Welcome To
the Lovely people place

A unique location for yogis and creatives, close to the peaceful coastal city of Figueira da Foz, Portugal.

This is a self-directed residency for those wishing to deepen their practice and live consciously within a supportive community. We welcome those who are devoted to yoga, creative work, or a combination of both, offering the time and space to fully immerse themselves without distraction. Rather than a structured programme, it is an experience of intentional living designed to support meaningful practice, presence, and connection.

OUR Venues

Our venues are simple, spacious, and functional, built to support regular practice and provide a distraction-free environment. They are not luxurious; staying here entails a communal lifestyle and shared responsibility. Residents contribute through daily tasks and active care for the community. Each home has its own identity, but both uphold conscious living, dedicated practice, and creative exploration.

Both homes are part of peaceful Portuguese communities, rather than in secluded settings. You may hear dogs barking, traffic, and locals going about their day. These are embraced as part of the reality of being present in the world and not considered disturbances. The intention is to create an environment where creativity and practice can exist within everyday life.

Casa Grande

Casa Grande is a spacious, century-old building that once served as the communal market and agricultural centre for the local area. Today, its simplicity and spacious studios and practice areas provide an inspiring home for creatives and practitioners seeking a place to immerse themselves in their work. The focus here is not comfort or luxury, but creating an environment where you can work consistently and without distraction.

The Old Beach Café

The Old Beach Café is our second space. Located in the traditional fishing village of Praia da Leirosa, a coastal gem, surrounded by Leirosa National Forest and just two minutes from the protected dunes of Leirosa Beach. With a light-filled yoga studio and a peaceful art workshop, the focus here is not on luxury, but on deep immersion in your practice and a meaningful connection to the natural world, all set against the ever-changing backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.

We are currently restoring and refurbishing the property, carefully transforming it into a vibrant space for practice, creativity, and community. Watch the video below to see the progress so far and get a glimpse of the vision coming to life.

What you will find

This residency is ideal for creatives and yogis who want to deepen their practice, nurture their creativity, and learn alongside others on a similar path. It offers an opportunity to experience community living while connecting with like-minded people from diverse backgrounds.

Each residency develops its own unique rhythm, shaped by the participants, their practices, creative pursuits, and the shared space. Through this organic exchange, a supportive and inspiring environment naturally emerges.

There are no rigid schedules or tightly structured timetables here. We believe that each person is best placed to know what serves them most in any given moment, and the residency is designed to support freedom, trust, and self-direction.

That said, a natural daily flow tends to emerge, and a typical day might look something like this:

8:00

09:00 - 10:30

10:30 - 13:00

13:00 - 14:00

14:00 - 18:00

19:30

Each group will build its own dynamics and there are no tight schedules or timetables. For reference, this is what a typical day looks day:

Breakfast

Yoga

Focused Practice

Lunch

Focused Practice

Dinner

Weekends are free time to do as you please, whether that's continuing your work or exploring the local area.

The founder

Swami Madhrananda Saraswati.

Madhura is a devoted yogi with over 50 years of practice. His vision for the residency is to host creatives and practitioners who are dedicated to their work, personal practice, and mindful living. It is intentionally unstructured, and he instead supports self-discovery, connection, and the freedom to explore one's own path.

The purpose of the residency is to provide a space for artists and yogis who wish to dedicate a month or more to their art or personal practice. This is a not-for-profit venture working alongside Madhura's charitable foundation, Bhava Foundation. All monies received beyond the running costs are directed towards charitable purposes. Currently, Bhava Foundation supports the acquisition and conservation of flora and fauna reserves, working alongside Indigenous communities to manage and improve land assets. The foundation also contributes to educational opportunities for girls in Nepal and provides support for impoverished tribal communities and orphans in Vietnam.

A Glimpse into the Residency

Follow our journey and become part of our community in Figueira da Foz. Experience the daily rituals of yoga, creative flow, and intentional living through our eyes.

A window into our daily flow—from morning yoga practices to the quiet focus of our creative residents. Explore the essence of Lovely People Place through our YouTube channel.

Pricing & Application

As spaces are limited, each application is reviewed individually to ensure the residency is the right fit for genuinely self-motivated individuals and that the group is well-balanced and mutually supportive.

Monthly cost: €550

- €50 for house expenses.

- €500 charitable donation supporting one of our causes.

Food costs are shared and vary depending on the size of the group. As an example, with 10 residents contributing €10 per day, there is typically sufficient budget for simple vegetarian meals. Any personal food preferences, snacks, or additional items are at your own expense.

Evening meals are prepared and shared collectively. In a group of 10 residents, you would usually be responsible for cooking only twice per month. Weekends are more flexible, with meals arranged independently.

Art materials and personal project expenses are not included. Each participant will have a dedicated art space that can be arranged according to their needs, as well as a personal yoga space for individual practice.

How to Apply

To ensure the space is a good fit for you, we require serious applicants to:

Submit a text discussing your daily art or yoga practice in detail.
Outline your specific plans for your stay.
Begin a daily practice diary to demonstrate your commitment.

If you are applying as an artist, please also:

Submit a portfolio with a selection of works that best represent your practice.
List any tools, resources, or logistical requirements you may need.

Apply

Testimonials from our LovelyPeople

Sophio, 2026

This was my first Workaway experience, and I truly couldn’t have wished for a better one. Madhura, Liz, and Andre are incredibly kind and warm-hearted people who made me feel at home from the very beginning. My tasks mainly involved wall repairs like concreting and plastering. I had no prior experience in these areas, but Madhura patiently explained everything and made learning easy. Beyond the work, I gained so much through yoga, meditation, breathwork, shared meals, meaningful conversations, workshops, and creative evenings with other Workawayers. It feels like I’ve found a new family I can return to. I’m deeply grateful for this experience and wholeheartedly recommend it.

Sarah, 2025

Isabella & Willa, 2024

Carlotta & Luca, 2023

These two weeks with Madhura were nothing like I expected - and everything I needed. I came with anxiety, doubt, and the noise of the world still buzzing in my head. I left with more trust, more strength, and a deeper connection to silence, presence, and purpose. If you come here, come with your heart open. Come ready to listen - not just to him, but to nature, to the rhythm of your breath, to the part of you that you’ve been avoiding. Bring your willingness. Bring your weirdness. Bring your whole heart. Thank you for the stillness, the rhythm, the soil, the sun. May many more find what I found here - whatever it is they didn’t even know they were seeking. Forever grateful for this experience.

Mine and Isabella's time at Allan's was an experience that we will never forget. Not only were we looked after incredibly well, extremely well fed (Allan is an excellent chef!) and made to feel safe and secure, the work we were doing was rewarding and it felt wonderful to be a part of something that will be standing for many years to come. We especially loved the routine of starting our day with yoga and mediation, and that combined with the fresh vegetables provided by him at every lunch time, I have never felt so healthy as when we were living with Allan. We are so grateful for everything Allan taught us in the brief time we spent there, things we will carry with us for the rest of our lives! I highly highly recommend. Once again, thank you Allan.

We spent wonderful weeks here, and from the very beginning Madhura welcomed us with warmth and kindness. We highly recommend spending some time in this place if you wish to slow down, reconnect with nature, and share meaningful moments with the amazing people you will meet along the way. Madhura is truly a life teacher—his words are filled with wisdom and inspiration. We are deeply grateful for this experience and very happy we had the chance to live it!

Welcome To the Lovely people place