“I’m an elephant” I announce to the group. Everyone nods sagely as if this is the most normal thing in the world. Thankfully, this isn’t the start of an interpretive dance class. I’ve simply picked out my “animal spirit card” for the week. An elephant feels appropriate. I’ve come to Omega Movement’s “Move with Alignment” yoga retreat in Andalucía, Spain. I am here to get grounded, to get back in touch with who I am and what I want. A nice heavy elephant seems like a good sign.
The main finca at Valle de Vida, Spain. Image © Annie Scott
A Holistic Yoga Retreat in Andalucía Spain
What I hadn’t appreciated is the elephant is a ‘fire sign’.
It burns a path, getting rid of the unnecessary en route.
Like the Hindu God Ganesh, whose statue watches over the yoga deck here, the elephant is the remover of obstacles. Which is exactly what this retreat is designed to do.
Valle de Vida grounds with spaces created for relaxation. Image © Annie Scott
Valle de Vida
I joined Omega Movement for a week at Valle de Vida Malaga, a retreat centre hidden deep in the countryside of Andalusia in southern Spain.
The company runs retreats all over the world, seeking out locations that reflect its ethos of finding space and balance. Valle de Vida, sprawled over a Spanish hillside, is one of their favourites.
Palm trees, cacti, tepees and the odd horse skull give a Wild West feel. Dogs amble, cats chirrup and a neighbouring donkey periodically calls out like an overenthusiastic toddler trying to play the French horn.
There isn’t a phone signal and limited Wi-Fi so there’s really no choice but to switch off and reset.
Guests can choose to stay in the main house; a rustic Spanish finca with thick white walls and wooden shutters, or immerse themselves fully in nature in one of the high-end tepees or ME-Pods (large solid domed cabins) on the grounds.
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A rustic bedroom in the main house at Valle de Vida, Spain. Image © Annie Scott
A teepee – one of the options for guests to stay in at Valle de Vida, Spain. Image © Annie Scott
The property is well set up with everything you need for a week of self-care, including a sauna, steam room, treatment rooms, hot tub, magnificent hill-top yoga shala and indoor heated yoga studio.
There’s also an outdoor pool and plenty of shady nooks to lounge the day away in under twisting vines.
Bougainvillea wraps around the front door at Valle de Vida. Image © Annie Scott
A ME pod. Another option for guest accommodation at Valle de Vida, Spain. Image © Annie Scott
The Valle de Vida pool. Image © Annie Scott
Meals are eaten at a communal table outside on the terrace.
Ian the chef provides a stream of delicious vegetarian meals and the occasional bit of fish and seafood.
The man does extraordinary things with a vegetable and has given me a dangerous beetroot habit (a sentence I never thought I’d write).
Delicious meals everyday from the in-house chef. Image © Annie Scott
Falafel day at Valle de Vida, Spain. Image © Annie Scott
Culinary highlights include spinach and ricotta filo pie, calamari, apple crumble, vegetable curry, coconut dahl so delicious and had a third (ok, fine… fourth) serving of it, apricot cobbler and gluten and sugar-free carrot cake. Juices, smoothies and homemade bread make breakfast a treat. There are lots of gluten-free options too.
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Annie taking some time to journal at the retreat. Image by Sian Mercer
The communal table where meals take place at Valle de Vida. Image © Annie Scott
A Nurturing Ethos
The retreat is run by Omega Movement owners Nid Seymour and Molly Martin, who take a holistic approach to teaching.
This is not a boot camp. The emphasis is on self-nurture and compassion. So, if you’re looking for a punishing regime, this is not the retreat for you.
Both trained yoga teachers, Nid also specialises in Pilates, Reiki, Yoga Nidra and a plethora of other healing techniques.
They both have a background in the therapeutic application of yoga and this nurturing approach really marks their retreats out.
Nid helping Annie with a head stand at Omega Movement yoga retreat in Andalucia. Image © Annie Scott
A tree with trees in the beautiful grounds of Valle de Vida, Andalucia. Image by Sian Mercer
“We want to give people space to let go – not just relax”, explains Nid.
“A lot of the time we’re just holding stuff together. We put a lid on things – we’re containing emotions and we’re trying to be socially acceptable”.
“What wants to help you let that work its way out so that you have less in your subconscious that’s going to feed into that stress.
We always start in the physical – bringing people back into their bodies – then quite quickly open people up energetically and get the healing moving.”
The organisation is impressive. Before the retreat, we’re offered a Skype call to understand what we’re looking to get from the week. The retreat is then tailored specifically to the needs of the group, including a one-to-one class for everyone.
