Summer Wellness Retreat in the Vendée in France - June 2023

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Saturday, 24 June 2023 4:00 pm to Saturday, 1 July 2023 10:30 am 

At La Petite Guyonniere , in the Vendée (85190), France

Our deepest intention with this retreat is to bring more awareness and presence into life, to explore the restorative energies that reside inside all of us by:

• Assisting you in uncovering the stillness within. A stillness that leads you closer to knowing who you truly are at the most profound level of being. 
• Creating a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by bucolic nature, where you can unwind, where you can leave the mind with all its worries and chatter behind, and be in the present moment. In the NOW. 
• Supporting your journey with daily Yoga, Qigong, Reiki, intuitive art creation, an outdoor heated pool and delicious organic, Ayurvedic food, etc.

We will be creating all the right circumstances for you to (dis)connect and rejuvenate!

• The classes will be held in English, however, we also speak German, Spanish, French and Hungarian. 

• There will be two Yoga / Qigong classes a day as well as a theory session on different topics -  except on the day of arrival, departure, and the day dedicated to exploring the surrounding area. 

• You will also have the chance to explore how to create art intuitively, from within, as well as experience and explore the spiritual healing effects of Reiki.

• The theory and practice classes will be harmoniously linked. We will be going through some aspects of Yoga, Reiki, 5 elements theory and more. The topics discussed in the theory classes will be integrated in the yoga practice sessions. There is no need to prepare or memorize anything in advance.

• The  practice in the morning will include some form of concentration / meditation (dharana or dhyana) or breath control (pranayama), followed by postures (asanas) or Qigong, and finished with relaxation in savasana or Yoga nidra. Even though these classes will be more dynamic, more yang in order to energize the body and centre the mind and emotions, they will be adapted to each participants’ needs. 

• The evening classes will bring in the Yin element for a more restorative and rejuvenating practice, while preparing the body and mind for a restful sleep. They will also include Yoga Nidra, either as a complementary part of the class or as a stand-alone evening session. 

• Beginners, intermediate as well as advanced practitioners are all welcome! By using variations and alternatives of the asanas/shapes, the classes will be adapted to make it suitable for each participant’s needs.

• There will be time for Q&A sessions in case you have additional questions that did not fit into the theory classes.

Please find the tentative schedule below. Except the day of arrival and departure, and the 28th of June (free day of classes), the schedule is subject to change. We reserve the right to slightly adapt the schedule according to the needs of the group and the energy flow of the moment. That might be the case on the days with intuitive art creation. 

• The first day of the retreat, Saturday 24 of June 2023, is your arrival day (16.00 h).
• The organised courses begin on the morning of Sunday 25 of June 2023. 
• The program will end at the end of the day on Friday 30 of June 2023, and departure is after breakfast on Saturday 1st of July 2023. 
• In the middle of the week, 28th of June, there will be a day free of classes, where you can enjoy the peace of nature at the retreat centre or participate in optional activities such as visiting the nearby villages with local artisans in Apremont or doing a day-trip to ocean. 
• Bicycles are readily available at the retreat centre if you decide to explore the villages and lake around Maché and Apremont. The castle of Apremont is one of the more famous local tourist attractions.

La Petite Guyonnière is a charming rural property with beautiful gardens and a heated swimming pool, only 25 minutes away from the ocean with sandy beaches and surrounded by picturesque country villages. The site was originally a large farm dating back to the 19th century. 

The guesthouses and the gardens of 10.000m2 are spacious and in harmony with nature. You will find plenty of zen hide-away corners as well as a vegetable and flower garden, where some of your delicious lunches and dinners will come from.

Once you have made travel arrangements, please inform us of your arrival details and whether or not you would like to schedule a pick-up from Nantes airport (at a charge of 65 €) or the train station in La Roche-sur-Yon (at a charge of 45 €). 

We recommend every participant to bring their own yoga mat, since that will serve as your own personal shrine for every morning and evening class as well for many of the theory sessions. However, if you cannot bring your own mat, please let us know and one will be provided for you. 

Yoga blocks, straps and bolsters are available at the retreat location, but feel free to bring your own if you often work with familiar props. Please let us know if you are planning to use the accessories of the retreat centre. If you choose to use any of the offered accessories, they will stay with you until the end of the retreat in order to ensure proper hygiene and safety.

Please also note the following: 

• Clean linens are provided by the retreat centre. 
• Towels are not provided.
• Guest accommodation is cleaned between stays. 
• Equipment for activities is disinfected before and/or after use.