Before arriving at New Life Portugal we needed to go through a previous road, to discover its creators and the reasons that led them to settle in the neighboring country.
Julien Gryp transmits calm and wisdom. A serenity and a compassionate look that transmit peace, but that are the result of many years of self-knowledge. Julien had a rebellious adolescence, with many addiction problems until his father told him "enough" and took him to a Buddhist monastery in the thailand mountains, to Thamkrabok. At that moment, young Julien thought that he would run away at the first opportunity. But it was not like that. He stayed there eight years, serving the community of monks while he discovered the transforming power of meditation and mindfulness.
Forest walks at New Life Portugal, Serra da Estrela.
In 2010, already a Buddhist monk, he decided help people that he suffers from the same struggles and problems. Together with a fellow Belgian he met at the monastery he created the New Life Foundation Thailand, a non-profit organization that, with limited resources and the support of many people, became a thriving international hub which offers a high-quality, yet affordable program to help those, like him, who have faced anxiety, depression, exhaustion, loneliness or substance abuse.
In 2015, Julien decides to expand the foundation to Europe and, after searching in several countries, he fell in love with a piece of land with ruins in the middle of it. Serra da Estrela Natural Park, in the interior of Portugal. He knew immediately that it was the ideal “The Place”, with the perfect energy to found a new center. He did it with a precious project of sustainable architecture conceived by local architect Paul Borges and in association with the Serra da Estrela Geopark (Unesco landscape).
New Life Portugal is really something special: it is not a hotel, neither a spa nor a retreat center, much less a clinic. But it has elements of all that. Julien and his team of therapists, trainers and staff very well trained, they have come up with an innovative concept that allows us to go from short healing vacations or embark on a deeper program that transforms us and helps us in our struggles and inner fears. From which we all suffer. why not that we are all equal, everybody.
After two years of the pandemic, and now with a war in Europe, we are all trying to find the meaning of our lives. More than ever –and past the old prejudices– we are attentive to our mental health, to take care of our heads and to find a mission and a sense of belonging. With that spirit of curiosity and for believing that travel is much more than just tourism, at Conde Nast Traveler we are always looking for special places.
New Life Portugal, Serra da Estrela.
It was through the network Healing Hotels of the World, of which New Life is a part, that we discover this rural Arcadia. Here mindfulness and connection with nature are an integral part of their healing programs. Can enjoy the spa, the pool and personal training for our physical form, but also have individual sessions with therapists, coaches, meditation and yoga teachers, as well as a wide range of classes and group activities in an impressive natural environment. In fact, the most important thing here is the group, the community, of which the impeccable team is a part. In fact, the dining room with incredible views of the valley is shared by staff and guests.
When we think of retreats there is always something rustic and little comfort, or Spartan comfort. Here instead, we can say that the incredible houses of local stone, with its spacious rooms, well decorated, all with spectacular views and very well integrated into nature are of incredible comfort, but maintaining that spirit of simple luxury.
All the decorative elements and furniture are from the area and, for this reason, the precious blankets and pillows from the nearby Burel factory. The common areas are also spectacular and well thought out. We loved the sculptural suspended pavilion, designed for the yoga practice and other group classes.
New Life Portugal, Serra da Estrela.
The programs are fully customized and made previously taking into account the needs of each one. There are four to choose from, including the Resilience Path, with counseling and group therapy, the Wellness Path for physical fitness, Contemplative Life Path to cultivate stillness and mindfulness, as well as Path of Rest and Rejuvenation for rest and relaxation. Three elements are common to all of them: the daily meditation at sunrise, the morning session in community and the call noble silence (from 9:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. we must all keep quiet).
It must be said that nothing is compulsory here, but generally everyone signs up for that discipline since they come to a path of self-exploration and healing. Every week a common theme is launched, and the days we were there were about the "Boundaries". What an important challenge these days, when say no" it becomes more and more difficult.
New Life Portugal, Serra da Estrela.
There are individual sessions, but also many group activities. We do not forget nature walks with Tamas, that made us discover the precious local flora, or Silver's yoga classes, as well as participating in activities such as helping in the biological garden, from which many of the ingredients we eat come from. How could it be otherwise? the kitchen is specially cared for, with roots and local products and very healthy. The cook, Luis, even teaches some classes to learn these recipes, some of them vegan, vegetarian… and all very tasty. I could not miss, yes, the delicious (and nothing vegan) local cheese, the Serra da Estrela, similar to the Torta del Casar.
New Life Portugal, Serra da Estrela.
Despite appearances, New Life is not a luxurious country hotel but, above all, a community of people that makes us feel safe, connected with the environment and with ourselves. Accepting our struggles, not afraid to inquire but enjoying the process at all times. We only spent two days but for much of that time we had a smile on our faces and felt a rare serenity in our busy urban days, always “on fire”. Here that was left behind and we could live this break in a special environment, pampering us and taking care of ourselves and others.
In fact, whoever signs these lines will return to spend not two days, but two weeks, and thus delve into the road has already begun and in him that in such a short time we learned so much. All thanks to Julien and his team, in addition to the dear guests of various nationalities that we met there. Namaste.