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TRANSFORMATIVE RETREAT -
2025 - JULY 15-21 -
TRANSFORMATIVE RETREAT - 2025 - JULY 15-21 -
Curious Body
Loural EcoVillage, Portugal
Join us on an exciting journey of self-discovery for a six-day retreat at Loural Ecovillage in Portugal.
Curious Body is a uniquely crafted retreat that promotes a personalised approach to transformation and well-being.
July 15-21, 2025
Detailed Overview
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Recognising the uniqueness of each individual's journey, we invite you to explore our activities at your own pace.
Our activities include:
Mindfulness Meditation
Awareness Through Movement (The Feldenkrais Method)
Forest Therap
Somatic Drawing
Permaculture activities
Two immersive Sound Therapy sessions
For those seeking a break from the digital world, total or partial digital detox options are also available.
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Pedro Goucha is a certified teacher of the Feldenkrais Method and of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. He was a professional dancer and teacher with an international career. Pedro will be guiding daily Mindfulness meditation and Awareness Through Movement lessons that encourage enjoyment and ease while learning new possibilities of thinking, sensing and moving.
Geeta Stilwell is an experienced ANFT Certified Forest Therapy of Guide and trainer of guides. She has trained and mentored over 300 students worldwide. She will be guiding daily nature connection restorative experiences that will support a remembering and reconnection to the natural world.
Catherine Darbord is a psycho-corporal therapist, musician sculptor of sounds, specialist in harmonic singing, trainer in Sound Therapy and author. Catherine will be giving two concerts.
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Retreat prices include:
All retreat activities.
3 Organic and locally sourced vegetarian meals a day (we cater for your dietary needs).
Personal Accidents and Limited Liability Insurance of retreat facilitators.
Price does not include:
Flights to Portugal.
Travel to and from Loural Eco-Village (let us know if you need support with travel arrangements).
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You have the choice to pay the full amount at once, or if you prefer, you may start by paying a deposit of 400€ to hold your place at the retreat. For this option contact me directly here
Deposit is 100% refundable only if your participation in the retreat is cancelled 60 days before the retreat start date (15th May 2025).
Balance of total amount due, payable 30 days before the retreat start date (15th June 2025). If you prefer to pay the remaining amount in cash, please contact us beforehand.
Glamping Area
(3 beds per tent)
Double Shared Room
Single Room
ON SITE WORKSHOPS
- LISBON -
ON SITE WORKSHOPS - LISBON -
The Curious Body
Studio Organic Flow, Lisbon, Portugal
NEW DATES COMING SOON!!!
The Curious Body is a two-days workshop that brings together the Feldenkrais Method, Gaga and Somatic Drawing. It’s an opportunity to engage with one's sense of wonder, curiosity and exploration. You’re invited to experience the beauty and elegance of this unique combination of practices, and take part in a series of guided explorations in movement, drawing, imagination and more.
The Curious Body will be facilitated by me (Feldenkrais Method, Somatic Drawing) and Kana Ote (Gaga) in a beautiful studio in the centre of Lisbon, Portugal.
120€
REMOTE CLASSES -
REMOTE CLASSES -
Saturday mornings
November 2nd- February 1st (14 lessons)
( 09:00 - 10:15 Portugal/UK Time )
( 10am - 11:15 am Central European Time )
Join us on Saturday morning for 14 beautifully crafted Awareness through movement lessons.
The themes will range between foot mobility, balance, finger dexterity, sitting walking and more…
168€
PRIVATE SESSIONS -
PRIVATE SESSIONS -
Embark on a transformative journey with the Feldenkrais Method, a holistic approach utilising movement, touch, and the enhancement of awareness for learning, well-being, and personal development.
Regular practice not only improves daily activities but also supports individuals of all ages in overcoming unique movement challenges.
Eight sessions to improve your mobility.
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A total of eight sessions, comprised of:
6 Awareness Through Movement lessons.
2 Hands-On sessions.
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6 Online - Awareness Through Movement lessons.
2 In-Person hands-on sessions in your home.
At Pedro’s Studio
60€
price per session
In Your Home
80€
price per session
Hybrid Session
70€
price per session
(6 online sessions and 2 hands-on sessions in your home/studio)
MY STORY -
ABOUT ME -
MY STORY - ABOUT ME -
My name is Pedro Goucha Gomes, and I live in the Portuguese countryside with my wife and children. Since the age of 9 I've been involved in the dance world, working with renowned companies such as Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch and The Netherlands Dance Theatre, amongst others.
In my early twenties, a trip to Japan sparked my interest in meditation, which led me to explore different practices and meditation traditions. Meditation changed my relationship to dance. It was stillness that taught me the most about moving. Seeking to share the benefits of mindfulness, I became a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher.
My passion for movement led me to study Somatic Movement and become a certified teacher in the Feldenkrais Method.
Today I am committed to sharing practices that I believe may lead to a greater sense of peace and respect toward ourselves, each other and all life around us. With this in mind, I studied Permaculture and offer classes, workshops and retreats to anyone interested in exploring how the awareness that emerges from the fields of Meditation, Somatics, Dance and Permaculture may contribute to the cultivation and embodiment of creativity, peace and environmental awareness.
Finally, my family and I are involved in the Loural Ecovillage project, a retreat center in Portugal focused on integrative therapies, art, permaculture, and energy autonomy.
FAQs
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The Feldenkrais Method ® uses movement, touch and the enhancement of awareness for learning and personal development. Regular practice not only improves daily activities, such as sitting, standing, walking, running, breathing, sleeping, and so on… it also assists many in overcoming exceptional challenges. People of all ages and capacities can benefit from this sophisticated method. The Feldenkrais Method is composed of two complementAry modalities; Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons and Functional Integration (FI) sessions.
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Awareness Through Movement (ATM) are verbally guided group lessons. These movement lessons encourage enjoyment and ease while learning new possibilities of thinking, sensing and moving. As your movement becomes increasingly free of unnecessary effort, you can develop a greater capacity to align your actions with your intentions. The shift from a goal oriented mindset to an experiential and playful approach to learning has had profound and long-lasting effects in many people’s lives.
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For Awareness Through Movement on-line lessons have with you a yoga mat (or something similar), wear comfortable and warm clothes, and if possible choose a place without distractions where you can lie with your arms open. Also, make sure you have a stable internet connection and place your computer/phone in a place where I can see you properly.
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Functional Integration (FI) are private sessions in which the primary means of interaction is through touch. In these pain-free sessions the person lies comfortably dressed on a practice table. Through following the person’s natural stream of movement the practitioner enables improvement in movement, coordination and balance, as well as pain relieve and general well-being. This process develops according to the particular needs of each individual. Given the sensory-motor nature of these processes, often an overall enhancement of self-perception is experienced.
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Mindfulness meditation is a practice that involves intentionally focusing your attention on the present moment, without judgment. It's about cultivating awareness of your thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and the environment around you. It's not about clearing the mind of thoughts but rather about becoming more aware of them and developing a different relationship with them, one characterized by acceptance and non-reactivity.
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Mindfulness meditation can be practiced formally, through dedicated meditation sessions, or informally, by integrating mindfulness into daily activities like eating, walking, or even washing dishes.
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Private sessions are designed according to your particular needs. This could make your experience more meaningful to you and bring an enhanced focus to your process.
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Yes, Curious Body, Courageous Heart is designed to suit all levels of experience. You will be supported and guided on a gentle journey to yourself, and encouraged to follow your personal interests at your own pace.
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Yes. We would ask you to please let us know in advance what are your dietary requirements. We will do our best to accommodate them. There will be 3 daily nutritious and locally sourced vegetarian meals a day.
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This retreat is an invitation for a Digital Detox. We will not enforce a ban on the use of your devices, but offer a conscious invitation to choose whether you want to turn them off for the duration of the retreat. You can choose to completely switch them off for the full 6 days, or use them in case of emergency or work related issues or in whatever way your awareness dictates. We will be there to support your decision. Whatever option you choose, there will be no use of devices in the shared spaces of the retreat including the group practice room and the dining spaces.
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No, everything you’ll need will be provided. However, keep in mind that Loural is 500 meters above sea level. Nights could be chilly. Also, you might want to bring a bathing suit for a dip in the swimming pool and some shoes for walking in nature.
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I cannot offer scholarships, but in case you would like to participate in any of my offers and cannot pay the full price, please get in contact with me. I am confident we will find a solution!
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Loural Ecovillage is a 2h30min drive from Lisbon and from Porto. If you are coming from either airport, the best way to get there by public transport is to take a train or bus to Coimbra, and a taxi to Loural, which will cost you approximately €70.