Almashala is a wonderful yoga retreat! Beautiful place, delicious vegan food, Lavinia and Samuele are amazing yoga teachers and very inspiring persons. Such a good vibe... I love it!

We absolutely loved our week with Samu and Lavi. They have all the bases covered for a week of experiencing a variety of yoga styles, absolutely delicious Italian-inspired vegan food, a relaxing space (in an authentic Portuguese village), a variety of teaching styles which complement each other and enough free time to relax in between it all. We stayed in Tanpreet's house a short walk away as the dorm was full (a friend of theirs in the yoga community) and had everything we needed. The music we shared on several evenings was a highlight, as was the kundalini yoga session. Honestly we could have stayed for months. Thank you for accommodating our beginner level along with the more advanced in the room so well, for teaching us so much and for inspiring us to keep practicing afterwards!! 🙏 Oh and the pizza night. Oh my goodness. The best pizza I've ever had? Quite likely.

Great vibe, really fantastic teachers and atmosphere! I would highly recommend Almashala for any yogis wishing to practice in an authentic and inspiring environment. We loved discovering this place!

I loved Almashala! The teachers are fantastic and the place has a really authentic and wonderful atmosphere. A great place for yogis of all levels to practice!

I just finished a one week retreat at ALMASHALA with incredible people, wonderful and devoted teachers and the most amazing food one could dream of. I truly enjoyed this experience, being guided through various styles of yoga in a very gentle and knowledgeable way by Samu, Lavi and Seva. They all live the yoga path with their hearts and souls and spread their energy every second of the day. I couldn't be more grateful for all the wonderful beings I have met there who have carried me through this profound experience. Thank you. ❤️ I will definitely come back.

Fantastic retreat! Me and my partner were here for a week and loved every bit of it! We stayed in the private room which was a very comfortable, clean and spacious room. The yoga classes were in the morning (9am) and afternoon (5.30pm) and were excellent! A huge variation of styles of the classes which we absolutely loved! From intense Ashtanga classes, relaxing Yin-yoga, fun Acro- & Couples yoga to Iyengar and Hatha classes. You will have the middle of the day off so you have time to relax, visit the beach/surf (45-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride) or go to some nice palaces/gardens/town nearby. Enough to day for a week! Both teachers (also the owners) of Almashala are wonderful yoga teachers. Both have a very different approach/style which makes a nice combination. There is enough time for adjustments and nothing feels rushed or pushed. The food was great (vegan/vegetarian), more than enough and every day different! When we were there, there was an awesome group of people! I think the max is 12, so there will never be too many people at the same time. We felt so sad to leave after this great weak. Definitively recommended!

Alma : Nourishing, Kind soul. Shala: The sacred and welcoming space to return to your practice. Almashala, I will never forget this time I got to share with you. This was my first experience on a yoga retreat. This place is a gift from the gods and the beautiful spirits who have combined their passion and talents to created it are just an incredible healing force to be around. A loving family - that is how I felt. I had returned to something whole and nourishing, fully engaged and accepted, unconditionally. In lots of ways I got to meet myself for the first time during this retreat. All the different versions or asanas of myself and I got to bring that to the mat twice a day, a truly sacred space. You will be more than looked after if you come here. Expect to meet some inspiring individuals and incredible teachers both on the mat and off, sharing discussion circles around beautiful home made organic and vegetarian meals, or going for valley walks around the mystical and dewy landscapes of Ericeira. You may even be lucky enough to witness a sunrise ceremony on the land in the name of the gods. This is a real community, This space is so much more than just a retreat or just a chance to practice yoga. I still have the red thread around my wrist from a ceremony and I give thanks to the memories and strength I have gained from this experience every day. Gratitude Almashala - My Love and prayers with you all always. I will be seeing you again. x

An experience you never forget! Lavi and Samu have created this wonderful sanctuary. You can see how much love and effort they put into every detail of the place and the program. The ashram is very beautiful and clean and you feel home from the first second. Every meal was made with so much love and tasted great! They show you how diverse yoga can be. That yoga is not only asanas and pranayama. Their teaching is amazing. They really go into detail so you can go into every asana safe and correctly. You can feel their passion to spread their knowledge and love! They are very generous with their time and help you to have an amazing experience in Portugal even besides the yoga classes. What I loved the most was how authentic Lavi and Samu are. They expressed their feelings so raw, it melted my heart. This retreat gives you a hint, how it feels like to be more present and more connected with others. I’ll definitely come back! Om Namah Shivaya

My trip was absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. The space is so welcoming and nurturing. The dorm room was clean, quiet and so fun to share with the other participants, we laughed together every evening! The food is plentiful and so versatile and delicious. You can feel the love that is put into the making of it. The down time each day gave enough time to explore the area's beaches and a trip into Sintra is a must. I met some life long friends on this trip for sure. It was a group of 14 people and all were lovely beings :) Besides all of this, the yoga is incredible. I have been doing yoga for over a decade and learned so much about the postures and my body during this week. I came away feeling empowered by what is possible that I never before believed would be. And it's the care, support and encouragement from the incredible instructors that got me here. Thank you for this transformational experience, I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

I returned to Almashala for the second time in October and again spent a magical week there that is still nurturing me now. With lots of love, attention and dedication, Lavi and Sami truly have created a home for the soul and both are so generous in sharing their knowledge and wisdom. If you are looking to experience yoga as a way of life and to be a part of a beautiful and inspiring community, book a retreat at Almashala. It is a privilege to spend time in this beautiful space you have created, Lavi and Samu, and I can't wait to be back next year!

Lavi and Samu have created a wellness retreat in every sense: a week of yoga training, meditation, and delicious vegan meals! The retreat center is located in a town without too much distraction, about an hour drive from Lisbon, a 45min walk away from the beach and a short car ride to the nearby beach town of Ericeira. Throughout the week there are two yoga classes scheduled per day, with some other unplugged local activities sprinkled in between including: sitar relaxation, a yoga philosophy discussion, and a kirtan. Lavi and Samu are extraordinary hosts & instructors who make every guest feel welcomed and cared for. We hope to see them again next year!

The retreat center is hosted by a wonderful couple who is living their own dream. And they want to share it with you! The yoga practice is very refined and you will learn a lot. The location is wonderful with lots of nature around. It is no wonder that many people come back after their first retreat. Samu and Lavi, thank you so much for the experience!

Words cannot describe how much this retreat was amazing, it went beyond my expectations. The place makes you feel at home, Lavi and Samu are really good and passionate teachers, I never had better vegan food before and the region is really good for hiking. With the others yogis we felt like a family at the end. I highly recommend this retreat and for sure I will go again !

A special place made of beautiful people. You can breathe an atmosphere and spirit of authentic yoga. More kinds of yoga practices, all explained e learned with very passion e knowledge. It was an intensive experience that I suggest to those who want to take a break from a daily routine and have a gift for themselves. Thanks to Lavi and Samu for everything. :)

This place is a home away from home! It truly deserves all the 5-star ratings - the people, the practice, the community it creates in just a week (and the community Almashala has year-round), it's amazing. This is a retreat for being IN the practice, authentically about yoga - Lavi & Samu are incredible teachers, and balanced so well the ability to teach all experience levels at once. I was always really engaged in the practices, and loved how we were exposed to many different styles. The food was delicious, the massage package was SO worth it, and for free time there were plenty of things to do especially if you enjoy exploring by walking. There's also a really cool far-away view of Mafra Palace, rolling farmlands, and the beaches are incredibly beautiful! Sintra forest is a short bus ride away, as well as Ericeira. Almashala is perfect to be chill and secluded, yet close to other activities and sights. Coming from the US to a quiet part of Portugal, I was crossing my fingers it would just work out okay - well, did it ever!! Awaiting my next time!

A beautiful retreat where you can fully engage with the practice. The teachers have created a safe space which just felt like home. They are always attentive to the individual needs, so progress is noticeably made. Will be returning in a heartbeat.

I spent a few invaluable days at Almashala, a retreat with incredibly relaxing atmosphere that transcended from all the staff involved in running it. One could sense the calming vibes on entering, from unassuming, understanding, knowing and helpful teachers, and the supporting members of the group. All softly spoken, interacting with ease, spreading a healing atmosphere around the place. The yoga classes, the staff, the food, the accommodation (I stayed in Casa Hara) and the best ever massages from Mali were all I needed to invigorate me. I could go on writing and recommending other beneficial aspects of my stay there, however I would like to suggest that you just try to get a place there, soak the vibes, and spread the word so that other people get the taste of this special venue. Thank you again Lavinia, Samu, Mali, Diana, Alessia and Danny, and Coco.

I had a beautiful time in almashala! Lavi and samu are the best teachers ever and so complimentary each other. That's retreat is exactly what i was looking for i almost felt in India! They are lovely person and the place is amazing. At the end you can really feel the difference than when you arrive, i improved my yoga skills. Thank you for this amazing week.

I totally recommend Almashala either for the daily practices, workshops or for an amazing stay. I just finished a “5 days mind and body bliss pure detox massage and yoga therapy.” I’m still in a Zen bubble with my heart full of happiness. Being new to yoga I found myself enjoying the daily practices thanks to the dedication of the 3 very professional and experienced teachers. The massages were pure heaven, done by two amazing professionals. Lavinia and Samuele are the best hosts you will ever find, they take care of your every need and make you feel like you are part of the family. The food is deliciously prepared with love. The place is beautiful, cozy, clean and full of peace. Thank you, Lavinia, Samuel, Melania, Ludovica and Francesco <3

Almashala is a space truely created from the heart and with a strong passion for Yoga and a spiritual lifestyle. Samu and Lavi are lovely, very dedicated and really make you feel welcome. They offer you as much as they can in the one week retreat. The Yoga tradition is mainly based on Iyengar but they offer variations and new inputs every day. I really enjoyed the Acro Yoga and found the Yin Yoga Practice with lots of probs very deep and inspiring. Some of the classes are quite intense and advanced - so you have to make sure to listen to your body and not get too ambitious especially if you are new to Yoga. The location is basic, the vegan food delicious, the (long) walk to the beach is really really beautiful through nature and the coast is just stunning. There is so much to do and see (Sintra, Mafra, beaches, climbing, surfing...) - stay longer in the area if you can! To me the week really felt like a powerful Yoga retreat on Holiday with some spiritual inputs such as singing Kirtan with the local community or relaxing to deep shamanic-like live music or practicing silent meditation/walks together in the morning. I am very greatful for the experience and the lovely people I met! Thanks a lot <3 I stayed at Almashala in June 2021 for a one week retreat.