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4 Day Tao Yoga, Qigong and Meditation Retreat with Forest Walking Option in Ariège, France
Tourné, 09420, Castelnau Durban, France
Tao Yoga, Qigong, and Meditation Retreat Southern France
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.
Meet the instructors
Ram
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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
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
4 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
16:00
Check-out Time:
11:00
Facilities
- Table tennis
- Dining area
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Luggage room / storage
- Meditation garden
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Smoke-free property
- Special menu request
- Yoga studio
- Free bicycle
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Ironing / ironing board
- Library
- Meeting room
Tourné is a large maison de maître, considered locally to be one of the finest examples. Large airy rooms with high ceilings set in mature gardens surrounded by a welcoming forest valley. Tourné has been offering retreats as well as holidays for the last 15 years. Historically, it had previously housed a music school, acclaimed for presenting public performances making use of the stunning natural acoustics of the valley in which the house is set.
You will have your own large room with views of the valley and en suite bathroom. Set in a totally natural environment, a clear mountain stream running through the extensive gardens. With no light pollution here, no traffic, just clean fresh air, and plenty of opportunities to view the amazing night skies filled with more stars than you can imagine. Abundant wildlife, flora, and fauna make this a perfect place to relax and refresh with support from nature.
Program
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.
Instructors
Ram Chatlani
4 Certificates
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Ram is an expert teacher of Tao yoga, Tai Chi, Bagua (eight trigrams circle walking), Qigong, and meditation with over 30 years experience. He has been certified by Master B.K. Frantzis as a teacher of various Qigong forms, breathing, and Bagua circle walking for health and meditation. His other teachers include Dadi Janki, Sepa Dorjé Rinpoche, Lama Lena Yeshe Katyub, and Victor Sanchez. He has students worldwide and is an inspiring teacher with vast practical knowledge and a unique approach to the universal methods of Tao. He has trained extensively in Buddhist, Yogic, and Taoist tradition.
Location
The main house at Tourné was built by the Vicomte de Bellissens in 1858 for his maitre d’affaires. Hence, it is a genuine maison de maitre - built by a noble for his principal representative.
The valley is an area of protected environment in the heart of the Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises. In the park, there is virtually no industry (1%); the population is sparse - 1 person for every 2 square kilometers and consequently minimal traffic.
The extensive mixed gardens are over a hectare and have woodland and river access with many secluded spots for rest or contemplation. This large house has three floors with adjoining yoga, meditation studio, and dojo. The house, gardens, and workspaces are large and they are easily able to conform with the new era of social distancing without a problem. Your comfort and safety is of utmost importance to them in these difficult times.
You will have your own room with a private bathroom.
There are many walks, for all levels of fitness of astounding beauty that can be made directly from the house. Beautiful wildflowers in spring, stunning walks in summer cooled by the forest and mountain river. The voie verte is a recently opened 42-kilometer route reserved for cyclists and walkers between the local towns of St Girons and Foix accessed at Castelnau Durban and is wonderful at all times of the year.
In the house, you will find guides and maps with local attractions and walks. With no pollution, the river runs clear and the night sky bright for stargazers. Many local activities and historic sites are under 30 minutes' drive. While there is much to see and do in the area, most participants find that the house and the immediate environs provide more than enough for a uniquely calm and refreshing retreat.
Features
Activities
- Mountain walking
- Rock climbing
- Stargazing
General
- Garden
- Hammock
- River
- Yoga studio
Services
- Free bicycle
Food
Breakfast / brunch, light lunch, and a four-course evening meal are provided for you. Meals are prepared from fresh ingredients each day using vegetables from their own organic garden according to the season. Tao Meditation is happy to cater for special diets.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Alcoholic beverages
- Detox juices
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Organic
- Pescatarian
- Seafood
- Whole food
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Local forest and riverside walks from the door of the center
- Local village, 3 kilometers riverside or forest walk
- Ancient footpath to 12th century chapel at Lacazas and local village
- Riverside seating for contemplation and relaxation
- Explore acres of formal and informal gardens
- Explore the library
- Make use of the meditation and yoga halls for your private practice
- Make friends with the donkeys or watch for abundant wildlife
- Deep tissue massage sessions
Spa treatments
- Deep tissue massage sessions (30 EUR / hour)
- Thai or Swedish massage (30 EUR / hour)
What's included
- An introductory meeting to determine your personal program
- Morning 90-minute session
- Evening 90-minute session plus additional 40 meditation before evening meal
- A choice of Tao yoga, a variety of qigong forms, or meditation
- A unique proposal using natural reorganization
- Breakfast, light lunch, and 4-course evening meal
- Private room with double bed, ensuite bathroom views over the countryside
- 3 nights accommodation in a natural forest and river valley in Occitanie
What's not included
- Airfare or trainfare
- Airport or train station transfers
- Personal expenses
- Lunch is not included. There are plenty of local options available. You may make use of their dining room for preparing light lunches.
How to get there
Recommended Airports
TLS
Toulouse–Blagnac Airport
72 km
Transfer not provided
CCF
Carcassonne Airport
82 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
The nearest airport is Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS). The venue is accessible by public transport.
Arrival by bus
Buses leave from the post office in Foix and will stop at Castlenau Durban. You can ring them from the village and they will collect you (no charge, but please let them know in advance that you will be taking the bus). Please check the bus timetable as bus times change according to school holidays.
Generally, there are three buses a day between Foix and Castelnau Durban at about 08:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (not on Saturdays or Sundays). But please check with the St Girons or Foix tourist office whose web address is easily found. Many participants who arrive during a weekday prefer to take the bus.
Arrival by train
The nearest major train station is Foix - 35 minutes from Tourné by car or bus. Foix is about 60 minutes by road or 85 minutes by train from Toulouse. A shuttle service leaves from the airport to the train station every 20 minutes for 6 EUR, from 07:35 a.m. to 00:15 a.m. daily. There is also a tram and car hire is available at the airport.
Many choose to take one of the hourly trains from Toulouse to Foix - about 85 minutes. From Foix, you can either take a taxi (about 45 EUR) or a bus, (3 EUR). If you let them know in advance, they can arrange to meet you and drive you to Tourné form Foix train station by one of their support team (30 EUR). If you would like them to meet you, please let them know at least three days in advance. They will give you contact details once you have booked.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20.57% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 21 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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