Michelle Thomas

Years ago, after I had been doing yoga for some time in Johannesburg, I was drawn to find out more about meditation – what it is, exactly, and how one does it. In 2013 I approached the only centre I had heard about, where they practiced the only meditation I had heard about - a Transcendental Meditation ashram on the outskirts of Johannesburg. TM (Transcendental Meditation) was my launchpad to self-discovery; through it I realized that I had been meditating on and off for years prior to this without realizing it, and also that there are as many ways to meditate as there are teapots in my cupboard (I am a crazy tea lover!).

My love of yoga and meditation fueled our search for a retreat centre; my long-held dream to create an incredible space where people can find peace, beauty and nurturing finally came to fruition in 2016, when I found our magical farm in the Ribatejo in Portugal. I dreamt about us holding many yoga and meditation retreats, making both practices accessible for all people wherever they find themselves on their life journeys. Obtaining my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in the Algarve in April 2017 was a logical next step, and this opened up more of the world of meditation.

As I practiced and explored different meditation methods, I realized that my life flowed more smoothly when I meditated, and things felt harder when I didn’t. I also realized that this astonishingly simple exercise with its life-shifting results remains unexplored by many as it still seems shrouded in layers of mysticism and the perception that it is difficult. It is one thing that is available to everyone to immediately create shifts in their lives, lighten loads and bring in more joy, yet still seems out of reach.

I began to teach and guide meditation out of a love for what it does in my life – and a deep desire to pass on to others the ease of it, the magic that is possible, and the lightness it can bring. Working with the mind, not trying to clear it, is one of the key aspects, and knowing that wherever you are in your life is the perfect place to work from.

During our meditation sessions we explore two or three different methods and discover how to make them work in everyday life, anywhere. We also look at what meditation is and isn’t, what to do when you just can’t meditate, and how it improves your life in practical ways. You can expect to feel like you are on a journey, but the route is easier and the destination closer than you thought.

 The heart of meditation is taking yourself a little less seriously.