Azores Awakening
Yoga, Hiking and Music in Paradise
With the Energy of Five Elements
Santa Maria Island
Azores, Portugal
17-22 July 2025
Yoga, Hiking and Music in Paradise
With the Energy of Five Elements
Santa Maria Island
Azores, Portugal
17-22 July 2025
If you’re a curious traveler seeking a meaningful getaway in a stunning yet accessible destination and are ready to refresh your spirit with adventure and relaxation, then join us for this immersive retreat in the magical Azores, where you’ll hike breathtaking landscapes, deepen your yoga practice, chill out on gorgeous beaches, and soak in the vibrant energy of the Blues Music Festival so you can return home feeling inspired and enriched.
This retreat gives you the space you need. Space to breathe, to move, to rest, to have fun.
You are surrounded by the ocean, cliffs, green fields, waterfalls. The kind of nature that doesn’t need filters.
This is not a retreat to escape life. It’s a pause to return to it – rested and recharged.
Before we dive into the details, take a moment to picture what your days will look like…
Imagine starting your day with an energising morning yoga practice and finishing your day with a restorative evening yoga practice, taking care of your body. Imagine meditating, practising mindfulness and drawing your attention inwards in the beautiful nature spots.
Imagine enjoying nourishing me-time near the swimming pool overlooking the ocean: reading a book, marvelling at the view, chilling and letting yourself just be. In the evening, you head off to sleep, happy, fulfilled and rested, in your cosy bed in your home away from home, in anticipation of the next fabulous day.
Imagine hiking in incredible landscapes of the untouched Azorean nature. I bring you to the most epic locations of Santa Maria Island! Dramatic volcanic landscape, lush forests, greenest fields, spectacular waterfalls, stunning rainbows – this is what you experience when hiking in the Azores.
Imagine nourishing your body with healthy meals from delicious local Azorean cuisine. Imagine having your breakfast with an ocean view, your lunch in nature in the most incredible spots with spectacular scenery, and your dinner in the cosy atmosphere of the local restaurant.
Imagine your unforgettable experience at the famous and well-organised Santa Maria Blues Music Festival. You enjoy high-quality music performed live by the top-notch artists from all over the world, in the great company of your retreat friends, dancing away to the tunes of your holiday.
Imagine being with like-minded people from all over the world, making new friends and lasting meaningful connections. Imagine sharing the moments of being amazed by the incredible landscapes, breathing in the fresh ocean air, feeling free and connected to nature and yourself.
Not just time off, but time to truly unplug, recover from stress, and reconnect with ourselves, nature, and each other. Travel has always been a great way to reset, but when was the last time a trip left you feeling truly renewed?
The past few years have made us more aware of how much we crave real connection – meaningful conversations, a place to feel heard, and even just a hug – and that has been the guiding framework for my retreats.
The Yoga, Hiking and Music Retreat in the Azores is designed to have a fun, meaningful and memorable vacation and feel truly rested and recharged.
How exciting would it be to be truly impressed even though you think you have seen it all?
Prepare yourself to keep on uttering ‘wow’, stopping to take a zillion of pictures, and even crying at the sight of the Azorean beauty (I do!). Azores is like nothing you have seen before, they will literally take your breath away – and you will keep on coming back to your memories and share them with all your friends.
Have you ever felt that your vacation should be more than an all-inclusive hotel or beach during the day/disco at night?
This retreat is a combination of fun and relaxation and with the variety of these activities (yoga and meditation, hiking, music festival), you will amp up your life and create meaningful memories that will always have a special place in your heart.
Wouldn’t you just love to stop spending so much time indoors and seated, watching different screens?
On this retreat, during our hikes and meditations in incredible nature spots, you will soak in the beauty of the ocean and volcanoes, breathe in the fresh air, marvel at the gorgeous sunsets so that you feel truly re-connected to nature.
What a relief it would be to have your dream vacation fully organised and thought-through?
On this retreat, you will enjoy the combination of unforgettable hiking and music festival, with plenty of nourishing yoga, meditation, and me-time you need – so that you don’t have to plan anything or worry about having enough free time.
This retreat follows my signature SHAPE method, where each day is guided by one of the 5 nature elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood. Every hike, every yoga session, and every meditation reflects the qualities of an element for the day. This isn’t a retreat like the ones you’ve been on before. This is a totally immersive experience.
Inspired by Chinese metaphysics, this is a structured approach for your step-by-step inner journey. You remove what’s no longer needed (Fire). You ground (Earth). You get clear (Metal). You choose (Water). You grow (Wood).
This is why this retreat is not just a bunch of random activities – it is your journey back to yourself, aligned with the rhythm of nature.
Irina has been a wonderful guide and companion during our breath-taking hikes across Santa Maria. I really learned a lot during our yoga sessions where she has catered for our individual needs every single day.
I became calmer in a good way. After the retreat, I realised that there is no point in stressing so much in everyday life. My body felt so good after yoga and hiking. I started practising yoga every morning and went dancing classes to keep my body fit!
Irina's yoga and hiking retreats are perfection. I went on yoga, hiking and blues with her in Azores, and the experience exceeded my expectations. The organisation was great, the landscape views during the hikes were breathtaking, the yoga classes were very well constructed and tailored to the specific needs of the participants.
Our home for 6 days/5 nights is the family-owned hotel in the heart of Santa Maria Island. It has an outdoor swimming pool, bar with terrace, and spacious balconies with views. Imagine chilling on the terrace with a book and enjoying the colours of the sky and the magnificent views of the ocean.
The retreat is planned for up to 11 guests to be accommodated in a single, double/twin or triple setting. Choose the best option for your holiday depending on your preference of a shared or private room.
You will be served with 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals. The dishes are prepared from regional and seasonal products so you can indulge in the traditional culinary delights of the Azores.
Your dietary requirements will be thoughtfully taken care of throughout the retreat. Vegetarian options are available.
On the last day of the retreat, we will have a celebration dinner combined with local craft beer tasting. Time to celebrate your hiking achievements and have fun!
The Portuguese Azores are unknown to the regular tourists. It is literally a treasure for landscape variety and hikes.
Dramatic volcanic landscape, incredible ocean views, greenest fields, stunning rainbows, and even a red desert – this is what you experience in the Azores. Walk along the fairytale-like paths, marvelling at the fascinating vegetation, stopping in awe at the amazing views, soaking in the beauty and wisdom of nature.
Santa Maria Island is south to Sao Miguel island, the biggest one of the Azores archipelago. Good news: the Azores, even though located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, are still part of Portugal, the EU, and are very well connected flight-wise to the EU, the USA and Canada.
Our time together will be unforgettable and full of fun! I have organised and planned your retreat to make sure it nourishes your heart, mind and soul.
I have carefully planned the retreat schedule to take you away from the routine and into a dream holiday. This retreat is a unique hiking and music adventure combined with daily yoga and meditation.
The hidden gem of the Atlantic, Santa Maria Island, is one of those last remaining places on earth where pure nature dominates the landscape and where time seems to stand still.
We will practise yoga and meditation twice a day: before and after hiking. Every day starts with setting an intention followed by a Vinyasa-style yoga class. After the hiking of the day is finished and we arrive back home, you will have time for some relaxation and we will finish the day with restorative yoga practice before dinner.
Classes are adjusted right on the spot to your body needs and movement experience. We will meditate and practise mindfulness after our yoga practice or in nature.
The Portuguese Azores are unknown to the regular tourists. Hiking is the best way to explore the island: dramatic volcanic landscape, lush forests, greenest fields, spectacular waterfalls, stunning rainbows, and even a desert!
You will enjoy the unique nature, the quaint traditional architecture, and the fascinating history. After hiking, I will bring you to the stunning beach to soak in the sun, swim and chill out.
As part of this retreat, you are invited to attend the yearly Santa Maria Blues Festival which lasts 3 nights. The festival originates back to 2014 and focuses on the quality of the venue, music and the surrounding environment. It’s top-notch music and great organisation. Hint – this is my previous guests and I in the crowd in the picture having great fun!
Great international names of blues music have played at the Festival. Have a listen to the previous edition here.
All the retreat activities are guided by the energy of the 5 elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood. The signature program of our retreat, structured with the Yoga Shape methodology, will take you on the journey to yourself: from releasing whatever does not serve you to feeling relaxed, restored, and full of amazing memories of your Azorean adventures.
Every day of your retreat starts with setting an intention followed by an energetic Vinyasa-style yoga class. After that, breakfast awaits you to nourish your body after which we embark on a hiking adventure in a fascinatingly diverse landscape. Coming back to the accommodation, you will have time for some relaxation and me-time. We will finish the day with restorative yoga practice before dinner, and then head over to the Blues Music Festival in the evening.
Initiation with letting go and setting your intention.
Transfer to the accommodation, welcome, tea/coffee and snacks, opening information session, free time, opening ceremony, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
You arrive in the wild embrace of Santa Maria, the ocean breeze greeting you like an old friend. With a warm welcome, your first yoga session creates a quiet spark. Laughter and blues music under the stars finish the day – an initiation into something that feels deeply alive.
Your inner journey: Today you set your intention. You begin the SHAPE cycle with Start, letting go of old layers and opening space for what’s to come.
Grounding and understanding where you are.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the red desert, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
Your feet meet the land as you hike the red desert. You feel held by the earth – steady, calm, and strong. Your body softens during restorative yoga. Your breath deepens. Salt on your skin, sand between your toes, the rhythm of life slows as you gaze into the Atlantic.
Your inner journey: Today you step into Honesty – noticing how you feel in your body, acknowledging where you truly are in your life.
Getting clarity about where you want to go.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the highest point on the volcanic island, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner, Blues Music Festival.
Climbing to the highest peak of the Santa Maria Island, above the clouds and into the sky, your vision expands. The vastness mirrors your own mind clearing. Each breath feels intentional. Moments of stillness on the beach invite reflection, and your evening practice draws you closer to what you truly desire.
Your inner journey: You enter Aim – defining what matters most, clarifying your goals, and choosing where your energy will flow next.
Embracing the fluidity and choosing your path.
Yoga, breakfast, hike to see the waterfall, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, dinner.
Today is a song of flow. The trail winds to a gorgeous waterfall overlooking the ocean. Water carves its path with ease – and so do you. Yoga stretches into fluid movement, nothing is rushed. You feel more present, more attuned. The ocean invites you to simply be.
Your inner journey: You are in the heart of Practice – translating intention into action through breath, and mindful movement.
Growth to the next step of your journey.
Yoga, breakfast, hike in the forest, picnic lunch, free time on the beach, yoga, celebration dinner.
The forest welcomes you with the scent of pine and possibility. You move with strength and grace, rooted yet reaching forward. Evening brings celebration – a shared meal, glowing faces, the sense that something inside has changed.
Your inner journey: This is Evolution – you witness your growth, your unfolding, and you prepare to bring it home.
Coming back to centre and integrating the cycle of inner work.
Yoga, breakfast, closing circle, transfer to the airport.
The final morning greets you with golden light and stillness. Your mat becomes a place of honour – for all you’ve felt, discovered, and remembered. You leave with sand in your shoes and clarity in your heart.
Your inner journey: In this closing of the SHAPE cycle, you return to your Centre – integrated, grounded, and ready to live from your deeper truth.
Irina put together an amazing programme, excellent organisation, and most of all she creates the space for you to reconnect with yourself, other like-minded people, and with the stunning nature around you. Yoga in the morning to wake up, followed with the most wonderful hikes, meditation nearby the ocean, and stretching and soft yoga to relax in the evening. I came home with some new friends and unforgettable memories.
Book your spot for the next retreat already! I HAD A BLAST! The landscapes, the beaches, the yoga and meditation sessions, every thoughtful attention of Irina, everything contributed to make this trip memorable. Discovering the Azores through Irina's eyes is falling in love with the place. Also, I cannot recommend a better yoga teacher. Irina is dedicated, human-centred, and adapting the session to everyone's body and need.
Certainly a 5-star experience for me to join Irina’s well-organised yoga retreat. She’s friendly and accommodating - and makes you feel comfortable. You can tell how much her heart and soul she dedicates to organise her retreats with love for everyone who joins. I will forever treasure the great memories I made with her and with the group. It was the best gift I ever gave to myself as I welcomed my 40th birthday surrounded with amazing people. Hike, yoga & blues - it was awesome!
How great would it be to step away from the cookie-cutter yoga classes?
On the retreat, we will practise yoga in a progressive way, and you will learn something new about yoga postures and their variations, so that you know how to position and move your body consciously to match your unique body needs.
Wouldn’t it be just great to not think about what to cook and what groceries to buy?
On this retreat, delicious breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners will be prepared for you from local products so that you can savour local cuisine. Your dietary requirements are taken care of.
How wonderful would it be to share this experience with someone special and also make new friends?
No matter if you travel by yourself or with your partner/friend, you will meet like-minded people with similar interests. This is a great opportunity to connect more deeply by sharing your challenges and blessings with people who understand you.
Are you excited about stepping away from the hassle of everyday life and finally having some dedicated time to re-connect to yourself?
Through the signature methodology of this retreat, where each day is planned around 1 of the 5 elements (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood), your inner work is supported and reflected by the nature spots we will visit, which will ultimately help you better to re-connect to yourself.
Hi, I’m Irina Oshchepkova! I am a certified yoga teacher with 1400+ hours of teaching experience and your host on this journey.
I spent 12+ years in the corporate world during which yoga became my way back to myself. What began as a stress relief practice turned into a calling: helping others reconnect with themselves and what truly matters.
Since then, I’ve hosted over a dozen retreats and created my SHAPE method – a practical, soulful framework blending movement, mindfulness, and meditation for real life.
The Azores? I came for 2 weeks and stayed 6 months. These islands stole my heart and I can’t wait to share their wild beauty with you.
This retreat is your pause. A space to move, reflect, and come home to yourself. You’ll leave rested and recharged, with renewed clarity about what really matters to you, and actionable tools to integrate into your daily life.
Irina is very attentive and willing to explain the logic behind each pose. I like that the classes are varied and we can work on different postures to get the maximum out of yoga practice!
The retreat was very-very well organised, it definitely helps you to relax, to nourish your soul. Beautiful location, great food, great nature!
Irina has given me some powerful tools for my daily life, for example how to connect with the present moment and to understand my body and be grateful for what it can do for me.
The payment is non-refundable but can be fully transferred to another person – if your plans have changed and you cannot go, please find your replacement. The necessary and appropriate travel insurance is required.
All the payments are made by credit card or by direct bank transfer. Please contact me at [email protected] for details on bank transfer and invoicing, or if you wish to pay by instalments.
Please check my advice on the best flight option here.
Do you have any questions that you would like to discuss with me in detail? Book a free call with me!
This is your unique chance to enjoy beautiful hikes in an exotic setting and the Blues Music Festival. The Azores destination is like nothing you have ever experienced, it will take your breath away!
Time for nourishment and healing, time to be nurtured by nature, time to explore and revitalise your energy.
Give yourself a gift of valuable time for your body, mind and soul.
The weather in the Azores is spring-like most of the time: with days of sun interlaced with low clouds, a shower, a rainbow – and then sun again. They say the Azores can have the four seasons in just one day! It is a cool to warm subtropical climate, heavily influenced by the ocean and perfect for the outdoors.
Book a flight to Santa Maria, the Azores (SMA).
Option 1
There are direct flights from Lisbon. If you fly from Brussels, book with TAP Air Portugal or Ryanair, both are with a stop in Lisbon. TUI Fly offers flights from/to Brussels on Mondays.
Option 2
However, a better option price-wise could be to book 2 separate trips:
Send me your flight details and I will arrange group transportation at the most common time for all. If the common time does not suit you, take a taxi to
Hotel Colombo: Cruz Teixeira, 9580-473 Vila do Porto, Portugal. It will take about 20 minutes.
Our opening session is at 16:00 on 17 July 2025.
All levels are welcome, from zero to advanced! Each class is adapted to the needs of participants.
Make sure to bring comfortable clothes for yoga, hiking and swimming. Hiking shoes are highly recommended. I will send you a detailed list when you book your experience.
It is highly recommended to stay longer on the island as there are plenty of places to see and things to do. Please contact me for details.
Joining this retreat means choosing to prioritise your well-being. You’re not adding another thing to your list – you’re making space to reset and reflect.
You will return with more energy, more clarity, and a stronger sense of what matters.
Stress, fatigue, and disconnection come at a cost – one that often goes unnoticed until it builds up.
This is a chance to step out of that cycle and take care of your health.
There’s rarely a perfect moment to step away – but that’s often when you need it most. Taking time for yourself, in a setting that supports clarity and presence, can shift everything.
This retreat gives you structure, perspective, and the kind of nature that makes it easier to listen to yourself.
This retreat isn’t just a vacation or one-size-fits-all solution. It’s designed using the proven SHAPE method, involving yoga, meditation, and activities aligned with the ancient wisdom of the 5 Nature elements. Don’t just take my word for it: past participants share how they’ve left feeling recharged, focused, and inspired, carrying the results into their daily lives.
It’s natural to worry about feeling out of place, but this retreat is built on inclusivity and connection. Participants come from all different cultures and lifestyles, and everyone is welcomed with warmth and respect. You’re never pressured to share more than you’re comfortable with, and the retreat program is flexible, allowing you to engage in a way that feels good to you. Past participants often leave with new friends!
This isn’t a checklist of sights and restaurants and a packed itinerary.
It’s an intentional space to move, reflect, and reconnect: to yourself, to incredible nature, and to like-minded people.
You practise yoga and meditation overlooking the ocean. You hike volcanic trails and share good food and music in the company of people who value presence.
This time away shapes how you return. With more clarity, more energy, and a deeper sense of what really matters.