Andalusia Running and Yoga Holiday
El Hijate, Spain 6 nights from £780

Andalusia Running and Yoga Holiday

An active retreat to improve physical and mental resilience by honing positive lifestyle changes and exploring your limits in a stunning natural setting, where you'll feel relaxed and at home.

  • 6 days trail running
  • 0.5 day mountain biking
  • 1 day sea swimming
  • 1 day lake swimming
Details

Highlights

Guided trail runs

Guided trail runs

Daily guided runs along trails, mountain paths and dried up river beds designed to take you out of your comfort zone on either challenging or easier routes.

Qigong and breathwork

Qigong and breathwork

Amanda includes visualisations and cold water therapy for resilience training which works to optimise body, mind and spirit.

Yoga and Gong bath

Yoga and Gong bath

Expert instructor, Frank, leads the pre-breakfast yoga sessions in the blissful yoga suite plus experience a 'sound bath'.

Overview

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. Eleanor Roosevelt

The formula is designed both with well-being and performance in mind. The breathwork, Qigong and coldwater therapy classes will provide a method for re-framing and resetting your mindset towards life, work and sport, with an individual approach to each guest. Most importantly, a friendly and relaxed setting is provided, as well as a learning environment, where you can connect with and learn from each other.

Need to know

Camp highlights:

  • 5 guided runs (or more)
  • 3 yoga sessions with an instructor
  • Qigong and breathwork
  • Healthy vegetarian food (all meals except 2)
  • Talk by breathing specialist
  • Talk by leading astronomer
  • Excursions to Seron, Granada and the Posada del Candril
  • Functional movement

  • Mountain
  • Forest

Dates

30 March - 4 April 2023

The challenging runs

The running routes have been chosen by Ceri, a successful athlete, mountain guide and retreat leader, who once lived in Spain, and reflect his love of landscape as a way of feeling connected.

From Hujate, it’s possible to run for miles between villages and towns, navigating Los Ramblas (the dried-up river beds) and the via verdes, where the olives were transported to be pressed, as well as the miner’s paths up in the mountains.

The routes are deliberately challenging, and designed to take you out of your comfort zone and into the growth zone but you are welcome to opt in and out at any times.

The easier runs

There will be alternative, easier runs for people who are not seasoned runners. The owner of Molina Viejo Bernard is also a keen marathon runner and your qigong instructor Amanda, was also trained in hypnotherapy by a running hypnotherapist, so there will be a healthy spread of running literature around the retreat!

The two hardest challenges will be the run up Mount Jabalcon in Granada, at 1492 metres above sea level. Not surprisingly the views from its peak present breathtaking, all encompassing vistas of the contrasting mountainscapes of the Sierra Nevada, and the stunning vision of Lake Negratin. You can also experience a fascinating diversity and hues of geology here. The other toughie is to the top of Los Minares from the Parador del Candrail, which will take you from around 1000m to 1800m over 8K.

QiGong

Amanda offers Qigong, breathwork and visualizations for resilience training which embodies:

  • Being optimum in body, mind and spirit
  • Using your emotions to your advantage
  • Reaching your optimal performance and focus
  • Stop sabotaging your performance with your emotions
  • Become your best self physically, mentally, and spiritually
  • Learn to control your emotions and use them to your advantage
  • Heal, recover, and restore energy

Plus

  • Powerful Taoist QiGong breathing techniques
  • Moving your body with less effort and more power
  • Perfecting posture to avoid wear and tear
  • Cultivating and storing “Qi” vital energy
  • QiGong moves to help you heal, rejuvenate, become stronger, faster, more flexible, and agile
  • Gain more control over your body, mind and energy through powerful guided visualizations

The Gong Bath

The Gong Bath sessions are taken by Frank, who lives in nearby Beza and have been chosen as part of the growth programme. They will help you to reach new levels of relaxation and to appreciate the ancient art of vibrational healing. Be open minded and try it. It’s worth it.

The science bit: During a sound bath, which simulates REM sleep, you will shift first into the alpha state, before moving into the theta brain wave state.

Fitness levels

Some background in running would be beneficial and you should have a reusable level of fitness. However you don’t have to be a primed athlete to sign up. You just need to be capable of running a half marathon at any pace.

Accommodation

The Molino Viejo is a beautiful old renovated mill, nestled in the Almanzora Valley in the Almeria region of Andalusía, surrounded by limestone mountains, olive and sweet smelling almond trees, with historic towns such as Seron, nearby to visit.

The location is really memorable. Location is key, and this venue has a history of ecotourism, where locals and visitors can mix, without that ‘them and us’ mentality, which you can get elsewhere.

In typical Spanish style, there are two inner courtyards, one of which houses a separate annex bedroom and a large dipping pool.

Season

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

  • Free parking

Meeting point

Old Spanish Mill (Molino Viejo)
Jauca Baja
El Hijate
04899
Spain

Airport pick-ups can be arranged from to the retreat centre at an additional cost, unless you’d prefer to catch a train or to hire a car. Spanish roads are incredibly quiet and smooth compared to the UK, so it’s actually a pleasure to drive with sat nav making it easier.

Murcia, Alicante, Almeira, Granada and Malaga airports are all within 1 to 2 hour’s drive.

Return airport transport costs:

  • Almeria £50
  • Granada £50
  • Murcia £100
  • Alicante £117

  • Hill
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Minibus

Itinerary

  • Day 1 | Arrive, rest, 10K

    Arrive and be amazed by this gorgeous location.
    Settle in and relax.
    Before dinner: Leg loosening 10K run around the olive tree lined hills of Jauca Baja.
    Dinner: Home cooked, Spanish themed food. (Delicious vegan friendly cooking with traditional Spanish ingredients).

  • Day 2 | QiGong, 6 mile trail run, explore Seron

    Morning QiGong with Amanda.
    After breakfast: Run the Rambla riverbed to Seron, a beautiful (approximately 6 mile) run along the dry riverbeds, through olive tree valleys and almond trees.
    Explore the ancient cobbled streets of Seron and its incredible Moorish Castle. This is a fascinating town, with a history that will blow your mind.
    Optional second run (4 to 6 miles) Dinner: at the mill, cooked by our caterer (delicious vegan friendly cooking with traditional Spanish ingredients).

The ancient city of Seron in the rolling hills of the Los Filabres Mountain Range, Andalusia, Spain.
  • Day 3 | QiGong, 8K hill run, bike ride, observatory

    After breakfast: Warm up Qigong with Amanda to provide you with the resilience and mental preparation for what’s to come!
    After breakfast: Run to Los Minares from Pasada de Candril. This is a challenging 8K run which will take you up about 800m of climb, which is all runnable but tough. You’ll be met with stunning views at the top, as well as a driver with bikes so you can enjoy a downhill, freewheel all the way back to where you started from.
    Early evening: Visit the observatory and talk by Raul Martinez an astrophysist and astronomer, followed by a tour of Seron.
    Late Dinner: At the mill, cooked by our caterer (delicious vegan friendly cooking with traditional Spanish ingredients).

  • Day 4 | Mountain paths run, visit the Alhambra in Granada

    After breakfast: Run the Jabalcon, up the mountain paths to the summit from the village of Zujar.
    Lunch: next to Lake Negratin, then visit the mineral water bathing pool ‘Los Baños de Zujar’.
    After lunch: Visit the Alhambra in Granada.
    Dinner in Granada.

The famous Alhambra in Granada, Andalusia, Spain.
  • Day 5 | QiGong, coffee, mountain run, yoga

    Before breakfast: Morning Qigong with Amanda.
    Lunch: Coffee at Pasada de Candril and lunch on the terrace.
    Afternoon: Run up in to the mountains of Los Filabres. Distance from 6 to 15 miles depending on ability and preference.
    Dinner: At the mill. (Delicious vegan friendly cooking with traditional Spanish ingredients).
    After dinner: Incredible gong bath and yoga with Frank.

  • Day 6 | Yoga, morning run

    Pre breakfast yoga with Frank or morning run 6 to 8 miles depending on ability and preference.
    After breakfast: Pack, rest, depart.
    Optional lunch.
    You can catch an evening flight, so no rush to get off.

  • Accommodation
  • Equipment
  • Guides
  • Meals

Included

  • Accommodation
  • Guided runs
  • Yoga sessions
  • Qigong and breathwork
  • Expert instructors / speakers
  • Healthy vegetarian meals, except 2 meals out
  • Excursions to Seron, Granada and the Posada del Candril
  • Functional Movement

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Transfers
  • Single Room Supplement £150

The full cost of the Running and Yoga Holiday is due at the time of booking.

It's easy to book a single (or double) room all to yourself and there is a supplement of £150.

Costs

Price per person (inc deposit)

£780.00