Autumn Yoga Holiday Weekend in Western France: Yoga, Qi gong and more - September 2024
Fri, 20 September 2024 4:00 pm - Mon, 23 September 2024 10:30 am
At La Petite Guyonnière , in the Vendée (85190), France
After the heat and vibrancy of the summer, we are inviting you to this long weekend to relax, rejuvenate, and let the energies of the shifting season naturally flow in and through you. For a more balanced transition into autumn and winter, this weekend will include a variety of yoga practices (yin/yang, yoga nidra as well as pranayama and meditation), qi gong and some additional activities that intend to bring you closer to yourself at a more fundamental level.
Surrounded by bucolic nature, La Petite Guyonnière with its outdoor heated pool offers the ideal environment to unwind and to let the mind settle naturally in its quiet dimension. We will be serving locally sourced vegetarian, organic food to nourish the mind body and soul.
Hosted by Magdi Barabás
Yoga teacher and artist focusing on the therapeutic aspects of both yoga and visual arts with an ever-present invitation and intention to turn our awareness within, to access inner stillness.
and Simone Lindovsky
Yoga teacher & fitness trainer, (ex-)marketing manager, globetrotter and dog mom from Würzburg
A big fan of a holistically healthy lifestyle and our body's self-healing powers.
More about Simone:
https://simonelindovsky.de
About the yoga holiday
The classes will be conducted in English, however, we also speak German, Spanish, French and Hungarian. There will be two practice classes and an additional activity on Saturday and Sunday. On the day of arrival there will be a gentle evening class. You will also have the chance to explore how to create art intuitively, from within, as well as experience and explore the healing effects of various spiritual practices . Depending on the weather, there will be trip to the Atlantic Ocean.
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 energise 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. Please see the end of this document for links that describe the different practices.
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.
Tentative schedule*
Please find the tentative schedule below.
*We reserve the right to slightly adapt the schedule according to the needs of the group or in case the activities planned need to be adapted due to external circumstances.
Friday - 20th of September
16:00 - Arrival
17:00 - 18:30 Opening circle and gentle evening practice
19:00 - Dinner
Saturday - Sunday - 21st and 22nd of September
09:15 - 10:30 Yoga practice - Dynamic/yang yogasana, Pranayama, Meditation /Yoga Nidra
10:30 - 12:30 Free time / Intuitive Art Creation (Saturday)
13:00 - 14:00 Brunch
14:00 - 18:00 Free time / trip to the Atlantic (Sunday)
18:15 - 19:30 Yoga practice - Slower paced, restorative/QiGong /Yin Yoga / Yoga Nidra
19:30 - 20:30 Dinner
Monday - 23rd of September
09:15- 10h15 Breakfast
10h30 - Closing circle and Farewell
All the activities mentioned above are optional. If you prefer you may decide to stay at the retreat location and enjoy the peace of nature at the retreat centre or alternatively visit the nearby villages with local artisans in Apremont. Bicycles are readily available at the retreat centre if you decide to explore the villages or the lake around Maché and Apremont. The castle of Apremont is one of the more famous local tourist attractions.
Booking options
There are four rooms (2 private and two shared) and two bathrooms with shower available, each one shared between two rooms. There will be a maximum of 2 people per room, depending on the option you choose.
You can book the room as a private or as a shared room. If you’d like to come with your friends you can let us know so that you can make a joint booking. If you do not need lodging, you can still participate.
Booking without lodging …………………………………………………...395 €
Booking with lodging in a shared room ……………….595 €
Booking with lodging in private room ………………..…695 €
You can secure your spot with a deposit of 158 €. Payment in full is due by 09 August 2024.
Payment by a bank transfer is also possible. Please send us an email and we’ll provide you with the necessary details.
Payments are non-refundable. For more details please see Terms&Conditions.
Location: La Petite Guyonnière, Maché (85190)
The holiday weekend will take place at La Petite Guyonnière in the Vendée, 50 minutes away from Nantes in Pays de la Loire, France.
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 €).
Food
In order to respect our planet, whenever possible, we will be using fresh organic veggies and fruits grown at the retreat centre or from our local producer. Of course, we also enjoy adding an exotic, regional or Mediterranean touch. ;) A nourishing and flavoursome vegetarian brunch and dinner will be prepared with intentions of love and gratitude. Once you signed up for the retreat, you will receive a questionnaire from us where you can specify if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions we need to take into account. Herbal infusions and teas will be made available throughout the day.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND OFFERINGS
The Castle in Apremont is one of the more famous local attractions for those interested. We can also organise a visit to the local stained glass studio Verre Curieux in Apremont, or the gift shop at the foot of the castle, as well as a trip to the ocean if there is interest.
Additionally, some optional practices (such as massage or reflexology), which blend in harmoniously with the topics and the intentions of the retreat, might also be available, but we will know more about these once the retreat date approaches. Please note that these sessions are not included in the retreat price, so you will have to see the cost of these sessions directly with the therapist.
Please also note that the offered activities are subject to change depending on availability and if there are unforeseen circumstances.
Health & Hygiene
We recommend every participant to bring their own yoga mat, since that will serve as your own personal shrine for the morning and evening classes. 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 holiday 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 provided by us.
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.
DISCLAIMER
Please note that in case the sanitary situation due to COVID or another similar issue does not allow the holiday to take place safely, or in case of fewer than 4 participants, the retreat will have to be rescheduled to a later date or cancelled. We will be following local regulations and health measures as directed by the French government. Please also make sure that you comply with the laws and regulations of your country of origin and check for any traveling restrictions that might apply.
We highly recommend having a European Health Insurance Card if you are arriving from within the EU, and additionally to purchase an international travel insurance to cover potential health issue related costs. If you arrive by public transportation, we also recommend opting for a flexible booking to avoid additional charges in case of unexpected events.
The minimum number of participants for the retreat to take place is 4. Fewer number of participants means the cancellation of the retreat or amendment of the dates. In case of cancellation by the organisers, which can happen up to7 days prior to the retreat start date, the full amount you paid for your booking with us will be reimbursed within 10 days.
If the retreat needs to be cancelled due to governmental regulations, which might happen last minute, you will be fully reimbursed within 10 days.
Please note that the deposit and payment are non-refundable under any other circumstances than the ones mentioned above. Once you made a booking and paid the deposit, cancellation is not possible. However, if you are unable to participate due to serious health issues, or other critical conditions of an immediate family member, and you are able to provide us with a written proof of any of these conditions, the deposit you paid can be used for a future holiday with us.
Furthermore, if your country of origin or France imposes additional travel restrictions that officially hinder you from reaching the retreat location and as a result you are unable to participate, the same rules apply as in case of serious health conditions. You can use the deposit for a future holiday/event.
We therefore strongly advise you to take out a comprehensive holiday and travel insurance. In case of doubt, please feel free to reach out to us.
If you do a booking, you agree to the full Terms and Conditions.
Links to practices:
Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Intuitive Art Creation
Do you have additional questions or would you like to sign up for the holiday weekend?
Fill out the form below and we will answer your questions as soon as possible.
You can also send a message to yogawithmagdi@gmail.com