LOCATION
Our Home for the week in France is just perfect. Chateau Bardouly will take you back in time.
Here, you find a unique setting for the union of body, mind and spirit.
Chateau de Bardouly offers 10 en-suite bedrooms. All rooms are different, all having a unique interior design. The rooms are not luxurious but couldn’t be more authentic and provide everything you can wish for on a yoga holiday.
About 100 acres of hills and fields can be considered as our garden so plenty of options to walk around or even hike.
There’s a swimming pool and hard surface tennis court as well as a lake surrounded by ancient oaks.
Our yoga classes will mostly be on the outside yoga platform, weather permitting. If not, there’s a fully equipped yoga room inside as well.
FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS
Flying into Bergerac Airport (EGC) or Bordeaux Airport (BOD).
Chateau Bardouly is an easy 20 minute drive away from the Bergerac airport and 1.5hours drive away from Bordeaux.
Transfers are included on the start and end date of the retreat, when you use our shared transfer options.
Check in time at Bardouly on the 8th of September is at 4PM for all so we will have 1 shared transfer leaving from Bergerac, and one shared transfer leaving from Bordeaux.
We start our lessons on Sunday, the 9th of September.
On the 15th of September, we have two shared transfers, to Bergerac and to Bordeaux, leaving Bardouly around 10AM.
If your flights don’t allow you to use the shared transfers, we can arrange a separate taxi for you of course, at your own expense.
Participants from the Netherlands and Belgium might consider driving. It took me exactly 10 hours to drive from Antwerp to our chateau. Participants from the UK might consider taking the ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo and drive further from there. Ryanair and Easyjet also offer very interesting flight prices to both Bergerac and Bordeaux.
DAILY PROGRAMMA: MORE THAN YOGA
This is your time, your holiday, so if you want to skip a class or a workshop that is absolutely fine. Although we believe you will find the program stimulating and fun, primarily we want you to relax and enjoy yourself.
Here is an example of a typical schedule. We like to be open to the unexpected and our schedule can change according to weather conditions, overall group preferences, etc.
07.30 Hatha yoga class
09.00 Wonderful Breakfast
11.00 Your Included Massage
13.00 Revitalising Lunch
14.00 Relaxing, a Stroll in the garden, lounging by the Pool
17.30 Yin yoga class
19.30 Heartwarming Dinner
20:30 Free time
Everything That Makes A Yoga Holiday Special, The Massage, The Excursion, The Extra Classes: It is ALL Included!
HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS AND INCREDIBLY TASTY MEALS
Nutritious and healthy food is a very important part of the Revealing Vajra yoga retreat experience.
We are delighted that for this Yoga retreat France, we are in for a festive food party with Hayley North.
During this yoga holiday, we will get to know French food from a very different angle!
Very excited as Hayley North will spoil us with wonderful meals.
In the land of a 3 Star Michelin restaurant on every corner, I can assure you that the meals you will have, will make you healthier and happier. You will be gently cleansing and rebalancing your body… and delighting your taste buds!
What sets Hayley apart from all other chefs out there is the extra mile she goes to make every single meal into a culinary adventure. Being a qualified yoga instructor herself, she will make sure that the menu will compliment our yoga lessons, linking Traditional Chinese Medicine and an holistic view to our Hatha Yoga classes.
It will all make sense. Every single meal will be balanced and you will feel amazing.
The menu during this week will be vegetarian. Dairy and gluten will limited to an absolute minimum.
It goes without saying that Hayley can cater for all allergies and possible food restrictions.
Everything is cooked from scratch, using only natural, unprocessed foods. Hayley will hand make and pick everything that goes on the table and that is reflected by meals bursting with flavors and high nutritional content.
Freshness and flavor are the main key words here.
I’m fortunate to have Hayley on many Revealing Vajra Retreats as this adds value beyond measure. It’s worth mentioning as well that in the past years, there’s quite a few people who have completely given up on their unhealthy eating patterns and habits. It finally clicked by simply experiencing Hayley’s cuisine, and taking the time to feel the results.
To find out more or book your place...
Please contact Rachel at rb@revealingvajra.com if you would like to ask any questions about this retreat or how to book and pay for your place, she will be more than happy to get back to you!
You can also book and pay securely online here. Payments via Paypal, Credit Card or Bank Transfer
YOUR HOST AND YOGA TEACHER, RACHEL BONKINK
You will go home after this week, with a mental back pack, filled with practical tools to help you maintain and cultivate Balance in your daily life.
I have been teaching for several years now and I do what I do because it is who I am – it is what I love to do.
Traveling the world and inspiring people in anyway I can.
THESE YOGA HOLIDAYS ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER HOLIDAY OUT THERE!
What I bring across is so much more than bending forwards and backwards. As I have a worked both as a COO and consultant before founding Revealing Vajra, I know what stress is. I know what deadlines are, real deadlines, handling huge budgets-with a lot of zeros, pleasing your C-level customers, keeping your corporate tribe happy- our tribe had 100+ people on the payroll.
Combine this with many years as a personal life coach, my shiatsu practises and ongoing yoga teacher trainings and personal retreats.
And, you get someone in front of you who is able to organise retreats that are very different.
It is this unique combination – a deep understanding of corporate life and the corporate ladder, alongside a vast experience of mind-body trainings and many personal retreats, plus the expertise of organising and hosting over 55 of my own yoga retreats – that gives my yoga holidays and retreats a very POWERFUL edge.
I will help you to focus on enjoying your practice and gaining new insights into your body, mind and the yoga philosophy.
In conclusion, these holidays are so much more than just a getaway. These retreats can be truly life changing and empower you to become a more healthy and happy person.
DIFFERENT YOGA STYLES
I will teach different styles of yoga, and offer several guidelines/techniques for meditation during this week.
Starting slowly with Hatha, Yin, and Yin/Yang. Building it up towards a more Vinyasa inspired class. At least one class will focus on alignment and one class is Kundalini yoga.
All levels are welcome, I know how to adjust all poses.
All of my teaching is rooted in yoga as therapy for the body and for the mind via the body. Asana (postures), breathing, stillness and meditation will be part of all my lessons.
These retreats are perfect for beginners as well as advanced yogis. To me, being advanced in yoga doesn’t mean being able to pretzel well. Some people are very flexible by nature, some are very powerful because they work out a lot. That would mean these people could immediately be labeled ‘advanced’ in yoga? I think not 🙂 .
Asana beginners will build a strong foundation on my retreats and more experienced students will develop tools to work on their challenge areas.
I don’t take life all too seriously, nor do I see yoga as the most serious thing in the world.
Asana wise, I started my own journey about 10 years ago with Ashtanga. Later on, I got very inspired by Iyengar trained teachers like Gustavo Ponce and John Stirk. Over the years, I’ve taken several 100 and 200 hour teacher trainings in India, the Netherlands, Thailand, Canada and the USA. Currently, I enjoy receiving teachings by Sarah Powers, Bernie Clark, Paul Grilley and Alan Wallace. Every year, I go on at least two to three retreats and teacher trainings myself to recharge, rejuvenate and broaden my knowledge on yoga and meditation.
I am happy to discuss your expectations and see if this holiday is right for you. I welcome any and all questions or concerns you may have and invite you to email me at: rb@revealingvajra.com or just give me a call on +32 476 204 121.
You can read more about my story and starting Revealing Vajra here …
WHAT TO DO NEXT? BOOKING THIS “YOGA RETREAT FRANCE”
Prices include full board accommodation, all yoga lessons, a workshop, a canoe trip, half day excursion, lunch out and one full-length treatment.
1495€ per person for shared accommodation for one week
1850€ per person for private accommodation for one week
If you are a single traveler, no worries, most people are, so we can set you up with a roommate to share the room.
CANCELLATION POLICY
The 500 Euro deposit is non refundable.
There are no partial refunds for late arrivals or if you need to leave the retreat early.
Balance refunds depend on the timing of your cancellation:
A 90% refund will be provided on cancellations, up to 60 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
A 50% refund will be provided on cancellations between 30-59 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
No refunds will be provided on cancellation between 29-0 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
This was my very first experience with yoga (male, 50 years old). It was the best decision to get to know the yoga philosophy and different yoga styles. Rachel embodies a particular empathic and caring attitude which creates a very relaxing atmosphere. Her teaching style is authentic and full of humor. Both Rachel and Hayley are very passionate about what they do and Hayley spoiled us with the most amazing meals. Overall a perfect mix of yoga, meditation sessions and breaks. Beautiful surroundings to come to rest, to relax and to regain strength in the easiest way I can imagine. Deeply grateful for this inspiring experience! And, determined to proceed with the “yoga” life that I have just discovered as it is not only about body movements.
Chris, Germany
The retreat was a wonderful experience. It was the perfect retreat to recharge your batteries, improve your yoga and spend time with a very supportive and like minded group of people. Rachel's guidance was spot-on and the 2 excursion days were very nice breaks to do different activities. I would definitely recommend this retreat!
Lisa P, Switzerland
I came to this yoga retreat to get away from the daily stress, to relax and to be me. I liked the description of the retreat, and it gave me exactly what I needed. The right balance between relaxation and challenges. I learned a lot of new things about yoga, but also about myself. The food, the location, the yoga, the people, the weather: all of it made it a great retreat!
Lotte Jörgensen, Denmark
This was my second retreat with Rachel and I wouldn't hesitate to book a third. Each experience was unique in offering different paths to arrive at a happier, more peaceful mind. However both provided new relationships and a greater awareness of what makes life so wonderful. I always walk in feeling a bit empty and I leave feeling clear, free and full. Thank you, Rachel!
Carly Pisarri, New York, USA
I was one of the two guys joining this retreat. It felt very nice to be surrounded by all those women. Mostly because the openness and honesty takes over and this was very helpful to really enjoy the power of this retreat. I had a splendid time and learned a lot. I fully recommend it!
Remko Wauters, the Netherlands
Don’t waste your time and hard earned cash on anything but the best! You deserve to experience this amazing retreat. Rachel is a warm, kind and wonderful person and spending time with her on this luxurious retreat in Mallorca, taking time out to learn and grow, will stay with me forever.
Vanessa Pitrik, UK
This was my very first yoga retreat! Rachel had everything so well organised and made sure everyone was comfortable being around the place and with each other. I have learned a lot over the course of 7 days and Rachel is very experienced in guiding all the different yoga lessons. After the retreat, I feel rested and the experience I gained makes me more connected to the inner self and changed the way I look at things and will deal with daily life in the future.
Karfee Lye, NYC, USA
Book this retreat
Please select your date and room option below to book. Online payment can be made by credit card or PayPal. When opting for bank transfer, I will send you a separate email with the bank details.
Please contact Rachel if you have any questions about this yoga retreat France or on making a booking.
SO WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN THE YOGA RETREAT FRANCE?
Simple, this is the PERFECT environment to Unwind, to Relax,to take some Time off and Recharge.
We promise that everything will be included in the retreat price.
We are convinced that you become an instant fan of our chef, Hayley North
We know that you will want to come back.
You will leave feeling relaxed, strong and more peaceful.
Furthermore, you will feel rejuvenated and most of all Happy.
