Quinta das Águias – Retreat Center

The Place

Quinta das Águias is a Dharma and Retreat center, a non-profit institution, for individuals and for groups. For people that search for releave from the stress from our present day society Quinta das Águias offers a perfect setting for developing inner peace, mindfulness and lasting happiness. The place is situated in the middle of nature near Paredes de Coura, in Minho northern Portugal. Here the perfect harmony of nature is not disturbed by the stressfulness of contemporary life, facilitating healing and inner growth.

Objectives and Values

The purpose of Quinta das Águias is to contribute to the wellbeing of all beings, all living creatures including the wellbeing of Planet Earth itself, by promoting awareness about the impact of lifestyle on the wellbeing of oneself and others, and all that lives and by facilitating development of a mindful lifestyle. The following values are our guiding principles in everything we do:

Not harming other beings (people and animals) to the ends of our own comfort of pleasure, but instead,

Being compassionate, respecting that every single being wants to be happy, free from suffering.

Respecting all forms of life, knowing that all living creatures are interrelated enabling present and future life.

In service of others for the sake of their welbeing and happiness, at the same time a prerequisite for our own happiness.

The People

The place and the visitors are been taken care of by Ivone Ingen Housz, psychotherapist and Joep Ingen Housz, ex- business manager and actually vegetarian cook and advocate for healthy enjoyable food. A growing number of recurring guests form together with Ivone and Joep the Quinta das Águias family. Guests from all spiritual traditions are welcome to attend the events.

The Facilities

The guesthouse: a restored typical antique stone house lodges up to 16 guests with bedrooms of 7, 4, 3 and 2 places; a dining room, a kitchenette and 5 showers and WC’s.

Campsite: In summer a limited number of places are available for guests to put up their tents.

Practice-hall: An antique stone barn has been transformed into a 55 m² practice hall, ideal for practicing yoga, meditation, teachings etc.

Nature of the Quinta: consisting of 6 hectares of woods and fields filled with wild plants and trees, a perfect setting to practice walking meditation or just relax in harmony with nature.

Additional Lodging facilities: close to Quinta das Águias are different possibilities for lodging extra guests. On request a list of accommodations can be sent.

The Kitchen

Cooking and eating are acts of love and veneration for life. A meal unites eaters and each eater with all the elements of nature that contributed to the meal. The quality of our food determines the quality of our future life.

The meals at Quinta das Águias are strictly vegetarian, near vegan, using mainly whole foods, vegetables, legumes, grains, fruits, nuts and seeds, mostly organic. The objective is to serve meals that are a joy to eat, prepared with care for health and wellbeing of the guests, avoiding animal cruelty and respecting the wellbeing of our Planet Earth.

Herbal teas grown at the Quinta with properties promoting health and healing are served.

Guests with special dietary restrictions should ask well in advance if it is possible to meet their requirements.

Activities

Group retreats include teachings and practice of Yoga, meditation and mind training, vegetarian cooking etc. Moderators who want to organize a retreat are invited to propose their programs, provided it is in sync with our objectives and values.

Individual retreats for people who want a place to practice in calm isolation for a shorter or longer period.

Individual mindfulness program combining psychotherapy and mindfulness training for those who want to overcome stress and inner conflicts and grow inner peace and develop a healthy lifestyle.

Individual consultations for psychotherapy including hypnotherapy and counseling.