elements of the azores
a yoga + āyurveda retreat at the edge of the world
São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal · May 21–27, 2027
where will yoga take you?
To a place in the middle of the Atlantic where the earth is still becoming.
The Azores, a Portuguese archipelago of nine volcanic islands rising from the middle of the Atlantic, once called the end of the known world, are among the most geologically alive places on the planet. Here, the five great elements are not theory. They are the landscape.
Fire rises from the earth in geothermal pools and volcanic calderas. Water pools in crater lakes, and crashes against black sand shores. Earth gives rise to cloud forests that have existed since before recorded time. Air moves without obstruction across the open Atlantic. And the sky holds it all with the vast quality of Space that is rare and unmistakable.
This is where we practice in May 2027.
“One’s destination is rarely a place...
but a new way of seeing things.”
the retreat:
Over seven days and six nights on the northern coast of the island of São Miguel, we will weave together daily Yoga and Ayurveda practice with the elemental medicine of the place itself.
The setting serves the practice. The teachings deepened by the setting in ways that are difficult to anticipate and impossible to forget.
Each morning begins in the shala perched above the ocean. Evenings close with the slow unwind of an island. In between: walks on the black sand beach, healing treatments at the wellness center, hiking to volcanic lakes, a food tour to understand place through nourishment, reflection in the presence of the powerful Atlantic. Your days will yield the kind of deep rest that comes more easily when you are far from ordinary life and held by the container of community and retreat. It’s an invitation to s.l.o.w. down.
the location:
The retreat center grew from devotion to this coastline. Built in symbiosis with its environment, it is a place that breathes with the island.
Villas and studios are constructed from local cryptomeria wood, cork, and bamboo, with traditional Azorean accents throughout. Private balconies host sweeping views of the ocean and coastline. The infinity pool disappears into the horizon. Down the path, the black sand beach is yours.
Three meals a day are sourced from the resort's own organic farm and the surrounding sea. The on-site wellness center offers massage, alternative therapies, and a heated plunge pool. Wide open vistas and cozy corners invite you to pause, breathe, and remember.
azorean adventure:
Your retreat includes two excursions into the heart of São Miguel.
The first takes us to Sete Cidades, one of the most iconic landscapes in the Azores. A volcanic crater holding two lakes, one blue and one green, separated by a narrow bridge and surrounded by ancient caldera walls. We hike the rim, descend into the crater, and sit with a landscape that has no equivalent anywhere else on earth.
The second is a guided food tour through the cobblestone streets of Ponta Delgada, the island's historic capital. We move through local markets, artisan eateries, and off-the-beaten-path stops, tasting the foods that have shaped Azorean culture. Part history lesson, part sensory experience, it is Āyurveda in practice: knowing a place through what it grows and how it feeds its people.
your retreat includes:
7days/6 nights guided Yoga + Ayurveda retreat
accommodations at ocean-side eco-retreat center
daily Ayurvedic Yoga practices (asana, pranayama, meditation, yoga nidra)
3 nourishing meals per day sourced from the resort's organic farm and the surrounding sea
volcanic lake hikes
Azorean food tour in historic Ponta Delgada
ground transport to and from Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) on retreat arrival/departure dates
Pricing varies by accommodation type. Visit the registration page for full details and to reserve your spot.
optional activities + excursions:
São Miguel is a rich place for rejuvenation and exploration. During your retreat, you will have free time during which you can enjoy some of what the island has to offer. Here is a selection of tours and activities that you will be able to choose from while in the Azores:
healing bodywork and spa treatments
a beach walk into the local town
horseback riding
kayaking
whale watching
volcanic hot spring soaks
*Activities and excursions are optional and the price is not included in tuition unless noted.
your guide on the journey:
Kara Aubin CAP, E.RYT is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Yoga educator based in Michigan.
Kara has spent 20+ years sharing the spirit and science of Yoga and Āyurveda through in-depth study programs, clinical practice, and retreats led around the world. She teaches what she identifies as capital “Y” Yoga from rich lineage based traditions, and invites her students into ever-deepening relationships with the sciences of Yoga and Āyurveda. Her mission is to guide students toward their bright inherent potential, as well as their right to radical wellness and balance.
Kara guides students on retreat as a means to know oneself better via the experience of travel. She believes learning from the rich cultures of the world makes us better global citizens. She has witnessed time and again the transformative power of retreat, and is committed to offering these opportunities to students on the path.
Kara's retreats are filled with community, ceremony, and exploration, each with a unique flavor of the locale. Her retreats are for those who want to go, and want to go deeper.
it’s time for a journey to the edge of the world
You can reserve your Portugal adventure through our retreat partner, True Nature. Please head over to their website to complete the registration process.
who is this retreat for?
The community who gathers for Kara’s Yoga + Ayurveda retreats is remarkable. These unique mandalas of students, seekers, and practitioners gather around the globe each year to share in transformational practice, site specific unfoldings, and co-creation of container.
This retreat experience is for you if:
you have some experience with yoga practice: including asana (postures), breath practice, and meditation (and are looking to go deeper)
the science of Ayurveda intrigues (or fascinates!) you, and you’re open to learning more about this science
you are open to a group experience, and willing to participate in activities, conversations, and practices
you understand that people and places, especially those we don’t know, are often our greatest teachers
you are prepared for the specifics of this retreat: regular yoga practice, easy/moderate hiking, personal logistics of international travel, etc
As your guide and facilitator I welcome:
a diverse cohort of participants (including various backgrounds, ages, sexes, genders, physical abilities, etc).
participants utilizing the retreat experience as an invitation to deepen their commitment to a regular practice.
partners and friends who are committed to fully participating in the retreat experience.
*This retreat is not a good fit for folks looking to simply visit or vacation at a specific local.
If you’d like to have a conversation about this retreat’s fit for your needs and retreat intentions, please contact the AWC to set up a Discovery Call.
what past retreat participants say…
Kara is a highly knowledgeable and gifted Āyurvedic Practitioner and Yoga teacher. She is also an amazing retreat designer and facilitator. And above all, she is a curious student of these teachings who delights in sharing her wisdom with others. For me, being on retreat with Kara always includes new adventures, incredible settings, healthy taste-filled cuisines, enriching asana and other spiritual practices, deep nourishment, learning and insight, great company and incredible joy.
Kara has the genuine ability to know exactly what her students need to nurture themselves. The yoga and meditation practice supports both the mind and body, the food, talks and excursions furthers that support while deepening the experience. Her support doesn’t end when daily sessions or the retreat comes to a conclusion but continues in as much or as little as the individual is ready for.
Retreats are an opportunity to grow. Kara will take you deep in ways you won't expect... you always come out of a retreat a better, stronger, more grounded human.
If you have an opportunity to go on retreat with Kara, don't hesitate - seize the opportunity! You will always be grateful for the experiences, gifts and transformation that result.
