Living from the HEART Intensive at the Mas Corazón Retreat Center in Costa Brava - Barcelona, Spain
The path to your essence is a journey from your head to your heart, from merely surviving to truly living, from tension to relaxation, and from insecurity to a sense of safety. These conditions help you transform blockages and unhelpful behavior patterns into light, love, and an unlimited, non-dual way of living.
For the past five years, the Living from the Heart retreat has been held in my Tibetan monastery. This time, we’re moving to the new retreat center in Spain, “Mas Corazón,” owned by Dorien van Nieukerken, the founder of Heart House in Bussum.
Check out the retreat center in the videos below!
This retreat is specially designed to help you relax and learn to unwind on a deeper level.
The foundation of the retreat is stillness, deep relaxation, energy building, insight, knowledge, and wisdom. In addition to personal introspection, there is also space for sharing and connecting with others, if you wish. During the retreat, various yoga techniques and mindfulness meditations are combined to deepen your practice and to experience how these approaches amplify each other. You will be introduced to a mix of Hatha yoga, Tibetan yoga, Chi Kung, mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, and rituals. The retreat is suitable for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
Yoga promotes a healthy and relaxed body, paving the way for deeper inner exploration and awareness. In this retreat, we explore and experience our three bodies: the physical body (postures), the energetic/emotional body (feeling), and the mental body (thinking). With strength, inspiration, and connection as guiding principles, yoga and mindfulness exercises help you recognize and understand your automatic thought and behavior patterns. This process allows you to function more effectively, both at home and at work.
Throughout the retreat, you can enjoy a curated collection of yoga books and magazines, nature walks, and opportunities to connect with inspiring individuals. The surrounding environment is perfect for moments of stillness and reflection. In between sessions, delicious vegetarian meals will be prepared for you.
This retreat is led by Hans Kloosterman, Dorien van Nieukerken, and Erna Vonck.
PROGRAM LIVING FROM THE HEART = LIVING FROM LOVE WITH YOURSELF, OTHERS, NATURE, AND YOUR TRUE ESSENCE
HANS KLOOSTERMAN & TEAM
The basic program of the retreat is available on the website. This serves as a guideline. Adjustments are always made based on the group’s needs at any given moment. The program may deviate from what is currently on paper. However, meal times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be adhered to as closely as possible for the chef’s convenience.
Sunday
15:00 Welcome with tea and vegan treats, room assignments
16:00 Program explanation, tour, and outdoor Chi Kung
17:30 Vegetable snack
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Body scan & meditation on love, kindness, equanimity, compassion, and joy
21:00 Tea
22:00 Goodnight
Monday
07:00 The 7 TRE exercises: releasing old tension and restlessness from the psoas muscle
08:30 Breakfast
09:30 Silent nature walk
10:50 Coffee & tea break
11:00 Systemic constellation
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Karma yoga (e.g., dishwashing, gardening, etc.)
13:00 Free time + opportunity for massages/coaching + drawing assignment: What do you feel in your heart?
16:00 Pranayama/breathing exercises: Releasing blockages around the heart. Where does energy flow, and where doesn’t it? Anger hinders the flow of love/happiness.
17:30 Snack
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Meditation: Yoga Nidra
21:00 Tea
22:00 Goodnight
Tuesday (Partially in Silence)
07:00 Yin Yoga + Vipassana meditation/self-reflection/self-inquiry
08:30 Breakfast
09:30 Silent nature walk
10:50 Coffee & tea break
11:00 Systemic constellation: Living from love/the heart. Addressing heart blockages. What holds you back from living from your heart? What is needed to open your heart and live from it?
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Karma yoga (e.g., dishwashing, gardening, etc.)
13:00 Free time + opportunity for massages/coaching
16:00 Systemic constellation
17:30 Snack
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Latifa meditation: The 7 waystations and activation of emotions in the body. Meditation on your life path/living from the heart: This is what I truly want!
21:00 Tea
22:00 Goodnight
Wednesday
Excursion: Trip to the beach, local farm visit, honey production demonstration, or other activities to be determined.
Thursday
07:00 The 7 TRE exercises for psoas muscle release
08:30 Breakfast
09:30 Nature walk
10:50 Coffee & tea break
11:00 Mindful communication from the heart
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Free time + opportunity for massages/coaching
16:00 Heart dance + Yin Yoga on ultimate love
17:30 Snack
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Silent meditation followed by Buddha's Prajna Heart Sutra + mantra chanting
21:00 Non-alcoholic cocktails + ecstatic dancing + sound bowl concert
22:30 Goodnight
Friday
07:00 Various yoga practices: summary of the week
08:30 Breakfast in the dining hall
09:30 Room tidying and packing belongings into cars
10:00 Sharing, deepening, and connecting + review of the drawing assignment: What has changed?
11:00 Tea and farewell! Safe travels!
Location
The Masia = a place to call home
Nestled atop a hill between rolling mountains and surrounded by nature, our 17th-century authentic Catalan Masia offers a truly magical setting. Wherever you look, you’re greeted by mountains and greenery. This place exudes a serene, almost otherworldly charm. Its appeal is timeless, as evidenced by its rich history as a sanctuary for pilgrims traveling to Barcelona. It was a place to rest and recharge—and even now, the Masia offers peace and tranquility.
Mas Corazón is located in one of Spain’s most stunning provinces, Catalonia. The region is rich in beaches, coves, vibrant cities, charming villages, and an abundance of nature. The nearest coastal town, Blanes, is just 7 kilometers from Tordera. Lose yourself in the narrow streets of Blanes’ old town and settle into one of its many restaurants, offering something for every palate—from vegan dishes to traditional Catalan cuisine. Blanes is also home to a spectacular botanical garden, well worth a visit.
From here, the Costa Brava begins. Picture rugged cliffs contrasting with the turquoise-blue sea—absolutely breathtaking! Between these dramatic landscapes are hidden gems of coves, known as cala’s in Catalan, such as Santa Cristina or Cala Pola.
If you’re in the mood for a dose of culture, explore picturesque villages like Begur, Pals, or Calella de Palafrugell. For a more urban vibe, Catalonia has plenty of cities to satisfy your cultural cravings. Think of the vibrant energy of Barcelona or the charm of its smaller sibling, Girona, located just a 30-minute drive from Tordera.
Address
Mas Corazón Retreat (Can Sebastian)
Veïnat de Sant Tou 16
08490 Tordera
Province of Barcelona
(For GPS: enter Carrer de Sant Tou 16)
Hosts
The team consists of several hosts affiliated with Heart to Heart NL and ES.
Teachers
Hans Kloosterman
Hans is an entrepreneur, director, life-business and career coach, trauma and relationship therapist, author, yoga teacher, and expert in meditation and mindfulness. He is the author of the bestselling books "Van snob tot monnik" (From Snob to Monk) and "Wat is geluk?" (What is Happiness?).
A significant part of his expertise was gained as a monk in a Tibetan monastery, coupled with 15 years of in-depth study of the body and mind through Buddhism and Hinduism.
Since 2014, Hans has further enriched his knowledge with certifications in Western psychology, focusing on stress, anxiety, burnout, trauma processing, and learning to communicate nonviolently and compassionately.
His unique combination of experience includes 25 years in entrepreneurship and management within the fashion industry, specializing in buying, sales, and recruitment. This blend of backgrounds makes Hans an exceptional conversational partner.
Hans is certified in:
- Yoga, Meditation, and Mindfulness based on Buddhist philosophy (15 years of study)
- Mindfulness MBSR Teacher via Jon Kabat-Zinn's 8-week method (2 years of study)
(Registered with the VMBN association for Mindfulness Trainers, Category 1, registration number: 2016858) - Systemic Constellations via "The New Constellations" with Hylke Bonnema (2 years of study)
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) from Gary Craig, trained by psychologist Steven de Nie in Arnhem
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) trained by John Martinus
- TRE (Tension Release Exercises) by David Berceli, completed at TRE Netherlands (2 years of study)
- Nonviolent Communication: Compassionate communication from a Buddhist perspective, trained by David de Wulff in Belgium. Hans has also extensively studied and practiced all books and videos by Marshall Rosenberg.
Erna Vonck
Erna Vonck (1959) is an experienced teacher of Hatha Yoga, Dru Yoga, Ayurvedic massage, and Ayurvedic cooking. Her journey into the importance of relaxation began during her time as a teacher of sports and movement.
She initially completed her Ashtanga Yoga training under Tony Goes in Montfoort, followed by the Saswitha Yoga Teacher Training in Bilthoven. Her specialization year focused on yoga for seniors and teenagers, with additional modules in Breath Therapy and Ayurveda.
Erna has been teaching yoga to teenagers for several years at a secondary school in Laren. Additionally, she completed Ayurvedic massage training at Jade in Utrecht and works professionally as a massage therapist.
"All things share the same breath, the beast, the tree, the man… the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports."
– Chief Seattle
Dorien van Nieukerken
Entrepreneur with a Mission
I use my heart as an instrument of inspiration to touch the hearts of others. My mission is to help people and the organizations they work for achieve greater balance. This fosters happiness, satisfaction, and openness both at home and in the workplace—a beautiful gift from me to you.
Drawing on my years of experience and knowledge of various methods, every session is tailored to the individual, but the heart always takes center stage for me, both personally and professionally.
This passion led me to establish Heart to Heart and Heart House Bussum for well-being, inspiration, and development, as well as Mas Corazón, a retreat center in Spain.
During this retreat, I will serve as your host, supporting Hans and Erna with coaching and massages.
Costs
The costs are based on full board (accommodation & 3 meals per day), excluding flight and transfer costs:
- 4 single rooms (2 reserved for Hans and Erna): €2000 including 21% VAT
- 4 double rooms: €1750 including VAT
(You will share the room with someone you don’t know or bring someone you know)
Flights
Tickets must be purchased individually to Costa Brava Airport or Barcelona Airport.
Shuttle Service
Shuttle bus from the airport to the location can be arranged:
- Barcelona Airport: €125 per 2 people (cash payment – 1-hour travel time)
- Costa Brava Airport: €79 per 2 people (cash payment – 25-minute travel time, and the flight is shorter)
Recommendation
We recommend renting a car via booking.com. It is cheaper than a transfer. We will inform you if there are guests on the same flight so a car rental can be shared.
Additional Services (Organized by Dorien Nieukerken and payable in cash):
- Massage: 1 hour €80, ½ hour €40
- Coaching: 1 hour €80, ½ hour €40
+ €2000 P.P. - 1 person room
+ The prices include a linen set and Hans’ new book "Wat is Geluk?" personally signed by Hans, valued at €34.95 including VAT. The prices exclude massages and additional coaching.
Additional Information
Hans is a member of the VMBN Association and certified as a Mindfulness Trainer Category 1. This means you can inquire with your health insurance provider to see if you are eligible for partial reimbursement.
- Coaching costs: €35 for half an hour, €70 for an hour. Payable in cash.
- Massage costs: The massage costs €40 for half an hour and €80 for an hour, and these are not included in the price. They can be paid in cash on-site. An Ayurvedic massage costs €90 per hour.
During this retreat, you can also purchase the book "Wat is Geluk?", which can be signed by Hans (€39.95).
Read the summary and the first page on bol.com: https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/wat-is-geluk/9300000168272257/?bltgh=hobS15YixFevUY8cQlNGXg.2_47.48.ProductImage
These services must be paid for in cash.
Cancellation
Would you like to cancel a retreat at a later date?
Please review the cancellation policy.
Signing up
You can sign up for the following datesSun 25-05-2025 - Fri 30-05-2025
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Way of payment
You can wiretransfer the amount to the bankaccount noted in your confirmation e-mail after you have signed up.
If you are in possession of a dutch Bank account, you can pay through iDeal. After you've signed up you will receive an automatic confirmation email in which the payment details and an iDeal payment link is included. If you can, please try to pay with iDeal as it diminishes the administration time. Using iDeal will automatically process your payment. If it's not possible you can wire transfer the amount. See the bank-details on the invoice or watch under my website/contactdetails. Many thanks.
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Upcoming Retreats
Retreat at the Mas Corazón retreat center
Living from the HEART Intensive
The path to your essence is the journey from your head to your heart, from merely surviving to truly living, from tension to relaxation, and from insecurity to a sense of safety. These conditions empower you to transform blockages and unhelpful behavioral patterns into light, love, and an unlimited, non-dual way of living.
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