Written by: Valeria Sogne, 24th July 2025
Pousada Terapêutica Mangarà – A Therapeutic Hostel in the Forest
How would it be to feel a calling so strong to change one’s life for a project of heart?
And here exactly is how the story of Márcia and Júlio begins. Around two years ago the couple felt called to change their urban life in Salvador for one way simpler in the forest of Camaçari, Areias. There the idea of the therapeutic hostel was born, the “Pousada Terapêutica Mangará”, Mangarà having the indigenous meaning of “heart of the banana tree”. It has has now been over thirty years that Márcia, Reiki master and psychotherapist, has been following her vocation to help others in the field of spirituality, healing and self-discovery. Adapting a variety of techniques, the most common being Reiki and Ho’oponopono. The new beginning in the forest fulfills the dream of hospitality and a simple life with majorly home-made organic food.
Healthy Mind in Healthy Body
Márcia, a part of working with spirituality and healing, is a true lover of the stove. During the fifteen days of my stay, I loved trying her food: Pizza, Pastel (a delicious fried pastry and popular snack!) and coconut butter, to only mention some of the many carefully home-made products. Never missing a huge variety of fruits and vegetables, a major part of it grown in the land of the Mangarà or bought in the farms and gardens nearby. The fresh eggs for breakfast compensating for less hours of sleep due to the early crowing of the hens. Júlio shares the passion for the kitchen, and I loved trying his marmalade made of carambola, also known as the “star fruit”. He helps doing the daily chores, such as managing the Mangarà and promoting the offered courses. Further, he takes care of the twenty-one adopted cats strolling outside the hostel. I learned that cats, a part of being lovely, help to cleanse the atmosphere from bad energies.
A Creative Community
During my stay I loved to meet a variety of different people. One of them being Tina who helps out in the Mangarà. It has been seven months now that she is part of the staff, shearing her enthusiasm with many fotos and collages on Instagram. What most impressed me during my two course days of Reiki level I and II were the people. Plenty of creativity and sensibility, covering a vast range of professions such as Massotherapist (Carina), mandala artist (Luciana, @mandalluz) and craftswoman of silver jewelry (Geonice, @geonice_prata).
Personal Growth – Conclusion
At the end of the fifteen days, I reached my goals which Márcia had asked me about before my arrival. I completed the Reiki courses, initially was planned only one, but coming from Switzerland, I took the chance to do the two. I relaxed surrounded by nature with a good community and spirituality. I meditated about my life, mostly about my stress factors in daily life. I disconnected from my laptop and more or less from my Smartphone, being two strong sources of anxiety and stress. Again, arrived in my daily life, I can reassure everyone, that disconnecting from technical devices and reflecting about the usage can do miracles. To conclude, I can say that I recieved new inspirations, possibilities, energy, calmness and relaxation. I would recommend staying a few days in the Mangarà, with or without attending courses. I thought the pricing was moderate, too, relative to the services offered.