The Respite Yoga Retreat

The Respite Yoga Retreat is an intimate yoga and wellness retreat on the southwestern coast of Portugal, set on the grounds of Cocoon just outside the seaside town of Vila Nova de Milfontes. Led by yoga teachers Dolly Reno and Kevin Robertson, it spans seven days of mindful movement, meditation, breathwork and deep rest. It is made for anyone who wants a real pause from the pace of everyday life and a quiet place to settle back into the body.

What to Expect

The days unfold around a boutique farm, kept with care and surrounded by rolling countryside, tended gardens and open skies. Yoga, meditation and breathwork are offered daily, with the aim of quieting the mind and restoring the nervous system. The rhythm is unhurried. There is room for meaningful connection with the other guests, and just as much room for rest.

Beyond the farm, the Atlantic coastline opens onto beaches, cliffs and clear water that remain largely untouched. The retreat is described as a sanctuary, a chance to soften, reset and come home to yourself.

About Dolly Reno

Dolly Reno is a yoga teacher with a 500-hour E-RYT designation and the founder of Noble, a yoga studio in Vernon, British Columbia, described as offering "Yoga for the Senses." What began for her as a recreational drop-in class many years ago became a paradigm shift in her values and spiritual identity. She brings multi-disciplinary training and experience with trauma therapy to her teaching, on and off the mat.

Dolly guides with kindness and a steady belief that yoga is a practice of redefining what it means to be vulnerable, seeing vulnerability as something powerful and sincere rather than weak. She leads yoga and wellness retreats as lead teacher, with daily yoga, meditation and time for rest, and she welcomes students with an open heart.

The Setting

Cocoon sits on the southwestern coast of Portugal, close to Vila Nova de Milfontes in the Beja district. The retreat takes place on its serene grounds, on a boutique farm where the landscape sets the pace.

Meals are fresh and farm to table. They are drawn from the gardens and prepared from seasonal local ingredients, so what arrives at the table follows the time of year.

Before You Go

The daily yoga, meditation and breathwork sessions and the farm-to-table meals are part of the retreat. No particular level of experience is stated, so if you have questions about whether the practice suits you, it is worth asking the organizer before you reserve a place.