Highlight #1

Three Guided Hikes in the Area

“Nothing to do, nowhere to go“. We’ll take our yoga practice outside. During half-day, easy to moderate mountain walks, we’ll enjoy the beauty of the endless fields and forests, and reach new depths through our yoga and meditation. Together with a yoga teacher and a mountain guide, we’ll practise connecting to nature by observing our thoughts and senses. These tools will help you slow down and stay centred to fully enjoy the present moment.

Highlight #2

Yoga at Lac Montriond

Awaken the body with an early morning Vinyasa Flow yoga session, surrounded by beautiful mountains on the shore of Lac Montriond. Eat outdoors with delicious, fresh food from a carefully prepared picnic. Experience the freedom and peacefulness that comes with being out on the water, through a paddle board (SUP) yoga session on the lake. Alternatively, follow the path through the trees on a relaxing walk around the lake; dip your toes in crystal clear streams; enjoy a book in the shade or have an energising swim.

Highlight #3

Daily meditation & yoga studio sessions

Deepen your yoga practice with daily meditation and yoga classes with our teachers. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced yogi, this program will help you awaken the potential within yourself, through Yin, Vinyasa and Iyengar yoga methods, with different qualified yoga instructors. The spacious fully equipped studio is on the quiet lower level of the chalet, and is the perfect space for practising in a small group or during a one-to-one session.

How to get here

From Geneva Airport or Central Railway Station

We are a 90 minute drive from Geneva, and it is a straightforward journey from Geneva Airport or central railway station* by one of the following options:

Exclusively for our retreat participants, we organise a minibus from the airport to the chalet. A driver will meet the group at the arrival flight area at Terminal 1 at 15.00 on 22nd June 2019. The meeting point is Tekoe Cafe.

On the departure day 28th June, there will be a minibus from the chalet to Geneva Airport, departing at 10.00 in the morning.

Price: €60 per person (€30 each way). To book contact Owen from Morzine Bus: owen@snowytrees.com / 0033 6409 246 19

* If you’re travelling to Geneva by train, arrive at Gare Cornavin Railway Station, which is connected to the airport by train or bus. From Cornavin station take the 8 minute train ride to the airport (departs every 12-20 minutes) and walk 5 minutes through the shopping area to Terminal 1. Alternatively, take a 20 minute bus (number 5) from Cornavin station to the airport (departs every 30 minutes and stops directly at Terminal 1).

If you’re short on time and require a direct service, you can book a private taxi. The price starts from €170 from Geneva to our chalet. For information contact Owen from Morzine Bus: owen@snowytrees.com / 0033 6409 246 19

If you can’t make it to our 15.00 transfer, you can book a seat in a shared minibus of Skiidy Gonzales Transfers with other passengers travelling from Geneva Airport to our area. The shared minibus will drop you off at the chalet! Please note that the waiting time in the airport can be up to 90 minutes. Exclusively for our retreat participants, the price for each way is €36 per person (email us to get a Promo Code).

Book Online with: https://booking.skiidygonzales.com/en

Destination:
Saint-Jean-d’Aulps – Onchets
1845 Route de la Villaz, 74430

If you travel by car, you can find us by GPS / Waze. Search for L’Ecuela, 1845 Route de la Villaz, 74430 Saint-Jean-d’Aulps, France. There is parking outside our chalet.

The Accommodation

The Chalet

The chalet is located at 1,000m and sits peacefully above the traditional French farming village of Saint Jean d’Aulps. Located in a sunny hamlet in a remote area and a quiet neighborhood (30 minutes’ walk from the main village), it faces a stunning mountain vista. Step out the front door and within a few metres you can be hiking on a forest trail that will sweep you high up into the mountains.
A beautifully renovated old school, the architecture of the chalet incorporates new wooden beams with the ancient stonework of the building. The interior is designed for relaxation: six spacious ensuite bedrooms boast newly fitted bathrooms; a unique dining hall with a wooden knights table is perfect for sociable mealtimes; comfy indoor and outdoor seating areas provide hidden areas to relax; and the ground floor hosts a secret yoga studio away from the main hub of the chalet.

The Cook

Estelle Morris

Estelle comes from a French family of foodies; her great grandmother, grandmother and mother were all very keen cooks, and her mother is also a dietitian. Estelle followed their footsteps into the kitchen and emerged with a love and passion for healthy food. She also took her passion to the classroom to gain a degree in nutrition. During this retreat, Estelle will serve nutritionally dense, vegetarian food with optional fish choices. The meals will be served three times per day, either indoors or outside.

The Location

St Jean d'Aulps, French Alps

Environmentally rich and unique, the magnificent Alps are one of the largest and highest mountain ranges in the world. Dynamic and diverse, here you can feel nature shifting around you. Snow and ice runs off the mountain peaks to make crashing rivers; waterfalls explode from rock faces; whilst deep in the valleys wild flowers blanket meadows and green forests stretch as far as the eyes can see. A short 90 minute drive from Geneva, Switzerland by road and you can be in the heart of the mountains, a million miles away from congested city life. In winter the area is a skiing destination, whilst in summer it slows to a more relaxed pace, attracting visitors for a plethora of activities, such as hiking, biking, lake sports, paragliding and rock climbing. There is plenty of space for everyone, and the clear blue skies and temperate climate is perfect for a mindful holiday.

The Hosts

Polly and Reuben Shaul

We are the couple behind Yoga in the Alps. We put our hearts and souls into planning and running yoga retreats, for fun-loving people who want to escape and re-connect through yoga in the mountains. Polly is a 300hr (Tel Aviv) and 200hr (Switzerland) certified yoga teacher, and also remains a very keen student. Polly teaches yoga based on the Iyengar method of understanding position and alignment, which has been designed to systematically cultivate stability, confidence and awareness. Reuben practises yoga, mindfulness meditation and takes part in Vipassana retreats.

Yin Yoga Teacher

Nadia Stragliati

Born in the French Alps, Nadia discovered yoga in 2007 through another passion of hers, ice dancing, which she performed for many years. She has been certified around the world to teach 200hr Vinyasa (Gérard Arnaud), 150hr Yin Yoga (Cécile Roubaud and Biff Mithoefer), Anatomy (Judith Hanson Lasater), Traditional Chinese Medicine (Tiffany Cruikshank) and even more. Since 2014 Nadia has taught more than 1000 hours of Yin, Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga to groups and individuals, in both studios and businesses. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience to help her students grow and strengthen their own practice.

Mountain Guide

Live Breathe Hike

Based in the French Alps since 1998, Tanya of Live Breathe Hike is a dedicated mountaineer and yoga practitioner. She has been guiding people in the mountains for the past 21 years, completing the Tour du Mont Blanc more than 60 times, as well as multiple Haute Routes, Via Alpina and Tuscan Trails. She is committed to enabling people to access the mountains and has worked with many charities, including The Royal Society for the Blind, when she guided blind and partially sighted people around the Tour du Mont Blanc. Tanya has also spent many years discovering the trails of the Himalayas and completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in the Himalayan town of Darjeeling.

Vinyasa Yoga Teacher

Emilia Smith

Eight years ago Emilia was a corporate lawyer in London, working through the night to close the next deal. Coming to live in the mountains teaching yoga was a total U-turn on life that took everyone (including Emilia) by surprise. She completed her teacher training with Sally Parkes in London, and has since travelled all over the world, including to India, to learn a variety of yoga styles from some fantastic teachers. Emilia was first attracted to yoga as a physical and mental release from a stressful desk job, but as she delved deeper, yoga became the cornerstone of her quest to live a more soulful connected existence. She now feels privileged to meet so many wonderful people, sharing her passion for yoga and the natural world against such a beautiful backdrop; in the mountains she now calls home.

SUP Yoga Teacher

Audrey Pernet

Born and raised in the French Alps, Audrey has been a Scout-Rescuer for many winter seasons in the ski resort of Avoriaz. Certified with Yoga Alliance 200hr Hatha Yoga Sivananda and 300hr multi-style Trimurti Yoga School in France and India, Audrey is now teaching groups and individual yoga classes in Morzine. Audrey adapts the classes according to the energy of the moment, allowing each student to make their own way into the posture. Specialised in Hatha, Vinyasa, Postnatal & Baby yoga, Audrey will lead a special paddle board yoga session on Lac Montriond during this retreat. It’s a wonderful way to re-balance the body and mind, while being in harmony with nature.

ANY QUESTIONS?

ARRIVAL DAY
15:00 Pick up from Geneva Airport Terminal 1
16:30 Check in
17:00 Tea & Snack
18:00 Introduction
20:00 Dinner

TYPICAL DAY
07:00 Meditation
07:15 Morning Tea
08:00 Hike / Yoga
10:00 Breakfast / Picnic
11:00 Hike / Workshop
14:00 Lunch / Picnic
15:00 Free Time to Relax / Explore the Local Area
18:30 Yoga / Meditation
20:00 Dinner
21:30 Quiet time

DEPARTURE DAY
7:00 Meditation
7:30 Breakfast
10:00 Check Out
10:00 Transfers to Geneva Airport

All of our guided hikes are led by qualified, highly capable and knowledgeable Mountain Leaders of Live Breathe Hike who use their breadth of experience to ensure the hikes are safe and enjoyable.

Our guided hikes are between 3-5 hrs, Beginner to Moderate levels:
Beginner - suitable for people with little experience and intermediate levels of fitness. Hikes are short with gentle gradients and require the walker to carry a small rucksack containing basic essentials.
Moderate - some hiking experience is preferable although not essential. Average to good levels of fitness required. Half and full day hikes are undertaken with multiple moderate ascents and descents and require the hiker to carry a small rucksack containing basic essentials.

During this retreat you will be introduced to different yoga methods: Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar and Paddle Board (SUP) yoga. Each one led by a different qualified yoga instructor. Most of the classes are suitable for beginners, and can accommodate every level. On this retreat you will also get a chance to have a one-on-one consultation to deepen your yoga practice and ask questions (on request - no extra fee). After booking a retreat, you will be asked to fill your Personal Details Form and Health Declaration. We would recommend you consulting with us before booking in case of pregnancy, injury or disease recovery, heart or blood pressure issues etc.

The yoga classes, meditation sessions and guided hikes will be led in English, however most of the team speak French too.

Most of our chalets may host up to 13 guests, in order to let everyone enjoy their own space.

Nothing special is needed, as our holidays are all-inclusive. The chalet is fully equipped with towels, drinkable tap water and yoga mats! No need for fancy items, bring a few simple sets of clothes that make you feel comfortable on and off your mat. You may travel wearing a pair of mountain shoes or trainers to save space in your luggage. Bring a reusable bottle, small rucksack, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a swimsuit to enjoy a sunny summer day by the mountain lake. However while being in the mountains you should be ready to a cloudy and rainy day which could make a long-sleeve top, a scarf and a raincoat essential.

You can expect homemade vegetarian cuisine, with occasional fish options on request. We accommodate most dietary requirements - if you have any please do inform us while filling your Personal Details Form that will be sent to your email immediately after booking.

Don’t worry about that, you definitely will not be the only one going on retreat alone. We would highly recommend to experience this holiday by yourself for many reasons. It’s a great opportunity to create sacred space for yourself, to take a break from daily responsibilities, to make new friends, to gain a fresh perspective and even get to know yourself better. Typically our guests range in age between 25-65 who are also excited travelling by themselves for the first time.

Yes you can! We would definitely recommend you treat yourself to a massage during your Day of Rest. Local therapists are specified in Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage and Reflexology. Contact us to book your slot in advance!
45 min 63€
60 min 80€
75 min 95€
90 min 110€

1. Stay in the chalet:

- Simply rest in the chalet, read a book with a cup of tea;
- Treat yourself to a massage (book in advance);
- Explore the local trails directly from the chalet (signed maps provided).

2. Take a nice 3 hour forest walk along the river OR a taxi (20€ per person each way) in order to:
- Enjoy an extra SUP yoga class on the lake (25€);
- Explore the beautiful local mountain village of Morzine;

3. Book in advance: a half day trip to explore the towns of -
- Yvoire, a small medieval town by the beautiful Lac Leman (40€ per person);
- Chamonix town at the base of Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps (50€ per person);
- Annecy, the old town with cobbled streets and winding canals by the Lac d'Annecy (70€ per person);

* Please note that at 17.00 our retreat group will have a special outdoor yoga class on that day. Please notify us if your plans don't allow you to join our yoga class.

All clients need to be adequately insured for all activities they are taking part in. Insurance must include repatriation and details should be provided at the beginning of each trip.

All European clients should obtain a European Health insurance card (EHIC), however, this is not a substitute for travel insurance.

Cancelation:
- up to 60 days before arrival – full refund, minus booking fee of €250.
- up to 30 days before arrival – 50% refund of cost.
- up to 14 days before arrival – 20% refund of cost.
- less than 14 days before arrival or no-show – no refund.

Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions (updated Jan 2019) – All trips are sold subject to these Terms and Conditions (hereinafter T&Cs).

1. Insurance

All clients need to be adequately insured for all activities they are taking part in. Insurance must include repatriation and details should be provided at the beginning of each trip.

All European clients should obtain a European Health insurance card (EHIC), however, this is not a substitute for travel insurance.

2. Health and fitness

Trip members have the responsibility to select a trip appropriate to their abilities and interests. In order to assist with this, all trips are graded and we welcome the opportunity to discuss trip details/answer questions in advance of your reservation. Trip members must be in sufficiently good health to undertake the trip, and if unsure seek medical advice in advance. For your own safety, you need to inform us of any medical conditions in advance or at the start of the trip. Trip members are also required to bring adequate clothing/equipment as advised in the pre-departure information.

3. Dietary Requirements

We endeavor to work with clients and accommodate their dietary requirements. We fully encourage you to contact us in advance to discuss your requirements then we have every opportunity to explore options thereafter.

4. Cancellations and Fee Schedule Per Person

up to 60 days before arrival – full refund, minus booking fee of €250
up to 30 days before arrival – 50% refund of cost.
up to 14 days before arrival – 20% refund of cost.
less than 14 days before arrival or no-show – no refund.

Fees are calculated from the date we receive written cancellation notice which can be via email. If clients are unable to access email and cancel over the phone we will confirm in writing the cancellation.

If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, it may be possible to transfer to another trip without occurring any fees. Please discuss this with us in the first instance.

With specific departures, there may be an increase in cancellation fee if the accommodation provider T & Cs mean we are liable for payment.

5. Complaints

If you have a complaint, please contact us as soon as possible, in the first instance your leader is often your obvious point of contact. This ensures we have every opportunity to explores solutions to the problem(s) arising and we will do all we reasonably can to resolve the complaint. You must tell us within 4 weeks after your holiday of any complaints that you feel have not been dealt with properly.

6. Alterations By Us

We will tell you as soon as reasonably possible if we must make any alteration to your holiday. Most alterations are minor, but very occasionally we might have to make a major alteration. A major alteration is a change of location or to a lower standard of accommodation for a substantial part of your holiday, a change in start/finish dates or necessary price rise in your holiday caused by rises in costs (e.g. exchange rates, internal transport etc). You may then choose as follows:

To accept these alterations
To withdraw from the holiday, in which case we will repay all monies paid to us including your deposit and this is the sum of our liability to you
To accept an alternative holiday that we may propose to you, in which case if the proposed holiday is a lower price we will pay you the difference and if it is a higher price we may ask for the difference.

You must inform us of your choice as soon as possible after we contact you.

7. Group Leadership

On a guided holiday your leader is responsible for the safety and enjoyment of the whole group and has sole discretion, on behalf of Live Breathe Hike, to exclude temporarily a participant from the group. They may also choose to terminate the participants holiday without the possibility of a refund if the leader thinks the participant is likely to endanger the group safety or spoil its enjoyment.

8. Your Responsibility

Mountain holidays by their very nature are adventurous, with a certain level of risk is undertaken. Individuals need to conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner at all times; responding to advice, guidance, and instruction that may be given by the group leader / experienced professional and take all reasonable actions to eliminate accidents or injury.

9. Our Responsibilities

We will take all reasonable care to ensure that the information we give to you is accurate, including on our website, in your schedule and information pack. We will do all that we can to provide the service as described in the information we give to you. We are not liable if any failure is:

Attributable to anyone other than us
Attributable to a third party unconnected to us, and unforeseeable or unavoidable
Due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control and could not have been avoided even if all due care had been taken
Due to an event which even with all due care we could not foresee or forestall

10. Cancellation By Us

Live Breathe Hike reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup or logistics problems that may impede trip operations. The refund of all land payments received shall relate Live Breathe Hike from any further liability.

Live Breathe Hike must normally make substantial payments to its suppliers far in advance of the scheduled trip departure date. If a trip is canceled due to force majeure; (acts of God, war, strikes, earthquake, flooding etc), Live Breathe Hike will promptly refund the portion of the trip cost not already advanced to suppliers and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible. However, Live Breathe Hike does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made.

11. Additional Costs

Live Breathe Hike shall not be liable for (a) expenses such as additional nights and meals not specified in the individual trip itineraries, but which may required to get to from a trip start or end; expenses due to the delay of a trip for any reason (e.g. bad weather, trails conditions, land slides, flooding, sickness etc); (c) expenses occurred in recovering lost luggage by airlines, belongings left behind on a trip or in shipping purchases or other goods home from abroad; (d) visa and other incidental costs.

Live Breathe Hike reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any trips, and may use any such records for promotional and/or commercial purposes without payment.

This was the perfect break - refreshing, relaxing and recharging!!! Everything was perfect from organisation and logistics point of view, Jackie was a wonderful yoga teacher and so willing to share additional perspective and learning, the lodgings and food were outstanding and Polly and Reuben were the perfect hosts. Thanks a lot and see you next year!

Ruth, 3-7 Aug 2018

We had a really great experience with Yoga in the Alps. I convinced my husband to join me for a 5-day yoga retreat. Polly & Reuben put all their heart and soul into this retreat and did it amazing. Daily yoga, walking meditation and more. The chalet was very cosy and the nature around went perfectly well with yoga experience. Estelle, has lovingly cooked us balanced, varied and delicious meals. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the different cultures from all over were very inspiring. We can fully recommend this yoga retreat to anyone who’s looking for active relaxation and a mindful time out.

Susanne, 12-17 July 2018

Fantastic journey I had with fantastic people, amazing nature and professional teacher️! Thanks to high level of yoga classes I went deeper into the practice, refreshed my mind, found the balance in my thoughts, emotions and body. It was a perfect time to take a moment just for myself, reuniting with nature and community. Polly & Reuben are organising the retreat perfectly, thinking about every small detail so just choose your retreat and let it happen. Waiting for the schedule of your next retreats for next year...

Alena, 19-23 July 2018

Thank you so much Polly and Reuben for this incredible week. We had excellent yoga classes, thanks to Julia, excellent food and comfortable room in a really nice “maison suisse”. We spent the week, practicing yoga, relaxing, walking in the Alps and enjoying the present moment. I strongly recommend this yoga retreat!!!!!

Sonia, 17-21 Aug 2018

Polly & Reuben are fantastic hosts! This was my first Yoga Retreat ever so I was rather anxious about how it would all turn out. However, my expectations were greatly exceeded! The organisation was excellent - we were picked up from Geneva Airport. The schedule worked out really nicely with yoga mostly practiced outdoors so we got to enjoy the beautiful French Alps air and views! The atmosphere that was created was also so conducive for relaxation. New friendships were made here and that’s so wonderful to be connecting with so many people from different walks of life. I had a really wonderful time and highly recommend this retreat!

Lester, 19-23 July 2018

Cette retraite a Morillon a été très bien organisée, du début a la fin, aucune fausse note....
Accueil chaleureux, hébergement plus que confortable, cuisine excellente, cours de yoga impeccables.... Pendant 5 jours, « nothing to do, nowhere to go »! On revient plein d’energie positive, comme après un voyage.

Isabelle, 17-21 Aug 2018

I loved the thoughtful, unpretentious, generous, and self-loving approach to a yoga retreat. Every detail was considered and the entire experience was lovely. I look forward to attending another retreat in the future.

Christy, 27-31 July 2018

This summer I had the privilege to spend an amazing few days in Morzine attending one of the yoga retreats Polly and Ruben hosted. I had the most amazing time from the first moment till the very last. Polly and Ruben made sure we had the most relaxing and fulfilling experience ever. I can't wait to visit again.

Eszter, 27-31 July 2018

This was the perfect getaway! Very well balanced between relaxing and active experiences. Loved everything! The yoga classes, the place, the food, and the wonderful group gathered from around the world. Polly and Ruben made it so beautiful and inspiring, they truly deliver the experience you see in the pictures. Hope to book again next summer.

Bat Chen, 19-23 July 2018

Organisation parfaite, prof de yoga de grande qualité, une nature à couper le souffle... de beaux moments privilégiés que je vous recommande vivement!! Merci encore Polly pour cette expérience magique.

Marine, 3-7 Aug 2018

The best yoga retreat I’ve ever been to!!! A magical combination of yoga with the amazing teacher Jackie, the breathtaking French Alps and the awesome hosts Polly and Reuben. Looking forward for the next year retreat!

Dina, 19-23 July 2018

Loved everything about this retreat! Had wonderful days in a diverse international group. Estelle, the owner of the chalet we stayed in, made spectacular meals. Nice balanced yoga classes from a professional teacher. And the mountains...

Marte, 7-11 Aug 2018

Tout était parfait.
Le yoga, les actuvités, le temps de repos, le chalet, la nourriture, l’atmosphère du groupe...

Sophie, 3-7 Aug 2018

What an experience, this was really a inspirational trip! The organisation and attention to detail was fantastic,
combination of Yoga, Trekking and Food was spot on. I was challenged just enough, never hungry and always relaxed. Extended expectations and I can not wait for next year to do it all again!

Danielle, 7-11 Aug 2018

7 Day Yoga and Hiking Retreat in the French Alps

What awaits you on this holiday?

Three Guided Hikes in the Area

Yoga at Lac Montriond

Daily meditation & yoga studio sessions

What's Included

SIX NIGHTS OF ACCOMMODATION

ALL MEALS

THREE GUIDED HIKES

DAILY MEDITATION & YOGA PROGRAM

YOGA STUDIO

ONE DAY OF REST

What's Not Included