7-Day Wellness Escape: Yoga, Aerial Yoga & Sound Healing in Madeira

Most days at this retreat start with a 75-minute Hatha Vinyasa class led by Cilene, who has trained in air yoga, Hatha, and massage across Brazil and Portugal. After a brunch, you either head out for a four-hour hike with Antoine or have the afternoon to yourself. Antoine, a professional nature guide since 2000, leads the walks and introduces you to Afghan Walking, a technique where you sync your steps to your breath — it turns a normal trail into something closer to moving meditation, and you really notice the difference on the steep Madeiran paths. He points out local plants and animals as you go, often along the island's famous levadas (irrigation channels) or through the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva forest.

The late afternoon is given over to the retreat's signature practice: aerial yoga. You climb into a silk hammock and do a gentle Hatha-based class that feels lighter than floor yoga because the hammock takes your weight, then lie back in the fabric while Cilene plays singing bowls and other instruments for a sound bath. Guests have called this the highlight of the week, especially with the ocean view from the studio. Evenings are free, with dinner served at the house. Two of the seven days are much lighter — a full free day midweek and a quieter day to let the practices sink in — so it never feels like you're on a nonstop schedule.

What makes this retreat different from a standard yoga holiday is the combination of aerial yoga and Afghan Walking with an actual nature guide. You get the muscle work of vinyasa, the release of hanging in a hammock, and the stamina-building of real hikes, all within one week. The food is vegetarian and mostly local, with brunch and dinner as the two main meals rather than three heavy ones. The setting helps too: the house sits in a quiet farming area away from tourist crowds, with views down to the Atlantic.

What's included

- Airport pickup and drop-off - 6 nights accommodation at Maison ZiaZen - 3 daily meals (brunch and dinner, plus breakfast on arrival/departure days) - Water, tea and coffee throughout the day - Daily yoga classes (Hatha Vinyasa and Aerial Hatha) - Sound bath sessions - 2 guided nature hikes with Afghan Walking initiation - Transportation during the retreat - Free wifi - Group excursions and activities as per itinerary

What's not included

- Flights to Madeira - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments (massages) - Additional activities not in the itinerary (e.g. boat trip) - Extra nights before or after the retreat - Laundry services