A week of yoga, meditation and creativity at idyllic La Roane in South West France

A week to unwind in a totally supportive environment and return to that quiet place within...

25 August - 1 September 2012 Teacher: Sue Pendlebury

Cost from £510 per person

 
 
       
About La Roane

La Roane is the perfect place for yoga. It is located in an idyllic 20 acre estate, with wide open spaces and woodland walks, a haven for the spiritual seeker and nature lover. As the night draws in to reveal its starry sky, the silence is broken only by the sound the cicadas or the call of the nightingale. It is a place to unwind and return to that quiet place within. Space to think, space to breathe, space to be – is what La Roane quite naturally has to offer.

Here you will find an abundance of wildlife (deer, hare, buzzards, singing frogs and butterflies) and wild flowers.

One mile away is the Gorge de L'aveyron, with stunning views of the river valley and a network of caves which were used during the war by the French resistance.

Three miles away is the mediaeval market town of St Antonin, the setting for the the film 'Charlotte Grey' starring Cate Blanchett.

La Roane really is 'home from home', a place to be totally at ease in and drop into a slower, often more appealing, pace of life.

The Daily Programme

The morning yoga class starts with a gentle opening of the body and attunement of the mind to the breath. The class will slowly move and build into a flowing and dynamic hatha sequence, always incorporating the cultivation of awareness, physical alignment, breath and chakras (energy centres). The class aims to be suitable for all levels and yoga experience.
The afternoon session offers a gentle, slow and more meditative exploration of postures, kriyas, (the practise of awareness of breath) evening pranayama, mudras and mantra.

Afternoon sessions will vary and include dancing and singing workshops designed to explore and free our innate creative spirit. These are optional and please be assured that all creative workshops are offered in a totally supportive environment free from judgement and expectation. In Sue's creative workshops no-one will be expected to sing or dance on their own, or do anything they are not comfortable with. They are fun and freeing ... at times finding expression to our innate creativity can bring up some fears, but it is only in facing our fears that FREEDOM can be found. It is through the expression of who we are that we can find true peace and love of self.

After dinner, we will gather together for bhajans (devotional singling) with Sue and Nigel Shamash (your host), an evening stroll, a game of table tennis or simply to hang out and chat and listen to the call of the night creatures... A truly inspirational and life changing week!

   
   
Things to do

During the course of the week there will be a visit to the local market and a one day excursion, walking, picnicking, swimming in the River Aveyron and drinking coffee in one of the surrounding historic villages.

The area around La Roane is great walking and cycling country (bicycles available free of charge) with the spectacular Gorges de l'Aveyron just a mile away. For the experience of a lifetime, visit the Grotte Trasadou and La Dame Blanche, prehistoric caves that were used by resistance fighters during the last war.

The local town of St Antonin is 3 miles away; a magical medieval town, which retains its original charm. It is the scene of a very colourful market every Sunday and was the setting of the film 'Charlotte Grey' with Cate Blanchett.

Flowing though St Antonin is the River Aveyron, ideal for picnicking, swimming and, for the more adventurous, canoeing down the rapids.
 
     
Accommodation

Guests are housed in 3 beautiful buildings set around a large oval-shaped pool in a lovely sunny spot in the centre of the garden. Accommodation is in comfortably furnished single and double rooms - indoor towels provided. Plenty of bathrooms for everyone.

The sauna and table- tennis table are nearby with a luxury tree house and a yurt in the woods (available for guests).

Holiday

La Roane 25 August - 1 September 2012

Cost per person

£510 sharing accommodation

£50 supplement for single accommodation

Travel

The local airport Toulouse is only one hour's drive away from La Roane. There are regular flights to Toulouse from most major UK airports.

If you are coming from the South East, book on the early morning Easyjet flight from Gatwick. It means an early start, but you will arrive at La Roane in time for an early lunch and an afternoon siesta.

La Roane offer a £60 (£30 each way) TAXI SERVICE from Toulouse airport to La Roane on the day the course commences, returning to the airport a week later.

There may be a wait depending on the number of guests arriving on each flight. A taxi will always meet the morning Easyjet flight from Gatwick. Please try to get a flight that arrives in Toulouse before 6pm.

The return transfer to connect with the early morning flights leaves from La Roane at 7am the following Saturday. Those with afternoon or evening flights can either take the early morning taxi and spend the day exploring Toulouse or else take a later transfer, usually around 2pm.

Ryanair operate flights from Stansted to Rodez, which is about a 90 minute drive from La Roane. La Roane don't offer a transfer service from Rodez to La Roane but can arrange a taxi for 100 euros.