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About Ananda's
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Founded in 2017, Ananda Yoga Retreats was created as a space where people from around the world can step away from the demands of everyday life and take time for themselves in a relaxed and supportive environment.
The ethos of Ananda is simple: to offer a place where there is no pressure to perform or meet expectations — only the freedom to move at your own pace, practise yoga, rest, and reconnect with what matters.
Each retreat is held in beautiful natural settings and supported by nourishing food and thoughtful teaching, creating an experience that feels both grounding and restorative.
Our programs dive deep into the holistic essence of yoga, going far beyond just physical postures! Get ready to explore the philosophical foundations, embrace mindfulness, and reconnect with your true self through invigorating dynamic practices, restoratives, breath work, and sound.
I’m Madeline Diaz Meiners, known in my teaching as Ananda, and the founder of Ananda Yoga Retreats.
Yoga has been a central part of my life for nearly three decades. What began as a personal practice gradually evolved into teaching and, over time, the creation of retreats where others could experience the depth and restorative power of these practices in a supportive environment.
For the past 15 years I have been teaching yoga, teacher trainings and facilitating retreats, sharing practices drawn from Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Kundalini, meditation and sound healing. My approach is breath-led and grounded in the wider philosophy of yoga, encouraging students to explore both the physical practice and the deeper awareness that sits behind it.
My teachings have also been deeply influenced by the work of Tara Brach, Ram Dass and Michael Singer, whose perspectives on mindfulness, compassion and self-inquiry continue to shape the way I hold space for others.
Through retreats in Ibiza and the Lake District, my intention is simply to create environments where people can step away from their usual routines, practise with curiosity, and reconnect with themselves in beautiful natural surroundings.
Trainings include -
Satyananda Yoga Teacher Training, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, TCM Meridians, Kundalini Yoga, Rocket Yoga, Mandala Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, Gong Sound Healing Practitioner.
CHEF CESAR GASTARDELLI
The revolution starts with food....
The Ananda kitchen is managed by Chef Cesar, partner of life and business with Ananda. Originally from Argentina, Cesar trained as a chef 15 years ago in the Hoffmann Training School in Barcelona. As a Michelin trained chef, Cesar's meals in the Ananda kitchen focus on vegetarian ingredients, fostering compassion, connection, and creativity through nourishing cuisine.
Chef Cesar’s dishes allow people to discover the joy of healthy, intentional eating. Our meals are crafted to promote well-being, happiness, and a deeper connection with ourselves, each other and our beautiful planet. By embracing a more mindful relationship with what we consume and how we interact with the earth, we elevate health and vibration for everyone.
SARAH ~ Retreat Coordinator
After moving to Ibiza in 2016, Sarah co-founded a stand-up paddleboarding business, leading guided SUP tours and teaching paddleboard yoga—bringing together movement, breath and a deep connection with nature.
In 2018, she trained in Vinyasa Flow and Hatha Yoga, further deepening her passion for holistic wellbeing. Since then, she has supported clients in a variety of roles, including hosting yoga retreats, working in client care and running a successful property business.
Sarah is currently studying for an MA in Psychosynthesis Psychology, a holistic and transpersonal approach that honours the whole person—body, mind, heart and spirit. Alongside her studies, she works with clients as a trainee counsellor, supporting personal growth, resilience and self-discovery.
Passionate about the healing power of nature, Sarah combines hike guiding, paddleboarding, kayaking, yoga, meditation and counselling to create meaningful experiences that encourage connection, wellbeing and transformation. Her warm, grounded presence helps guests feel supported, seen and inspired to reconnect with themselves, each other and the natural world.
ANANDA'S WELLNESS SPA
Where Healing Meets Indulgence
Unwind in a nurturing space devoted to your wellbeing. Our therapists bring together traditional healing practices and modern expertise to create bespoke treatments that restore, rebalance and deeply relax.
Anna Favager
Anna discovered yoga while travelling through South America and Australia in 2012. What began as a physical practice soon became a transformative journey, profoundly influencing her outlook, relationships and way of moving through life with greater presence and ease.
She completed her 200-hour Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training with Andrea Everingham in Spain in 2018 and has since continued her studies in Yin Yoga, Mandala Vinyasa, Rocket Yoga, Prenatal Yoga and Embodied Yin.
Anna’s classes are creatively and intentionally sequenced to help you feel stronger, more fluid and deeply connected to your body. Her teaching honours the traditional philosophy of yoga while offering a modern, accessible approach, with a strong emphasis on breath, intuitive movement and mindful presence.
Held within a carefully curated atmosphere, her classes are both grounding and uplifting, inviting you to move with confidence, curiosity and ease.
Eirian Collinge
Eirian is a Yoga Alliance Senior Yoga Teacher, CNHC Registered Yoga Therapist and Somatic Practitioner with over 11 years of teaching experience. Her work is rooted in advanced training in Yoga Therapy through the British Council for Yoga Therapy, alongside specialist studies in somatics, nervous system regulation, trauma-informed practice, stress and burnout recovery, sleep, women’s health, Yin Yoga, meditation and embodied movement.
With a warm, playful spirit and down-to-earth approach, Eirian blends dynamic yoga, somatic movement, breath work and restorative practices to create experiences that are both deeply nourishing and accessible. Inspired by nature and the wisdom of the body, she invites guests to move with curiosity, reconnect with themselves and discover a greater sense of ease and wellbeing.
Rebecca Haslam
Rebecca has been teaching yoga for over five years, though her love of movement began long before that through dance. After training professionally and graduating in 2018, yoga became a lifeline during a challenging chapter of her life and has since become an integral part of her daily living.
Her classes are trauma-informed and rooted in the mind-body connection, drawing inspiration from nature and our innate relationship with it. Through breathwork, meditation and thoughtfully sequenced movement, Rebecca creates a safe, supportive and curious space for self-inquiry, encouraging presence, reflection and embodied awareness.
Committed to honouring the ancient traditions of yoga, Rebecca is continually inspired by the teachings of Ram Dass and Dr Gabor Maté. A lifelong student, she has completed advanced training in Ashtanga Vinyasa, Mandala Yoga & Shamanism, Rocket Yoga, Yin Yoga, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Aerial Yoga and Crystal Sound Bowls, and is dedicated to helping others cultivate inner harmony while contributing to a more compassionate and connected world.
BELEN ~ Retreat Therapist Ibiza
Belén has been a vibrant force in the Ananda Yoga Retreats holistic therapy team at our Ibiza Yoga Retreat centre for over five years. With over 14 years of expertise as a professional acupuncturist and massage therapist, her inspiring journey began in 2008 in Santiago, Chile, where she delved into the wonders of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since then, she has passionately embraced integrative therapies, committed to guiding each individual on their unique healing adventure.
Belén believes that every mindful touch not only provides physical relief but also unlocks emotional blockages, helping the body release and let go. Her focus is to a safe and nurturing space where everyone can reconnect with their bodies and their true selves!
FERNANDO - Retreat Therapist Ibiza
Fernando, originally from Argentina, has over 12 years of experience and a deep passion for holistic health and wellbeing — for his clients and himself alike.
Rooted in the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fernando works to restore balance between the mental, energetic, and physical bodies — an essential foundation for vitality, healing, and a truly fulfilling life.
No two bodies are the same. Through many years of study and hands-on experience across a wide range of therapeutic massage techniques, Fernando has developed the ability to truly listen to the body and respond with the most appropriate treatment, creating deep, lasting benefits rather than temporary relief.
Fernando offers his knowledge, presence, and healing energy to support your day-to-day wellbeing. Each session is fully personalised, intuitive, and adapted to your unique needs in that moment.
Known for his patience, sensitivity, and empathy, Fernando creates a safe, grounded space where you feel heard, supported, and cared for. Clear communication and genuine connection are at the heart of every session.
Why Our Retreats Are Different
Ananda Yoga Retreats is an independently run retreat company, and every retreat you see on our website is personally hosted and thoughtfully designed by our team.
Rather than operating through large retreat booking platforms, we create and hold each retreat ourselves so that every part of the experience reflects the same intention and care.
From the yoga practices and meditation to the food, the setting, and the rhythm of each day, the retreats are carefully curated to create a space where guests can truly rest, reconnect, and feel supported.
The five-star reviews shared by our guests reflect the experience we strive to create, and many of our students return year after year or join through personal recommendation.
Explore Our Retreats
If you feel called to experience one of our retreats, you can explore our upcoming yoga retreats in Ibiza and the UK below.