Mont-Blanc Retreat
Spring 2021
28 March - 2 April
Awaken your senses, relax your mind and strengthen your body during 6 days of adventures in the Mont-Blanc massif, surrounded by the most spectacular landscapes in the world.
This retreat is accessible to everyone, we adapt yoga practices & outdoor activities to everyone according to their experience and abilities.
Yoga.
The setting in motion of the body to interconnect with the living.
Through postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), cleaning (kryas), and visualization / concentration, the practice of yoga allows you to reach Flow and to elevate your states of being, of performance and conscience.
Learn from the experience and personality of your teachers.
Yin.
Putting the body to rest for a rest of the mind through a meditative state.
Yin is a practice in which the body and the mind surrender to the present moment by the effect of gravity and immobility. Sometimes in discomfort but never in pain, a progressive relaxation of the tissues and the mind takes place by the sequence of a sequence of postures held for several minutes. Without effort other than an awareness of the breath, its sensations and its emotions, this exploratory, meditative and introspective practice promotes a re-connection to oneself.
Meditation.
Reconnect on the inside to better connect on the outside.
Through contemplation, visualization, movement, the practice of mindfulness meditation, develop a gentler relationship with yourself and our surroundings.
Continuous mindfulness attention will help you better manage strong emotions, improve your focus, stimulate your creativity, support your nervous system, and access your inner calm.
Great Nature.
Be one with nature.
Discover unspoiled nature in the Contamines-Montjoie nature reserve, the only protected area in the Mont-Blanc massif, a rare gem thanks to its very varied biodiversity.
Explore this exceptional setting through different activities.
We will guide you on the hiking trails on foot, snowshoes, white trail or cross-country skiing, according to your desires, your physical form and the desired pace.
Ski touring will also be possible as an option with a guide.
Ecology.
Develop an inner ecology and interconnection with the Living.
We will approach the concept of inter-being to feel our connection with all living things. We will retrace the major evolutions of life on Earth with the different extinctions, transformation, once again with the idea of putting into perspective the place of the human being in a history much larger than us, of raising awareness that we are are children of the Earth just like many other organisms.
We will also take the time to discuss the challenges of climate change.
Join the Yoga Trails Adventure
This is our 4th retreat in Contamines-Montjoie, the first in early spring. We will be the lucky witnesses of the awakening of nature while snow will always dot the landscape ... An invitation to wonder!
Typical Day Program:
Lightness.
Depth.
Sharing.
Let yourself be carried away!
The whole project of this retreat is a disconnection for a better reconnection.
Activities
Optional activities during the retreat include:
A visit to a nearby thermal spa facility, where 17 varieties of sauna, steam rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, salt rooms and luminotherapy await to help ease tired muscles
Horse riding
Paragliding
Via ferrata
Let us know your interests when booking, and we’ll provide an array of suggestions for activities in the area.
You can also simply relax in the garden on a sun chair and take in the view; cosy up in the comfy lounge area with a cup of tea and explore a range of creative activities; take a stroll through the delightful village or down to the river…
The retreat includes:
2 x daily yoga practices
A long and energetic practice in the morning to start your day, a slower and smoother flow in the evening to soothe the muscles and the mind and promote a smooth recovery from the day's activities.
Daily adventures
Hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, white trail, or any other optional activity, led by passionate guides and lovers of the mountain.
Guided activities
Meditations during yoga practices and hiking
Workshops, conferences, ... material to think, reflect, exchange
Initiation to practices
5 nights all inclusive
We will have the chance to stay in the famous Gai Soleil, nestled in the heart of the Alps, privatized for the occasion. Several room options are available to you: single, double and triple, superior available according to your budget.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hearty and delicious meals made with local products, will be prepared with love by the talented chef of Gai Soleil. Vegetarian dishes will be offered with each meal, and we are also able to respond to all allergies or intolerances.
From Sunday evening dinner to Friday breakfast
Our Retreat Home
Wake up to spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, enjoy crisp clean air in every moment, and delight in the peace and quiet. A dedicated chef will be on hand to create three delicious meals per day, with an additional menu of snacks and beverages available to enjoy in the garden during free time.
Our retreat takes place in a stunning location next to Mont Blanc (the highest peak in Western Europe), in the highest nature reserve in France, noted for its ecological variety. Les Contamines-Montjoie is a postcard-pretty, easily walkable village, in which lies our cosy lodging, Le Gai Soleil, privatised for the occasion.
Join us for the Yoga Trails adventure
Pure happiness, this last yoga retreat!
“Two yoga practices per day, one in the morning and an even sweeter one in the evening (yin yoga, meditation or workshops). During the day, magnificent hikes to appreciate the calm and the beauty of the landscapes within the Mont Blanc massif, outside peak periods. A lot of joy and good humor punctuated this stay, thanks to competent teachers and the particularly warm welcome from Gai Soleil.”
— Odile, 2019 retreat participant