‘Pure Heart Yoga Retreat is a little slice of heaven in a busy and hectic world. On arrival at Le Rochelle airport we were greeted by the lovely Maria who drove us about an hour to the retreat in Le Beugnon, the journey passes in no time as you go through the beautiful French countryside.
The house, or home as you will come to call it during your stay, has been lovingly restored keeping hold of the traditional features like the beamed ceilings and stone fireplaces, and offers pure luxury with the comfiest beds, roll top bath and Neal’s Yard toiletries – which are divine! Each meal was beautifully prepared by Maria and was full of healthy and delicious ingredients that were often locally sourced, giving you the real taste of the French countryside. My favourite meal of the day was breakfast with a table full of homemade granola, stewed apples and fresh croissants.Yoga was something that I had very (VERY) little experience of and as someone with little to no balance and flexibility and all the grace of a baby elephant, I was somewhat apprehensive to give it a go, however Maria made me feel instantly at ease and I found I thoroughly enjoyed each session learning new moves and how to take life at a slightly slower pace. By the end of the trip I couldn’t wait to get home and incorporate some of the moves I had learnt into my daily workout routines.
Each day provided the opportunity to visit some of the local villages, which I would highly recommend as there are few places that are so peaceful, tranquil with amazing countryside and views. Maria knows of some of the best places to visit and was happy to show us around so we didn’t miss out of any of the local sights! Le Beugnon itself is a sleepy little village with some great walking opportunities if you fancy getting out and about.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Pure Heart Yoga Retreat, Maria was just the best host and had us crying with laughter many times with her wonderful stories and put us at ease from the minute we arrived to the minute we left. If you are looking to escape for a few days I would highly recommend a visit and you will come back feeling refreshed and ready to take the world on once again!’
