6 Day Unforgettable Running Retreat with Yoga and Qigong in Hijate, Andalusia, in Spain
Running Retreat in Spain
This is an active retreat, which will help you to improve your physical and mental resilience, by honing positive lifestyle changes and exploring your limits in a stunning natural setting, which will make you feel relaxed and at home. The formula is designed both with well-being and performance in mind. Some background in running would be beneficial and you should have a reusable level of fitness. However, you don’t have to be a primed athlete to sign up. You just need to be capable of running a half marathon at any pace.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- 5 or more guided runs
- 3 yoga sessions
- Qigong and breathwork
- Functional movement
- Talks by a breathing specialist and a leading astronomer
- Excursions to Seron and the Posada del Candril
- Healthy vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- 5 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
Yoga styles
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
Molino Viejo
In typical Spanish style, there are two inner courtyards, one of which houses a separate annex bedroom and a large dipping pool. There is an outdoor gym. The house has seven rooms and sleeps 16 people.
Program
About the Program
Are you currently creating experiences to take with you, as memories that cannot be bought, sold, taken, or exchanged? Everyone wants good stories to tell the grandchildren, but you need to make them happen. They want to help you create your own ‘edge of the seat’ story by providing you with exclusive accommodation (it will be just the group there).
You’ll be in a part of Spain with never-ending mountain ranges to explore by foot, bike, or motor vehicle, the huge Lake Negratin nearby, the Sierra Nevada and Europe’s only desert (at the moment!!) within a couple of hours.
Who is it for?
The breathwork and Qigong classes will provide a method for reframing and resetting your mindset towards life, work, and sport, with an individual approach to each guest.
Most importantly, they aim to provide a friendly and relaxed setting, as well as a learning environment, where you can connect with and learn from each other.
The runs
The running routes have been chosen by Ceri, a successful athlete, mountain guide, and retreat leader, who once lived in Spain, and reflect his love of landscape as a way of feeling connected.
From Hijate, it’s possible to run for miles between villages and towns, navigating Los Ramblas (the dried-up river beds) and the via verdes, where the olives were transported to be pressed, as well as the miner’s paths up in the mountains.
The routes are deliberately challenging and designed to take you out of your comfort zone and into the growth zone but you are welcome to opt in and out at any time. You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness and curiosity about what you are capable of and be able to run a half marathon at any pace, but you don’t need to be a primed athlete.
You will have alternative, easier runs for people who are not seasoned runners. The owner of Molina Viejo Bernard is also a keen marathon runner and your Qigong instructor Amanda was also trained in hypnotherapy by a running hypnotherapist, so there will be a healthy spread of running literature around the retreat!
The two hardest challenges will be the run-up Mount Jabalcon in Granada, at 1492 meters above sea level. Not surprisingly, the views from its peak present breathtaking, all-encompassing vistas of the contrasting mountainscapes of the Sierra Nevada, and the stunning vision of Lake Negratin. You can also experience a fascinating diversity and hues of geology here
The other toughie is to the top of Los Minares from the Parador del Candrail, which will take you from around 1000 to 1800 meters over an 8-kilometer distance
The schedule
Day 1
- They can pick you up from Almeira, Murcia, or Granada Airport. Ceri or Tim will be there to meet you
- Afternoon: Arrive and be amazed by this gorgeous location
- Bed in and relax
- Before dinner: Leg loosening 10-kilometer run around the olive tree-lined hills of Jauca Baja
- Dinner: Home-cooked, Spanish-themed food (delicious vegan-friendly cooking with traditional Spanish ingredients)
Day 2
- Morning Qigong with Amanda
- 08:30 Breakfast
- After breakfast: Run the Rambla riverbed to Seron, a beautiful (approximately 6 miles) run along the dry riverbeds, through olive tree valleys and almond trees.
- Explore the ancient cobbled streets of Seron and its incredible Moorish Castle. This is a fascinating town, with a history that will blow your mind.
- Optional second run (4 to 6 miles)
- Dinner at Los Menas, spectacular views. Great restaurant nestled in the hills surrounded by mining history and folk tales
Day 3
- 08:30 Breakfast
- After breakfast: Warm up Qigong with Amanda to provide you with resilience and mental preparation for what’s to come!
- After breakfast: Run to Los Menas, an abandoned mining town in the Sierra de los Filabres in Almeria province, purpose built in the 19th century by a consortium of British, French, and Belgian mining companies. This is a challenging 13-kilometer run that will take you up about 800 meters of the climb, which is all runnable but tough. You’ll be met with stunning views at the top, as well as a driver with bikes so you can enjoy a downhill, freewheel all the way back to where you started from
- Early evening: Visit the observatory and talk by Raul Martinez an astrophysicist and astronomer, followed by a tour of Seron
- Late dinner: At the mill, cooked by the caterer (delicious vegan-friendly cooking with traditional Spanish ingredients)
Day 4
- 08:30 Breakfast
- After breakfast: Run the Jabalcon, up the mountain paths to the summit from the village of Zujar
- Lunch: Next to Lake Negratin, then visit the mineral water bathing pool ‘Los Baños de Zujar'
- After lunch at Los Banos restaurant
- Evening: Relay / speed and technique session with Ceri on the Via Verde
- Dinner at the Mill
Day 5
- Before breakfast: Morning Qigong with Amanda
- Lunch: Coffee at Posada del Candil
- Afternoon: Run up into the mountains of Los Filabres. Distance from 6 to 15 miles depending on ability and preference
- Dinner: Tapas in Seron and after-dinner awards ceremony
- After dinner: Final Qigong session with Frank
Day 6
- Pre-breakfast yoga with Frank or a morning run of 6 to 8 miles depending on ability and preference
- 08:30 Breakfast
- After breakfast: Pack and departure
- Optional lunch
- You can catch evening flights, so no rush to get off!
Included excursions
There will be excursions to to Seron and the Posada del Candril included in the price.
Instructors
Ceri Rees
Ceri Rees is the founder of Wild Running Ltd and event director for the Something Wild Trail Running Festival, The Wild Running Series and the Wild Dart Swim, Rock Hard Coast Weekend and Race with No Name and Two Moors Ultra. He is a Qualified Mountain Leader (Summer), an experienced teacher, navigation instructor and running guide, outdoor first aid qualified, and former member of UK Endurance Squad and ex-international athlete. He is a five-time winner of The Grizzly, with three national junior cross country titles and winner of several regional and national events over fells and trails.
Amanda Mandry
Amanda is a Certified Professional Hypnotherapy and Qigong Practitioner with Diploma HPD, DipHyp. NLP Pract and currently practices Hypnotherapy in Serón, Almería. She is also a former teacher and a keen trail runner. She has specialized in anxiety, pain management, children's and teen's issues, and sports performance.
Frank
Frank will guide you during this program.
Raul Martinez
Raul will guide you during this program.
Retreat location
Hijate, Andalusia
This program will take place in the city of Hijate in the province of Almeria in Andalusia, Spain.
About the venue
Hijate is found in the Almondora Valley in the autonomous region of Andalusia. It is close to the ancient hill town of Seron, with the fabulous Granada just 90 kilometers away and the Filabres mountains.
The old mill is surrounded by olive and almond trees and the big clear skies lend themselves to stargazing and dreamy nights outdoors. The Molino Viejo is a beautiful old renovated mill, nestled in the Almanzora Valley in the Armenia region of Andalusía, surrounded by limestone mountains, and olive, and sweet smelling almond trees, with historic towns such as Seron, nearby to visit.
The location is really memorable. To them, location is key, and they wanted it to be based somewhere which has a history of ecotourism, where locals and visitors can mix, without that ‘them and us’ mentality, which you can get elsewhere.
Distances
- Granada, 90 kilometers
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
During this retreat, you will be served healthy vegetarian food (all meals breakfast, lunch, and dinner, except for 2 meals out). They can also cater for vegans.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Things to do (optional)
Massage
They can arrange an onsite massage upon request.
What's included
- 5 guided runs (or more)
- 3 yoga sessions with the expert instructor
- Qigong and breathwork
- Talks by a breathing specialist and a leading astronomer, who will guide you through the night sky
- Excursions to Seron and the Posada del Candril
- Functional movement
- Healthy vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and dinner (except for 2 meals out)
- 5 nights accommodation
What's not included
- Flights
- Airport transfers
- 2 meals out
- Other activities
- Massages
- Personal expenses
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Alicante–Elche Airport
201 km
Transfer not provided
Almería Airport
63 km
Transfer not provided
Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport)
110 km
Transfer not provided
Málaga Airport
190 km
Transfer not provided
Región de Murcia International Airport[1]
133 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
Please arrange your flight to arrive at one of the following airports:
- Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport) (GRX)
- Región de Murcia International Airport[1] (RMU)
- Málaga Airport (AGP)
- Alicante–Elche Airport (ALC)
Wild Running can arrange pick ups and drops off from Almeria or Granada for 50 EUR return (with a minimum of 6, 7, or 8 people) or from Murcia (100 EUR) and Alicante (117 EUR).
They can arrange for you to be picked up from the airport unless you’d prefer to catch a train or hire a car. Spanish roads are incredibly quiet and smooth compared to the UK, so it’s actually a pleasure to drive, once you’ve got sat nav on the case.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.