無 (wú)
The Fertile Empty
A Reset for Body & Mind through the Yang Simplified Tai Ji Form
Portugal, Spring, 2027
BOOK HERE - Early Bird Pricing to June 30
see you there
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D'Alijo Retreat
- 50HRS
Portugal, 24 April - May 1, 2027
NURTURE. NOURISH. YOUR LIFE.
We live in a culture of urgency.
Constant input. Constant performance. Constant reaction.
Eventually our nervous systems
forget
how to down‑regulate.
The body tightens.
The mind races.
Energy scatters.
Wu (無) does not mean “nothing.”
It is the fertile space before movement.
The pause between breaths.
The ground from which structure arises.
Without Wu, movement becomes force.
With Wu, movement becomes continuity.
This retreat restores that ground.
Through Tai Ji, Yin and meditation,
we return to the space where effort softens
and energy can circulate without strain.
We will slow everything down so you can:
Regulate your system again.
Feel your body again.
Move Qi deliberately again.
Stand and sit without unnecessary effort.
Practice over theory.
Simple.
Precise.
Powerful.
LOCATION
D'Alijo Retreats, Northern Portugal
D’Alijo Yoga Retreat Centre has a beautiful, fully equipped yoga studio overlooking the gardens and valley, a luxurious but cozy dining room, a beautiful pool, a large pond and much more.
The estate is remote, surrounded by nature. it has a couple of great hiking trails, which can lead you to rivers and waterfalls and natural pools. the closest town, cabeceiras de basto, is about 12 minutes by car. guimarães, a unesco listed beautiful city is just 25 minutes away. porto and braga are within one hour as well as an other Unesco sites.
D'Alijo Retreat Center
3 ROOM OPTIONS
Full Payment or Payment Plans (All prices in euro €)
Within the Main House, guests can choose from bedrooms available for single occupancy, a couple or twin sharing.
There are wooden Suites, Mountain Lodges, and Main House & River Cabin accommodations,
each with their own unique distinctive features.
Rooms are available on a first come - first serve basis.
Early Bird Pricing to June 30
Luxury Suite Single/Couple
Garden Suites appointed with bedroom, bathroom and living room, all overlooking the valley and the vegetable garden.
Available as Single or Double
If Double, please click here to book.
Mountain Lodge Rooms
Featuring three single bedrooms around a shared living space. Guests can enjoy a cozy living room, a shared bathroom, and an outside veranda offering uninterrupted views of the premises.
Single Room w. Shared Living Space & Bathroom
River Cabin/Main House Rooms (SINGLE)
By the D'Alijo river, or inside the main house.
Equipped with ensuite bathrooms.
single occupancy.
River Cabin/Main House Rooms (SHARE)
By the D'Alijo river, or inside the main house.
Equipped with ensuite bathrooms.
twin share.
2026 Attendees
"無 The Fertile Empty" —
50hr Immersion and Form Transmission
At some point, doing more stops working. This immersion isn’t about more. It’s about depth.
This year, our vessels for that depth will be:
— The Yang 24 Simplified Tai Ji Form — learned slowly, precisely, and embodied through repetition....
— Yin Yoga
— Meditation
Through TaiJi & Yin movement and structured and meditation, we work directly with the Three Treasures — Jing, Qi, and Shen.
Not as theory. As lived physiology.
This program emphasises direct experience over theory.
We will practice more - talk less.
Long Practice Core Training - Yang Simplified Form Immersion
Yang Simplified Tai Ji Form
— Learn the complete form step-by-step
— Understand structure, rooting, and spiral mechanics
— Coordinate breath with movement
— Build internal continuity
— Practice daily until it becomes one continuous meditation
Long Yin Yoga/Myo & Acu Yin— Release deep tension patterns in fascia and joints.
Long Meditations — Develop equanimity and internal stability.
Understanding comes through repetition of the framework of the Three Treasures:
精 Jing — Physical Vitality Your structure. Your reserves. Yin Yoga for deep fascial release Rest, recovery, and rhythm Sustainability, not intensity.
氣 Qi — Energy & Emotional Flow Your circulation. Your responsiveness. Functional Qigong Deep breathing to strengthen the lungs Applied energy awareness Feel where energy moves — and where it stagnates — and how to restore flow.
神 Shen — Mental & Spiritual Clarity Your awareness. Your steadiness. Seated meditation
Attention training Regulation through stillness Clarity replaces reactivity. Presence replaces effort.
(Optional) Chinese Herbal Consultations As a clinical Chinese herbal practitioner, I will offer optional one-to-one consultations around the immersion (before or after). If appropriate, you may receive a personalised first round of herbal formula to support your constitution and current patterns. This is entirely optional — but available for those who want deeper individual support.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This program is meant for anybody who has been practicing yoga for at least one year and has done yin yoga before.
This event can be a 50hr module in our Blackmat Yogi 600hr TT program (Meditate Part 2 - Recognized by Yoga Alliance), or it can be a yogic indulgence (you have the option to miss the morning lectures if you don't want a certificate), a simple time to practice spent with good people, Portuguese vibes and good food.
Accreditation
Receive a full 50hrs of
YA Accreditation either as part of our 300hr program, or as a part of your continuing education credits.
PROGRAM PREREQUISITE
This program is not entry-level. It requires a fundamental understanding of yin yoga and meditation. These are both offered in our 200hr yin yoga & variable anatomy program. In addition, it is recommended that you have taken my Qigong Foundations Program.
This event can be a 50hr module in my Blackmat Yogi 500hr TT program, or it can be a getaway indulgence (you have the option to miss the morning lectures if you don't want a certificate), a simple time to practice spent with good people, Portuguese vibes and good food.
If in doubt, please contact us by filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page.
WHAT YOU GET
Full access to course materials, including:
• The complete Yang Simplified Form memorised and embodied
• A daily 20–25 minute practice you can continue for life
• A deeper understanding of structure, breath and internal power
• One year access to all materials for refinement
HOW TO GET THERE
There are no public transport options directly to the retreat centre. However, if you are not travelling by plane you can take a metro, bus or shuttle from porto city centre to porto airport and then join a shared transfer.
The nearest airport is PORTUGAL PORTO AIRPORT. Transavia, EasyJet, Tap, Vueling, KLM & Ryan air, all fly there.
Transfer time to the D’Alijo centre is 60 minutes by car from Porto airport. Transfers to and from the D’Alijo centre are not included in the prices. We can arrange shared airport transfers to and from Porto airport at about € 110 per car one way, maximum three persons. For bigger groups we can organise a bus.
A few weeks before the retreat we will ask you for your travel details and if you want to share travel to the centre. We will group you together so you can share costs. alternatively you can find cheap car rental options.
DAILY SCHEDULE
24 April - Arrival Day
Check in from 15:00
18:00 Course & Venue Introduction
19:30 Dinner
25 -30 April
7:30 - 8:00 Meditation
8:00 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 12:30 Lecture, Practicum & Meditation
12:30 - 16:30 Lunch & Free Time
16:30 - 19:00 Practicum, Asana & Meditation
19:00 Dinner
May 1 - Departure Day
9:00 Closing Yin Yoga Practice
10:00 Breakfast & Check-Out
CHECK IN & CHECK OUT
- On arrival day you can check in from 15:00 on.
- Note that there is no food or lunch in the centre yet.
- Check out is after breakfast on the last day.
PRICES
- Include: Six and half days of yoga, meditation, food and friendship.
- Exclude: Flight tickets and transfer from/to retreat centre (but we can help with that).
VIEW FROM THE SHALA
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