June 24 – 29, 2025
Mantra and Yoga Retreat
with Kevin James
What this retreat is about?
If you feel the need to be more connected to your heart, to give it space to grow in you, to listen and be guided to greater joy and freedom, then join us on this Heart-opening retreat and immerse yourself in the healing and expansive power of mantras, yoga and nature.
(*) All classes, accommodation, 3 meals per day, all excursions, transport from/to the airport and transport during the trips are included.
Why mantras?
Mantras are like a mandala in word form, reflecting harmony and beauty.
Singing and emotion are interlinked, so when you sing mantras, they organise your emotions in a harmonious and beautiful way that then transfers to harmonise and calm our mind and nervous system, bringing us into a state of equilibrium.
One of the main reasons chanting has such a powerful healing effect on people is because it works on us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, at the same time.
Kevin will share his knowledge and experience to allow you to bring the practice of chanting into your daily life as a way to help you stay connected to your heart while navigating your way to living your dream.
“After more than 8 years of experience holding chanting retreats all around the world, I’ve witnessed the healing power of chanting everyday and we would love to share this experience with you. I’ve seen over and over that no matter where you are in your self-discovery path, these deeply nourishing days together will always help you get closer to your Heart” Kevin James
THE FACILITATORS
KEVIN JAMES CARROLL & SUSANA RODRÍGUEZ
Kevin James is an Australian singer-songwriter and an experienced Chant leader, who brings Devotional music to the World in a way that is free from religious dogma.
He travels continuously sharing his presence and heartfelt voice with people from many different cultures and religions throughout the world.
His particular music style is characterized by fusing English lyrics with potent Mantras from around the world. He has created what he calls ¨Heartsongs¨: songs in English that transmit the depths of Eastern philosophy, delivered in a way that is joyful and accessible to all.
Practicing Bhakti Yoga (The yoga of devotion) since his first visit to India in 1990, Kevin James now leads chanting circles, a powerful group experience of reconnection to Oneself, and workshops in yoga festivals and studios all over the world.
Nowadays, he continues the same path with his wife Susana (playing harmonium) holding Events and Retreats, in their vision of Connection to the Heart as a way towards living a more harmonious life.
You can find more and listen Kevin’s music in: www.kevinjamesmusic.com
THE YOGA TEACHER & ORGANIZER
PALOMA DORADO – SHAMA RETREATS
Paloma started practising meditation 20 years ago, guided by a desire to understand human nature. Passionate about the relationship between science and spirituality, she studies Physical Sciences, and later, she works for the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), located in Geneva.
At the same time, she trained as a therapist in various energy techniques and therapies, and collaborates with the meditation instructor Javier de Salas as an assistant, in retreats and workshops in Spain, the United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong and Bali, including the Asia Yoga Conference and the Om Yoga Show, in London .
She immerses herself in the practice of yoga and trainned as a Sama Yoga teacher, a soft and deep style, which combines classic Hatha yoga asanas with Chi Kung postures and mantras, and as a yin yoga teacher.
Guided by her love for yoga and meditation, she founded Shama Retreats, as a conscious life project, where she shares spaces for practice, rest and connection. Nowadays, Shama Retreats, is a small company which organizes around 16 yoga and meditation retreats per year in nature, in Spain and Portugal, in collaboration with international teachers.
Share these days of Heartsongs
and yoga with us
and yoga with us
THE PLACE
We will stay in Monte Velho, a spacious and secluded retreat center in Carrapateira, in the region of Aljezur, South Portugal.
A family run, self-sustaining retreat and holistic centre with a strong passion for reconnecting its visitors with nature.
Located where south-western Europe sinks into the Atlantic, the region is enriched by the strength of its nature, with multiple paths some ending between dunes of fine sand by the ocean, while others on the cliffs by sunset.
The center sits in a stunning elevated location, nestled between mountain and sea with a panoramic vista over the ocean.
It has a fully equipped beautifully designed 170 m2 yoga shala, with underfloor heating and a spa, with sauna, turkish bath and several massage options.
All rooms have confortable beds, private bathrooms and cozy heating during winter.
The food is first class, delicious, ecological, local and seasonal, cooked by specialized chefs in vegetarian and vegan cuisine.
Two of the most amazing and long beaches of the region, Praia Amado and Praia Borderia, are are in less than 8 minutes by car from the retreat center.
A unique space to practice, reflect, connect, nourish and rest.
How to get there?
Lisbon airport is further away, 3 hours by car from the retreat center.
Both airports have affordable flight options from the main European cities.
- June 24: Taxis will be leaving Faro airport at 14.30
- June 29: Taxis will be leaving the venue to Faro airport at 12.00
You can reserve your place in a group taxi from the airport, until two weeks before the retreat starts.
Only the group taxis scheduled at these time, are included in the price of the retreat. If you want a transport at another time or from other origin, we can give you the telephone of the taxi company we work with.
We recommend arriving at Faro airport, but if you prefer to fly to Lisbon airport, send us an email and we’ll share with you some recommendations on how to arrive.
If you are already in Portugal and you prefer to arrive by public transport, you can take a bus to Lagos, and from there a taxi to the retreat centre (aprox. 50€ ride).
We highly recommend that you organise your trip, arrival and departure times taking into account the schedule of the group taxis and the check in and check out times.
THE PROGRAM
In this retreat we will focus especially on opening and connecting with our own hearts.
Kevin and Susana’s way of facilitating is a delicate balance of being inclusive, safe, profound yet also light hearted and fun.
This retreat is specifically easeful, with their philosophy of “Each in their own time and in their own way”, which makes you feel that you can be yourself and do what feels right for you.
There’s nothing pushed onto you or held back from you, just everything you need to take some time for yourself in a supportive environment to grow.
Tuesday, June 24
From Wednesday, June 25 to Saturday, June 28
Sunday, June 29
The check-in, and check-out times and the starting and ending times of the retreat, are fixed. We appreciate that you organize your trip in such a way that you can adjust to the arrival and departure times.
The daily schedule can change depending on the weather conditions, the duration of the trips and other unforeseen factors.
The program includes 3 excursions, trips to the most beautiful beaches and natural spaces nearby (transportation is included in the price).
TESTIMONIALS
“Through singing together Kevin and Susanna creates a sacred space guiding us deeper into our hearts to that place where we can safely rest regardless of life’s circumstances.” Annelie Janson
“It was a truly amazing retreat where I felt grounded, calm and joyful. I love singing together! That really helps to connect to the heart and the inner voice. ”Hanna Rydén
“An unforgettable experience of a deep connection with my heart with the help of the energy and warm and loving voice of Kevin.” Inés Bustamante
“A real journey, getting deeper and deeper to the core, practicing letting go/releasing what does not serve us and working on acceptance and love. The combination of music, mantras, sense of sangha (community) and being in nature is so powerful and healing, it’s what we all need so much in these times.” Marina Kalisky
Conect with your natural joy and hapiness
Package Includes
Package includes:
- Accommodation in single, double or triple rooms with ensuite bathroom and terrace. All double and triple rooms have two separate bedrooms connected by a door, each one with a double bed or 2 single beds. Therefore, in double rooms, each person sleeps in a different space.
- Healthy vegetarian food, using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients prepared by an experienced chef specialized in healthy nutrition. 3 meals per day
- All classes, chakra tuning voice exploration and chanting circles with Kevin James and Susana.
- Daily yoga classes (Hatha yoga, yin yoga and yoga nidra) with Paloma Dorado.
- Trips to some of the most pure, tranquil and beautiful natural beaches and trekkings.
- Transport on the excursions.
- Private transport from Faro airport to the retreat center, round trip. (Please check the timetable of the private transport in the program section before booking your flight tickets).
On request (at additional cost, on request at arrival):
- Several types of massages.
- Sauna.
- Turkish bath.
Not included:
- Flights tickets and travel insurance.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
100€ discount for bookings, until January 31st, 2025 (just for the first 8 bookings)
Code: SHAMAEARLYBIRD
PRICES
Total price per person. All inclusive
Option 1
TRIPLE UNIT (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and a terrace. 3 people.)
Option 1.1
DOUBLE SHARED ROOM (twin beds) with SHARED BATHROOM
Before January 31st: 1250€
After January 31st: 1350€
One place in a double shared room (twin beds) with a shared bathroom, inside a triple unit.
You’ll share the bedroom with another person of the group, and the bathroom with your roommate and the person staying in the other room of the unit.
OPTION 1.2
SINGLE ROOM, with SHARED BATHROOM
Before January 31st: 1380€
After January 31st: 1480€
A place in a single room with a shared bathroom, inside a triple unit.
You’ll be alone in the bedroom, and will share the bathroom with the 2 other people staying in the other bedroom of the unit.
Option 2
DOUBLE UNIT (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and a terrace. 2 people)
The double units have 2 separate single bedrooms connected by a door and one bathroom.
In double units, each person stays in one single bedroom (you’ll be alone in the bedroom) and will share the bathroom.
OPTION 2.1 SINGLE ROOM with SHARED BATHROOM.
A place in a single room with a shared bathroom, inside a double unit.
Before January 31st: 1480€
After January 31st: 1580€
Option 3
MASTER ROOM with PRIVATE BATHROOM.
Large bedroom with a king size bed, a private bathroom and a terrace with views to the pine forest.
Option 3.1
MASTER DOUBLE ROOM
Before January 31st: 1350€
After January 31st: 1450€
A place in the Master room, used in double occupancy. Option only available for couples or friends who book together.
OPTION 3.2
MASTER SINGLE ROOM
Before January 31st: 1780€
After January 31st: 1880€
A place in the Master room, used in single occupancy (you will be alone in the room).
Option 4
FOREST HOUSE
Independent design house inside the retreat centre with ocean views, built with natural materials. It has 2 bedrooms (each one can have either twin beds or a double king size bed), a living room, a kitchen, one bathroom and a large private terrace.
This house can only be booked by 2 or 3 people together (in double or triple occupancy). Therefore, can be only booked by a group of friends, couples, etc staying together.
Option 4.1
FOREST HOUSE - 2 people
An option for 2 people coming together. You both will have the entire 2-bedroom house for your own, then each of you can have your own bedroom.
Before January 31st: 1780€
After January 31st: 1880€
(per person)
Option 4.2
FOREST HOUSE - 3 people
An option for 3 people coming together. You 3 will have the entire 2-bedroom house for your own.
Before January 31st: 1580€
After January 31st: 1680€
(per person)
Booking and payment policy:
- To book and secure your place, we request a 500€ deposit.
- You can click on the blue button “Book your place” below, fill in your data and pay the deposit online.
- Remember to use the code SHAMAEARLYBIRD, in order to get a 100€ discount, before January 31st, 2025 (only for the first 8 bookings).
- Once the payment is done, your place will be reserved (you will receive a confirmation email)
- The balance should be paid before April 1, 2025. If we don’t receive the payment of the balance before that date, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and offer your place to another person.
- If you book your place after April 1, 2025, the full payment of the retreat will be requested.
- If you come alone and want to stay in a double room, you will share with a person of the same sex.
IMPORTANT: We can not guarantee that you will have a roommate (sometimes we are odd or there aren’t people who request a shared room).
In the unlikely event that there isn’t any other person whom you can share the room with, you can have the room for your own but you will be requested to pay the price of a single room.
Cancelation policy:
- If you cancel at any moment before February 1, we will refund you the total amount you have paid, except the deposit. You could use the deposit in any of our retreats during the next 2 years.
- If your cancellation takes place between February 1 and April 1, we will refund the total amount you have paid except the deposit. The deposit won’t be refunded and couldn’t be used for future retreats.
- If your cancellation takes place after April 1, your payment won’t be refunded.
- At any moment, you could hand your booking over to some other person (friend, relative, colleague…etc), who would like to join the retreat and stay in the same type of bedroom.
- In the unlikely event that the retreat has to be cancelled, we will refund the full amount paid in less than 7 working days.
Your personal expenses, such as flight tickets or any other costs that aren’t paid directly to us, won’t be refunded.
Most travelling insurances cover all your expenses (flight tickets, the payment of the retreat, accommodations costs if you stay before or after the retreat in the area, etc), if you have to cancel your trip. They are inexpensive and they could be a good option to insure your trip.
Any questions? Write us: info@shamaretreats.com
Don’t know if this retreat is for you? Call us at +34 627419996 or write to us at info@shamaretreats.com and tell us what you are looking for.
Communicating and asking all the questions you need is the best way to check if what we offer fits with what you want or feel like at this moment.
