Spring To Mind

6 night yoga Holiday Retreat in Dordogne, France

Join us in Summer 2024 for an eco-conscious yoga Holiday retreat in the French Countryside, with prices from €700 per person

19 July - 25 July 2024

“The retreat in Dordogne was even better than I could have imagined it would be! From start to finish I felt so taken care of as a guest but I appreciated that we also got to sit and talk with you and the rest of the team over meals and got to know each other as well. (And the food?! – I have missed it everyday since! It was truly incredible what you all created.)

 The care and thought put into the retreat were so clear, from the detailed information on the website before registration and the assistance with travel plans and bike rentals, down to the helpful signs around the retreat site, the ever-present snacks in case we got hungry, and the welcome packets on arrival. The hospitality was second to none.

 I found the retreat site to be a really lovely respite as well. It was so nice to have a whole estate to wander and it was a great area of the countryside for a walk or a bike ride.

 Before the retreat I was a little worried I’d feel out of place – I’d never done anything like a yoga retreat and wondered if everyone there would be super flexible and advanced. But, as in your group classes in Amsterdam, you created such a welcoming and inclusive environment. I felt challenged when I wanted a challenge and I felt comfortable listening to my body and slowing down when I needed to slow down. I learned so much and came away with a new enthusiasm for yoga and how I can continue to grow my practice. I also came away with a new appreciation for how strong and capable I am!”

19 July - 25 July

Arrivals from 19.00 on Friday 19 July

Departures by 19.00 on Thursday 25 July*

* More convenient for you to travel early Friday 26 July? That’s possible, just let us know.

The retreat has a gorgeous location in Dordogne region of France. We have a private group of three houses entirely to ourselves for the retreat. The property includes a pool, and is next a river. A small village is within walking distance, and the town of Montignac is only a 30 minute walk or 15 minute cycle away. The famous Lascaux caves are a short drive or cycle away. The larger town of Brive-la-Gaillarde is a 40 minute drive away. Bike hire is available (option available when booking).

Prices per week range from €700 per person. Included in the price are:

• 6 nights accommodation in one of three lovely French houses

• 6 full days of activities

• Daily morning vinyasa yoga classes

• Daily early evening yin or restorative yoga classes

• Extra workshops and talks

• Yoga equipment (mats, blocks, straps & blankets)

• Linen & towels

• Pre-practice snacks, brunch & dinner

• Coffee, teas, non-alcoholic & alcoholic drinks at dinner (if you want them)

• Access to a private pool

• Access to laundry facilities

Available on request (at extra cost)

• Taxi transfers from and to Condat-le-Lardin train station (€20 - €30 per taxi, sharing often possible to arrange if multiple participants arrive or depart at the same time)

• Taxis during the retreat to local attractions, such as the caves of Lascaux (€10 - €20 per taxi)

• Bikes for your exclusive use (€140 for one week)

Not Included

• Trains or flights

• Travel or health insurance

If you wish to travel with a a friend, a partner or child who will not join the yoga practices, or if you cannot see a room arrangement that works for you, get in touch and we will work out an accommodation option that works for you.

Booking requires a non-refundable 20% deposit. All prices include VAT.

*If you wish to travel with a friend, a partner or child who will not join the yoga practices, or if you cannot see a room arrangement that works for you, get in touch and we will work out an accommodation option that works for you.

Booking requires a non-refundable 20% deposit. You can pay the rest in one go, or in installments, with all payments due by May 31 2024.

For those who wish to travel via train, the largest local train station Brive-la-Gaillarde can be reached from Amsterdam or London by train within about 8 hours, with a changeover in Paris. A local train can then be taken to the small local train station, Condat-le-Lardin. We can organise a taxi to pick you up at Condat-le-Lardin on request.

For those who wish to fly, it is possible to fly to Bordeaux airport, and to continue your journey from Bordeaux by train.

The property is accessible by car, and there in ample on-site parking.

Recommended Routes

Arrival, for people travelling entirely by train from Amsterdam

- Amsterdam-Centraal - Paris Gare du Nord (train)

- Paris Austerlitz - Brive-la-Gaillarde (train)

- Brive-la-Gaillarde - Condat-le-Lardin (train)

- Taxi pick-up from Condat-le-Lardin

Arrival, for people travelling by plane to Bordeaux & on by train

- Bordeaux St-Jean - Condat-le-Lardin (train)

- Taxi pick-up from Condat-le-Lardin

Departure, for people travelling by train to Amsterdam

- Taxi pick-up from le Four a Sel

- Condat-le-Lardin - Brive-la-Gaillarde (train)

- Brive-la-Gaillarde - Paris Austerlitz (train)

- Paris Gare du Nord - Amsterdam-Centraal (train)

Departure, for people travelling by plane from Bordeaux

- Taxi pick-up from le Four a Sel

- Condat-le-Lardin - Bordeaux St-Jean (train)

Q: How is the retreat ‘eco-conscious’?

A: The venue is readily accessible by train from the Netherlands, the UK, and much of Western Europe. All the food and drinks will be locally sourced wherever possible, and either vegetarian or vegan. All attendees will be provided with vegan toiletries and a reusable bag.

Q: Is this a luxury retreat?

A: Simply: no. Luxury retreats are typically run at specialised venues that are set up for yoga retreats, and include professional catering. Whilst these venues are often incredible, they are either extremely expensive, or in parts of the world that are very expensive to access from the Netherlands. We wanted to find a balance between affordability and comfort. You can expect comfy rooms, great food, professional-quality yoga equipment and highly-experienced yoga tuition. But do not come expecting a hotel or spa-level accommodation experience!

Q: Is this a detox retreat?

A: No. There will not be any emphasis on weight-loss or detoxing on this retreat. Caffeinated drinks and alcoholic drinks will be available to participants who want them, and there will not be a restrictive approach around food.

Q: Where will the yoga classes be held?

A: Generally, the yoga classes will be held in a space that used to be used as a barn, but is now used as recreation space. It is covered, but open at the sides, making it an ideal place to practice in hot weather! The floor is made of poured concrete, however, all practitioners have two mats, plus a blanket to ensure plenty of space to practice comfortably. In the case of very bad weather, classes will be moved inside, and in the case of very hot weather, some classes may be moved to the shady orchard.

Q: I have young children/ a baby, and I would like to attend — can I?

A: Yes, and you won’t be alone - our baby will be there! Just please note that none of the retreat team will be able to provide any baby sitting or child-care, and the yoga classes are not designed for children. So it would work best if you attended with a partner, or friend or family member who can keep an eye on your child whilst you practice. Just get it touch, and we can work out a schedule that best suits you. It is possible to arrange a cot for a baby.

Q: I want to explore the area, will I have time to?

A: Yes! There will be plenty of time in the afternoon to do your own thing. If you really want to make a day of it, you can either take some food with you for lunch (or buy your own lunch at a local restaurant).

Q: I have never attended a yoga holiday or retreat, and I am not sure what to expect — will everyone be very advanced, or will the atmosphere be very intense?

A: Some yoga retreats are very intense, with a strong focus on immersing yourself entirely in yoga practices — which can be wonderful if that’s what you’re looking for, but will not be the vibe of this holiday retreat. We really want to create an environment where people who want to really develop their yoga practice can, but where there’s also space to relax and enjoy yourself. The attendees will be a mix of ages, with various levels of experience.

Q: I want to come, but I am on a tight budget financially — do I have options?

A: Yes, you are welcome to pay in installments, with all payments due by 31 May 2024.

Q: Why is the retreat a bit more expensive than the 2022 retreat?

A: We found that people had an overwhelming preference for holidays in July and August, and the cost is higher in the peak summer months. We also discovered the hard way that the tax costs of running an event outside the Netherlands are very unforgiving, and we had to find a way to account for this. In order to try and keep things accessible, we have added the option of payment plans and rooms that you can share with family or friends.

As hosts of a yoga retreat, our first and most important responsibility is to create an environment where people are safe. With this in mind, we require all attendees to agree to the code of conduct, not because we think anyone will behave badly, but because we want attendees to know that their complaints will be taken seriously if someone does. As such, the retreat will have a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment or any other illegal or aggressive behavior, including illegal drug use or any form of discrimination. This will result in being asked to leave the retreat, without a refund. Please be aware that cannabis is illegal for personal use in France.

It is good to be straightforward about practical thing like money, cancellation policies and COVID policies, so you know what to expect and can focus on getting excited for your retreat! They are laid out as clearly as possible, so you can make an informed decision if you agree to follow them.

• DEPOSIT & BOOKING:

  In order to secure your spot, you need to pay a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the value of your booking up front. The remainder is due by 31 May. Payment plans are available.

• CANCELLATION POLICY:

  Retreats are a big time and financial commitment to run, so we have to have a cancellation policy. If there is someone on the waiting list who books onto the retreat after your cancellation, then you can cancel your booking at any time and get a full refund. Otherwise, bookings cancelled by 31 May get an 80% refund, bookings cancelled by 30 June get a 40% refund. After this point, no refunds are possible. If you have very serious mitigating circumstances (like a death in the family or a serious illness) then you can get in touch to discuss options, such as transferring your booking to a future retreat.

• MISSED CLASSES:

  It is totally up to you which classes or workshops you attend! No refunds are available for missed classes.

• ALCOHOL:

  Alcoholic drinks will be available at the retreat. We ask attendees to be mindful of the fact that some people might not be drinking alcohol, and not to apply any peer pressure to drink alcohol.

• SMOKING:

  If you are a smoker, we ask you to respect to rules of the venue and your fellow attendees but smoking outside, away from other attendees, and to dispose of all your waste (i.e. no stubs left outside). Please be aware that cannabis is illegal for personal use in France.

• COVID & SAFETY:

  Whilst it seems unlikely that there will be any travel restrictions in place due to COVID during summer 2024, just to be cautious we still have a COVID policy. The retreat will be run in line with French law and policy regarding COVID (if any) at the time. Any retreat attendees who intentionally break the French laws or policies in place regarding COVID will be asked to leave the retreat, without a refund.

  • All retreat staff are fully vaccinated.

  • If you book a spot but then cannot travel due to being unvaccinated/ not taking the necessary tests for travel etc, then you will not be eligible for a refund.

  • The venue is very flexible in the very unlikely event hard lockdown either in France or the Netherlands due to COVID, allowing us to switch dates without any loss of money. If you cannot attend the new dates, you will be offered a full refund.

  • If you catch COVID prior to the retreat and cannot attend, then if someone from the waiting list fills your place, you will receive a full refund. Otherwise, you will have the option to transfer your booking to a future retreat free of charge, or a partial refund in line with the cancellation policy.

PLEASE ONLY BOOK ONTO THE RETREAT IF YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.