7 DAYS YOGA HOLIDAY with hiking, communication workshops, self-development, cooking course, fun and depth!

Fancy a yoga vacation that mixes yoga sessions with life in the south of France, and lots of activities, such as hiking, workshops, vegetarian or vegan cuisine, a cooking class with a French chef, in a loving space?

Then we look forward to getting to know you 😊

Welcome to the medieval village of Saint Jeannet, in the south of France, just a step away from the French Riviera!

The retreat is designed for 7 days/6 nights, from Sunday to Saturday :) (Price 1000 € for a shared double/twin room with mountain view, 1500 € for a single room with mountain view, 1300 € and 1800 € corresponding prices for a room with balcony and sea view).

This yoga vacation takes place every week from April to November.

Due to the high demand, most retreats are held in English. On two weeks the retreat will be held entirely in both French and English. These are August 25-31 and October 13-19. The team is bilingual, it always works great, but we have found that it is often better for the guests to adapt to the language of their choice 😊

This retreat offers the rare opportunity to meet local people in rural France, taste regional products, enjoy beautiful scenery, explore new paths and experience French culture from the inside ... and at the same time rest more in the here and now.

We have designed a week-long program to give our guests enough time to find the perfect balance between the yoga sessions, the activities and moments of sharing with the teachers and the other guests, as well as time for themselves: That's why we recommend arriving on Sundays and starting the retreat from the beginning, benefiting from all the offerings and feeling the natural progress...

Prices are " per person ", and include all yoga and meditation classes, accommodation with private bathroom (single or double/twin room), breakfast and/or brunch, picnic or light lunch and almost all dinners (homemade, organic and local food), all daily activities, accompanied excursions with a trained guide and yoga teacher.

There is no required "level" of yoga practice: the invitation during the yoga sessions is to be open to what arises in the moment, to "listen" and "observe" it, both on a physical and mental level. It does not matter if you have been practicing yoga for a long time or not. Beginners or regular practitioners, everyone is welcome: All you need is a willingness to be open to try a new approach, a new practice, and perhaps discover your being a little more... and we hope that a better understanding of yourself, and the world, will come out of it....

Benoît was inspired by a French spiritual teacher Jean Klein, who has passed on his own yoga experience to many students, with whom Benoît continues to learn and deepen when he has the opportunity to participate in the workshops
This type of yoga is called Kashmiryoga and is a very meditative style of yoga that allows us to discover the subtle levels, both on a physical and energetic level.
We first observe our small inner voice, which constantly comments, criticizes ... so that we become open to the here and now, to what the moment offers, what happens in the body and in the thoughts ... everything is allowed to be and is embedded in a simple and deep perception. In short, he shares the yoga of being, not doing.
He will do his best to respond to the needs of the participants while maintaining harmony in the group.

During this retreat you will stay in "the frogs' house". The house is a former family hotel that has been transformed into a cozy and comfortable bed and breakfast with lots of charm.

Six rooms are available as single, double or twin rooms:

3 with balconies and sea views, and 3 with views of the local mountains.

All rooms have a private bathroom with shower and toilet.

During the retreat you will be offered a daily organic breakfast/brunch, on the hike on Monday a homemade picnic or light lunch (see program).

The welcome cocktail with dinner, as well as all dinners of the week (with the exception of Thursday) are also included in the retreat. On Tuesday there will be a cooking class with a professional French chef followed by a 3-course dinner.
On Friday there will be a farewell dinner to celebrate the week!

All meals are made from local, organic and organic products as much as possible.

Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

For Thursday evenings, or if you fancy a snack, there is a choice of 4 restaurants within walking distance in Saint Jeannet, or take away food from the local stores - the large open kitchen is fully at your disposal.

FROGS HOUSE YOGA RETREAT PROGRAM 2023

ARRIVAL DAY: SUNDAY

Note: It is recommended to arrive on Sunday and start the retreat from the beginning to benefit from all the offers. ... If this is not compatible with your travel plans (earlier or later arrival), please contact us and we will see what other options we can offer you.

- 15:00 Arrival is possible from 3 pm.

- 18:00-21:00 Welcome evening with introduction to frogs' house and the yoga retreat followed by a welcome cocktail dinner served by frogs' house.

MONDAY

- 08:00-09:30 Yoga and meditation session

- 09:30-11:00 Homemade breakfast on the sunny terrace and time to chat

- 11:00-18:00 Walking day: According to the philosophy of the Buddhist Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, let every step be a deepening of the present moment ...

"Every breath we inhale, every step we take can be filled with peace, joy and serenity. We just need to wake up and live in the present moment."
- Spring and fall: This hiking day will take us to the local mountains called "Baou". Once at the top, we will enjoy a homemade picnic lunch (with local and organic products), with a fantastic view over the whole French Riviera and the Southern Alps.

*Required equipment: The frogs' house provides backpacks with camelbacks (water bags) and walking sticks on request. Each guest must bring comfortable shoes (running shoes are a minimum, but usually sufficient), sunscreen and sunglasses, a hat, and in case of cooler weather, a wind and/or rain jacket.
*Hike description: 8km, +350m uphill on a rocky path, -350m downhill on a rocky path, 4h00 + picnic lunch at the summit

- In summer: A "water hike" that takes you into a gorge/canyon that you hike along, and sometimes through the river. Waterfalls and fresh water lakes that you can jump into or swim in will be the highlights of the day. The perfect activity during these warm summer months.

*Required equipment: same as in spring and fall + swimsuit and towel.

*Description of the hike: 5km, -100m uphill on a rocky path, +100m downhill on a rocky path, 2h00 + picnic lunch and swim in the river

- 18:00-19:00 Meditation session

- 19:00 Dinner organized by frogs' house, self-service/buffet

TUESDAY

- 08:00-09:30 Yoga meditation session

- 09:30-11:00 Homemade breakfast on the sunny terrace and time to chat

- 11:30-13:30 Communication workshop based on the non-violent communication approach with a certified expert. Introduction

- 13:30-14:30 Light lunch

- 14:30-17:00 Free time to relax, meditate at your own pace, have a massage, or stroll through the picturesque streets of Saint Jeannet or the surrounding mountains ...

- 17:00-19:00 Cooking class with our friend Noel PICARD, a professional French chef, in our large open kitchen, with fresh local and organic products. A moment to discover, or rediscover, the pleasure and joy of cooking together, and to be more mindful - so we can nourish both the body and the mind.

- 19:00-22:00 3-course menu (prepared during the cooking class), wine included

WEDNESDAY

- 09:30-11:00 Yoga and meditation session

- 11:00-13:00 Homemade brunch on the sunny terrace. Time to exchange about yoga, meditation, or the inspiration of the moment and individual needs

- 13:00-18:00 Free time for a massage, to relax, to meditate at your own pace, or to stroll through the picturesque streets of Saint Jeannet or the surrounding mountains ...

- 18:00-19:00 Yoga and meditation session

- 19:00 Dinner organized by the frogs' house, self-service/buffet

THURSDAY

- 08:00-09:30 Yoga and meditation session

- 09:30-11:00 Homemade breakfast on the sunny terrace and time to chat

- 11:30-13:30 Communication workshop based on the non-violent communication approach with a certified expert. Practice

- 13:30-14:30 Light lunch

- 14:30-17:30 Free time to relax, meditate at your own pace, have a massage, or stroll through the picturesque streets of Saint Jeannet or the surrounding mountains ...

- 17:30-18:30 Yoga and meditation session

- 19:00 Dinner of your own choice

FRIDAY

- 08:00-09:30 Yoga and meditation session

- 09:30-11:00 Homemade breakfast on the sunny terrace and time to chat

- 11:00-17:00 Free flow day: In order to be present and put into practice what is close to our hearts, we leave the program open for Friday. Over the course of the week, as the guests and we get to know each other better, we feel together what we would like to experience: Here are examples of activities we have already done: A trip to the beach, a visit to the chapel designed by Henri Matisse, a visit to Saint Paul de Vence with its art galleries, a quiet meditative walk through the village followed by a picnic and a dip in the cold water of the local river, a wine tasting at the local winery, swinging with ropes through the tree climbing forest (at extra cost), etc.

- 18:00-21:00 Farewell dinner, wine included. Sometimes we play fun games, sometimes we dance, sometimes we just talk quietly, but we always have a lot of fun and celebrate the week we spent together and the bonds that have been formed.

DEPARTURE DAY SATURDAY

- 09:30-10:30 Farewell ceremony of the retreat

- 10:30-12:00 Homemade brunch on the sunny terrace and check-out

Note: Please note that all rooms should be vacated by 12:00. We are happy to store your luggage if you wish to stay a little longer at Saint Jeannet.

NOTE regarding dinner:

Ingredients are 100% organic, homemade and locally sourced as much as possible. We mainly offer vegetarian or vegan cuisine. With prior notice, we can cater for gluten-free, lactose-free and other diets.

If you need a snack or for Thursday dinner, which is not included in the program: you have a choice of 4 restaurants in Saint Jeannet (walking distance), or take away food from the local stores (1 grocery store, and 1 butcher who also has vegetarian dishes, 1 bakery, 2 cafés/pubs... it makes it very pleasant to live in the village for the locals and for the tourists - and makes it possible to create your own dinner in the frogs' house, where the large open kitchen is at your disposal!

OUR YOGA TEACHERS:
Benoit has been practicing yoga and meditation on a regular basis since 2010, shortly after meeting his current spiritual teacher, Somasekha. He has successfully completed the 200 hour teacher training at Yog Nisarga International Training School, and the 300 hour teacher training at Sampoorna Yoga. Both schools are located in India, where he traveled for the trainings to become a qualified yoga teacher. Both centers are certified by Yoga Alliance, the largest non-commercial association representing the yoga community, whose desire is to promote and support the integrity and diversity of the teaching of yoga.

Jean has undergone extensive training to give sound massages with Tibetan singing bowls. He started his yoga practice 15 years ago in Calcutta. His philosophy is based on the fact that yoga practice allows us to live better, to reduce the suffering of ourselves and the people around us, and to discover the Universal Oneness. He emphasizes breathing and integration in a physically active yoga practice to create strength, freedom and lightness. Jean and Benoit have been school friends for over 30 years.

Travel by train or flight and transfers are not included.

Arrival by flight:
The nearest airport is Nice, Côte d'Azur (NCE). From the airport you can take a cab or Uber, for local transportation we will send you more detailed information.

Arrival by bus:
There is a direct bus to Saint-Jeannet: Bus N°54 starts at the shopping center / commercial center CAP3000 or Grand Arenas, both very close to the airport.
From Saint Jeannet, you can reach Nice with Bus°54 (via the streetcar connection or bus). Bus N°54 also goes via Saint Laurent du Var, a station that allows you to reach Nice or other cities on the coast by train (Antibes, Cannes, Monaco).
Bus N° 47 starts below the village and connects with Vence. From Vence you can easily reach St Paul de Vence (connection with bus N°9).

Arrival by train:
The nearest train station is Saint Laurent du Var, only 8 minutes away from Nice Central Station, and 20 minutes by car from Saint-Jeannet.
There is also the possibility to take the bus N°54 directly in front of the station from Saint Laurent du Var to Saint Jeannet.

Arrival by car:
We will be happy to send you the link to our website with a map, photos and details of how to find the frogs' house and where to park.