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.
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; render joints more relaxed & supple; booking prior to arrival is advisable but not essential.
Yoga Teacher. 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 all 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. 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.
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Yoga & Spiritual Experience
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