VIVI
YOGA & RETREATS
Sagres, tucked into the southwestern edge of Portugal’s Algarve, feels like the end of the world in the best possible way. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and open Atlantic views, it’s a place where land meets sea with a raw, untamed beauty. Thanks to its unique position on Europe’s southwestern tip, Sagres offers the rare experience of seeing both sunrise and sunset over the ocean—something that quietly shapes the rhythm of the days.
At the same time, Sagres carries an easy, welcoming energy. It’s a laid-back beach town with a friendly, unpretentious vibe—where surfers, locals, and travelers gather over simple, delicious meals and good wine. The food is fresh and deeply rooted in the region, with some of the best seafood in Portugal, enjoyed in small, ocean-view restaurants.
Our home for the retreat is a thoughtfully designed, four-star hotel overlooking the sea and Baleeira Harbor. With clean, modern rooms, panoramic views, and amenities including a spa, gym, and comfortable gathering spaces, it offers both ease and beauty—a place to land, rest, and take it all in.
Sagres invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and reconnect—with nature, with yourself, and with the simple pleasure of being somewhere truly special.
Sagres, Portugal, offers a variety of activities that cater to adventure seekers, nature lovers, and history enthusiasts alike. The town’s stunning coastal landscape and rich maritime heritage make it an ideal destination for a wide range of experiences.
While on your retreat, in addition to daily yoga offerings, you will also have the opportunity to take part in adventure activities and wonderful excursions. Some of the possible options include:
Two excursions (TBD) are included with your retreat.
You may fly into either Faro (FAO) or Lisbon (LIS), depending on what works best for your travel plans.
Faro is the closest airport, located approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sagres by car. Lisbon is about 3 to 3.5 hours away and can sometimes offer more flight options.
From either airport, we recommend renting a car or taking a bus to Sagres. Both are straightforward options, and we’re happy to offer guidance based on your preferences.
If you’d prefer not to navigate on your own, we can also help arrange a shared or private transfer to the retreat for an additional fee.
Before booking flights, please be sure you have received confirmation that the retreat is fully confirmed.
Vivi Yoga & Retreats
Christa Mastrangelo Joyce and Jen Rolston are teachers, collaborators, and longtime pals brought together by a shared love of yoga, community, and meaningful travel.
Through Vivi Yoga & Retreats, we create experiences that are both grounding and expansive—rooted in practice, enriched by place, and shaped by connection. Since 2019, we have been leading retreats that invite people not just to step away from their lives, but to step more fully into them.
Our work is guided by a simple belief: when people gather with intention—through movement, breath, shared meals, and honest conversation—something real begins to unfold. Yoga, meditation, and contemplative practices support the whole being, helping to regulate the nervous system, deepen awareness, and reconnect with what matters most.
Each retreat is a fully supported experience, offering thoughtfully designed yoga practices alongside opportunities to immerse in the culture and rhythm of the place we’re visiting. We believe in engaging with local communities, savoring good food and wine, and coming together around the table for rich conversation. In this way, travel becomes a bridge—making the world feel both wider and more intimately connected.
More about Christa & Jen
Christa brings over two decades of teaching experience and more than 1500 hours of training across a wide range of traditions, including Ashtanga, Hatha, Yin, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. As the founder of Jala Yoga, she is known for her depth of knowledge—especially in anatomy and the nervous system—and for weaving together breathwork, philosophy, and mythology into an accessible, meaningful practice. She also brings a deep love of story and writing, inviting reflection and personal narrative as part of the spiritual path. In recent years, she has brought her deep belief in the formative power of spiritual practice to her work with youth and children at her local Presbyterian church, where she serves as Director of Faith Formation and Education.
Jen brings a lifelong curiosity of spiritual traditions and a grounded, integrative approach shaped by years of personal practice. Since completing her teacher training with Christa, she has been teaching with a focus on meditation, dharma, and the connection between inner awareness and everyday life. She weaves her love of nature and art into her teaching, creating spaces that feel both inspired and deeply rooted. Jen is also the founder of Eden Design, where she supports mission-driven organizations in sharing their work with clarity and heart.
Together, we are joyful, curious, and adventurous, and deeply committed to creating spaces where people feel supported, nourished, and inspired—where practice is meaningful, connection is real, and life feels just a little more expansive.
Registration & Payment
Cancellation Policy
All payments are non-refundable due to the advance commitments required to plan and hold your space on the retreat.
That said, we understand that life happens. If you are no longer able to attend, we will do our best to support you in one of the following ways:
Because we cannot guarantee that your spot will be filled, we strongly encourage all participants to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to protect their investment.
Any approved refunds will be issued only after the retreat has been filled and all retreat expenses have been covered.
Travel & Accommodation
Participants are responsible for arranging their own flights and travel to and from the retreat location unless otherwise specified. Detailed travel information will be provided after registration.
Changes to Itinerary
We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the retreat schedule, accommodations, or included activities as needed due to weather, safety considerations, or unforeseen circumstances.
Responsibility
By registering for this retreat, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own health, safety, and well-being during the retreat.
“My Baja Bliss (2019) retreat was perfect! The classes that Christa offered were varied and each one felt special in their own way. Her calming, patient and very spiritual demeanor, were the perfect marriage with the beautiful and tranquil surroundings.”
“Christa Mastrangelo Joyce’s yoga retreat with Jen on the island of Amorgos in Greece (October 2022) was absolutely divine. Their beautiful teaching style, stories, humor, and pearls of wisdom provided a wonderful experience on a gorgeous island. Their teaching allowed for all different yoga levels and experiences, and each class was an absolutely beautiful experience. Although I’ve been practicing yoga for more than ten years, I greatly enjoyed learning new poses and flows and methods to improve my practice. Their style is a wonderful mix of contemplative, rigorous, meditative and overall feels just wonderful for the body, mind and spirit.
Many of the participants knew each other already, but they were all exceptionally welcoming to newcomers so the group felt very integrated. Christa and Jen were very attentive to all the participants’ needs and super fun on island excursions too. I highly recommend signing up for their retreats.”
“Thank you the Baja Bliss (2019) retreat! It far exceeded our expectations in every area! I am not an early bird, but for the entire retreat, I was up at 7am looking forward to what I would learn in the next class. I am thankful to Christa for sharing her wisdom, leadership and encouragement to continue and enhance our own practice.”
“In October 2022, I had the great pleasure of attending the Greece Yoga Retreat for Christa’s retreat she led with Jen. It was my first solo international trip. This was exciting, but also a bit unnerving. I had no reason to worry though. Within moments of my arrival, Christa and Jen welcomed me with true warmth and friendship, as did the entire group.
One of the best parts though was the Yoga practice itself. Christa and Jen put much thought and time into the intentions and practices. They were moving, relevant, and soul-soothing. Exactly what I was looking for when I signed up for this adventure. They helped me find the peace and joy that I was looking for. I have been grateful to continue with those feelings since our trip. I have been even more grateful to be able to call these amazing women my friends. I look forward to traveling with them again in the future – hopefully often!”