1-5 May
12-16 June
25-29 July
5 Day Silent Retreat
Taking time to be still and calm the being is a healing in itself. Being in silence allows a powerful experience of connecting deeply with oneself and life.
1-5 May, June 12-16, 25-29 July
5 Day Silent Retreat
Taking time to be still and calm the being is a healing in itself. Being in silence allows a powerful experience of connecting deeply with oneself and life.
Join me into the silence of the Spanish mountains!
Nature
The silent retreat is organized at Casas Benali, a stunnig retreat venue with 68 hectares of land located in the mountains in the province of Valencia. There is nature as far as the eye can see. There is no traffic, no internet, no street lighting. You can see the stars, smell the wild thyme and depending on when you come, you can pick an orange, fig or pomegranate from the trees.
Silence
Surrounded by pine forest, silence and spectacular views, the environment invites you to slow down and come to rest. By abstaining from speaking and spending time in full silence for a few days, you offer yourself a powerful opertunity to experience calm and meditative insight. You will connect with yourself and life on a deeper level.
Healing
Retreating yourself in nature allows your entire being to calm down, opening up to your inner wisdom. Your heart, mind and soul will come to rest and from that place the right questions can be asked and answers can flow more easily. You can let go of worries and loops of thinking that bring you no where.
Join me into the silence of the Spanish mountains!
Nature
The silent retreat is organized at Casas Benali, a stunnig retreat venue with 68 hectares of land located in the mountains in the province of Valencia. There is nature as far as the eye can see. There is no traffic, no internet, no street lighting. You can see the stars, smell the wild thyme and depending on when you come, you can pick an orange, fig or pomegranate from the trees.
Silence
Surrounded by pine forest, silence and spectacular views, the environment invites you to slow down and come to rest. By abstaining from speaking and spending time in full silence for a few days, you offer yourself a powerful opertunity to experience calm and meditative insight. You will connect with yourself and life on a deeper level.
Healing
Retreating yourself in nature allows your entire being to calm down, opening up to your inner wisdom. Your heart, mind and soul will come to rest and from that place the right questions can be asked and answers can flow more easily. You can let go of worries and loops of thinking that bring you no where.
Experience the power of silence
The silent retreat offers a unique experience of the power of silence. The retreat program is skillfully crafted and guided supporting you to quiet the mind, letting go of stress, worries and unuseful loops of thinking.
Leaving out the spoken word will help you to experience life in a more open and direct way.
The morning yoga, the (guided) meditations and Buddhist Dharma talks will all help you to become more present and aware.
Meditations will be focused on cultivating two fundamental aspects of buddhist meditation; Vipassana, awareness and insight and Samadhi, calming of the mind.
During meditation we are aware of the experience of the here and now, knowing that we do not need to judge or strive for anything. We observe how sensations, thoughts, emotions, and moods are constantly changing.
Deep insight into yourself and life brings peace, harmony, and joy. Your retreat experience will help you to apply mindfulness in your day to day life. With a calm and clear mind you will be able to respond to lifes challenges in a wiser and healthier way.
Testimonials
About the silent retreat
Program
We start the day at 8am with yoga, followed by a delicious, healthy breakfast. In the mornings, there are silent and guided meditations on the following themes: body and breath, senses, the four elements, feelings and thoughts, and metta (loving-kindness).
In the afternoon, Ellen gives an inspiring lecture to support you in your process of silence. The rest of the day, we meditate in silence in one of four positions: sitting, standing, walking, and lying down. We do this inside the meditation hall or outside in nature.
In the breaks there is room for rest, walking, swimming, reflective writing and enjoying the Spanish sunny surroundings.
It will also be possible to book a relaxing Ayurvedic massage or a sound healing session.
Testimonial from Deh
“My biggest takeaway from this experience was that I truly found the inner peace I was seeking.
I learned to silence those negative thoughts, gain control over my mind, be comfortable in solitude, stay present, and relish the joy of sharing this experience with 11 beautiful souls. Even without speaking a word, I felt a deep connection with them.
I learned so much about myself and others in just five days, something that would have taken me years otherwise. I’m incredibly grateful and proud of myself for making the right choice and clicking that “book now” button.”
Silent walking & meditative dance.
For who is this retreat?
Coming to a silent retreat is an act of self love, carving out time and dedicating it to yoú and your wellbeing is a very powerful thing to do.
The silent retreat is open to both experienced and beginner practitioners of yoga and meditation. The only requirement is that you are motivated to spend the days in complete silence, want to meditate a lot, and are willing to delve into your own process. The retreat is guided in English.
Testimonial from Carola
“This silent retreat changed my perspective on life and helped me focus on what is truly important. I highly recommend this retreat for anyone desiring inner reflection and seeking a real break from daily routines and busy life.”
Casas de Benali
The retreat is organized at Casas Benali, a stunning retreat venue with 68 hectares of land located in the mountains in the province of Valencia. There is nature as far as the eye can see. There is no traffic, no internet, no street lighting. You can see the stars, smell the wild thyme and depending on when you come, you can pick an orange, fig or pomegranate from the trees.
Casas Benali was founded in the 1300s by the Arab invadors of Spain. It once was an important settlement on one of the long distance mountain routes. The old houses have beautifully been restored and offer a unique blend of a rustic, historic feel while offering the comfortability of modern times.
You will sleep in a comfortable single bed in a shared en-suite room (max 4 participants).
There are stylish living rooms available and the outdoors are just amazing with several lounge areas, hammocks, a swimming pool and nature as far as the eye can see. It’s delightful to spend time outside and fully enjoy the sunny Spanish climate.
Single room option
It is possible to express your wish for a single room. We will let you know about the availability a short time before the start of the retreat. On booking you will pay the standard prize of a shared room, if a single room is available the additional cost will be 200,- euro.
Meditation hall
Some of the old rooms of Benali have recently been transformed in a gorgeous practice space. This is where we will start our days with a gentle yoga session and do most of the meditations. The atmosphere just breaths peace and quiet and will definitely support you in your practice. All materials such as yoga mats, meditation cushions and blankets are provided
Delicious organic meals
The professional chefs of Benali are knows for their tasty, healthy and inspiring vegetarian/ vegan dishes made with locally sourced organic ingredients. Eating them in silence will allow you even more to enjoy them with all your senses!
Swim under a waterfall
After ending the program you can either be taken to the train station directly or you can add a visit to an impressive waterfall to your retreat. We leave Benali by car driving to the village Anna where we will make a short hike in silence to reach the waterfall. We will have a picknick lunch and it is possible to swim and shower under the powerful, refreshing water. It is just a great way to get ready for the next chapter in your life. The additional costs are 50,- euro including lunch. After this adventure we will drive you to the train station where you can take a train from 15.30 o’çlock.
The water washes away what is no longer needed.
Feel your renewed and empowered energy!
Is this for you?
- Release, relax & rebalance
- Build better mental health
- Immerse in the practice of meditation
- Cultivate mental clarity & personal growth
Are you interested but do you have questions? Schedule a time for a call in which you can ask all your questions. Together we can see if this retreat suits you.
Practical information
Silent retreat
“The retreat begins at 2:00 PM on the first day with a group lunch. There is time to get to know each other and settle in. Around 4:00 PM, we gather in the meditation hall for an explanation of the retreat. Once everyone understands everything clearly, we begin silence with the first meditation. On the last evening, we break the silence with a sharing circle. The retreat ends at 12.00 noon on the final day. We will drive you back to the station in Xativa where you can take a train from 12.45 onwards.
Dates
1-5 May 2025
12-16 June 2025
25-29 July 2025
Investment
The cost of participating in this retreat is €840,- for the full retreat, including program, delicious healthy meals, accommodation in a shared en-suite room, and pick up/drop off from Xativa train station.
Limited single rooms are available, additional cost €200,-
Find our terms & conditions here
Travel info
We provide a free pick-up service from Xativa train station on the first day at 1:00 PM. The nearest airports are Valencia and Alicante. From there, you can travel to the city of Xativa using public transportation, which takes about 2 hours from Valencia and 3 hours from Alicante. After registering, you will receive a clear travel description. If you are arriving by car, we can send you driving directions. For an additional fee, we can arrange a taxi service from the airport for you.
