Reclaim Your Power

Authentische Quinta mit Charme und Raum für Gruppen

Elegante Quinta mit Stuck-Decken, antiken Möbeln und warmem, historischem Charakter. Die alte Küche mit traditionellem Kamin und Waschtrog lädt zum gemütlichen Beisammensein ein — auch bei Regen.

Die moderne Glasfront-Küche öffnet sich direkt zum großzügigen Garten. Hier: überdachte Frühstücksbereiche, eingezäunte Hühner, Avocadobäume, Bananen, Orchideen und andere Pflanzen. Großer überdachter Balkon mit Blick über Stadt und Hafen.

Mehrere Badezimmer, Toiletten, Gruppenraum. Ideal für Retreats und Gruppen.

A top German chef cooks for the six of us throughout the week in the Quinta’s kitchen. Organic and regional, using whatever the island has to offer that very morning: fish from the market, meat from local producers, papaya, mango, and passion fruit, plus whatever is currently ripe in the Quinta’s garden.

Breakfast every morning, three lunches, and three group dinners—on the evening of arrival, after the drumming tour, and on the final night. No buffet, no hotel-style service. One table where everyone sits, myself included.

On your free evenings, the kitchen is yours—it’s fully stocked. If you’d rather go out, there’s a list of restaurants we like ourselves.

We’ll of course accommodate food intolerances as well as vegetarian and vegan diets. Just let us know well in advance of your arrival, and we’ll make sure everything you need is ready.

Eight days when no one wants anything from you.

**The Rhythm**

Every morning starts the same way: 8:30 a.m. in the garden, an hour of tai chi, qigong, and breathing exercises. It’s voluntary, and no one has to drag you out of bed. But it’s the repetition that makes the difference, not the individual exercise. Afterward, a leisurely breakfast.

The week has two kinds of days, and they alternate.

On three days, we stay at the Quinta. In the morning, two and a half hours of group practice; at noon, the chef cooks; and from early afternoon on, the day is yours. In return, on the first evening you’ll receive a set of cards featuring places I personally like: the Mercado, the Old Town, the Botanical Garden, the cable car to Monte and walking back, a dip in the sea, a café with a view. Or you can stay in the garden and sleep. That, too, is a valid choice.

On three days, we’ll head out—to a levada, to the coast at Prainha and São Lourenço, and to the cloud forest of Fanal. I’ll be there, not as a tour guide, but because I live here. You’ll see the island in a way that visitors rarely get to experience, and we’ll continue practicing along the way—just in a different way than we do at the house.

Three evenings are long and spent together; the rest are yours.

About a third of the week is guided, and that’s entirely intentional. If you arrive feeling exhausted, you’ll need time without a plan; otherwise, the trip might end up being anything but restful.

**How We Practice**

Through the body. It knows what’s right before the mind does, and it doesn’t lie.

You don’t need to know how to do anything. No prior experience, no flexibility, no specific age required.

You bring the topics with you. On the first day, you’ll note down what’s on your mind, and that’s exactly what we’ll address over the course of the week. That’s why no two weeks are ever the same.

If the group needs something different than what was planned, I’ll notice and adjust. I can do that because I’ve been leading groups for decades and because there are only six of us.

**What You’ll Take Away**

A short exercise every day, tied to a specific moment in your daily routine. Not just another thing you have to do, but something that happens while the water is boiling for tea.

On the last day, you’ll choose three of them. And in the weeks that follow, I’ll be there to help ensure they actually happen. That’s the difference between a nice week and something that lasts.

**Who’s guiding you**
I’m a Sifu and have been a martial artist for over twenty years. For eight years, my daily life consisted of nothing but training, alongside a high-ranking master. After that, I was fortunate with my teachers, and to this day I train privately with a grandmaster here on the island. Everything in between, I worked out on my own, with discipline, day after day.

I’ve led three martial arts centers, trained over twenty instructors, and ran a school on my own for eleven years—with two small children.

I know what it’s like to keep going until you can no longer feel yourself. I don’t teach anything I’ve merely read about. I’ve needed every bit of it myself.

What remains is how you navigate your life.

Travel to the destination is not included in the price, but this gives you flexibility.

Flight

The destination is Madeira Airport (FNC). From German-speaking countries, there are direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, and Zurich. If possible, take a direct flight; connecting through Lisbon takes several hours and is rarely cheaper.

November is the off-season. Compare prices using a flight search engine and check the dates immediately before and after your travel dates, as prices often fluctuate significantly. Booking four to six weeks in advance is usually sufficient. When booking budget fares, make sure to check whether checked baggage is included.

Check-in is on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. On the Saturday of departure, the room is available starting at 11 a.m., but no one will ask you to leave. You can enjoy a leisurely breakfast, stay in the garden, and wait for your flight.

From the Airport to the Quinta

About twenty minutes. The easiest way is with Bolt. Download the app before your flight and set up your payment method at home—then all you have to do at the airport is enter your destination. The ride costs about 25 to 35 euros; the pickup point is signposted in front of the terminal. Taxis are also available, though they’re a bit more expensive. You’ll receive the exact address after booking.

If your arrival times are similar, I’d be happy to put you in touch with the other participants so you can share the ride.

Arriving Early or Staying Longer

If flights on other days are significantly cheaper, it’s often worth it. I can help you find a room at a good rate for the nights before or after, either at the Quinta itself or nearby. Just send me a message, and we’ll find something.