By Maria Costa, Founder of Senăra Spa & Retreat
Senăra was born out of deep silence. It wasn’t a business idea. It was a soul’s calling.
At the peak of depression, when my body was begging for rest and my mind could no longer hold together the noise of the world, a desire emerged: to create a place where others could also pause. A space where time slows down. Where the body is honoured. Where wellness is not a trend, but a truth. That is how Senăra was born.
With two decades of professional experience in the wellness industry, I had seen a lot. But only through my own vulnerability did I understand the real power of touch, silence, listening, and presence. Senăra is the translation of that journey. It’s the home I searched for—and never found.
At Senăra, we don’t heal.
We care. Deeply. Intentionally.
We are not a spa. We are a refuge for the nervous system. Here, every detail is designed to restore: the light, the sound, the scents, the natural materials, the architecture.
That’s why we include the finest tools in the wellness world, such as the Gratz Pilates Reformer, often called the “Stradivarius” of classical pilates. More than a machine, it is a body extension: precise, aligned, profound. Just like our philosophy.
With the same purpose, we created experiences rooted in nature. Yoga and meditation classes in the forest, where rosemary and pine scents cradle the breath. Rituals by the sea, at sunrise and under the full moon, where the body moves with the Earth’s cycles. These are ancient practices, reimagined for modern rhythms, helping to realign what daily life fragments.
This intention also guided the selection of our partners.
Our most essential: Ground Wellbeing.
I discovered Ground at a time when I needed more than a product. I needed a gesture.
Founded by Irish therapist Peigín Crowley, Ground is not just a brand—it’s a manifesto about the healing power of touch and body reconnection, especially for women. With lines tailored for menopause, fertility, lymphatic health and cancer support, Ground offers what conventional medicine often lacks: sensitivity, nature, soul, and deep listening.
We use Ground’s products in all our therapeutic rituals—not just because their ingredients are pure, but because their mission is. And that, today, is more valuable than any certification.
At Senăra, we work with women in all life stages. We welcome those experiencing anxiety, burnout, and sleeplessness. We welcome those grieving, transitioning through menopause, navigating difficult postpartum, or recovering from cancer. And in every moment, we don’t try to fix—we simply hold space.
Our team is trained for that. All therapists are educated in listening, conscious touch, and integrative techniques. We offer private sessions, seasonal programmes, and nature-aligned experiences, always with a therapeutic yet deeply human approach.
In connection with our community, we launched the Locals Spa Pass, offering residents of Comporta accessible ways to care for themselves, those who sustain this region all year long.
We work with truth. And with beauty. From the sand to the rice fields, from the massage table to the welcome detox shot—everything at Senăra is designed to restore the sense of belonging to the body.
We proudly collaborate with local partners like Surf In Comporta and the Alqueva Experience, blending wellness with nature and authenticity.
Senăra is an extension of my own scar.
That’s why it touches so deeply.
Here, luxury is not marble.
It is time. It is listening. It is honesty.
It is care as a practice. Silence as medicine.
Senăra is not just a place. It’s a promise.
Of stillness. Of love. Of rebirth.
Get to know Senăra at senaraspa.com | Photos courtesy Team Senăra