PREVIOUS COURSES
Almeji
previous courses hosted at Almeji
Staying Sane in a Crazy World
March 9th-16th 2025
maggie whiteley
“If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself!” Lao Tzu
How do we manage our response to the current state of the world? It can be overwhelming. We can find ourselves swinging from doom-scrolling despair to head-in-the-sand denial, both of which increase our sense of powerlessness. In this retreat we’ll use meditation, ritual, creativity, and group sharing giving you the chance to connect deeply so you can go home ready to make your unique contribution and become a beacon of hope.. You will know and trust what you have to offer, be it big or small, and let it shine out. […click arrow to read more…]
You are not powerless. It’s time to wake up. Wake up and cultivate joy and inner stillness so you can be fully present for yourself and others. Wake up your deep wisdom spreading love in the face of hatred and greed. Wake up and be rebellious, firmly resisting what is unacceptable to you.
There is a seriousness of purpose in this course, however, with Maggie you can expect a lightness of touch in the delivery and a good dollop of fun and irreverent humour.
The Roots of Happiness
Course Full – march 29th-april 5th 2025
Judi Ledward & Caroline Cross
“The very source of all happiness is your beingness; be there!” Nasargadatta Maharaj
Our 21st century lives are full of distraction: 24 hour news, smart phones, long hours at work, family commitments. Within all the busy-ness it can be hard to find our centredness, a place from which we know who we are, how we feel, what we truly want, what next. On this course we will explore ways to connect with ourselves, others and our environment, to be fully present in our lives and our being. […click arrow to read more…]
Among the noise of doing it’s hard to stay with being, and being present. We may stay busy and distracted to avoid feelings unfelt, thoughts that torment us, fears about the future. What we lose by staying plugged into our handy technology is living life fully in the present moment.
When we are present in our bodies, feelings and experience we can be fully who we are and wholeheartedly ride the tides of life. We can let go of ways we haunt ourselves about the past and of fears and fantasies about the future. By dropping into rather than avoiding our felt experience we can discover what we need and move through suffering to happiness. We can savour the beauty, pleasure, creativity and aliveness available to us in big and small ways in the present moment.
We will use movement, music, song, creativity, meditation, the power of the present moment, the therapeutic process of the group and personal work if wanted, to discover and dissolve obstacles within us, and fully inhabit ourselves and our lives.
Walking in the Sierra de Ronda
May 11th-18th 2025
Enrique, Gaucin
Enrique’s walks will take you through some of the most beautiful and yet least known parts of the mountains around Ronda. Nestled between three national parks, the Serrania de Ronda has both exceptional beauty and environmental value. You will enjoy a full range of mountain, valley, river and forest landscapes – and the flora and fauna they contain – and visit Andalusia’s charming whitewashed villages. Walking through these villages and the surrounding hills is like travelling back in time. You will come away steeped in both natural and human history. […click arrow to read more…]
The walks that you will do are moderate in difficulty with a combination of wide tracks and narrow paths with a stony surface underfoot at times.
Located close to the town of Ronda, the capital of the region, this is the perfect setting for all kinds of outdoor activities and offers a magnificent historic, cultural and gastronomic experience.
The Poetry of Land and Soul
May 11th – 16th 2025 (5 days)
Rebecca Faro & Rafael Anderson
A Creative Cultural fusion… In a five day writing, storytelling with movement retreat, we will start exploring our inner landscapes, connecting to ourselves, and asking the following questions… What are our stories that make us who we are? How do we connect to our bodies to help express our authentic voice? What do we want to write into the script of our lives? What whispers from our soul guide us there? All of these are explored through a blend of the healing power of expressive writing techniques, meditation, self-inquiry and tuning into our bodies and intuition – all within a supportive environment. […click arrow to read more…]
Then we turn towards the stories held in the outer landscapes… We will immerse ourselves in this beautiful land through the rich tapestry of ancient stories passed down over the years. We will visit the sites where these tales began and absorb the lives that once were lived here, in Ronda, and will be invited to write reflections that filter back to our own.
Rebecca and Rafael have a deep but light touch to their facilitation, making it an immersive, exploratory experience. Come and fill your creative and cultural cup. No experience in writing or movement necessary just come ready to explore!
“Rebecca weaves her talents with calm, warmth & gentle encouragement making each experience meditative, contemplative yet freeing. I could not have placed myself in better hands.” Shell W, New Zealand
“Rebecca supports the clients to embrace their Inner Knowing . She taps into their narrative and brings forth their innate insights. She fuses together a blend of authentic movement, expression through the written word, poetry, drawing, sounding and music. I truly believe through the sessions with her she helped me to excavate my own being.” Glynis Judge
“We try never to miss Rafael’s presentations at the Nerja history society which are always the highlight of its annual program. Rafa kept us spellbound for hours as we learnt about the history of this amazing achievement so long ago. Few people are as skilled at weaving story, poetry, images and unexpected discoveries as Rafa.” Mel O’Gorman


Tai Chi – Qigong Energy
May 11th – 16th 2025 (5 days)
Simon Allen
Deep relaxation, inner peace, grounding, and vitality… Simon will be facilitating a retreat week solely dedicated to Tai Chi and Qigong to enable you to dive deeper. All aspects of human life – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – depend upon our energy levels. This week will focus on helping you to either gain back your depleted energy, or empower you to reach higher levels of it. […click arrow to read more…]
Tai Chi and Qigong is a body mind energy management system that comprises correct breathing techniques, balance and neuromuscular training as well as stress, and emotional management. Tai Chi elicits the relaxation response and balances the autonomic nervous system thus regulating respiration, heart rate, blood pressure and vitality in general.
With regular practice Tai Chi has been shown to increase lung capacity, improve physical posture, cognitive functioning and mental health. Medical research cites that Tai Chi has been observed to improve the quality of life for some people struggling with long Covid, COPD, chronic fatigue, PTSD, depression, and other medical and mental health conditions.
During this week by combining deep rhythmic breathing with slow effortless movements and relaxing your attention into the depths of your body, you can discover a deep sense of peace, connectivity and vitality. Negative energy can be unblocked and released, increasing your stamina and brain functioning, unlocking greater creativity, and giving you improved resilience in high-stress situations.
Tai-chi and Qigong is suitable for all ages, abilities and lifestyles, and Simon’s weeks are open to both complete beginners and those with experience.
Meaningful and Life-Affirming Relationships in a Changing World
Sept 7th – 14th 2025
course closed
Javier Rodriguez
Would you like to consciously explore the landscape of human relationships and deepen the awareness of self and others in a safe container? Do you want to learn how to build healthy, nourishing and intimate connections with yourself and others? Our world is changing and with it the general quality of our life and our relationships. This particular workshop is aiming to increase self awareness and provide a set of skills and practices to help you to become more comfortable with being. We will be holistically weaving moments of group learning, sharing, enquiry work, skills practice together with movement, fun, creativity and silence. […click arrow to read more…]
The heavy use of technology, our fast speed and our tendency to get busy is narrowing down opportunities for deep intimacy, fulfilment and healthy relationships . As a result, we may notice symptoms of social isolation around us, an inability to feel comfortable inside ourselves and an awkwardness in relating or enjoying time with others.
Our human condition needs a sense of belonging and a capacity for authentic self -expression in order to grow and evolve as an individual. However, in the process of adaptation we learnt to sacrifice aspects of ourselves when our attachments with others were threatened .
So deep down we are in a dilemma between a longing to be heard, seen and accepted, and the fear that if we are to become visible we may be hurt, rejected or may loose some significant relationships. However, hiding who we really are behind a mask, limits ours possibilities to be fulfilled in our interactions .
Authenticity is about bringing together our internal experience and outer expression, letting go of expectations of who we are supposed to be, and showing up in the world without necessarily compromising our connections with others.
In my experience being authentic has been found to be a key defining factor in many areas of our mental health and psychological wellbeing.
This particular workshop is aiming to increase self awareness and provide a set of skills and practices to help you to become more comfortable with being.
We will be holistically weaving moments of group learning, sharing, enquiry work, skills practice together with movement, fun, creativity and silence.