The retreat is focused on women and non-binary adults to experience fun and creativity in the style of Summer Camp. It is in the little village of La Petite-Marche which is about 4 hours from any place you might have heard of in France.
To get here I flew into Lyon, FR and took a train to Vichy, FR then a bus to Montlucon, FR where I jumped into a car for the last 30 minute stretch to the chateau – whew, planes, trains and automobiles.
The chateau is on 7 acres of beautiful (usually green when there isn’t a heat wave) rolling landscape and has been designed in a way that every time you go exploring there is a new hidden gem to be found – a quiet reading spot or a hammock in the sun.
Guests can stay either in one of the rooms on the second floor of the chateau or “glamp” in one of the tents in the grove area. Each retreat is 6 days and 5 nights with two days in between for resetting the property. The volunteers and staff are housed on the third floor of the chateau. We also have a staff kitchen and amenities in the cave (our name for the cellar).
My role as yoga teacher and transport is to teach a yoga class 4 days of the retreat and fetch guests from the train station. Luckily I have always driven a manual transmission and the VW van and I are learning one another quickly. I will also have the opportunity to offer a workshop as early as the second retreat, once I am used to the rhythms of camp.
The other volunteers will cycle out for their stays but I will be here til they kick me out at the end of the Summer Camp season in early September. They are lovely ladies from all over the world – Chile, South Africa, China. They have inspired me to start thinking about where else I might take this adventure!
Leave a Reply