Practice, Rest & Feast at The Olive Mill
ASHTANGA YOGA RETREAT, ANDALUSIA, SPAIN
Seven days of Mysore-style Ashtanga in a walled forest estate in the Sierra de Aracena with two L2 authorised teachers on the mat and a celebrated chef in the kitchen.
Dates: 23rd–30th May 2027
Venue: The Olive Mill, Andalusia
Teaching : Lauren Munday & Cathy Moran
Food: Tom Norrington-Davies
A working olive mill in a national park
Why you’ll love this retreat
A private forest, all to ourselves
The Olive Mill sits inside a walled, 300-acre private estate in the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park, with oak, chestnut and poplar forest, streams, resident llamas and two very nosy rescue donkeys who'll be waiting at the wall to greet you.
Daily Ashtanga, properly taught
Morning Mysore-style self-practice and afternoon workshops with Lauren and Cathy, two L2 authorised teachers with over 30 years of combined experience. Beginners get a one-to-one introduction; established practitioners get real attention.
Food that’s too good to miss
Tom cooks every meal from scratch using local ingredients. All vegetarian and vegan, built around whatever Andalusia is offering in late May, plus a relaxed cookery session to inspire you when you get home.
Genuinely switch off
A private pool, a wood-fired hot tub, and a five-minute walk to a tapas bar so good the locals call want to keep it a secret. this is your week to slow down and relax.
Wild, quiet, and unusually beautiful
Deer come to drink from the stream at dusk. Vultures and black storks circle overhead. It’s an extraordinarily beautiful location where you can really switch off.
Small group, and real connection
As always, we keep numbers intimate. You'll leave with a new group of friends, and possibly even plans for your next retreat
The Venue
About The Olive Mill
Dating back to 1890, The Olive Mill has been lovingly restored, whilst still retaining its charm. original tiles, doors and windows sit alongside every modern comfort you'd want on retreat. Full-height beamed ceilings, huge picture windows, and a living room with squashy sofas around a stone fireplace that stays cool even in the height of a Spanish summer.
All seven bedrooms are en-suite, dressed in antique iron beds and fine Egyptian cotton linen. There's a large private pool surrounded by loungers, a wood-fired hot tub, and gardens with shaded spots to eat al fresco while deer drift down to the stream at dusk.
Best of all, the whole estate is ours. a private forest of oak, chestnut and poplar, home to two rescue donkeys and a pair of resident llamas, in the heart of the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park.
Every retreat day follows a simple formula that allows plenty of time for practice, stillness, and some unstructured afternoons to do exactly as you please.
Here's a typical day:
8.00 am - Pranayama and Meditation Practice
A quiet start as the estate wakes up around you
8.30 am - Mysore Ashtanga Guided Self Practice
Practice at your own pace with hands-on guidance from Lauren and Cathy. New to Ashtanga? You'll have a one-to-one introduction on your first morning.
11:00 am - Brunch
Tom's first meal of the day, seasonal, vegetarian or vegan
Afternoons - Workshops, Free time & the cookery class
Some afternoons are entirely your own. Relax by the pool or the hot tub, take a walk into the forest, or take a short stroll to the village tapas bar. On others, we'll gather at 5.00 pm for an Ashtanga workshop, a Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra session, or Tom's relaxed cookery class.
4.00 pm Afternoon tea
Cake, local fruit and nuts
7.30 pm - Dinner
Evening dinner is served family-style, cosy and intimate on the terrace. One evening, we'll leave the retreat for Tom's night off and walk to the local tapas bar instead.
What to Expect
The Food
Cooked by Tom Norrington-Davies
Tom has been cooking for our retreats for years, and it's one of the reasons people come back. Every meal is prepared fresh, from scratch, using whatever's best at the local markets. This is late May in Andalusia, so expect the first tomatoes, broad beans, wild asparagus, almonds and citrus, alongside the region's famous olive oil.
All food is vegetarian or vegan, and Tom will happily work around allergies and other dietary needs. just let us know when you book. One afternoon, he'll lead a relaxed cookery session, sharing the thinking and the stories behind the week's menu.
Your Teachers
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Lauren is a L2 Authorised Astanga Yoga Teacher and Trauma Sensistive Yoga Facilitator with over 12 years teaching experience
I love everything about organising retreats, from selecting the venue to planning the itinerary and bringing people together as a community to have a fantastic time. I’m very much looking forward to spending some time in this fabulous part of Spain reconnecting with old friends and getting to know a new group of yogis.
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Cathy has been practising yoga since 1999. She’s the founder of Ashtanga Yoga Glasgow, the City’s longest-running Mysore program and is an Authorised Level 2 Ashtanga Yoga Teacher.
Cathy loves having the opportunity to get to know people better whilst hosting yoga retreats. She enjoys a relaxed atmosphere on retreat that allows people to take their time with their practice rather than having to rush off for work. Living in Glasgow, Cathy also appreciates being able to practice in the warm and sunshine.
Beyond the Mat
The Sierra de Aracena
The Olive Mill sits in one of Andalusia's best-kept secrets, a natural park of cork oak, chestnut forest and whitewashed villages.
Adventures are entirely optional, but here's what's on the doorstep if you fancy exploring.
Umbría
A five-minute walk to the village tapas bar, small, characterful, and known locally for spectacular food.
Higuera de la Sierra
The pretty market town is just minutes away, with a choice of restaurants and the starting point for several of the park's best hiking trails.
Gruta de las Maravillas
An extraordinary 2km cave beneath the town of Aracena that’s well worth the short drive.
Jabugo
The village that gives its name to Spain's finest Ibérico ham. It’s a fascinating detour for the curious, even on a vegetarian retreat.
Forest walks
Wander the estate's own trails through oak, chestnut, and poplar woodland.
Seville
For anyone extending their stay, Andalusia's capital is around 80 minutes by car, home to the Alcázar, the cathedral and some of Spain's best tapas.
Here’s what previous guests said about our Ashtanga Yoga Retreats:
2023 Retreat Guest Testimonial
“Lauren and Cathy's Ashtanga retreats are legendary! Based at beautiful locations, extremely welcoming and inclusive and a wonderful way to reset and focus on your yoga practice, whilst escaping everyday life. Highly recommended for those who are new to yoga or for a more experienced Ashtangi - authorised practitioners Lauren and Cathy bring so much knowledge and advice to support and advance your Mysore self-practice. Incredible food and great company adds so much more to the entire experience.”
2024 Retreat Guest Testimonial
“A real Ashtanga retreat. Even after 9 years of Ashtanga, I learned a lot in the retreat”
2023 Retreat Guest Testimonial
“Cathy and Lauren's retreat is a wonderful opportunity to practice with two experienced teachers in a relaxed and friendly environment. Lots of optional excursions available and healthy, creative, nutritious vegetarian meals”.
Your investment
What’s included:
7 nights accommodation
6 Daily morning Mysore Ashtanga and Meditation Practice
3 Afternoon workshops
Donkey picnic and walk
6 Evening meals, 6 brunches, 6 Afternoon Snacks- All food will be vegetarian with plant-based options.
Towels (x 2) and linen change, once during the week
Wifi throughout the Villa
Twin Room Ensuite
TBC
Single Room Ensuite (limited availability)
TBC
What’s not included:
Flights & Transfers to the Olive Mill
The closest airport is Seville (a 75-minute drive)
Dinner on the Chef’s night off
Any Excursions, or massages
Ashtanga Yoga Retreat FAQs
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Yes, many of our guests come by themselves. You will be allocated a room shared with one other person of the same gender. Attending a yoga retreat is a great way to meet other yoga practitioners and dive deeper into your yoga practice.
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All deposits are non-refundable. The final payment is due 14 weeks in advance of the retreat and is non-refundable once paid. If you’re unable to attend we will do our best to find someone to replace you, but this is not guaranteed. If we find a replacement we will be able to issue you with a refund minus the deposit. We suggest everyone take out travel insurance, in case they are unable to attend the retreat.
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You’re welcome to participate in as many, or as little, of the yoga classes, meals or other activities as you’d like to. This yoga retreat is your time to rest and recharge so it’s always you’re choice what you would like to do.
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All food will be vegetarian or vegan. We can accommodate most dietary requirements. All food will be cooked in one kitchen so you should let us know at the time of booking if you have any severe allergies.
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Yes! The retreat is suitable for everyone. If you’ve never done Ashtanga before you’ll be well looked after. On the first day you’ll receive a one-to-one introduction to Ashtanga and from there your practice will grow at a pace that suits you.
23rd to 30th May 2027
Come and practice with us in Andalusia
Places are limited and allocated first-come, first-served basis.
email to check availability and secure your room.
