Yoga & Surf Retreat
May 17.-23. 2025
Seignosse, France
Sign me up!I am beyond excited to be able to invite you to my very first yoga & surf retreat on the French Atlantic coast. As you probably know already, surfing is my second big passion besides yoga and the reason why I have moved to the French Atlantic coast myself. This retreat is your opportunity to immerse yourself in my world between yoga mat, surfboard and the French joie de vivre. I'm looking forward to it!
YOGA
You can expect an extended vinyasa yoga class with me every morning to start the day. In these classes we will have different themes, peak poses and focuses throughout the week and we’ll incorporate workshops as well. On top of that you can expect meditation and pranayama for a balanced and holistic practice. In addition to these classes, there will be four afternoon specials. You can expect yoga philosophy, asana lab and workshop sessions where we will focus on asanas, alignment and common problems and questions; and yin yoga with Zoe. I’m super happy to have Zoe Levit supporting me and you all week at the retreat as an additional yoga teacher, surfer and Seignosse-local. All yoga classes will be in English, unless all participants speak German.
SURF
In Seignosse and Hossegor, the Atlantic Ocean meets a kilometer-long stretch of sandy beach and offers waves for all levels. This area between pine forest and dunes in the department of Les Landes is also known as ‘Landifornia’ - the European California. During our retreat week you will have the possibility to take 4 surf lessons with a local surf school to learn how to surf. You will not only be taught how to paddle into a wave and how to stand up on the board, but also how waves develop in the ocean and how to recognize currents and be safe in the water. If required we can divide the group into beginners and intermediates - you can indicate your surfing level in the sign-up form. As part of the surf course, you will be given a board and a wetsuit, and we will be taken from our place to the surf spot.
The surf lessons are booked separately so if you can already surf on your own, or if you prefer to chill at the beach, that's also an option.
OUR RETREAT HOME
Airial du Branasse is an absolute dream of a retreat home, located on a 5-hectare property in the middle of the pine forest. With several buildings and a total of over 500m2, it impresses with its large windows, spacious common rooms, the heated 25m pool, sauna and ice bath and, maybe most importantly, a beautiful yoga room with a view into the pine forest. The beach of Seignosse is 10 minutes away by car and the shopping area of Soorts-Hossegor (with hip cafés, restaurants and stores of all major surf brands) can be reached by foot through the forest in about 15 minutes.
THE FOOD
We will be enjoying vegan creations by our in-house private chef Mélanie (Foodista therapy) all week. Mélanie specializes in colorful, regional, seasonal and of course super delicious plant-based cuisine and I am very happy to have her with us for this retreat. After our morning yoga practice, we will have an extensive sweet and savory brunch. If you need a snack before the practice, coffee, tea and fresh fruit will be available. In the evening, we will have a beautiful and relaxed dinner together to round up the day.
SCHEDULE
DAILY (EXAMPLE)
08:00 Tea/ coffee & fruit
08:30 – 10:30 Morning practice
11:00 Brunch
13:00-15:00 Surfing*
Free time or special class
20:00 Dinner
*the surf sessions will be scheduled according to the best conditions and tides.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
Arrival: Check-in is on Saturday May 17 at 16:30. We will start the retreat with our first practice at 17:30.
Departure: Check-out is on Friday May 23 until 10:00. There is no more yoga class on this day, but we will enjoy another breakfast together.
ROOM OPTIONS
All rooms are super cozy and bright with a view into nature. You can choose between a shared double room (twin or double bed) with ensuite bathroom, a shared quadruple room (twin beds) with ensuite bathroom, or a 10-person dorm. All bathrooms are equipped with local natural cosmetic products from Soin de Soi.
INVESTMENT
Double room (ensuite Bad): 1.550€ (2 spots left)
Quadruple room (ensuite Bad): 1.350€ (waitlist)
10 person dorm: 1.150€ (waitlist)
Included:
– 6 nights at Airial du Branasse
– 6 full yoga classes
– 4 special classes
– 6 days of meals (coffee/ tea/ fruit in the morning, brunch & dinner)
– sauna & ice bath
– yoga mats & props
You can add:
– 4 surf lessons (+160€)
Not included:
– travel to and from Airial du Branasse (check FAQs for info on how to get there)
– travel insurance
FAQ
Do I have to be an experienced Yoga practicioner to join?
No. I will be offering different variations and modifications in class, so you can adjust the practice to your needs. However, this retreat is not recommended for complete beginners.
Are there any prerequisites for taking part in the surf courses?
To take part in the surf courses, you should be a safe swimmer. Other than that, the courses are intended for beginners (people who have never been on a surfboard before, or have tried it a couple of times). In case there are several intermediate level surfers (people who can already stand up easily on the board and catch green waves) we will split the group. There will be one surf coach per 8 participants max.
How do I get to Airial du Branasse?
By train: to St. Vincent de Tyrosse (10 min), Dax (25 min) or Biarritz (30 min).
By plane: to Biarritz (30 min), or to Bordeaux (2h) and from there by train or with a rental car.
By car: if you're up for a little roadtrip through France. :)
Shuttles or carpooling can be organized from the train stations and the airport in Biarritz. I will set up a Google Doc to better organize this. In general, a rental car is very useful to be able to get to the beach independently and to further explore the area.
How does the booking process work?
To register for the retreat, please complete the booking form. By submitting the form, you have not yet booked. I will check your registration and get back to you with further information on payment etc. if your desired place is still available. If your desired place and your desired alternative are booked, I will give you the option to put you on the wait list.
How big is the group?
We will have a maximum of 24 participants, plus our chef, plus Zoe and me.
Credits: Foto 1: Simon Schmalhorst. Fotos Caroussel 1: Airial du Branasse, Angie @yogaatielekker. Fotos Caroussel 2: Simon Schmalhorst. Fotos Caroussel 3: Airial du Branasse. Fotos Caroussel 4: Foodista Therapy, Airial du Branasse. Caroussel 5: Airial du Branasse. Foto 2: Imelda Yoga.