QIGONG AT THE EDGE OF THE ATLANTIC. Retreat in the Azores

February 20-27

Imagine...

You wake up inside the crater of an ancient volcano. Outside your window, steam rises from natural hot springs, and in the distance you hear the sound of the Atlantic Ocean. You step onto the terrace, where the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers and fresh ocean air, raise your hands to the sky, and begin a movement that has been practiced for more than a thousand years.

Furnas is more than a place. It is a living laboratory of nature, where the earth breathes with warmth and the power of the volcano can be felt in every step.

February is a season of beautiful contrasts. Winter is quietly giving way to spring. Nature is awakening, and perhaps something within you is ready to awaken as well.

The Azores are subtropical islands with mild winter temperatures ranging from 14–20°C (57–68°F). Gentle rain keeps the island incredibly green. 

In the gardens of our retreat center, Laughing Orchard, oranges ripen while camellias and azaleas bloom. It is one of the most beautiful times of year to hike through the island, soak in natural hot springs, and practice surrounded by extraordinary landscapes.

Our retreat is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with your body, restore your energy, and immerse yourself in the timeless practices of Qigong and Thai Yoga.

WHY THE AZORES?

I fell in love with these islands at first sight. Every time I return, I become even more convinced that this is one of the most extraordinary places in the world to practice Qigong.

Live inside the crater of the ancient Furnas volcano.

Walk to natural geothermal hot springs from the retreat center.

Practice Qigong beside the Atlantic Ocean.

Meditate in ancient cloud forests and volcanic landscapes.

Explore waterfalls, crater lakes, dramatic coastlines, and lush botanical gardens.

February is the quiet season, when the island feels peaceful and almost entirely ours.

Nature itself becomes part of the practice.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Dates: February 20–27 (8 days / 7 nights)

Group size: Maximum 12 participants

Accommodation: Comfortable rooms at Laughing Orchard Retreat Center, located inside the Furnas volcanic valley within walking distance of the hot springs.

https://laughingorchard.org/

Meals: Breakfasts and lunches are included at the retreat center. On two days we will enjoy lunch in local restaurants while exploring the island.

Flights from the USA

February 19–27

JFK – PDL • approximately 5 hours • from $490

BOS – PDL • approximately 5 hours • from $490

Airport transfer: Not included (approximately 40 minutes by taxi, around $50).

Transportation during all island excursions is included.

Not included: airfare, airport transfers, restaurants, entrance fees to parks and hot springs, travel insurance.

TUITION & REGISTRATION

Retreat Tuition: $2350

Early Bird: $2150 before December 1

Registration: Please register by text or WhatsApp at 973-896-9320

Included

• Eight nights accommodation

• Breakfasts and lunches

• Daily Qigong instruction

• Daily Thai Yoga classes

• Guided meditations

• Transportation during excursions

• All retreat activities

Not Included

• Airfare

• Airport transportation

• Travel insurance

• Entrance fees to parks and hot springs

• Private room supplement ($500)

• Reservation: 50% deposit. Balance due two weeks before the retreat.

Please register here

WHAT WILL WE PRACTICE?

The foundation of this retreat is a complete system of traditional Qigong and Ruesi Dat Ton (Thai Yoga)—ancient practices that have been used for centuries to cultivate health, vitality, inner strength, and a calm, focused mind.

Throughout the week we will gradually explore practices that you can continue for the rest of your life.

Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi)

• One of the oldest Qigong systems, inspired by the spirit of the tiger, deer, bear, monkey, and crane. These movements awaken vitality, improve balance and coordination, strengthen the body, and develop flexibility while cultivating the unique qualities of each animal.

• Standing Meditation (Zhan Zhuang)

• Known as "Standing Like a Tree," this is the foundation of all internal martial arts. Through stillness we learn deep relaxation, structural alignment, and the cultivation of internal power.

Joint Opening & Meridian Qigong

Gentle movements designed to release stiffness, improve mobility, and activate the body's energetic pathways, allowing Qi to circulate freely.

Breath & Dantian Training

Ancient breathing methods that develop the lower Dantian—the body's primary energy center—helping to increase vitality, stability, and inner calm.

Self-Massage & Acupressure

Simple techniques for stimulating important acupuncture points, relieving tension, improving circulation, and supporting everyday health.

Ruesi Dat Ton (Thai Yoga)

Each afternoon we will practice the ancient "Hermit's Yoga" of Thailand—a beautiful system of stretching, breathing, and mindful movement that restores flexibility, releases accumulated tension, and deeply relaxes the body.

Together these practices create a complete daily system for cultivating health, resilience, and inner balance.

WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?

• Complete beginners who would like a gentle introduction to Qigong.

• Experienced practitioners wishing to deepen their understanding.

• People looking to restore health, energy, and flexibility.

• Therapists, yoga teachers, bodyworkers, and healing professionals.

• Anyone longing to spend a week living in harmony with nature instead of a busy schedule.

• No previous experience is necessary.

WHAT WILL YOU TAKE HOME?

During these nine days you will:

• Learn a complete system of Qigong and Thai Yoga for everyday life.

• Improve posture, balance, flexibility, and joint mobility.

• Develop healthier breathing habits and greater body awareness.

• Learn practical self-massage techniques for daily well-being.

• Experience greater calm, clarity, and emotional balance.

• Build sustainable energy instead of relying on willpower alone.

• Discover simple practices that support health, creativity, relationships, and professional life.

• Return home rested, inspired, and connected to your body.

Bonus: Participation counts toward the Aidahar Qigong Instructor Training Program.

RETREAT FACILITATORS

Sergey Greco

Founder of the Aidahar School and an internationally respected Qigong teacher with more than thirty years of experience in Kung Fu, internal arts, healing practices, and energy cultivation.

Sergey's teaching combines ancient wisdom with a practical, down-to-earth approach that allows students of every level to experience profound changes in body, mind, and energy.

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Dina Ostrovsky, MA in Process Work

Founder of the Terrapia School of Transformation.

Dina has spent more than twenty years helping people transform challenges into personal growth through Process Work, Family Constellations, mindfulness, and embodied practices.

During the retreat Dina will guide meditations and offer practical ways to integrate the clarity, strength, and awareness cultivated through Qigong into everyday life, relationships, creativity, and meaningful work.

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DAILY RHYTHM

8:30 am - Coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and juice

9:00–10:30 am - Morning Qigong practice

11:00 am–12:00 pm - Brunch

1:00–4:00 pm - Exploring the island, hiking, Qigong in nature, and meditations in places of extraordinary beauty and power

4:00 pm - Lunch

5:00–6:30 pm - Ruesi Dat Ton (Thai Yoga)

Evening - Free time to enjoy the hot springs, art projects, tea, fruit, conversation, rest, and the peaceful atmosphere of the retreat.

"In the Azores you discover that Qigong is not simply a practice—it becomes a way of being alive."

RETREAT PROGRAM

Rather than spending the week learning a single sequence, we will immerse ourselves in a complete system of internal practices.

Each morning introduces new elements of Qigong that gradually build upon one another. Throughout the week we will deepen our experience of the Five Animal Frolics, Standing Meditation, breathwork, Dantian cultivation, joint and meridian exercises, and self-massage.

Each afternoon we will explore a different part of São Miguel Island:

• practicing beside the Atlantic Ocean,

• meditating in ancient cloud forests,

• visiting volcanic lakes,

• relaxing in natural hot springs,

• hiking to waterfalls,

• and discovering breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the ocean.

Nature becomes our second teacher.

Every evening we conclude the day with Ruesi Dat Ton (Thai Yoga), allowing the body to integrate the day's experiences through gentle stretching, breathing, and mindful movement.

During the retreat Dina Ostrovsky will also offer integration sessions, helping participants bring the qualities cultivated through practice—presence, vitality, confidence, and inner balance—into everyday life.

On our final day we will practice together, reflect on the journey, answer questions, and create an individual plan for continuing the practices after returning home.

The retreat is intentionally spacious. There is time to practice, to explore, to soak in the hot springs, to rest, to create, to connect with others, and simply to enjoy being fully present in one of the most extraordinary places on Earth.

Please register here