Yoga Retreats in Valencia, Spain

Planet

- We actively recycle and Benissiva village has recycle bins which we use regularly to recycle plastics, glass, paper, cardboard. We provide bins for recycling paper, plastics and glass in the kitchen for guests to use here.

- We do not print brochures - instead we provide all of our information electronically via the internet.

- Any information we do print - whether about ourselves or the charity we support - ‘People For Animals’ - is printed on paper from sustainable forestry.

- All of the cleaning products we use here are environmentally friendly. We use products from Ecover or local companies such as Ecotech and Ahimsa.

- All washing is done at low temperatures.

- We encourage awareness for responsible usage of electricity and water (with nice signs around the retreat centre).

- Nearly everything here is locally sourced so as to limit transport and so minimise effects on the environment and minimise packaging waste.

- Most of our paper hygiene products - napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper and so forth come from European companies which are committed to the environment, sustainable forestry and to recycling. Many of the products we use carry the FSC logo (Forest Stewardship Council, an international non-profit organization established in 1993 that promotes responsible management of the world's forests, i.e. sustainable forestry) or the EU Ecolabel. The EU Ecolabel helps identify products and services that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle, from the extraction of raw material through to production, use and disposal.

- Nearly all of our lighting is with energy saving light bulbs again to reduce the impact on the environment.

- Our yoga products are friendly to the environment. Our yoga straps are made from organic cotton so that pesticides and other chemicals have not been put into the earth where the cotton was grown. The yoga mats that we use are made from non-harmful plastics as well.

- We are very much involved in a charity in India called People For Animals. They have around 36 animal hospitals all over India including one in Mysore, India where we spend winter ourselves. We talk to students/guests who come here about the nature of Ahimsa or non-violence and tell them about the charity. We also donate a small part of our profits to People for Animals too. Our work with this charity conveys very well the nature and the underlying philosophy of yoga.

- We provide information on local walking routes here in the Valencian countryside to guests who come here.
Beautiful guided hikes are offered directly from the retreat location (no driving necessary).

- Our permanent staff live locally. Our temporary staff live a short walk away from the retreat centre.


- All of our foods are organic. These means that the foods are grown in an environment that is free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other products that are harmful to the environment, to the soil and to the consumer. Organically grown food is also higher in vitamins, bioflavinoids and other nutrients that are anti-oxidant. Our aim is to truly create a healthy environment where our guests and the soil can thrive.

- All meals are plant-based (so there's less encouragement of carbon emissions).

- We organise a group transfer for our guests.