Reconnect - Yoga and the Sea. Yoga retreat with Lisa Ganster at Gooditmes Surf Camp

Our camp is located directly on the sea and consists of three detached houses surrounded by a large garden, which we use communally. One of these houses is reserved for our yoga retreats. The living rooms and gardens are versatile and there are also other sports facilities. Double rooms can also be booked as single rooms for an additional charge. There is also a suite, a detached building with its own bathroom and bathtub. Depending on the weather, time of day, and wishes of the group, yoga sessions take place either outside right next to the rocks by the sea, on our self-built wooden platform in one of our gardens, or in our cozy yoga room with sea views.

We also want to ensure a special vacation experience on our premises between the surfing and yoga sessions. A fire pit, various outdoor sofas and canopy beds, as well as a large sports platform invite you to relax outdoors, be by yourself, or play sports. We build much of our furniture ourselves and redecorate the houses annually.

The food at our camp will be one of the highlights of your vacation. Our two chefs take care of breakfast, lunch, and dinner and ensure a balanced, varied, regional, and diverse diet. All meals can be adapted to your dietary preferences or any intolerances you may have.

The day at Goodtimes Surfcamp starts with a hearty breakfast, which you can put together yourself at the buffet and enjoy at the breakfast table, on the terrace, or at one of our beautiful sunny spots in the garden. You can choose between sweet and savory options, some of which are complemented by freshly prepared delicacies from the kitchen. At lunchtime, there is a varied lunch buffet, and between meals you always have the option of helping yourself to small snacks, fruit, or drinks. Our dinner is usually served in the garden with a great sea view and always consists of three courses: a soup or salad as a starter, a main course, and a dessert creation. Enjoying a convivial meal together with a view of the sunset over the sea is a relaxing way to end the day. Meals at Goodtimes Surfcamp consist of 7x breakfast, 6x lunch, and 5x dinner—for the two evenings without meals, we naturally have the right insider tips for you so that you can get to know the local cuisine a little.

VINYASA FLOW & YIN YOGA ___________________________________________

The sea is something so vast, so deep... when I am by the sea, listening to the waves and watching the water, I immediately feel grounded and more connected to nature. Being able to practice yoga by the sea, right in the heart of nature, is such a gift and a very special experience that you can look forward to!

ReConnect – for me, this means connecting with myself and with others. Connecting with myself and being closer to myself, and thereby also feeling more connected to other people. That is exactly what I wish for this week with you – that at the end of the retreat, you will have had a wonderful time and feel even more comfortable with yourselves, closer to yourselves again, and have experienced a time of connection with others. And all of this with lots of fun, joie de vivre, and lightness. I love starting the day with a yoga session! Do you too? The body is still tired and stiff from sleep, and afterwards everything feels so free and light!

We start each day with an energizing flow class, in which we wake up our bodies, stretch properly, and create space. We also try out a few challenging asanas to leave our comfort zone from time to time and grow beyond ourselves. We end the morning practice with a meditation or mindfulness exercise to start the day clear, conscious, and full of positivity.

The evening sessions are characterized by a cooling, grounding practice to process the experiences of the day and bring body and mind back into harmony. Here we do a mix of Yin Yoga and gentle evening flow, paired with meditation and calming breathing techniques. We also integrate journaling and reflection questions to help us fall asleep with a sense of gratitude. YOGA OFF THE MAT & YOGA PHILOSOPHY Our sessions will also be guided by the question of how we can live yoga "off the mat" and what can help us transfer it into our everyday lives.

I really hope that every participant goes home with a full suitcase – and by that I don't mean full of dirty yoga and surf clothes, but with lots of new knowledge, new experiences, maybe new friends, with the feeling of having given themselves time and with a deeper connection to themselves and their bodies. It's going to be great!

Beyond the yoga retreat, the Goodtimes Camp program consists of surfing, open yoga classes for everyone, excursions, and small group events, such as a campfire. Between your scheduled yoga sessions and mealtimes, you have the opportunity to organize your day however you like. At the beginning of the week, there is a taster surfing course for anyone who would like to try this water sport. If you want more, you can book further courses during the week or use our surfing equipment independently and jump into the water. The same applies to our yoga equipment, which is also available to you outside of the sessions.

If you feel like it, you can also explore the region, walk on the beach or hike in the Sierra D'arga, visit a regional market or take a day trip to the picturesque city of Porto.

Our camp operates on a fixed weekly schedule, with arrivals always on Saturdays at Goodtimes Surfcamp. If you would like to arrive a day earlier or depart later, we will be happy to arrange a room for you in a small hotel around the corner. We also highly recommend starting your vacation with an overnight stay in Porto.

The nearest airport, Porto (OPO), is the largest airport in northern Portugal and is served by numerous airlines. The airport is about 50 miles from our camp. Alternatively, Vigo is also 50 miles away, and Santiago de Compostela is 93 miles away. We offer airport transfers several times a day from Porto Airport, which is the easiest way to get to our camp.
Of course, you can reach our camp even faster and more flexibly with a rental car. This also gives you the opportunity to discover the beautiful region independently and easily during your vacation. Since rental car prices can be very reasonable, it is worth getting a quote. There is also the option of taking the train from Porto to the neighboring town of Ancora.
Please let us know which travel option you choose so that we can prepare and plan your arrival. If you have any questions, please contact us in advance and we will be happy to help.

Avenida Forte do Cão 444, 4910 Gelfa, Viana do Castelo, Portugal