Poyales del Espino. A small town in the province of Ávila, south of Gredos, surrounded by mountains, forests, rivers and pools overflowing with crystal clear water. It is the starting point for a journey of self-introspection. To know yourself better, reduce stress, seek happiness and even, at some point, reconsider a life change.
In a rural hotel in Poyales, at the foot of the mountains, is Mundo Consciente, a retreat center to practice yoga, meditation, mindfulness or biodance, where you can also enjoy natural food with organic products from your own garden. The proposal is clear, according to its promoters: “Live in the present moment, reduce stress, awaken sensitivity, establish harmonious relationships, form deep friendships and know yourself better.” The founder of the center is a Galician from La Coruña who has lived in Gredos for more than 25 years, Alberto Villar. “We started to offer holiday stays, but people, very happy, wanted more, to learn how to relax and control stress. From there, the idea came spontaneously,” he remembers.
Beyond the journey itself, Mundo Consciente promotes a common goal. Participants are part of a group of people who do deep personal work in an environment of sincerity and truth-telling in which they learn to communicate authentically and experience relationships consciously. “The goal is for people to come together. On the one hand, we are surrounded by nature and, on the other, we also offer very high quality products, which also helps to have health and calm mind “, Villar explains. . According to him, “we practice many activities and contribute“It’s a learning process to learn how to control stress and be relaxed, but it’s not something theoretical.”
To that end, as he points out, the center is open year-round and offers everything from family vacations with children to silent or tantric retreat programs. “People can come and stay as long as they want,” Villar says. Mundo Consciente receives visitors from all over Spain and even from abroad, people of all ages and with different problems.
“Many managers come to reduce stress or learn to improve their way of managing,” explains the center’s promoter, convinced that feeling heals. As a letter framed at the center’s entrance and signed by Villar himself says, “if you don’t allow yourself to feel something, that thing will knock at the door for the rest of your life.” His proposal is to dare to feel both what is pleasant and what is not.
