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7-Day Nature & Yoga Retreat to Expand, Connect and Awaken

A 7-Day Nature & Yoga Retreat
to Expand, Connect and Awaken

July 3rd - 9th, 2025

📍 Southern Portugal

What?

The Course of Transformation is a 7-day, in-person training in the art and science of yoga, meditation, tantra, and spirituality.

This is not a retreat from your life — it’s a journey into it. More than just a vacation yoga retreat, The Course offers a deep immersion into teachings that can (and will) transform your spiritual practice and life.

Here you will gain practical tools to heal your body, navigate challenging emotions, master your mind, and access higher states of consciousness.

You’ll leave with clear, actionable methods to integrate these practices into your daily life — where the real transformation happens. With a supportive community by your side, you’ll feel inspired and prepared to live in harmony with yourself, others, and the planet.

Who?

The Course is for those of you who often feel disconnected, burned out, or lost, yearning for a deeper sense of vitality and purpose.

If you're ready to step into a new way of living — one that honors your body, mind, heart, and spirit — but aren't sure where to start, this retreat is for you.

Together, we'll unlock your potential for a more vibrant, meaningful life, filled with possibility and fulfillment.

When?

July 3rd to July 9th, 2025 (Thursday to Wednesday)

We’ve scheduled The Course during these dates to give you the flexibility to explore Portugal before or after the retreat.

Where?

At Essência Nature Retreat, near Aljezur in Southern Portugal.

The Venue

Essência Nature Retreat

Essência
Nature Retreat

Essência is a retreat center tucked away in a peaceful oak forest, offering a quiet escape to reconnect with both nature and yourself. Located just 20 minutes from the Costa Vincentina (known as “the last wild coast of Europe”) it’s surrounded by 700 km of scenic hiking trails along dramatic cliffs and dunes. This unique location provides a perfect mix of tranquility and adventure, while the accommodations offer a comfortable space to relax, heal and learn in.

Beach-Aerial
Wild, Untouched Beaches
Indoor-Hanging
Cozy Indoor Spaces
Nature-Dining
Outdoor Dining Options
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Sunset Views
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Forest Bathing
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Miles of Walking Trails
Beach.jpg
30 Minutes From the Coast
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Private Yoga Studio
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Ethan Hill

Meet Your Guides

click on their image to read more →

Ethan Hill

Ethan is an internationally acclaimed yoga instructor, writer and entrepreneur helping Seekers heal their bodies and master their minds.

After graduating in 2018 with an engineering degree, Ethan has dedicated over 12,000 hours to mastering and teaching yoga, meditation, and nature-therapy to leaders and organizations around the entire world.

His focus now centers on teaching the science of good posture, flexibility, attention, vitality, and higher states of consciousness.

Youtube Globe Substack-icon Instagram

Gabriella Pados

Gabriella is a certified Yoga and Tantra instructor with a heart guided to support beings on their journey of stepping into their highest expression.

With a B.S. in Psychology, expertise in Ayurvedic yoga therapy, and experience with indigenous wisdom traditions, Gabriella offers transformative support grounded in a diverse range of perspectives.

Gabriella pulls from the vast array of spiritual philosophies of the world and from the deep wisdom of the heart. She holds space in retreats and healing centers around the world, supporting beings to remember the divinity they are, and the sacredness this life is.

Instagram

Gabriella Pados

Gabriella is a certified Yoga and Tantra instructor with a heart guided to support beings on their journey of stepping into their highest expression. With a B.S. in psychology and experience with indigenous wisdom traditions, Gabriella offers transformative support with a diverse range of perception and experience.

Rather than limiting to one path, she guides from a space of openness, pulling from the vast array of spiritual philosophies of the world and from the deep wisdom of the heart.

Gabriella holds space in retreats and healing centers around the world in service of guiding people to remembrance of the divinity they are and the sacredness this life is.

Instagram
Gabi-Facilitator.png

Gabriella Pados

Meet Your Guides

Ethan Hill

Ethan is an internationally acclaimed yoga instructor, writer and entrepreneur helping Seekers heal their bodies and master their minds.

After graduating in 2018 with an engineering degree, Ethan has dedicated over 12,000 hours to mastering and teaching yoga, meditation, and nature-therapy to leaders and organizations around the entire world.

His focus now centers on teaching the science of good posture, flexibility, attention, vitality, and higher states of consciousness.

Youtube Globe Substack-icon Instagram
Ethan-Mobile

Gabriella Pados

Gabriella is a certified Yoga and Tantra instructor with a heart guided to support beings on their journey of stepping into their highest expression.

With a B.S. in Psychology, expertise in Ayurvedic yoga therapy, and experience with indigenous wisdom traditions, Gabriella offers transformative support grounded in a diverse range of perspectives.

Gabriella pulls from the vast array of spiritual philosophies of the world and from the deep wisdom of the heart. She holds space in retreats and healing centers around the world, supporting beings to remember the divinity they are, and the sacredness this life is.

Instagram
Gabriella-Mobile

Itinerary

click to expand

Arrive at Essência. Unpack. Get comfortable. Eat dinner. Opening ceremony and meditation. Go over rules, logistics, and daily schedule. Intention-setting and group shares.
What is Awakening? How do you heal? Ethan will guide you into a deep meditative trance for a tour of your mind and body. Gabriella will help you recognize the connection between your emotions and various organs, while using dance to help you embody the fluidity of emotions as the Observer.
Healing first requires that you create space for it, literally and metaphorically. Today, Ethan will teach you how to inhale for generating physical space within and around your body. Gabriella will share a practice of cleansing the body of guilt, shame, haunting memories, ill will, and bad feelings that keep the mind fixated on negative thoughts.
Once space has been created, what fills it? Today, Ethan will teach you the ancient science of energy accruement, storage and usage in your body. Gabriella will guide you into a place beyond mind using sound and the power of your voice.
Life is not a constant peak to chase after. Today, Ethan will teach you how to instantaneously drop into a deep state of peace, restoration and communion. Gabriella will share with you a powerful practice for creating space, reflection and choosing intentional action aligned with your highest self.
Today is your day of silence – no communication with the other students. Ethan will teach you the science of God-communion and accessing your intuition. Gabriella will lead you in an ecstatic dance to enter into elevated, transcendental states of consciousness.
Closing ceremony. Group share and intention setting. Next steps. Return phones and exchange contact information. Depart from Essência.

7:00am - 9:15am

Morning Practice 🧘🏻

9:30am - 10:15am

Healthy Breakfast 🍎

10:30am - 12:15pm

Discourse with Ethan ☸️

12:15pm - 1:00pm

Group Lunch 🍽️

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Nature Immersion 🌳

2:15pm - 4:00pm

Activation w/ Gabi 🕉️

4:00pm - 6:00pm

Long Break ⏸️

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Group Dinner 🍽️

7:15pm -8:30pm

Yin Yoga Class 💤

8:45pm

Fire, Song, Share 🕯️

10:00pm

Lights Out 🛏️

Pricing

click to expand

€ 1,333
  • Shared Room With 2 Others
  • 3 Healthy Meals Per Day
  • Daily Activities
  • Beach Excursion
  • Housing (6 Nights)
  • Course Instruction
  • Course Manual
Apply Here →
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€ 1,333
  • Shared Tent With 1 Other
  • 3 Healthy Meals Per Day
  • Daily Activities
  • Beach Excursion
  • Housing (6 Nights)
  • Course Instruction
  • Course Manual
Apply Here →

*beds can be pushed together or split apart

Double-Glamping-e1733210235755.jpg
€ 1,444
  • Shared Room With 1 Other
  • 3 Healthy Meals Per Day
  • Daily Activities
  • Beach Excursion
  • Housing (6 Nights)
  • Course Instruction
  • Course Manual
Apply Here →

*beds can be pushed together or split apart

Double Room
€ 1,777
  • Private, Solo Tent
  • 3 Healthy Meals Per Day
  • Daily Activities
  • Beach Excursion
  • Housing (6 Nights)
  • Course Instruction
  • Course Manual
Apply Here →
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+ Add-Ons

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€ 300
  • Receive two, private sessions during The Course (in-person) – one emotional healing with Gabi, and one bodywork with Ethan.
Apply Here →
Yoga Retreat in Portugal
€ 999
  • Two months of coaching from Gabi & Ethan post-retreat – 4 sessions with Gabi and 4 sessions with Ethan.

    Note: we're only taking 3 students at this price point; normally €1,500.
Apply Here →
Helping-Hand
  • Want a stress-free journey to Portugal? Hire someone on our team to book your flights and transportation to Essência. Let us take care of your travel plans by finding you the cheapest and most convenient option (or help you plan your vacation after The Course).

    Price varies depending on needs.
Apply Here →
Plane Flying

Bonus +

Your Enrollment Also Includes:

  1. The Official Course Manual®
  2. 30-Day Access to the Waking Up App
  3. One Year of Unlimited Yoga with Gabriella and Ethan (Both Virtual and In-Person)
Course Manual iPhone
Unlimited Yoga iPhone
Waking Up iPhone

How to Book

Step 1

Click the button below, and complete the application form (5-10 minutes).

Apply Here →

22
Apply Here →

22 Spots Left

Step 2

Once you've been accepted into The Course, you'll pay a €400 deposit to secure your spot.

Step 3

Book your flight, complete the pre-Course checklist, and let Gabriella and Ethan take care of the rest.

The Course Starts In...

Days
Hours
Minutes
The Course is full - stay tuned for next year's.
“I found Ethan’s work exceptionally potent and have been recommending him to everyone I know since. It was the first time I really got how to breathe correctly. If you can get on his calendar, I would.”
Dakotah A.CEO & Co-Founder
Dakotah A.
“My healing session with Gabriella was immensely gratifying and fulfilling. I immediately fell in love with the sounds she would play and had a feeling I was surrounded by angels and archangels.

Definitely a glimpse of heaven. My body, mind and spirit were in a complete state of surrender and trust during the whole experience.”
- Ejona G.B.A., M.Sc, Ongoing PhD, Founder of Harmonia Hotel
- Ejona G.
“Ethan has totally changed my relationship with my body. The techniques I’ve learned with him are not only effective, but also leave me feeling centered and powerfully alive. He has an incredibly calming presence, and communicates that with a lightness and sense of humor."
- Nick D.Product Researcher, Anthropic A.I.
- Nick D.
“It’s a special experience to take yoga classes in such a beautiful environment, and especially with a soul who is so pure and free from judgment. From the very first moment, I felt comfortable and at home with Gabriella. She gives you so much in return.
- Rez-ArtaMother, Space-holder, Kundalini Activation Guide
- Rez-Arta
“I found Ethan’s work exceptionally potent and have been recommending him to everyone I know since. It was the first time I really got how to breathe correctly. If you can get on his calendar, I would.”
Dakotah A.CEO & Co-Founder
Dakotah A.
“My healing session with Gabriella was immensely fulfilling. I immediately fell in love with the sounds she would play and had a feeling I was surrounded by angels and archangels.

Definitely a glimpse of heaven. My body, mind and spirit were in a complete state of surrender and trust during the whole experience.”
- Ejona G.B.A., M.Sc, Ongoing PhD, Founder of Harmonia Hotel
- Ejona G.
“Ethan has totally changed my relationship with my body. The techniques I’ve learned with him are not only effective, but also leave me feeling centered and powerfully alive. He has an incredibly calming presence, and communicates that with a lightness and sense of humor."
- Nick D.Product Researcher, Anthropic A.I.
- Nick D.
“It’s a special experience to take yoga classes in such a beautiful environment, and especially with a soul who is so pure and free from judgment. From the very first moment, I felt comfortable and at home with Gabriella. She gives you so much in return.
- Rez-ArtaMother, Space-holder, Kundalini Activation Guide
- Rez-Arta

FAQs

More Information

Beyond feeling absolutely incredible after a week of healing foods, meditating, moving, dancing, laughing, hugging, journaling, and being away from your phone, you can expect to gain the following:

  1. Inspiration and advice for cultivating/strengthening your own spiritual practice when you get back home.
  2. Concrete, foolproof, and powerful techniques for attaining Self-realization.
  3. The in-depth, 30-page Course Manual® for summaries of the discourses and activations.
  4. One year of access to Gabriella and Ethan’s yoga classes and workshops (both online and in-person.)
  5. Free 30-Day Access to the Waking Up App.
  6. Lifelong friendships with other like-minded Seekers.
  7. Access to Gabriella and Ethan’s network and global community.
  8. The Course of Transformation Certificate of Completion®.

Your payment includes 3 meals per day. Breakfast will be all fruit and superfood smoothies.

Unlike other yoga retreats, you will not be constantly stuffed with food, as this impedes your ability to learn and integrate the material. Instead, you will be eating nutrient-dense, vegan meals that follow Medical Medium and Ayurvedic guidelines.

This is for your own best interest, as you will be doing a lot of healing work and need to stay light. Don’t worry, we will make sure you are well-fed and nourished.

Booking your trip to Portugal is your responsibility. We recommend doing so as soon as you can, as prices get more expensive the closer you get to the travel date. We do not provide transportation to the retreat center; however, we offer taxi and ride recommendations, along with a group chat of all the participants so that there is possibility to connect for ride sharing.

For a small fee, we can also connect you with our team’s travel agent to assist you in booking and planning your trip. He is legendary.

The closest airport to fly into is Faro, but if you’re wanting to save money, you can fly into Lisbon and then take a 3.5 hour bus ride to Aljezur for just €7. From there, you can catch a ride to Essência.

Ethan and Gabi are offering one 60-minute, private session during the daily long breaks (4:00pm – 6:00pm).

For €300, you will get two, 60 minute sessions – one bodywork session with Ethan and one emotional healing with Gabi.

Only five of these spots are available for the week – first come, first serve.

Amazing! We’re thrilled to be a part of this new adventure with you. Fear not, we will be with you step by step as you begin your journey of transformation.

(Also, for what it’s worth: being a beginner can work to your advantage, as your mind is the most malleable and curious at this stage. You can grow very rapidly here if you are willing.)

Amazing! We’re honored that you’re considering The Course of Transformation to deepen and expand your practice.

Our intention is to spark your curiosity, speak to your heart, and challenge you with new ideas and tools to support you on your Path.

You’re not alone – many seekers begin their journey with an aversion towards “woo”.

We are sympathetic towards your skepticism and will do our best to provide clarity whenever resistance and confusion arise.

During The Course, we encourage you to ask questions freely and never settle for answers that don’t resonate or make sense.

During our time together, we have planned a sauna session, song circle, ecstatic dance, and day trip to the beach. It’s going to be an incredible week – we hope you’re as excited as we are!

If you’re looking for more support after The Course, Ethan and Gabi are offering a discounted coaching rate to graduates for just €999 (normally €1500).

Coaching includes 8, 60-minute sessions via Zoom (4 with Ethan and 4 with Gabi) to help you integrate your time in The Course.

Note: only three spots are available at this price point.

For your benefit, we are making this a screen-free retreat by holding onto your phone.

If a loved one needs to get in contact with you right away, there is an emergency number they can reach out to.

No stress – we will also make sure to take photos of you and the group so you have memories of your time at Essencia.

Part of Day 5 and 6 will be held in total silence. The intention is to help you interiorize your mind to gain clarity on what you’re seeking, while embodying the techniques and lessons offered to you during the previous days.

Your safety – physical, mental, and emotional – are our top priority. We screen applicants for potential health contraindications.

We also have a dedicated “retreat Mom” on-site that is available night and day to hold space, answer questions, and make your experience more fulfilling and comfortable.

Great. Let’s hop on a call together, and get those questions answered. Please send an email to: hello@thecourseoftransformation.com with the subject line “Discovery Call,” and we’ll set something up.

Looking forward to speaking with you 🙏🏻

Questions?

Email Us 📨

hello@thecourseoftransformation.com