The beginnings of Athrú Retreat ... Sept '24

You have an idea; you mention it to your big sister and before you know it you are on a plane and the most wonderful plan is falling into place!

I embarked on this trip with the faintest of sketches in my head as to what the Athrú Seasonal Yoga retreat would look like in a years’ time. My sister Judy lives in Brittany, France and had made suggestions about beach locations, gardens, national parks and unusual but beautiful local sites. I can only say that she understood exactly what I was looking for and showed us the most wonderful places that will be incorporated into this experience in September 2025.

 This was our first taste of beautiful Brittany…..

Mousterlin greets the Atlantic sea; a beach with wild charm, stunning views and clear, azure blue waters. We practiced our breathwork, Nadi Shodhana, lulled by the sounds of the waves. We experienced a loving, kindness meditation under the warm September sun, followed by our late summer asana practice before preparing for our cold water dip and swim in the Atlantic. It really was a perfect afternoon.

Hours can be spent here, soaking up the tranquillity, being one with nature, taking the memories with us and leaving only our footprints.

Jean Pierre’s Garden

This labour of love was created by Jean Pierre when he bought this land many years ago and it will be our location for Yoga Nidra. It is serene, peaceful and perfect for one of yoga’s oldest practices.

Nestle down on your mat on decking which overhangs the lily pond, tune into the natural music created by the rustling of the leaves of the trees overhead and enjoy the late sunshine on your face as you experience this wonderful practice of ultimate relaxation.

Foret de Huelgoat

Situated in the Armorica Regional Natural Park, Huelgoat forest (which means “tall wood” in Breton) is such a wonderful forest to explore.

This forest has a stillness, tranquillity and mystery about it with a fairy tale atmosphere.  It is a feast for the senses! The smells of the earth underfoot as you meander along paths that have been walked on by so many, the sound of the Argent river as it gently traverses through the land. The most extraordinary, enormous boulders, that look like a huge hand has strewn them like one would marbles on the ground.  This chaotic arrangement has inspired many tales and is the birthplace of many Celtic legends: King Arthur, Devil’s Cave, Devil’s Chasm and Camp d’Artus.

This will be our location for a mediation in the afternoon and as the September sunshine gently caresses our faces, we tune into our breath, our bodies and find oneness.

Valley of the Saints

I have heard about this site for so many years but I was not prepared for the feeling I had when I saw it in person. As soon as you arrive, you get a little glimpse of what is ahead  but as you walk over the brow of the hill into the valley, it really is awe inspiring… the size of the statues, the formation and location! 

The Valley of the Saints is located on a unique site and was established in the 6th century by St Gildas and worship has continued here for centuries. With 1000 Breton granite statues representing the holy founders of Brittany, the stone blocks from which they have been carved are approximately 300 to 500 million years old. It is an aspirational place where you will be able to view craftsmen and women sculpturing the stone on their latest project. You will be able to visit the visitors centre and enjoy views in every direction over the surrounding area.   There will be time for you to find out about a particular saint as each saint in the valley has one or more attributes relating to its history and legend.

Here we will be having out last afternoon practice together. We will be at the Saint Patrick statue, chosen for his links to Brittany, Ireland and Scotland.

 I look forward to inviting you on this journey with us... Lots more to come!

Carol x