Gardoussel Retreat (formerly The Sun Centre)

Newsletter - Feb 2007

www.gardoussel.com

Dear friend,

Well, spring has definitely sprung and winter has barely had a look-in this year in the Cévennes mountains. Here at Gardoussel, we have had no snow, much to the disappointment of our two children, who had been looking forward to being pulled by sledge to the village shop in the absence of a moveable car. It has been cold, of course, but not so much that the bulbs I planted in November (too early I found out later) perished. No, they are still going strong, as is my gardening learning curve. Natural green fingers have I not, but enthusiasm to get it right – eventually – I possess in abundance.

Winter at Gardoussel has been a time of rest and slowing down. It’s been a fabulously quiet time and it’s left us all feeling refreshing and eager to get going again with our programme for 2007.

Since our last newsletter, we have completed the renovation of the top floor of our barn, la Bergerie, and have two new en-suite bedrooms to show for it. Together with the two rooms in le Nid we renovated last year, we now have 12 extra bed spaces. This is great because it means that course numbers can be bigger (up to 21 max) and it also means that we can offer additional rooms to guests renting either or both of our two gîtes, if they want to bring friends.
We have also completed the planting of a small orchard just above the property. This means we will have apple, plum and pear trees, grapes and pomegranates, all growing close enough to the house to bring in the harvest easily and allow guests to pick their own breakfasts!

On a personal level, as part of our integration into our new life here in St André de Valborgne, I have joined the local singing group, which is great fun and a good way to meet people. I’ve also started teaching English to the kids at the village school (aged 7-8), which is  a riot. Takes me back to the two years I spent as an assistant English teacher in France and Japan. (Only this time I know their mums so there’s more reason for them to pay attention and do what they’re told , ha!)

Meanwhile, Alex helped prep the children from the local music class to sing a version of the Sankrit chant Shima Shima at the village Christmas show. He also took up an invitation to teach an Ayurveda workshop for French yoga students in the Cantal area in November, which was well attended. This was followed a few weeks later by a weekend workshop in Glasgow, a gig that looks set to become a regular event on the annual calendar.

Talking of which, our calendar of events for 2007 is below. If anything takes your fancy, we’d love you to join us this summer. We look forward to seeing you, old friend and new!

Namaste,

Sharon & Alex

CALENDAR 2007

* 26 March – 1 April: Yurt Building week. (Free food and board in exchange for around six hours’ work a day). Taxi from St Jean du Gard provided. For meals, we provide raw food ingredients, you cook it up as a group or by rota.

Help to put up a yurt at Gardoussel. This 6-metre French-built yurt has been sitting in our barn basement for the past six months awaiting construction. It will be home to Maggie, a member of the Gardoussel cooking team, who moved in last September to live on site. Other related building jobs will form part of the week, if time allows.

* 14-21 July: Shadow Yoga with Fiona Morton (taught in English). Cost : £380

Popular Glasgow-based teacher Fiona Morton is back at Gardoussel this year to accompany students on a journey into shadow yoga. Shadow Yoga uses a combination of positions and rhythmical movements to obtain an unobstructed movement of breath. (See http://www.shadowyoga.com). Two daily yoga sessions include simple cleansing techniques, warm-up routines, prelude sequences, postures, breath work and mantra. Together, these tools enable us to become more discriminating and conscious of the choices we make not only in our yoga practice but also in our everyday lives.

* 28 July – 4 Aug: Week of Yoga with Jean-Francois Beaulieu (taught in French)

details to follow (see our website)

* 11-17 August: Yoga and Ayurveda Retreat with Coen van der Kroon, Rolf Jost and Susan Nicolas (taught in English). Cost : 595€

Yoga and Ayurveda have long been complementary practices, serving each other like two sides of one coin. Ayurveda purifies the body and mind and yoga directs subtle energy into the appropriate channels for spiritual progress. Both practices deepen and become more effective when practised with the other. Ayur-yoga is a result of this union: it is a unique approach to yoga that is tailored to each person’s individual constitution and condition. This week combines daily hatha yoga classes, Ayurvedic yoga, lectures, meditation and satsang.

* * *

Although many of our dates this summer are already booked up, some vacancies still exist for gite rentals. Enquire for dates:

GITES

Our 2 beautiful, independent gîtes (holiday apartments) are available for weekly rentals for those who want to do their own thing at Gardoussel Retreat. We have 2 gîtes available:

* le Pigeonnier has two twin/double bedrooms and a sofa bed in the living room giving it a capacity of 6 people. It has a large  kitchen with an open-plan living/dining room and a shaded, completely private terrace for outdoor dining. Also a shower room and separate toilet. 400€ per week

* le Gîte Vert also has two twin/double bedrooms and a sofa bed in the living room (total capacity 6 people). It has a living/dining room and a modern fitted kitchen as well as a terrace overhung with rambling vines for outdoor dining. 380€ per week

Both gîtes are available for let from Saturday to Saturday. Guests have the use of our loft workspace and outdoor yoga deck in addition to our 18 hectares of meadow and woodland – perfect for bodywork, ball games and exploring! There are also swings for children and a badminton/volleyball net. A cot can be provided on request.

GUEST ROOMS

* Additional rooms

We have four independent guest bedrooms in addition to the gîtes. All have been tastefully renovated and are available for rent in addition to one or both of our gites. This can suit larger groups or families holidaying with a friend or another couple who wish to share a gite experience but don’t necessarily want to rent two gîtes. 180€ / week or 28€ / night per bedroom

* la Bergerie :

A former barn adjacent to the main property containing two en-suite bedrooms, each with one double bed and one single bed.

* le Nid :

Previously a laundry room at the heart of the main building, le Nid was recently converted to create two three-person bedrooms, each with a mezzanine and a shared adjoining bathroom.

Extras

Various extras are available at Gardoussel, all provided by experienced, fully-qualified practitioners. Take your pick from massage (Ayurvedic and Swedish), craniosacral therapy, reiki, Ayurvedic consultations, cookery classes and group yoga classes (min. 5 participants).  Other therapies and activities will come on offer as our network of contacts expands.

Ayurveda Workshops in Glasgow, Scotland, with Alex Duncan & Fiona Morton

Alex will be running a series of three weekend Ayurveda workshops in Glasgow next year (Jan, May & June 2007). Take a look at the programme in PDF format for details.

Newsletter

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