What Grows in a Land Where We Arrive From Different Places

Nino told me this story over dinner about the Brissago Islands, and about Antonietta Saint-Léger, who, at the end of the 19th century, transformed a small, isolated place into something entirely her own. Her husband, Richard Fleming, moved through the world and returned to her with seeds gathered from his travels. Not as trophies, but as fragments of distant landscapes, entrusted to her hands.

Those seeds came from different climates, different geographies, places that were never meant to meet. And yet, on that island, they did. The Brissago Islands sit in a naturally sheltered position on Lake Maggiore, where the surrounding Alps protect the area from colder northern winds, and the lake helps regulate temperature by retaining and slowly releasing heat. This creates milder conditions than the surrounding region, with fewer frosts and more stable humidity, enough to allow many non-native plants to survive, if carefully tended. Antonietta worked within these conditions, improving the soil and placing species where they could adapt, making the coexistence of these plants intentional.

I kept thinking about this while being there, surrounded by people who, like those seeds, had arrived carrying elsewhere inside them. Different languages, different stories, different ways of moving through the world. There was my best friend, the only one who probably knew that within my silence I was scanning everyone’s story at the table. There was a woman who told me my mannerism reminded her of the country she fled. Another woman, older than me, spoke about her past in a way that felt uncannily close to how I would describe my present, as if time had folded and we were briefly meeting from opposite directions. 

And then there were Nino and Nina—who made me think about my father every time they interacted— holding the space of the Peaceful Warrior Retreat in Portugal.

What they created felt like a space where people could arrive as they were, and in doing so, begin to overlap. Not to become the same, but to recognize parts of themselves in one another.

What is a retreat and why do people usually search for this kind of space?

A retreat is a few days set apart from everyday life, almost like stepping into a small bubble outside of time. People come together around shared practices and with a common intention: to pause, step away from the rhythm of daily responsibilities, and create space for themselves.

It’s not necessarily a holiday in the traditional sense. People usually arrive with a purpose or a quiet intention for the time they spend there. For some, it’s simply about relaxing, disconnecting from routine, and enjoying time in nature while practicing with like-minded people. For others, it’s about restoring balance when life has started to feel overwhelming. A retreat offers a pause, a chance to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters, so they can return to daily life with more clarity and perspective.

Many people also arrive feeling somewhat disconnected from themselves and their bodies, after years of living mostly in their heads. They feel a desire to reconnect with something deeper, to rediscover who they are and what they truly need or want in life. Sometimes this comes after a major life event, but often it simply comes after years of moving forward without taking the time to stop and reflect.

A retreat can also be a space to explore spirituality in a personal and open way, or to deepen an existing practice that can be difficult to maintain in everyday life. And for many people, it’s also about community. There is something powerful about sharing this experience with others. People often connect deeply during those days together, and many return year after year because of the sense of connection and belonging that naturally forms.

What was the spark that led you to craft this particular retreat?

I had been practicing for a few years when I began my first teacher training. During that time, Nuno, my dad, suggested that we could run a retreat together. My first reaction was to say no. I felt I needed more experience and didn’t feel quite ready yet.

But the more I thought about it, the more the idea stayed with me. I began to realize how special it would be to create something like this with my dad and share it with others. Both of us had learned so much through our practices, and offering a space where people could experience some of those benefits felt truly meaningful.

So I changed my mind, and we launched the first retreat. That was six years ago. Since then, each year has felt more meaningful than the last. Every retreat reminds me how fulfilling it is to share these days with our community. Seeing what unfolds for people during that time continues to confirm that this is something I truly want to keep doing.

What does it mean to build a space for others while navigating such a close family bond yourselves, like that of a father and daughter?

We get this question a lot, often with the assumption that it must be challenging. In reality, it feels quite natural and very supportive to do this together.

We share the same vision and values, and we are both deeply fulfilled by witnessing what can unfold for people during the retreats, seeing them open up, grow, reconnect with themselves, and sometimes return year after year.

Working together as father and daughter also brings a certain trust and understanding that makes collaboration very easy. We each bring our own perspective and strengths, but the intention behind what we do is the same. Because of that, things tend to flow quite naturally, and it allows us to support both the retreat and each other. I think that shared foundation is what makes us a strong team.

How do the practices you offer such as yoga, qigong, meditation, or breathwork work together to help participants disconnect and reconnect with themselves?

What all of these practices have in common is mindfulness. Some are gentle, some are more dynamic, but they all invite you to be fully present. They ask you to slow down, bring your attention inward, and reconnect the mind and the body.

We intentionally combine different practices because there is no single approach that works for everyone. Every person is different, and every journey is unique. By offering a variety of practices, people can explore and discover what resonates most with them at the stage of life they are in.

Sometimes a practice that once worked for us no longer feels right. Other times we try to force ourselves into routines that worked for others, but simply do not fit us. A retreat gives people the opportunity to explore without pressure and find what truly supports them.

Although the practices are different, they all serve a similar purpose: helping people reconnect with themselves and find a sense of alignment between body, mind, and breath.

Why is silence integrated into the retreat schedule, and what impact does that have on people’s inner experience? 

Spending the morning in silence creates a rare kind of space. When the usual noise and conversation fall away, people begin to notice things that are often overlooked in daily life. It becomes easier to listen to your thoughts, your emotions, and the signals of your body. This quiet attention helps people reconnect with what truly matters.

With fewer distractions, it also becomes easier to observe patterns and feelings with more clarity. Many people discover insights simply because they finally have the space to notice what is happening within them.

Silence also helps integrate what is experienced during the retreat. Moments of stillness allow new ideas or realizations to settle more deeply, so they can stay with people after they return home.

At the same time, silence often heightens the simple pleasures of the present moment, the sound of birds, the wind in the trees, the warmth of a cup of tea.

In this sense, silence is not about emptiness. It is about creating the conditions for presence, clarity, and rest.

Do you find it’s easy for the guests to create some sort of community during the stay? Is it different for every group?

It really depends on what each guest is looking for during the retreat. Some people come specifically to spend time alone and reflect, and that is completely respected. At the same time, we are fortunate to have a core community that returns year after year. They naturally create a welcoming atmosphere for new participants and help everyone feel included from the very beginning. Watching that sense of community grow over time is very special for us. Our guests are also very diverse. Participants range from around 25 to 60 years old, with a fairly balanced mix of genders and backgrounds. Despite those differences, something beautiful happens during the retreat: by the end, it feels like one cohesive group. And leaving at the end is often quite emotional.

How do you support participants in carrying what they’ve learned here into their daily lives after the retreat?

One of our intentions is to help participants find practices that feel sustainable in their everyday lives. By offering different approaches, yoga, meditation, breathwork, qigong, taekwondo, we hope each person can discover what resonates most with them and what they realistically want to continue after the retreat.

Creating a lasting routine often starts with something simple and enjoyable. When a practice feels good and accessible, it becomes much easier to integrate it into daily life.

We also encourage participants to journal during the retreat. When we step away from routine and create space, many thoughts and insights arise. Writing them down helps people reflect on what they are experiencing and gives them something they can return to later.

Sometimes we offer reflection topics or ideas inspired by the philosophy of yoga. These are simply invitations, participants are free to explore them or not. The goal is not to impose anything, but to offer tools that might support deeper reflection.

Ultimately, we want people to leave with practical ways to stay connected to themselves. Life will always bring pressure, change, and challenges. But we believe everyone has the capacity to regulate themselves and return to balance. Our role is simply to offer tools, and perhaps a reminder, that this ability already exists within each and every one of us.

We also remain available after the retreat for anyone who wishes to reach out, ask questions, or share how their journey is unfolding. Sometimes a conversation after returning to daily life can help integrate what was experienced during the retreat.

Photography by Greta Futura Langianni

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