Sacred Fire Gathering

 1st – 5th July 2024, Casería del Mercado, Almegíjar

Las Alpujarras, Spain

5 days, 4 nights, Yoga, Ecstatic Dance and Music Retreat Festival to Energise and Harmonise.

Sacred Fire Gathering is a celebration of life, community, and embodiment, blending the vibrancy of a festival with the tranquility of a retreat, set against the stunning backdrop of the Alpujarra mountain valley. A 5-day elemental journey into yoga, dance, and music. Relax and open into natural wholeness and joyful movement with experienced practitioners as our guides. A rare chance to gather with friends, old and new, in beautiful nature, offering space to tend to our inner fires, flourish and be truly nourished.

The gathering is a bilingual event, the team are a mix of native English and Spanish speakers, translation will be available for all classes and workshops.

Daily Rhythm

Every day begins with dynamic Vinyasa Krama Yoga to honor the rising sun and concludes with restorative Yin Yoga to tend to our heart’s embers. After morning yoga, we will practice ecstatic dance in the open air, explore workshops that delve into practices like Somatic dance, Afro-Cuban choral song, Cacao ceremony, walk mindfully on the mountain paths, and swim in the crystal waters of the Sierra Nevada.

Each evening after Yin Yoga and a delicious home-grown vegetarian dinner, will be special intimate concerts that explore diverse musical traditions, from the Eastern Mediterranean to Afro-Cuban choirs and the sacred music of the Middle East, India, and indigenous shamanism.

Yoga

Maya and Felix of Inner Smile are yoga practitioners with decades of experience, friendly and down to earth, they focus on the breath as the central axis of life and practice, guided by the Five Elements as a powerful framework for understanding ourselves and our place in the world.  Felix will lead the more dynamic Vinyasa practice, and Maya the relaxing and restorative Yin practice. 

Ecstatic Dance

In our daily Ecstatic Dance gatherings, Abekani Clallam will be our guide with his uplifting and deep going blend of Ethno-Arabic and AfroTribal House, indigenous, tribal, and Latin rhythms. He invites attendees to connect deeply through the music and embrace the joy of the DanceFloor in this great ceremony that is life.

Workshops and Experiences

  • Somatic Dance – Ragna Luciana is a dance artist with deep training in somatic dance and improvisation. For Ragna, the body has endless potential, through somatic movement and improvisation we are able to open our senses, increase bodily awareness and express ourselves creatively. 
  • Cacao Ceremony – M Cristina is an Educator, expert in Human Development, Holistic Therapist, and Doula, with training in South American Shamanic Traditions. She will guide you on a journey deep within yourself to manifest a fulfilling life based on the principle of Buen Vivir (Good Living).
  • Afro-Cuban Choir Singing – Vicky and David of Coro de Clave are rooted in the folkloric traditions of Afro-Cuban choral music, this workshop will introduce us to this wonderful musical form.
  • Crystal Waters Mindful Mountain Walk – Together we will walk mindfully down from the Cortijo Caseria on the ancient mountain paths to find refreshment and clarity in the bright crystal mountain waters of the valley below.

Concerts

  • Christos Kanellos Malamas and David Ruiz form a musical partnership that has enchanted audiences across Spain for over a decade. In this concert they offer ambient melodies, songs, and original compositions that draw inspiration from the Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece and Turkey.
  • Coro de Clave share with us the rhythms and harmonies of Afro-Cuban music, an unbroken tradition stretching back to the 1800’s, when choirs more than a 100 strong would compete with neighbouring groups.  Vicky, David and their Choir keep this tradition alive and strong in the 21st century.
  • Andrés Ruz multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, producer, and teacher, combines the ancient sacred music of the Middle East, India, and indigenous shamanism with the powerful practices of Tibetan tantric chanting and harmonic singing.

Go deeper

Our experienced team are on hand to offer a selection of one to one practices – the profound relaxation of Holistic Massage with Maya, the traditional wisdom of Andean Energetic Cleansing and Mayan Rebirthing Therapy with M Cristina, or the insight and clarity of Elemental Tarot Readings with Felix.

Cortijo Casería del Mercado

Throughout the gathering, we will enjoy delicious vegetarian fare from the gardens of Cortijo Casería del Mercado, our home for these 5 days. This family-run retreat center has expansive grounds to explore, a spring water pool for daily swimming, and spacious common areas for heartfelt connection. Our practices come alive in two large yoga shalas and an outdoor covered area that becomes our dance floor under the open sky. Accommodation is cozy and comfortable. Surrounded by the beauty of the Alpujarra, we are invited to hike and wander the mountain paths, breathe the clear mountain air, and listen out for the sound of peacocks, who are some of the other majestic and colourful residents of the Cortijo.

Ticket prices/options

15% Early Bird Discount (Available until May 1st)

5 days/4 nights with food and lodging

400€ camping (340€ with Early Bird Discount)

450€ shared room (382,50€ with Early Bird Discount)

500€ private room in shared house (425€ with Early Bird Discount)

5 days with food no lodging

320€ (272€ with Early Bird Discount)

We have limited spaces for the gathering, so please book early to avoid disappointment. In May we will be releasing a limited number of day tickets for just Ecstatic Dance, Concert and Food, please watch this space or contact us for more information.

Included

  • 4 nights accommodation
  • 3 delicious organic vegetarian meals a day
  • Daily practise with professional teachers
  • 4 Vinyasa Yoga classes
  • 4 Yin Yoga classes
  • 3 Ecstatic Dance sessions
  • 3 concert performances from Christos Kanellos Malamas, Bombo Afro-Cuban Choir and Andrés Ruz
  • Somatic Dance and Afro-Cuban Choir Workshops
  • Cacao Ceremony and Kirtan Devotional Singing
  • Mountain spring water swimming pool
  • Optional hiking
  • All yoga equipment & a blanket to use during classes
  • Tea, drinking water and healthy snacks available anytime

Not included

  • Flights (closest airports are Granada, Almeria or Malaga being the most affordable)
  • Transfers* 
  • Tent and bedding for camping
  • One-to-one practises**

* Buses approximately 20€ or taxi transfers available for 130€ each way (taxi costs can be shared between those travelling together) – we can arrange the most cost effective transfers for you.

**Massage, Andean and Mayan Therapies, Elemental Tarot Reading are an additional cost and need to be booked separately, it will be possible to book in-person during the retreat, but please bear in mind there are a limited number of spaces so we recommend booking these in advance, please contact if you wish to do so. If there is high demand for massage we will book another experienced practitioner to make sure no one misses out.

How to book

Paypal or Bacs payments are accepted, for financial ease and flow you can arrange to pay in steady instalments, please contact directly if you wish to arrange a payment plan. Full payment is due by 1st June 2024, please be aware that your deposit of 150€ is non refundable.  Full payment is non refundable 4 weeks before the start of your retreat.

Click the Paypal link below to pay your deposit – you will be given further instructions to make the final payment once you are booked.

Please contact to discuss a personalised payment plan or to pay by BACS.

Contact Email :  maya@innersmile.yoga

Travel Insurance:

If you are travelling from outside of Spain, we recommend getting full travel insurance. Please provide us with your Travel Insurance Cover details in case of an emergency. Your travel insurance should cover you for cancellation, sickness, losses and all the usual risks.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to welcoming you on this journey to the magical mountains of the Alpujarra.

With warmth,

Maya, Felix and the Sacred Fire Gathering Team

Sacred Fire Gathering Schedule

Monday July 1st – Earth Element

17:00-19:00 Arrival Circle, Yin Yoga & Meditation with Maya Gayle

19:30 Dinner

Tuesday 2nd July – Water Element 

7:30-8:30 Vinyasa Krama Yoga with Felix

9:00 Breakfast

11:30-13:30 Ecstatic Dance with DJ Abekani Clallam

14:00 Lunch

15:00-17:00 Mountain Waters Walk

17:30-19:00 Yin Yoga with Maya Gayle

19:30 Dinner

21:00-22:30 Concert – Christos Kanellos Malamas 

22:30 Rest and Sleep

Wednesday July 3rd – Air Element 

7:30-8:30 Vinyasa Krama Yoga with Felix

9:00 Breakfast

11:30-13:30 Ecstatic Dance with DJ Abekani Clallam

14:00 Lunch

15:00-17:00 Somatic Dance with Ragna Luciana

17:30-19:00 Yin Yoga with Maya Gayle

19:30 Dinner

21:00-22:00 Workshop and Concert – Coro de Clave

22:30 Rest and Sleep

Thursday July 4th – Fire Element 

7:30-9:00 Vinyasa Krama Yoga with Felix

9:00 Breakfast

11:30-13:30 Ecstatic Dance with DJ Abekani Clallam

14:00 Lunch

15:00-17:00 Cacao Ceremony with M Cristina – Athaia

17:30-19:00 Yin Yoga with Maya Gayle

19:30 Dinner

21:00-22:30 Concert – Andrés Ruz 

22:30 Rest and Sleep

Friday July 5th – Space Element 

07:30-9:00 Vinyasa Krama Yoga and Closing Circle

9:00 Breakfast

For early risers breakfast will be open every morning from 7am.