Relaxation and fabulous food in a beautiful setting
5th – 10th June 2024
15th – 20th June 2024
Come and treat yourself to 6 days of indulgent relaxation on one of our retreats in June 2024! Enjoy a morning practice of embodied gentle flow and an evening session of restorative somatic rest. Ellen’s classes are designed to help you slow down and move safely. Ellen helps people learn to rest, stress less and move slower through gentle and restorative yoga that is accessible no matter what you might be dealing with physically or emotionally. Ellen’s classes are influenced by a desire to help you connect to your body through a focus on somatic and embodied movement that allows you to move into the calm side of your nervous system.
Each class has moments of stillness and meditation and is based on a theme to help you connect more deeply with your practice. Her classes are slow and considered and give you the space you need to develop an internal awareness of what is happening in your body so you can respond and move in a way that best serves you.
Feed both your body and soul with delicious, healthy food prepared by trained chef Marion and inspired foodie Ede. The vegetarian menu is prepared using fresh local ingredients including organic fruit and veg from Marion’s kitchen garden.
The menu can be adapted to cater for your needs (eg. gluten-free or vegan) and beer and wine is available to purchase.
Schedule
For both retreats, transfers to and from the airport are included for the flights detailed on the booking form. However, there are regular flights with budget airlines and with British Airways to and from Toulouse from Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted, so please feel free to make your own travel arrangements if you prefer.
If you get an alternative flight, transfer from nearby train stations can be organised. If you’d like to travel all the way by train, there are direct connections from Paris to Cahors, from where we can pick you up. Contact Marion if you’d like to discuss travel options.
We are striving to minimise the negative environmental impact of travelling to Monplaisir. The course fee therefore includes a realistic contribution towards offsetting your carbon footprint through a tree-planting scheme.
A gentle embodied flow is on offer every morning from 8-9.30am and an hour or so of more relaxed restorative practice in the early evenings. Between these you’re free to enjoy relaxing by the pool and in the extensive gardens, or get out to see some of the lovely medieval towns and villages in the region. Past visits have included St Cirq Lapopie perched high above the Lot river and Conques, a spectacularly preserved cathedral town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many markets nearby and there’s also the option to visit the awe-inspiring pre-historic painted caves of Pech-Merle. Each day will be rounded off with dinner on the terrace.
If you’re looking for more physical activities, this is wonderful walking country, with clearly marked paths and the chance to walk sections of the famous Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostella which runs nearby. Or borrow one of our bikes and go for a ride on the quiet country roads. If wild swimming is your thing there are several spots nearby for bathing in the Lot river. Or just relax by the pool and watch the hawks fly overhead…
“Ellen did an amazing job planning and delivering interesting sessions for a wide range of abilities.”
“The food was wonderful, and everyone appreciated the care and attention that had gone into preparing it.”
“As a beginner, I was able to understand all the instructions, which allowed me to participate fully.”
“Excellent value for money.”
“There is nothing I would change, it was perfect!”
Cost per participant:
Shared twin room with en-suite bathroom £825
Single room £950
Single room with en-suite bathroom £1010
The trip is a day longer than in previous years, to give you maximum time to benefit from the retreat. The price includes 5 nights accommodation at Monplaisir, transfers to and from local airports as specified on the booking form, breakfast, lunch and a gourmet dinner, all yoga classes and excursions and visits to local places of interest.
Lunch and drinks at local restaurants or cafés are not included in the price and you can buy wine and beer on site if you wish.
For more information or to book please contact marionmonplaisir@gmail.com or Ellen at hello@ellenblackmanyoga.com
To see Ellen’s current offerings available online: Ellen Blackman Yoga or Ellen on Facebook
Please let Ellen know if you are suffering from any injuries or health conditions. Please let Marion know if you have any special dietary requirements.