Dates: October 11th - 14th.
Yoga and Activity Holidays in the Ardeche, Southern France - short breaks in a great rural location combining a touch of luxury with fabulous scenery, energizing and relaxing activities! Our small and unique team run holidays and short breaks throughout the year at two amazing locations - Chalet Colinn in the Savoie and Le Mournet in the wild and unspoilt region of the Ardeche. Both are mountainous regions and both offer fantastic views, superb facilities and a great backdrop for unwinding and relaxing.
The Ardeche is a real hidden treasure - this little known and little exploited region of France is worth a visit just for that very reason. This is rural France as you imagine it and a delight! The villages and towns, their atmosphere, markets and local customs, the scenery and landscape, the food and the locals themselves all go to make this region a real find. Situated at the Southern most part of the Rhone Valley (South of Lyon and North of Avignon) it benefits from a wonderful climate and despite its rural location remains very accessible.
Le Mournet has been restored and converted by Charlotte (the Yoga teacher) and her husband Christian (ski instructor and odd job man!). The Ardeche and Savoie have become their adopted homes with Le Mournet becoming a wonderful Summer home and holiday business for them and their young daughter Melodie. Outside of the designated retreat dates Le Mournet is a holiday venue for all with a large salt water pool and sun terrace, gardens sloping down to the river Gluyere and three rental properties of varying sizes and styles.
All have been decorated and equipped to a high standard and your accommodation during your chosen retreat will be in one of these properties. The large gardens and pool provide a wonderful place to unwind and relax. You can enjoy croquet and boles on the lawn, great walks and biking around the area or tennis at a private court 5 minutes from the property. There is a large stone courtyard where on good weather days the yoga practice can be held and meals are taken in the main farmhouse. Le Mournet is a great place to get away from the hassle, bussle and pollution of daily life.
Each holiday includes twice daily yoga (a morning wake-up and an evening stretch-out - approximately 4 hours in total), your accommodation, wholesome home-cooked organic food and a selection of optional activities (depending on the time of year) - guided walks, biking, meditation, ayurvedic massage, mushroom collecting, advice on vegetarian cuisine and ayurvedic cooking.
Each break is designed to provide yoga practitioners of all levels either an insight or starting block from which to develop a regular practice and a greater sense of peace or to provide an opportunity to the experienced practitioner to deepen their practice and explore the unknown. The choice of activities available, the great venues and accommodation provide a wonderful backdrop for your holiday and a place to retreat into yourself whilst appreciating the beauty of what is out there!
Ayurvedic massage sessions. The nearest airports to Le Mournet, Albon d'Ardeche are Lyon, Grenoble, Chambery, Nimes, Marseille and St Etienne. During the Summer months the Eurostar travels to Valence (about one hour from Albon) and Avignon (about 2 hours from Albon) Alternatively the TGV travels from Paris to Valence (TGV station is the best one not the town center) where you can hire a car or take a local bus. Please ask us for advice on your transfer and the potential for taxi or transfer share.
Treatments: Whilst on your yoga holiday why not treat yourself to an energizing and relaxing Ayurvedic Abhyanga massage. Ayurveda means the end of all knowledge or wisdom of life and was born in India over 3000 years ago. Ayurvedic treatments are based on natural products & energy zones. Ayurveda teaches that everything in the world is composed of a combination of 3 doshas - Kapha, Pitta and Vata.
And that each dosha is a combination of air, fire, earth, water and ether the mahabbutas. The doshas link the elements of body, mind & soul. The practice of Ayurveda is devoted to balancing the doshas on a physical, mental, emotional & spiritual level. Life-style & environment are factors that affect our fundamental energy. Balancing these creates harmony with the ravages of modern living - it is the main aim of the Ayurvedic approach.
Ayurveda treats massage as one of its main stays. It contributes to the purification of the physical body removing toxins, increasing digestive juices & blood circulation. The aim being to harmonize our physical & mental well being. Ayurvedic massage is practiced using special oil developed in Southern India and is well-known for maintaining physical well-being. It is a very relaxing, gentle massage and is practiced using few pressure points. Its emphasis lies in gently opening & stretching the body inviting a deep sense of relaxation to enter body, mind & soul.
An Ayurvedic massage has many benefits:
- Create serenity & well-being
- Removes tension & stress
- Removes fatigue
- Encourages vitality
- Increases blood circulation
- Softens the skin
- Renders joints more relaxed & supple
- Booking prior to arrival is advisable but not essential.
With five years teaching experience and continued professional training, Charlotte is a great inspiration for all levels of yoga practitioner. Her professional training includes Sivananda Vedanta International School of Yoga's Teacher and Advanced Teacher Training courses, Ashtanga Yoga courses with David Swenson and Pattabhi Jois, Vinyasa (Prana) Flow courses with Shiva Rea, Ron Reid, Marla Meenakshi Joy and Sean Corne. This mix of yogi influence and Charlotte's own enthusiasm for the yogi path make for an intense and harmonious experience.
Her passion for music and kirtan (chants in Sanskrit) has led her to use the energy of music in her classes to encourage a deeper experience during. Charlotte's passion for the outdoors and many sporting activities - in fact her passion for life - has moved her to organize a variety of Yoga and Activity breaks. They are held in mountain locations to encourage an even greater sense of purity and contact with nature. Aside from the retreats and courses Charlotte teaches regularly in the resorts of Val d'Isere, Tignes and Ste Foy in the Winter months and in the Ardechois village of Albon in the Summer months.
Food: Le Mournet offers an entirely vegetarian homemade cuisine cooked with organic produce and many items coming from Le Mournet's own garden and predominantly cooked to yogi and ayurvedic principles. A hearty brunch and evening meal with healthy snacks and herb teas at will. Definitely a time to take stock of how and what you eat - with over 20 years of vegetarianism behind her Charlotte is a wealth of knowledge on how to stay fit and healthy whatever life throws up as a challenge.
A Typical Day: Wake up to yoga vinyasa flow, meditation and breathing. Set the intention for your day (2 hours approx.) After a hearty brunch and a chat your choice of activity.... walking or biking, mushroom collecting with a local guide and specialist, a gentle meander down to the pool with a good book, a dip in the pool or just enjoying some "down-time"; in the large garden Le Mournet has to offer... your choice! Late afternoon yoga before dinner - a massage, gentle stroll and then a good night's sleep.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price per person: 425 euro. Prices are for twin rooms based on two people sharing. A supplement of 135 euro for single occupancy will apply.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation - at Le Mournet (based on shared room - single supplement available)
- Daily Brunch
- Healthy snacks and fruit teas during your stay
- Evening meals on Thursday & Friday night
- All yoga sessions & guided mushrooming tour of the woods
- A course manual to accompany you once you leave.
Price Excludes:
- Evening meal at local restaurant on Saturday evening
- Bike hire (if required approx 13euro per day- you can of course bring your own)
- Transport to France and Le Mournet
- Travel insurance (against cancellation)
- Ayurvedic Massage sessions.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Yoga & Spiritual Experience
Bicycle Touring
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