The Big Exhale
PORTUGAL YOGA Retreat
13-18 OCT 2026 | ALENTEJO
If waking up to pink morning light on the most beautiful Portuguese farmhouse, twice-daily yoga, lake swims, and farm-to-table meals sounds tempting, this retreat is for you.
The Big Exhale is a 5-day Vinyasa, Yin yoga, journaling, breath-work and meditation retreat at the stunning Cucumbi in Alentejo, 1,5 hour from Lisbon.
“I had a truly wonderful experience at the Big Exhale retreat. Everything was thoughtfully organized, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere from start to finish.
The yoga classes were inspiring and the location in Portugal was SO beautiful. There was a perfect balance between practice, relaxation, and connection with others. I left feeling deeply rested, recharged, and inspired.
A heartfelt thank you to Lisa and the entire team for creating such a special experience. I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone looking to reconnect with themselves and deepen their yoga practice.”
NATALY LIPP, GERMANY
The Program
Imagine having time to sleep in (no alarm!), waking up when your body wants to, morning walks in breath taking nature, and refreshing lake-swims surrounded by flowers and cork trees.
This retreat is all about slowing things down.For real.
It’s about disconnecting from the busyness of life, to-do lists and outside distractions.
The energy of Cucumbi is hard to put into words — it has to be experienced. One thing’s for sure: it’s the perfect place to connect with nature and with yourself.
To just be.
For this retreat we’ll gather for our morning practice at 8.30am. This class includes meditation, journaling, dynamic open-level Vinyasa and a long well-deserved Savasana.
In the afternoons, we’ll come together again for a slower, more inward-focused session blending Yin Yoga, myo-fascial release, restorative yoga, meditation, and pranayama.
If you’ve never practiced with us before, we recommend trying one of our FREE CLASSES or feel free to email us with any questions about our classes.
The Food
During this retreat, you’ll pamper yourself with incredible homemade, wholesome food, much of which is prepared with produce straight from Cucumbi’s own veggie garden.
After the morning practice, a generous brunch buffet will be served at 10.30am. Expect everything from fresh juices and smoothies, locally made sourdough bread, yogurt, and homemade granola to eggs from the farm’s chickens, local cheeses, and fresh fruit.
In the afternoon there will be some healthy light snacks and savoury treats to refuel.
Our afternoon yoga session is scheduled so you’ll have the chance to enjoy an aperitif or glass of wine while watching the sunset, either by the pool or by the lake.
Around 7.30 pm, we’ll be treated to a gorgeous three-course, colourful farm-to-table dinner.
We promise it will be a feast for the senses!
Note: If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, like lactose- or gluten-free needs, please mention them in the booking form, and we’ll pass them on to the chef.
Our Venue
CUCUMBI - AN OASIS of tranquility
Cucumbi is one of those places where, as soon as you arrive, your shoulders drop from your ears, and a sense of calmness washes over you. The energy here is truly special, and it’s something you’ll definitely want to experience.
Cucumbi Farm is located in the tiny village of Barrancão in the Alentejo region, southeast of Lisbon, about 30 minutes inland from the coast and roughly 1,5 hour drive from Lisbon.
The farm offers 10 beautifully minimalist rooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom. You’ll find double rooms with queen- or king-size beds, as well as twin rooms. Some of the rooms are located in spacious apartments that come with their own kitchen, fireplace, and living room.
In addition to its beautifully designed rooms, Cucumbi features a large saltwater swimming pool, a spacious living room, a gorgeous communal kitchen with an honesty bar, a small shop, and a stunning restaurant where meals will be served.
The impressive 112-hectare farmland includes two trails (3-5 km) that take you through breathtaking landscapes of rolling hills and around several lakes.
You can use the bikes and stand-up paddle boards or even take a canoe ride on the lake.
We KNOW you’ll fall in love with Cucumbi — it’s as simple as that. The only downside? You might not want to leave.
HOW TO GET HERE
Whether traveling from Lisbon center or the airport, the easiest (and by far the cheapest) way to reach Cucumbi is by Uber or Bolt (around €60) or by renting a car on your own or sharing it with others. The ride takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
We’re more than happy to connect you with others to share the ride.
WHY WE LOVE IT…
FARM-TO-TABLE-MEALS // SALT-WATER SWIMMING POOL // INCREDIBLE DESIGN // NO PHONE -SIGNAL // 112 HECTARE OF BREATH-TAKING NATURE // SUNSETS BY THE LAKE
Your Teacher
LISA ANDERSSON RHODINER (SWE)
CO-FOUNDER INSPIRO YOGA & LEAD TEACHER
Lisa Andersson Rhodiner is an experienced Vinyasa, Yin, and Meditation teacher, teacher trainer, mentor, and business coach for yoga teachers.
Since completing her first teacher training in Bali in 2012, she has dedicated her life to yoga, accumulating over 1,000 hours of advanced yoga studies and more than 6,000 teaching hours.
As a Yoga Alliance certified E- RYT 500 teacher and YACEP (Continuing Education Provider), Lisa has led over 20 international yoga teacher trainings, certifying more than 150 yoga teachers worldwide, and has hosted more than 100 retreats across Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Known for her empowering, slow yet strong flow classes and deeply restorative Yin sessions, Lisa weaves in thoughtful themes and seamless transitions, offers intentional hands-on adjustments, and always pairs the practice with a carefully curated playlist.
HIGHLIGHTS
SILENT MORNINGS // LAKE SWIMS // WALKS IN NATURE //FARM-TO-TABLE MEALS // DAILY 2 HOUR MORNING PRACTICE // HOME-MADE FOOD // QUIET SURROUNDINGS // GUIDED & FREE-HAND JOURNALING
DAILY SCHEDULE
SILENT MORNING WALK & SWIM + LIGHT SNACK
8.30AM: MORNING PRACTICE
10.30AM: GENEROUS BRUNCH
POOL-TIME / MASSAGE / LAKE-SWIMS / SUP & CANOEING / BIKING / SIESTAS / AFTERNOON SNACK
5PM: YIN / RESTORATIVE / DANCE / BREATH-WORK
7.30PM: DINNER
NOTE: The retreat starts at 5pm on the day of arrival with a welcome circle & yoga practice and ends at 11am on the last day.
“One of the best retreats I've attended! As a yoga instructor myself, it's so nice to be on a retreat as a student and learn so much from the team facilitating. Big shoutout to Lisa for creating a space where people of all skill levels and purposes can reconnect with themselves. Will definitely be back!
Kavya Pochiraju, USA
The Package
6 days and 5 nights at Cucumbi Farm, with access to the entire 112-hectare property, featuring lakes, hiking trails, a saltwater pool, and various indoor and outdoor spaces and a beautiful restaurant area.
Daily 2-hour morning Vinyasa practice
Daily Afternoon Session (Yin / Breath-work / Dance)
Generous brunch buffet
Three-course farm-to-table dinner
Daily morning & afternoon snack
Herbal tea, coffee & fresh fruit available throughout the day
Free use of bikes, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards
NOTE: Your flight and transport to/from Cucumbi are not included.
WHAT YOU CAN ADD
Massage
Ceramic Workshop (a minimum of people required)
Individual Breath-work sessions
The Pricing (per person)
Shared ROOM 1799€-2099€*
Stay in a single bed in a beautiful twin room, shared with one other person. All twin rooms are located in spacious apartments with 1–3 bedrooms, a kitchenette, living room, and fireplace. Some rooms have an ensuite bathroom, while others have a shared bathroom. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a hair dryer, pool towels, and organic toiletries from Portuguese brand 8950.
DOUBLE ROOM FOR 2 PEOPLE 1599€-1699€* 1 laST ROOM
Stay together in a double room with a queen-size bed. Rooms have either an ensuite or shared bathroom. Some feature a private terrace overlooking the garden, while others do not. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a hair dryer, pool towels, and organic toiletries from Portuguese brand 8950.
Single Room 2599€-2699€* 1 last room
Enjoy a private double room all to yourself, featuring a queen-size bed and an ensuite bathroom. Some rooms also offer a private terrace with a garden view. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a hair dryer, pool towels, and organic toiletries from Portuguese brand 8950.
*If you've joined any of our Inspiro Yoga retreats, events, or teacher trainings before, you'll receive 10% off with the promo code IYCOMMUNITY10. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount.
Still have questions?
If there is anything we haven’t covered here, please drop us a line at info@inspiroyoga.com
-
CHECK IN / ARRIVAL DAY
Check in at Cucumbi Farm is at 2pm. If you arrive earlier you can leave your bags and either chill by the pool or have a little hike.
CHECK OUT / DEPARTURE DAY
Check out is at 11am after our morning class and a brunch. The schedule on the last day will be slightly different, with a 90 min yoga class starting at 8am (instead of 8.30am) and the brunch starting at 9.30am.
-
Check in is from 2pm.
The retreat starts at 5pm. We’ll gather in the yoga shala or outside for an introduction, followed by a grounding yoga practice and dinner.
The retreat ends after our morning yoga class (this class will be 90min) and brunch on the last day of the retreat.
Check out is at 11am.
-
Cucumbi is located about 1 hour 15min from Lisbon airport and 1 hour from Lisbon and it’s easy to find an Uber or taxi to get there. Usually a ride is about 50-60€. We’re happy to connect you to others to share the cost.
You might also want to get a rental car, which can be nice if you plan to stay a few days extra beofre/after the retreat as well as if you want to explore a bit around Cucumbi while you’re at the retreat.
-
The best way to know this is to take one of our FREE CLASSES, to get a taste of how we teach.
If you’re someone who likes a dynamic practice, with a bit of challenges then you’ll probably like it. If you’re more into a more gentle yoga, probably not.
-
Absolutely! The majority of our guests travel alone and you’ll see that you’ll make a lot of new friends!
-
Please see our Terms & Conditions.
-
Sure, just get in touch as you make the bookings and we can set that up. The retreat must still be fully paid 30 days prior to start.
-
Herdade Serra dos Mendes
Santa Susana 7580-701
Portugal
(+351) 911 955 298
-
RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST
Your own yoga mat (if you like! (there are also mats available onsite)
A journal
Refillable water bottle
Sneakers
Flip flops/sandals
Sunglasses
Swimwear
Yoga clothes
Sunscreen
Warm socks (sometimes Portuguese floors can be cold early mornings)
Ear plugs and sleeping mask if you’re a light sleeper and will be sharing room with someone.
Possibly a raincoat (check the weather forecast)
-
No, you don't need to bring any of those as the venue will provide that.
-
The weather can vary (as with everywhere!) but normally it’s around 18-25 degrees during the day. Temperature can drop at night. The days can be warm and sunny and evenings/nights chilly. Make sure yo check the weather forecast before you pack.