A Retreat Rejuvenating Both Body and Mind
Join us this spring at the the beautifully tranquil L'ancienne Distillerie, nestled within the breathtaking Cognac region of France for a special restful retreat aimed at restoring body and mind. Led by Natalia Ripsher, founder of The Little Room of Harmony, this experience will introduce you to practices, which help relax and still the body, quieten the mind and centre the spirit. The backdrop of the magnificent French countryside adds to the allure, promising a taste of France and its very special offerings.About the Retreat
In a world where our minds never stop and we find it difficult to switch off, this weekend is an opportunity to take a complete break and press the reset button for body and mind. You will be guided through simple - yet intensely powerful - wellbeing sessions, which allow stress and tension to melt away. You will also learn techniques, which you can go forward to use in your daily life as required.
Itinerary
15th - 18th MayDay 1: Arrival and Welcome
- We will welcome you at Limoges airport and transport you to the beautiful L’ancienne Distillerie.
- On arrival, there will be a little introduction and orientation as you ease into the weekend.
- Enjoy your first taste of local cuisine with a delicious French welcome dinner.
- Close out the evening with a gentle guided meditation.
Day 2: Connect with Nature and Meditation Practice
- Start your day at 8 am with a moving meditation.
- A nourishing breakfast will be served at 9.00 am.
- Connect with nature on a guided mindful walk through the vineyards, followed by lunch from 1 pm to 2 pm.
- The afternoon offers an optional visit to a local attraction which will immerse you in the fascinating regional culture.
- Alternatively you can relax by the pool, take a bike ride through the vines or visit some local villages.
- Dinner will be served at 7.30 pm.
- Unwind and prepare for rest with Natalia’s relaxation session from 9.00 pm.
Day 3: Immersion in French Culture and Diving Deeper
- Begin your day at 8.30 am with a breathwork practice.
- Breakfast will be ready at 9.15 am.
- Dive deeper into your practice with a group Reiki and relaxation session guided by Natalia.
- Savour a fulfilling lunch from 1 pm to 2 pm.
- Another optional and fascinating visit to a local attraction awaits from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm .
- Once again, you may choose to relax in or around L’ancienne Distillerie in the calm peaceful surroundings.
- Apéro and dinner will be served from 7 pm.
Day 4: Face Yoga and Farewell
- Begin your final day with an uplifting Face Yoga class at 9 am.
- A leisurely brunch will be served from 10.30 am.
- Before departure, join us for a closing session.
- At 1pm, we depart for Limoges airport.
This enriching and restorative retreat itinerary is designed to provide you with a unique balance of immersive experiences, meditation practices, and explorations of the local culture and beauty of the Charente region. The itinerary is subject to change but only for the better. We can’t wait to welcome you to this special experience!
A Special Offering: Massage Treatments
As a special addition to the above programme, we are delighted to offer you the opportunity to enjoy a choice of a luxurious body or face massage treatment during your French retreat. Bookings will be taken on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Please note this is not included in the overall retreat fee and a 45 minute session is €60.
Book Now for a 10% Discount
About Your Teacher
Natalia Ripsher is a qualified meditation teacher, a Face Yoga teacher and a Reiki Master with 12 years experience in various holistic therapies. She has been leading group and private classes in meditation and relaxation since 2015 at The Little Room of Harmony in Widford, Hertfordshire. Natalia also co-organises events where she leads larger groups through a beautifully relaxing guided meditation to enable people to reconnect with their inner peace and feel relaxed, revitalised and rebalanced.
About Your Hosts
Olive and Charlie will be your hosts for the week, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable experience from start to finish. Having made the move from Ireland to France some years back, they fell in love with the Charente region and have dedicated themselves to creating retreats that combine quality instruction and authentic French experiences, from the delicious local food and wine to visits to unique local attractions. What makes this 2025 retreat so very special is the opportunity to work once more with Natalia - a close friend for over 30 years!About the Venue
Fall asleep to the sound of the tinkling fountain, wake to bird song and when the stills are working, smell the unique aroma of cognac on the breeze. Set in 2 and 1/2 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland and surrounded by vines, L'Ancienne Distillerie is a calm, restful property situated in a peaceful hamlet just outside Cognac. Formed around a traditional Charentaise farmhouse, the accommodation has been created through the sympathetic conversion of the 150 year old buildings that made up the former cognac distillery.
Travel Arrangements
If travelling from the UK, we recommend travelling Ryanair London Stansted to Limoges at 3pm on the 15th May and Limoges to London Stansted at 4.20 pm on the 18th May for complimentary airport transfers. If you are travelling from Ireland, from another airport, or arriving by train, let us know and we will work with you to ensure optimum travel options.
Please do not book your flights until we confirm that we have secured the required numbers.
Early Bird Special - 10% Off
The standard all-inclusive cost of this Spring Revival Retreat is €823 (ca £689) per person sharing or €1,371 (ca. £1,149) if you wish to avail of a private room. However, for a limited time only we are delighted to offer a Early Bird discount of 10%. This brings the all-inclusive fee down to just €740 (ca £620) per person sharing or €1,234 (ca £1,035) if you wish to avail of a private room.
This fee covers all accommodation, wellness sessions, food and wine, travel to and from cultural destinations, bicycles and transport to and from Limoges airport. Flight costs are not included but if you travel on the recommended flights (see 'Travel Arrangements' above), airport transfers will be provided at no additional cost. If you are travelling from another airport, or by train, let us know and we will endeavour to arrange transport for you too.
Book Now
All bookings for Ceangal retreats are subject to availability. In order to secure your booking on our Spring Revival Retreat, a 50% non-refundable deposit must be paid. The remaining balance is due by 14th February 2025.
Although all payments for this retreat are strictly non-refundable, if circumstances arise that force you to cancel, Ceangal will attempt to locate a replacement; if successful, a refund will be considered.
Flexible payment plans are available so please do not hesitate to get in touch if this may be a better option for you.
Please be advised that all transactions are in Euro. We recommend consulting your bank about potential exchange charges.
Book Now for a 10% Discount
Register Your Interest
Is the thought of immersing yourself in the serene beauty of the French countryside while nurturing your mind, body, and spirit appealing to you? If yes, our 2025 Spring Revival Retreat is indeed worth looking forward to.
As we are in the process of fine-tuning the dates and details of this retreat to ensure it provides a transformative experience, we are currently not accepting immediate bookings. However, we recognise that you might already be considering this retreat for your future plans.
Once you express your interest, you'll be among the first to receive updates about the retreat. We'll keep you informed about when bookings will open and any exciting details or enhancements to the itinerary as they are confirmed.
