THE ‘LEANING IN’ RETREAT
with JESSICA LUSTY and TANJA MICKWITZ
27 June - 2 JULY 2025 at Cara Creek, Portugal
We are thrilled to invite you into a full LEANING IN retreat experience in Portugal - join us as we immerse ourselves in the beauty and nourishment of nature at the Cara Creek Lodge.
Through creative rituals and transformational practices we resource ourselves to experience the empowerment and transformation of group work, cultivating a quality of attention to what moves within us, between us and among us to amplify each of our healing and transformation.
We will support one another to engage vulnerably and courageously with ourselves - our dreams, desires, longings, wounds, and conditioning in ways that enhance our capacity to be in an empowered and creative relationship with ourselves and with life.
Daily schedule:
Morning spent in silence - tea, coffee and fruit available from 7.30am
8am Embodiment Practice (yoga, free movement)
10.30am Brunch
11.30am - 3.30pm Group Work
3.30pm Be FREE… rest, swim, paddle board, walk, read, hug trees, chat … with afternoon snack + tea at 4pm … also time for supplementary one-to-one sessions with Jessica or Tanja**
6.30pm Dinner
7.30pm Evening activity - restorative practice / drumming + singing / Temazcal
** please enquire for availability to book sessions with Jessica (shadow work, personal ritual work, astrology) or Tanja (shadow work, tarot, astrology)
Each of us will emerge from our LEANING IN immersion with embodied insight into:
How we can and what impact it has to come into a more honoring relationship with our own bodies, and how doing so impacts our relationship with the body of the world.
How centering the needs of our physical systems often requires us to challenge dominant narratives and internalized messaging.
What activation feels like in our bodies and how it can show up in a wide spectrum of energy, sensation, and behavior.
What we tend to do when we are activated and how we can bring awareness to our reactive tendencies by tracking our physical sensations.
How attending to our bodies can lead us back to the experiential and emotional material that shapes the assumptions, narratives, and behaviors that assert when we are activated
How we can be evermore response able within circumstances so that we can shift patterns to come into alignment with what serve us, our communities, and Earth’s body.
Together we will practice the How of being by:
Remembering and reconnecting with ways of being in relationship, with ourselves and the beings that we reside among to resource, nourish, inspire, inform, and guide us.
Relating beyond an individualistic orientation towards the psyche, situating our well-being within a collective context, attending to the implications of our interdependence.
Being curious about and learning though the differences and sometimes contradictory positions that exist within us, between us, and among us.
Identifying dominant narratives and the ways that they embody and enact through us, increasing our capacity to challenge them when it serves our personal and collective healing and transformation to do so.
Listening in ways that support understanding, mutual regard, and collective care.
ABOUT CARA CREEK:
Immersed in Nature: “…. Lounge by the natural infinity pool; star gaze from the hot tub; break a sweat in the sauna; sing around the fire pit; rub on locally sourced clay to detoxify your skin before rinsing in the river; read a book on our private beach; explore the Mondego river by stand up paddle board; try the rock jump or a leisurely swim in the creek; practice yoga in the cozy indoor shala or on the panoramic outdoor shala; hike to the nearby waterfall; visit the neolithic dolmen site; treat yourself to a holistic therapy of your choice... There are so many ways to enjoy Cara Creek Eco Lodge...”
Go Wild: “..The wild natural surroundings are what had us in awe of the property from the very beginning. Our river beach is a nice cool and quiet spot to relax.
Where the 2 rivers meet is a perfect for Stand Up Paddle Boarding. In the opposite corner from the beach is our private Creek. Ideal for a wild swim under the canopy. From the Creek, continue along the riverside cliff walk to a breath taking waterfall!”
Relax: “ … Our swimming pool is chemical-free and kept clean with a sand filter, UV filter, and lush plants. Swim up to it's infinity edge to peak down to the valley and the River Seia which runs along the lower boundary of the property.”
Nourish: “ … We know how important delicious and quality food is! Our professional retreat chef lovingly prepares meals to nourish our guest's best. Ingredients come from our own organic garden whenever possible. Thankfully there are plenty more local gardens to complement the produce that our garden is missing.”
Detox: “ … Guests love our hobbit-style sauna which is heated by wood-fire, and close to the pool to cool down in between sessions. Our eco hot tub is heated by both wood-fire and solar. Sometimes the tub is transformed into an ice bath.”
ACCOMMODATION:
The Eco Pods are every nature lover's dream. Sleep in close proximity with nature from the comfort of a cozy bed. They were designed and built by Rory who took inspiration from sacred geometry. Private single occupancy is standard, though oif course there are opportunities for couples or friends to share.
Tetra-Pods - Inspired by the simplest 3D shape found in nature - the Tetrahedron. The walls reach 6 meters high to a clear top, and they have a large window with amazing views, all withbdoubke beds.
Tri-Pods - Named for their triangular shape, each has a small deck out front to admire the views of the pool and sweeping tree tops, availablke with doublke beds and two with 2 single beds.
Cabanas - Four more uniquely shaped pods with stunning views over the valley.
Penta-pods - Four pods with single beds. These pentagonal shaped structures have a small window and a door that rolls up so you can admire the view from bed, or lounge on the large private deck.
Please see Cara Creek’s website here for more on the accommodation options.
A note about sustainability & eco tourism:
Eco Pods do not have electricity, but do have a small solar lamp.
There are 3 showers sustainably heated by solar power or a wood stove, in 3 separate, private bathrooms. In addition there are 2 cold water outdoor showers.
There are both flushing toilets and dry compost toilets. Bathrooms are all shared.
PRICING:
TriPods/TetraPods/AltaPods with double beds single occupancy EARLY BIRD until 15 January 2025: £1300pp / Full Price: £1400
Shared Tri-Pod with two single beds (booked together) EARLY BIRD until 15 January 2025: £1200pp/ Full Price: £1300
TO SECURE YOUR PLACE £300 DEPOSIT REQUIRED
SECOND PAYMENT OF £300 (early bird) /£400 (full price) due 16 weeks prior to retreat
FINAL BALANCE PAYMENT will be due 12 weeks prior to retreat
Please read booking terms and conditions below before transferring your deposit.
BOOKING TERMS + CANCELLATION POLICY
Travel Insurance:
It is a condition of this holiday that you on booking purchase comprehensive travel insurance which includes cancellation insurance. None of us can predict unexpected events in our lives: illness, family emergencies, work conflicts, etc. By purchasing a comprehensive plan, you will ensure being covered in full should you need to cancel after the said cancellation period.
Cancellation:
Your deposit is refundable up until 12 weeks before the start of the retreat. Less than 12 weeks before the start of the retreat your payment is only refundable or transferable if your space can be filled.
Any refunds made will be less a £100 admin fee.
If Covid regulations change and the retreat is not able to go ahead any money paid would be transferable to a future date.
In the very unlikely event that Tanja Mickwitz and/or Jessica Lusty is unable at to teach the retreat at short notice, for example due to (but not limited to) Covid-19, severe illness or bereavement, Tanja Mickwitz + Jessica Lusty reserve the right to find a replacement teacher. In this situation no refunds will be issued.