During this retreat you will enjoy the incredible hiking trails of Chamonix with our experienced guide, transformative yoga classes with our experienced and wonderful yoga teacher; Angela Sykes, delicious gourmet vegetarian food and free time to explore the Chamonix valley or relax in our luxury Alpine chalet.
Experience yoga on a deeper level as Angela guides you in an engaging and supportive way, through twice daily yoga sessions designed to inspire and uplift. During the sunrise practices we will take the time to wake up our energy, build strength, flexibility and a steady mind. They will include dynamic flows, pranayama, mantra, mudra, energising qi gong, meditation, body work and energy work. The sunset practices are designed to settle our energy, tend to our bodies and calm our minds. They will include gentle flows, yin yoga, pranayama, mantra, mudra, calming qi gong, yoga nidra, bodywork and energy work. The yoga sessions and styles will suit those newer to yoga and those who wish to deepen an existing practice.
This retreat includes:
- A full body welcome massage
- 7 nights accommodation in a beautiful chalet
- Healthy and delicious meals: Brunch, snacks and dinner (apart from one free evening to enjoy a meal at one of the fabulous local restaurants)
- Fresh juices and healthy smoothies every day
- A full week of yoga classes (check the retreat schedule for detailed info)
- All yoga equipment (mats, blocks, bricks, eye pillows, straps, bolsters and blankets)
- Guided mountain hikes
- A whole day at a local Italian spa in the center of Chamonix
- Transfers to and from Geneva airport according to these time slots
- A welcome pack
- Housekeeping
- Toiletries
ACCOMMODATION
Our beautiful chalet is nestled in the mountainside, high above the valley floor, with stunning views of Mont Blanc.
The chalet has 7 bedrooms, all designed and equipped to a very high standard. All of them have French doors leading out on to a South facing balcony overlooking the Chamonix valley and directly opposite the magnificent Mont Blanc mountain range. The bedrooms can be shared twins or doubles with a super king size bed and all have an en-suite bathroom, TV, DVD player and iPod docking station. Several have sun loungers just outside on the balcony.
The chalet has its own spa with a sauna, steam room, walk in shower and treatment room for the on-site massages. The terrace is the ideal place for yoga, complete with Jacuzzi, outdoor pool and breath-taking panoramic views of the French Alps. We also have a secluded indoor space for yoga and meditation, in case of rain.
The living area has large floor to ceiling windows to capture the valley scenery. A stone open fire place plays centrepiece to the sunken lounge and dining area, making it an inviting and sociable area to relax. There is also a cinema room and games room at the chalet to enjoy in your free time.
During your retreat, there will be an excellent full-time chef, chalet host and driver providing catering, cleaning, driving and 24hr assistance.
HEALTHY EATING
The quality of the food on our retreats is very important to us. You will enjoy healthy, nutritional, gourmet meals carefully chosen by our chef to complement the retreat perfectly. The food will be absolutely delicious and mostly vegetarian or vegan but you can opt for fish or meat when booking your retreat. Please include your dietary requirements in the section provided at checkout. We use organic and local produce where possible.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Angela is a Senior Yoga Teacher registered with Yoga Alliance Professionals. She has been teaching professionally for 15 years, is a Yoga Teacher Trainer and Course Leader for Yoga Kula’s 18 month 300 hour Teacher Training. Angela is a Yoga Teacher Mentor, Coach and Founder of Yoga Kula Studios based in Leeds, UK.
Angela’s yoga journey began with a suspicion that the East might well offer answers to questions about her health. Suffering severe neck and back pain and low energy for many years, she was looking for something more profound than pain killers. Angela spent 5 years studying yoga in Japan, India and Sri Lanka learning the healing ways of the East. Eastern approaches to health and in particular yoga helped her to heal her body and understand herself on a much deeper level.
For the past 20 years Angela has trained and studied with a range of renowned yoga teachers and yoga institutions including the Bihar School of Yoga, Bharatt Shetty, BKS Iyengar of Pune, BNS Iyengar of Mysore, Vijay and Vinay Kumar of Mysore, Yogi Dinesh of Rishikesh, David Swenson, Richard Freeman, Kino Mcgregor, Joey Miles, Mimi Kuo Deemer, Shiva Rea, Jean Hall, James Rafael, Jambo Dragon and many more. She is trained in Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Jivamukti Yoga, Hatha, Yin and Daoist Flow styles of yoga. Angela has have lived in ashrams in India, Sri Lanka and the UK and spent several weeks in the Amazon Jungle taking part in Shamanic healing ceremonies. She has taught yoga in the UK and internationally in India, Sri Lanka, Germany and Spain. Her next immersive trip is planned for this year where she will spend time in China studying Chi Gong with masters living in the Wudang Mountains.
Angela’s yoga sessions are a combination of asana – still and flowing, breathwork, meditation, mantra, wisdom, bodywork and energy healing.
Check out Angela’s website.
THE HIKES
Experience guided walks through the stunning French Alps.
Our gentle half day hikes last 2 – 3 hours with plenty of rest time to take in the incredible views. No prior fitness level is required. Our qualified and experienced walking guide and nature expert, Susanna Walker, carefully chooses trails to suit the abilities of our clients. She makes sure no-one is left behind, while imparting knowledge on the beautiful local flora and fauna.
On the full day hike we leave the chalet at 10am and set off to explore some of Chamonix’s best hiking trails. Around midday we make ourselves comfortable in an Idyllic setting for a healthy packed lunch with impressive views. When rested, we continue our inspirational journey through the spectacular Mont Blanc mountain range before returning to the chalet to enjoy a fresh healthy smoothie and to relax in the hot tub, sauna and steam room.
All hikes are optional.
THE SPA
The majesty of Mont Blanc is the setting for this new Chamonix QC Terme spa where nature is the protagonist, offering a not-to-missed swim midst the snow or green mountain meadows. It’s an unexpected combination of warmth and freshness, water and earth. Within the spa’s 3,000 square meters, there are over 30 wellness practices, following a multi-sensory journey. There is also an infinity pool whose reflection merges with the water of the adjacent Alpine lake, all with a breathtaking view of the Bossons Glacier.
WHAT TO BRING
Chamonix Mont Blanc is the most beautiful Alpine region in Europe and as with all mountain regions, the weather is unpredictable. It can be extremely hot on sunny days and occasionally very cold even in summer, so it’s always a good idea to check the weather report right before you travel.
We recommend bringing hiking boots or sensible outdoor footwear, sunglasses, sun cream, a bathing suit (for the hot tub / spa / pool), a backpack, a waterproof coat, a hat, warm layers and flip flops or slippers to wear on the deck. Don’t panic if you come unprepared or forget anything, there are plenty of shops in town.
We provide masks for our guests to use when they wish but please bring your own for the journey here.
The yoga classes will take place on the decking outside the chalet surrounded by the stunning Mont Blanc mountain range but we do have an indoor room to use on rainy days. We provide blankets as well as all yoga equipment (mats, blocks, bricks, straps, bolsters, eye pillows and blankets) but please bring extra layers in case of cold days.
We also provide towels and bathrobes at the chalet so no need to bring your own.
During the meet and greet we will go over the schedule and weather report for the week so we can adjust the schedule a bit if necessary (hiking on sunny or slightly overcast days). We will fit the massages in around the schedule.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
In light of recent events, our diligent staff have been retrained and now implement updated health and safety procedures in line with government guidelines. Masks are provided if our guests would like to use them and there are hand sanitising stations in place.
If you opt for a shared (twin) room you will be in one of the largest rooms, with regular thorough cleans of the bathroom and each guest having their own sink, products, towels and bathrobes. There will be a top to bottom disinfection of the property between retreats, extremely thorough cleans between use of sauna / steam room, regular disinfecting of surfaces and whenever possible we will practice yoga on our spacious deck in the fresh mountain air.
Please try to social distance as much as possible for 2 weeks BEFORE the retreat and check your temperature on the morning of travel. If you are feeling in any way unwell, stay at home. It may be possible to reschedule your retreat at no cost to you but please take out cancellation insurance to avoid any disappointment.
TESTIMONIALS
‘The whole experience was beautiful. The setting, the chalet, the food, the yoga, the massage, the food, the walks, the spa day, the food, and the total vibe – calm but energising, excellently organised but relaxed – were all perfect. The food was delicious, healthy, satisfying. El and Anna were totally brilliant. I loved the food. The yoga was inspirational, every day. But the aspect that perhaps I wasn’t expecting, and which surprised me, was the power, joy, and inspiration I gained from my fellow guests. Thank you all.
And did I mention the food..?’ – Simon Blake
‘The other guests were wonderful; inspiring and real pleasure to spend time with. Everyone involved in running the retreat was very welcoming, friendly and really fun to have around. Eleanor and Anna made us all feel really at home and looked after us brilliantly. Wonderful, inspiring, responsive yoga teacher. I had the best massage I have in years. The food was excellent, absolutely delicious. The views were magnificent. Perfect balance of structure and freedom.’ – Fiona Paveley
‘Had the most relaxing week. Such a great experience. Everything was so smooth, well organised. Awesome yoga and hikes of course. The venus is fabulous, with indoor spa, pool & jacuzzi, in-house cinema …the food was incredible. On top of all that, it was so lovely to meet new people and it truly ended up being a beautiful, fulfilling and humbling human experience. Thanks to all of you.’ – Morgane Boucherit
