Welcome to an acclaimed and long established retreat, always evolving and adapting to the needs of participants. Taught by Ram Chatlani whose over 30 years of teaching experience ensures a varied and fascinating program. Yoga practitioners with experience or beginners will benefit from new perspectives on how to integrate practice methods from Tao, from Buddhist and Taoist Qigong. The different subjects have a common theme of natural higher reorganization – what has been described as a quantum approach to releasing stress, managing energy levels, ensuring emotions become smooth and letting mental confusion fall away. A nourishing retreat on many levels, not least the freshly and lovingly prepared food served with a smile. Domestic animals – cats, dogs, and donkeys add to the experience as does the constant sound of the river Artillac and the strong and raw natural environment.
Highlights
- Dynamic meditations sessions as well as restorative meditation
- Tao yoga – perfect for stress reduction
- A variety of Buddhist and Taoist qigong forms
- 2 daily guided practice sessions. 90 – 120 minutes each
- 3rd guided session of 30 – 40 minutes
- Varied program suitable for all levels, including beginners
- Daily breakfast, light lunch, and 4-course evening meal, snacks and hot drinks
- 3 nights accommodation
Duration (nights)
3Location
Tourné, Castelnau Durban, FrancePrice from
€ 480Program
The retreat will include Tao yoga – a series of postures similar to Hatha yoga but with a more gentle approach and deeper impact. Standing meditation is considered the core of Taoist energy work, most Qigong sessions on the retreat will include a short standing meditation. Moving Qigong session include walking methods central to Taoist longevity practices.
The unique blend of activities ensures your leaning skills will be enhanced. Sitting meditations every day bind the practices with a single theme. The format of the retreat will depend upon participants’ requirements. Once the ‘single theme’ is established, progress can quickly be made in any of the disciplines and easily integrated into private practice and daily life.
Participants may also engage in dynamic mediation sessions, chanting and mudras – all with a restorative and reorganizing emphasis.
For those who wish to learn or deepen meditation, the sessions include Buddhist and Taoist meditation as well as intrinsic awareness, considered by some schools to be the pinnacle of meditation practice.
A balance of activities is ensured. Those who wish to make use of free time to engage in forest walking will be given instructions on how Taoists exchange with and learn from the natural world. The retreat center is surrounded by wild forests. Overall, a balanced and restorative retreat.
Schedule
Day 1 – Arrival day
Arrive from 16:00 Orientation
18:00 Introduction and first meditation session
19:30 Evening meal
Days 2 and 3 – First and second full day of retreat
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 First session
12:30 – 15:30 Lunch, then free time
15:30 – 17:30 Afternoon session
19:30 Four-course evening meal
Day 4 – Leaving day
08:15 Breakfast
09:00 Final session
11:00 Departure
You can take forest walks from the door of the retreat center, go on the river to relax by or in the gardens. Bicycles are available to explore further afield. All the practice spaces are open to you in between sessions. Ram and Paula are always available to discuss your program and needs. A retreat aimed at deep rest, and restoration. There will be limited mobile phone network and Wi-Fi is available only on arrival evening.
Included Excursions
Sunrise on the Pyrenees mountains is a moving experience and a highlight of the stay for many. Weather permitting, you will drive to an altitude of 1500 meters and walk through a beech forest to arrive at the col de Portel for a morning practice or simply to breathe in the spectacle of sunrise on the mountain.
During your stay, you will have use of a mountain bike. The local village is 3 kilometers away. Enjoy the gentle cycle ride to the village along the river Artillac, in the forest. The village is small and quiet with an excellent restaurant, Chez Victor, a third generation family restaurant. The village bakery has a good choice of bread and food for a picnic.
There is abundant safe and wild nature all around the retreat center at Tourné: forest, mountains, river. You can walk from the door and deep into nature, a recommended way to pass your free time and to help restore natural balance. They will suggest walking routes for you according to your preference of terrain, distance, and degree of difficulty.