I have recently returned from teaching in this beautiful location, and it was everything I had dreamed off. The house is beautiful and the surroundings are so incredibly peaceful. During our yoga practices we listen to the bird song, the bells of the monasteries in the distance. The smell of the lavender, the flowers and the trees is just so calming and deeply relaxing. I feel like one can shed the layers of stress and really drop into a deep place of connection and rest.
I am really excited to be able to return next year to teach a series of Summer and Autumn retreats. I have chosen May and September as the weather is warm and sunny but not too hot.
The Domaine St Joseph is a 17th and (in parts) 18th Century farmhouse situated on a plateau above Cotignac, with glorious views of the St Joseph monastery and the Besillon mountain.
The beautiful 9 bedroom house is surrounded by thousands of hectares of wild nature. The property provides a wonderful base for relaxation, in the peace and quiet of the countryside surrounding the domaine where you will find an abundance of incredible aromas of wild plants including, amongst others, Rosemary, Thyme and Wild Mint.
The domaine is also 25 minute walk down to the idyllic provencal village of Cotignac with its vibrant year round market, restaurants, art galleries and shops. The village is also steeped in history dating back to the time of the Troglodytes who built their houses in the cliffs which now form the backdrop of the village and can be visited.
The house dates back to the 17th century; it is full of character, yet the rooms have a modern twist; the property has a pool, a sauna, somewhere to play Boules; and there are acres of forest, with lots of beautiful trees around the property. The Troglodytes houses in the cliffs behind the village and can be visited.
The rooms have a mixture of kingsize or twin beds. In the old house upstairs there is a beautiful large bathroom with a claw foot bathtub, shower and toilet.
Off the main house there are courtyard rooms and the potteries which have their own rooms also.
There is plenty of space inside the house and around the grounds to relax, spend time alone, read a book in a hammock, go for a walk around the grounds, have a sauna after a swim, relax in a salon, explore the village, hike the mountains or visit the vineyards, canyons, or day trip to the sea.
I will be teaching Vinyasa yoga and meditation from 8am - 10am every morning, And in the evenings Yin and restorative from 5.30 - 7pm
The theme of the retreat is to rest, relax and reconnect to yourself. The practices will be themed around just that taking time to pause, reflect and check in with yourself.
The morning practice will be grounding with a lovely meditation; we will warm up, stretch and move with a mindful Vinyasa practice before a relaxing Savasana practice.
In the evening we will stretch and open into the body, releasing tension from the joints through a yin and restorative practice. We will reach a place of quiet and calm.
After breakfast we will enjoy a mindful walk through the woodland to the monasteries there will be plenty of time to relax, explore reconnect with nature and yourself.
On one day we will visit the waterfall and have a river swim. One evening we will have dinner in the village to experience the village atmosphere at night-time. All plans on the schedule are a suggestion; people can feel free to opt in to whatever they would like to do; after all, this retreat is all about you.