Moinhos Velhos

Not long returned from a 10 juice/fasting detox from this beautiful place. I’m in my 70’s and I’ve waited over 20 years to do this and finally all the stars were aligned. It was the best decision I have ever made. There are plenty of positive reviews on here outlining the facilities, location, treatments etc. and I totally concur with them all so I won’t repeat them, check them out on the website. I lost weight which was one of the main reasons for going but I also learnt about other healthy practices (thank you Bliss). This experience and the knowledge that was imparted to me by the wonderful team there have given me the tools to carry on this healthy lifestyle back at home. The yoga classes were invigorating, the juices and broths were delicious, the singing bowl meditation was relaxing, the information about permaculture was very interesting and the fire pit ceremony was wonderful and great fun. Your body is your Temple and you need it to carry you through your life, so honour it. Don’t be like me and wait 20 years! To Chris, Karen (the Facilitators), Bliss, Iris, Sofia, Benjy, Stella, Andreas, Simone, Mira and Belle, you each played a part in making this trip a life changing experience for me and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Talking about heart, I’ve left a little piece of mine there. With all my love to the marvellous Moinhos Velhos team.

Simply the programme is so expertly crafted. Delivered by authentic, kind and dedicated individuals who together bring life, reality and joy to the experience. All 5 visits have resulted in a sense of deep grounded peacefulness, calm, clarity, focus and connectedness. An undeniable feeling of being back in my skin and thoroughly re energised. Moinhos Velhos excels at this. With deep gratitude.

I found it really hard to choose a retreat initially as I was open to yoga or detox. What I found was the best possible combination with added smiles and beautiful hosts, and volunteers. Contact with initial questions was easy, bookings and even simple payment links and transfers arranged for you linking in with other guests to reduce costs was so helpful and easy. The facilitators led by Chris and Karen were so friendly and open, the nutrition teachings of Gijsje so clear and helpful, the juice and broth makers and even Benjy the gardener were so smiley and always kind. I really enjoyed discussion with Sofia on yoga and Benjy on his amazing ideas for healing with world with trees and gardening. A proper juice and broth detox and so well created and managed hunger was not an issue for me. Richard’s facilitation and clear friendly down to earth approach to healing and guidance as well as his acupuncture were amazing. Treatments were available from deep tissue and Swedish massage to Reiki and Lomi Lomi/Balinese which were so helpful to the detox process. I had a tooth infection unfortunately on day 3 but they quickly arranged an appointment with a dentist and a lift there. Sofia and Benji in particular helped me so much with this and looked after me like even more of a VIP whilst recovering. Beautiful spiritual yet grounded retreat.

Two months after my seven-day juice detox at Moinhos Velhos, I am still reaping daily benefits from this beautiful and life-changing experience. With this review, I primarily want to express my heartfelt thanks to the team and also share why this trip was so valuable and unforgettable for me. Upon arriving at Moinhos Velhos, I desperately needed time to rest, recharge my batteries, and reconnect with myself. I was hoping for a peaceful, healing, and possibly uplifting week. The detox experience provided all of this and, in the long run, much more. Many important and positive changes were triggered at Moinhos Velhos and are still unfolding their powerful effects on me. I was not only able to change my lifelong conditioned eating habits, especially regarding sugar, and lost 7 kilos to date, but more importantly, with the support of the amazing facilitators, I overcame a deeply rooted internal family issue that had been weighing heavily on me for years. The fast/detox/cleansing has an impact on the body, but simultaneously the mind and intellect also benefit significantly – clarity and my ability to discern returned to me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. The setup at Moinhos Velhos provides a truly transformative experience - if one is committed ;-). The resort is remotely located and completely surrounded by nature. I loved taking little hikes every day. Even though it was October, it was beautiful to be outside, enjoying unspoiled nature and the well-maintained property. Strolling around the property was a pleasure, discovering more and more of the many beautiful details (flower arrangements, the labyrinth, paintings, statues, memorial plaques, spiritual symbols...) that the team has decorated the garden with over the years. The dedication, commitment, and love from the people who tirelessly care for this place are palpable. The founders of the retreat center Moinhos Velhos set the tone for establishing a spiritual sanctuary where people can heal and find peace within themselves. And the current operators do a beautiful, indeed perfect job in keeping the tradition alive. Moinhos Velhos is not only deeply spiritual; it also offers a good portion of luxury. For me, it was the perfect combination of pleasant simplicity (to avoid being too distracted and to use the time to also look inward) and some beautiful comfort elements (for an uplifting wellness experience). I used the sauna and the pool daily, and the masseurs were simply fantastic. Each day, my nerves calmed more, and my body was able to relax deeply. I could clearly sense it beginning to heal itself with the help of fasting, the fantastic yoga classes, and the wonderful evening program. The juices and the evening broth were not only super tasty, skillfully and creatively made, but also presented with a true eye for aesthetics. So, I felt comfortable and pampered during my stay and didn't "suffer" from not eating at all! The juices and supplements were plenty to keep me feeling satis

I booked this retreat out of desperation, I was bloated, riddled with anxiety from the trauma of my past, I was drinking every day and I was in a mess. I loathed myself so much I couldn't look in the mirror. I arrived at the airport in tears, heavy, tired, hungover and cynical. I met two other participants in the airport and we made our way to the transfer that had been arranged by the team. On arrival we met Karen who's warmth and welcome took me by surprise. I was taken to my room on site. Rustic and clean with everything you could need. I unpacked and realised I hadn't even looked at the view. I walked outside into the warm air and the views were spectacular, surrounded by trees, nature and flowers that perfumed the air....I felt a little calmer. So then the process started, we had a full tour of the facilities, every nook and cranny was filled with something to sooth and or support. After a comfortable night's sleep I went to morning lemon tea before our Yoga and meditation session, I wasn't into yoga but all the teachers only want you to do what you feel comfortable with, no pressure, no competition and attendance is advised but not mandatory. I felt great, energised after each session. Deb took us to the medical to ask some question, put us on the scales (optional but I would recommend), take blood pressure and to have a little chat. Deb is a beautiful kind spirit, understanding and loving without a hint of judgment. I have past trauma like everyone else, but I struggled to place it out the way of my life now. Karen took me for a session and I went in with an eager, open heart and Karen, using ancient techniques helped me in a way I cannot put into words. Karen is loving, kind, understanding and frankly gifted in a way that reminds you that magic is real! I also had acupuncture with Richard, again, I felt the effects immediately and continue to do so at home, he's in tune with his art and did a damn fine job. I had a deep tissue massage with Randy who has a clear understanding of the body and on leaving, combined with the yoga, aches and pains that I once thought permanent disappeared. Ed! A world class vegan chef made our juices and broths and after 2 days I could taste all the different elements. Ed is a supper hero of flavour and his knowledge is outstanding. You are also tested and given the supplements you need for the programme. About 2 times a day we would have a quick talk on things that can help the detox process, from tongue scraping to netty pots (life changing). Many of the team are published authors and you can read or buy the materials on site. Please note, no pressure is applied to this at all, it is just for people that would like a deeper dive so to speak. Chris, sometimes taking us for yoga also with the team took us for evening guided meditation, on 2 occasions we took part in beautiful ceremonies, especially one for the full moon (blue moon). It was so much about letting go about love, kindness, under

Words cannot describe my stay at Moinhos-Velhos. As soon as the taxi drove down the valley, I felt I had entered paradise. The beauty and tranquillity is unmatched. I entered the stay blindly, I had never fasted before and chose a 10-day fast, which I did not regret. The programme itself: the yoga lessons, the meditations and all the additional treatments are world-class. Everybody is so skilled and helpful. Last but not least are Ed's juices which are so unique and tasty. And the evening soup is just delicious and varies from day to day. I strongly recommend joining the retreat with an open heart, to feel the place's flow and rhythm, show up on time to all the sessions and take the additional treatments. This really helps with the mental and physical detox. I took healing with Karen, massage with Randi, and acupuncture with Richard. I had a special connection with Mira and received two massage sessions from her, she is a true angel. All in all, a fantastic experience with amazing people. Thank you, dear Karen, Chris, Debby, Ed, Richard, Randi and Mira. Thank you, Moinhos-Velhos!