• Who is this holiday for? Anyone with an interest in Yoga and well-being
• When to go? The retreat is open from mid May to mid October
• Price? From £295 per person
• Type of Holiday? Yoga retreat in the south of France

To make a reservation or for further information visit http://www.yogafrance.com/

A self catering yoga holiday in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Relaxed, friendly and suitable for all levels of yoga.

A peaceful valley in the foothills of the French Pyrenees provides the location for the beautiful 17 acre estate of Domaine de la Grausse, the ideal retreat for a weeks holiday of Yoga and relaxation. In 1772, the Vicomte de la Grausse abandoned his ancient Chateau Fort, circa 12th Century, built on a rocky bluff to defend the narrow pass into his valley. Re-using a lot of the stones and wooden beams from the old chateau fort, he built a small rural chateau, complete with a fortified tower and a magnificent wooden spiral staircase, on the valley floor just below the rock face. Today, Domaine de la Grausse has been fully restored and modernised. It lies in a small tranquil valley surrounded by wooded hills, wild-flower meadows, green pastures and bordered by a bubbling tree-shaded brook.

A wonderfully relaxing yoga holiday. You can do as much or as little as you like. – P. Boundy, Aug 09

Wonderful yoga location

Visit local markets

The yoga room

Spring Cottage

Dagmar is your resident Yoga teacher. With over 25 years of teaching experience, originally training with the British Wheel of Yoga in the UK, Dagmar develops her classes over the weeks holiday to enhance the skills of all her students from beginners to the most practiced. Dagmar has studied and is influenced by the Iyengar, Viniyoga, Sivananda and Desikachar methods and incorporates elements of each in to two one hour sessions every day. Morning classes are from 9:30 to 10:30 am and evening classes from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. There are two large fully equipped yoga studios. One is situated on the top floor of the chateau, with French windows overlooking the estate and the spring-fed lake. The other yoga studio is located in a renovated stone barn which is partly built into a dramatic vertical rock face; a perfect cool location for warm summer days. To help you unwind and de-stress, Dagmar also offers guided meditation on Monday and Thursday evening from 9:30 to 10:00 pm. This can be an ideal yoga holiday introduction for beginners or a different approach for the adept.

A wide range of holistic treatments can be booked and paid for locally. There are dedicated rooms to provide the following individual treatments:

• REIKI – an ancient hands-on healing system, based on channelling universal energy.

• GENTLE MASSAGE – A relaxing massage combining elements of Swedish, Shiatsu (Pressure Points) and Asian techniques to achieve full body balance. The natural healing powers of essential oils penetrate the skin and enhance both physical and mental well-being.

• ENERGETIC MASSAGE – A traditional relaxation massage incorporating long, smooth strokes to major muscle groups to promote relaxation, improve circulation of the life-energy and create an overall sense of well-being. The energy circuit is opened and the energy can flow again. For stress, headaches, tiredness, etc.

• ASIAN PRESSURE POINT MASSAGE – For stress, muscular pain or restrictions in the circulation of life-energy.

• TACHYON TREATMENT – Using TLC BARS (tachyonised crystals), energy will be directed to the painful areas, or pressure points in the body. This treatment is particularly effective for acute health problems, e.g. back pain, migraine, etc., and chronic physical and mental problems.

• FOOT REFLEXOLOGY – Thumb and finger pressure are applied to specific points on the feet bringing welcome relief to corresponding regions of the body.

The Accommodation

Spring Cottage

Guest accommodation is in two self-contained traditional stone barns, beautifully converted and restored to a high standard using original materials. There are three bedrooms; two on the first floor with a double bed and twin beds respectively, and one on the ground floor with twin beds. Each bedroom has its own en-suite walk-in shower and WC. It has a fully equipped kitchen/dining room, with timber ceiling and views of green meadows and rolling country side. You may often see deer coming down to the lake to drink in the early morning! The spacious, cool and comfortable lounge has the unusual feature of local stone walls containing in-bedded fossilised sponges from a past era. French doors lead from the lounge onto a terrace bordered by a rock garden filled with flowers to attract a multitude of butterflies; ideal for ‘al fresco’ dining or drinking.

The Grange
The ground floor was originally the manger, stables and winery. It has now been converted into 4 double and one single bedroom, all en suite. The first floor, which used to be the hay loft, has been converted into 2 double bedrooms, two fully equipped kitchens and a large lounge which opens onto a full length balcony for dinning and relaxing in full shade. A spacious terrace adjoins the Grange, for those guests who wish to relax in the sun. It has a pergola fitted with a semi-shading roof for those who prefer to avoid full sun.

One of the bedrooms

Beautiful rooms for yoga

Relax by the lake

The Cottage

Costs per person excluding flights and transport

16th May to 4 Jul – £355 Single or £295 shared
4th Jul to 26th Sep – £415 Single or £355 shared
26th Sep to 10th Oct – £355 Single or £295 Twin / Double

All prices are for a 6-night, one-week self-catering yoga holiday beginning on a Saturday. We are able to arrange car hire for collection from your arrival airport or train station. Call us for details.
Flights
We do not sell flights but can give advice on the best options and times.

The price includes the following features:
Self-catering en-suite accommodation;
2 yoga sessions daily (except Saturdays and Sunday morning);
2 meditation sessions weekly.

The price does not include the following:
Travel to Domaine de la Grausse.
Food.
Travel Insurance.
Holistic treatment (Reiki, Massage, Reflexology, etc).

When to go?
The seasons in this part of France are much more pronounced than English seasons; summers are hotter; winters are colder; spring suddenly bursts open and autumns are like an Indian summer:-
May & June: Spring flowers and snow-capped mountains. Usually sunny, in the mid to high 20C, but with occasional showers. Evenings can be cool, so bring a sweater.
July & August: The hottest months, but the countryside is still beautifully verdant. Temperatures often up to mid 30C. Occasional rain, or a dramatic evening thunderstorm.
September & October: The summer heat has passed, but it is still warm and sunny. This settled weather often lasts well into November and even December.

How easy is self-catering?
Guests have the use of 3 spacious kitchens, each equipped with an oven, hob, microwave, fridge and freezer. You are provided with basic supplies for your arrival day…tea, coffee, milk, juice, bread, cheese, biscuits, honey, fruit and, of course, a bottle of wine!
There is a small village shop/cafe/bar just 10 minutes walk away, or 5 minutes on one of the bikes. Which sells a good range of groceries including fresh produce, bread, etc. A little further on, you can buy delicious fruit pies from the renowned Croustades de Clermont, baked daily in their wood-fired oven. In the next village, Maury, there is an excellent delicatessen specialising in regional products.
The nearest town, Le Mas d’Azil, is 5 miles away. It has two supermarkets, a butcher, a baker/patisserie, chemist, newsagent, etc., plus a bank with cash machine. There are also two restaurants, a cafe and a good Pizzeria, for take-away or dine-in.

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