Tantric Yoga, Reiki and Massage Retreat for Gay and Bi Men
18th-24th June 2022, Portugal
Tantra is a rich map of teachings and practices that guide us home to the truth of who we are; beings of love and light. Tantra allows us to recognise, remember and rise to meet our full potential. It teaches us how to open our hearts, to welcome and honour all that we are and how to move into freedom from self-judgement, self-criticism and a lack of self-love. As the light of self-love and self-acceptance shines within us, so can we see it shine in another. And on and on this light grows, illuminating all that come into contact with it.
Join experienced teacher Andy Butterfield as he guides you gently and skilfully into the remarkable world of Tantra against the stunning backdrop of the lush, green countryside of Portugal. Beneath the warm sun of early summer, feel your body and soul open joyfully to mindful movement, yoga*, breathwork, chanting, meditation, partner and group work and massage. Be nourished and rejuvenated on all levels and find deep connection with yourself and within a welcoming community of fellow bliss and truth seekers.
This retreat is for you if:
- You are looking to integrate your sexuality and spirituality and open up to a deepening awareness of who you are
- You love the idea of getting back to nature, feeling the sun on your naked skin, wild swimming, roaming through woodland, stargazing and sharing around the fire pit
- You want to hang out with like-minded, warm-hearted gay and bi men and experience the joy, connection and healing that arises in community
- You want to enjoy and celebrate your body through movement, touch and massage
- You are looking to expand your awareness of what your body, mind and spirit are capable of
- You are ready for an adventure, to take risks, grow beyond your comfort zone and discover new ways of delighting in who you are
The program will be relaxed and spacious and also rich and healing:
– Tension/Trauma Release Exercises which help us to release long held tension patterns, stress and
trauma from the body
– a variety of energising yoga practices such as dynamic hatha vinyasa, yin and partner yoga
– various meditation tools and practices
– shiatsu massage techniques
– reiki level 1 attunement for self-regulation, self-care and self-healing
A typical day:
8am yoga* and meditation
9.30am breakfast
11.00am tantric touch/reiki workshops on a couple of days
1.30pm lunch
FREE TIME
6.00pm tantric touch workshop
8pm dinner
This schedule may change
*The yoga will be for active beginners and improvers so you will need to be relatively fit, healthy and active. Andy draws on his experience with hatha vinyasa yoga to instruct in a mindful, flowing practice that is both subtle and physical.
Accommodation
Boutique furnished bedrooms (2 triple rooms and the others are twins). Rooms allocated on a first come, first served basis. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, with shower, washbasin and toilet. One single supplement option is available.
Each room is individually styled with different colour schemes and have features such as wood panelled ceilings, wooden shutters, chandeliers and wood floors on the 1st floor.
Single beds can be joined to create a king size bed for couples.
Cost
Full Price £1200
Single Supplement £1450
Prices are per person (based on two people sharing a twin room)
Two twin beds can be pushed together to make a King for couples.
Two rooms will be a triple room and rooms will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Deposit of £300 to reserve your place
*Limited number of early bird prices are available.
The cancellation policy is considered and flexible in light of Covid.
To register, use the Contact form or email andybutterfield@icloud.com
REIKI
Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing, self-regulation and self-care.
Through reiki, we receive the lifeforce energy around us, the energy that flows through all living things, the energy from the sun and the cosmos, the oceans and the earth. This balances and strengthens our own lifeforce.
Our lifeforce is responsive to thoughts and feelings. It becomes disrupted by negative thoughts or feelings we hold about ourselves. These negative thoughts and feelings attach themselves to the energy field and cause a disruption in the flow of life force. This diminishes the vital function of the organs and cells of the physical body.
Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging them with positive energy. It raises the vibratory level of the energy field in and around the physical body where the negative thoughts and feelings are attached. This causes the negative energy to break apart and fall away. In so doing, Reiki clears, straightens and heals the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way. Reiki is extremely helpful in working with Tantric Energy and supports the expansion and growth that comes with it.
THE ATTUNEMENT
The ability to channel Reiki energy is transferred to the student by a Reiki Master during an attunement process.
By receiving an attunement you will gain a valuable tool for self-healing and self-regulation and also become part of a group of people who are using Reiki to share peace, love and expand universal consciousness with others and the Planet. It is a beautiful, relaxing and deeply nurturing experience and I am delighted to be able to share it with you.
(With thanks to Miguel Chavez at www.reikimaya.com and his manual for Reiki 1 and 2, the Usui System of Healing).
Healthy Vegetarian and Vegan Food
The ‘made from scratch’ vegetarian and vegan food is tasty and nutritious and based on fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables. The vegetables, fruits and herbs are either grown in their own organic garden or supplied by local greengrocers.
The afternoon cake is of course freshly made each day, served with tea infusions, many of which they grew themselves.
We will be nurturing our bodies in a way to complement and assist the healing yoga practices during the group activities. Food for thought and growth.
Transport
The venue is 1 hr 45 minutes away from Lisbon airport and 3 hrs from Porto airport so we recommend flying to Lisbon.
We can arrange a minibus to take the group to and from Lisbon airport (about 30 euros each way).
About your host
Andy has practiced tantra yoga for 16 years and taught for nearly 9. He’s also an experienced bodyworker and folds shiatsu, reiki and meditation into his teaching to help his students tap into the great intelligence, power and creativity of the body. Together, we cultivate an attitude of loving kindness, gratitude and wonder as we flow through a soulful and meaningful movement practice.
Partner work is central in his teaching of tantra yoga for gay and bi men. It allows us to experience that with assistance, support and encouragement we can all move more easily towards the goal of self knowledge and self love. Tantra teaches us how to witness the light and beauty in another and so reveal it in ourselves.
Andy is passionate about creating community and holding a safe, relaxed and meaningful space for gay and bi men to meet and explore intimacy, connection and joy.
He has taught many retreats and workshops around the world and is based in London and Brighton, UK.
To register, use the Contact form above or email andybutterfield@icloud.com