€ 799€
PER PERSON
Private Group Room with Bathroom
Coming with someone? This room is perfect for 2 guests - often shared by couples, close friends, or even mother–daughter pairs. A private space with your own bathroom and either double or single beds.
849€ 749€
PER PERSON
Private Single Room with Bathroom
Your own quiet space with a private bathroom.
1299€ 1199€
PER PERSON
Looking for a place to rest, reconnect and grow?
This is it!
Simply provide your details below to get more info, secure your spot, or get a gift voucher. Leo will guide you every step of the way.
Please check if you got a confirmation email that your message was sent. If not, please contact us directly at leonor@myalfazema.com.
Looking forward to talking to you!
The manifesto behind this retreat
Root & Rise is a journey back to yourself. It begins by grounding. Coming home to the present moment, to your body, to the earth beneath your feet. It is about slowing down, remembering what matters, and creating space for what is real.
To root is to feel safe, stable, and connected. Rooting means honoring where you come from, listening to your body, being in the present, embracing life fully, and trusting your own pace.
And then, from that place of groundedness, you rise. Not by climbing or striving, but by softening and being authentic. By letting your energy move freely. By remembering that expansion does not come from force, but from flow.
Rising is about stepping into life with clarity, with presence, and with inner power. It is about reconnecting with your intuition, your creativity, and your truth. It is about allowing those parts of you to take up space within your existence. It is about realizing the meaning of your life.
This journey is not about escaping the world, but deepening your presence in it. It is about remembering that true spirituality has roots. That being connected to something greater also means being deeply connected to the earth, to others, and to your own heart.
At Root & Rise, we hold space for all of this. Through the land, the food, the rituals, and the shared experience, you are supported every step of the way. Monte das Casolas, our retreat home, nourishes this process. It is a place where nature is still wild, meals are made with intention, and life moves in rhythm with the seasons.
And just like lavender, the plant that in Portuguese we call alfazema and the root of our name, you are invited to root deeply, open fully, and carry your scent, your presence, wherever you go.
Wild. Grounded. Open to the sun. And deeply alive.
A day at your Retreat
Each day is designed to be restorative, intentional, and gently transformative. Filled with practices and moments that have become favourites among our past guests.
As human beings, we’re always evolving and so much in life is unpredictable. That’s why we keep things flexible, adjusting to the energy, the weather, the universe, and whatever the journey is bringing,
The experience unfolds in community, but always with plenty of space just for you. You are welcome to join as much or as little as you like. The rhythm is soft and spacious, allowing you to follow your own pace, listen inward, and reconnect on your terms.
With a dedicated team by your side, we put our hearts into every detail so you can feel the bubble of love in our warm and welcoming environment.
FAQs
Please let us know if you do not find what you are looking for.
Our team is here to help you.
Payment plan:
- Your spot will be confirmed after payment of a 200€ deposit
- The remaining amount is to be settled until one month after the deposit has been paid
- We can adjust the payment plan according to your needs. If needed, we can divide the payment into 3 or more installments. Please contact us so we can discuss your options
Getting to Monte das Casolas is easy!
By Bus: From Lisbon, take a 1-hour bus to Grândola. From there, it’s just a 15-minute Uber or taxi ride to the retreat center.
By Uber (or car share): You can take an Uber directly from Lisbon to Monte das Casolas. It’s very convenient, and if you’re arriving around the same time as other retreaters, you can share the ride! We’ll create a WhatsApp group beforehand so you can coordinate.
By Car: Driving yourself? No problem — we have private parking available.
12th November: Room Check-in from 4pm. The retreat is set to begin at 5.30 pm.
16th November: The retreat wraps up by noon leaving you with a heart full of memories and a soul ready to flourish.
No worries! We’ll be sending out a questionnaire to learn more about you and your preferences so that we can provide you with alternatives. Our chefs are highly skilled and can adapt the meals.
However, if you have any major or life-threatening allergies, please let us know before signing up so we can confirm that we can accommodate them.
Yes!
We’ll share with you some contacts of recommended therapists so you can add a massage to your retreat experience.
Note: Massages are not included in the myalfazema pack.
Please check our T&C to know all the details about the cancellation policy. By enrolling in a myalfazema retreat, you are automatically agreeing to the terms and conditions.
https://myalfazema.com/terms/
The first thing to do is to secure your spot in this epic summer retreat before it's all booked up. Don't miss out like many guests who no longer could secure a spot in our last retreat! Once you've secured your spot, go ahead and book your flight or other transportation. Let's embark on this journey together 🙂