A typical day starts with a 30-minute meditation at 7:30am, followed by breakfast at 8am. From 8:50 to 9:40 everyone does their karma yoga job. The main morning session runs from 10am to 1pm. It's mostly Iyengar yoga, which is precise, alignment-focused and often uses props, along with guided meditation and some meditation outdoors. Optional one-to-one meetings with Ayala also happen during this block. Lunch is at 1pm.

Afternoons begin with free time. Plenty of people swim in the river, lie in a hammock under the trees or sleep. At 3pm there's an optional silent swim for anyone who'd rather go in with others. The 4:30 to 7pm session is slower: yin yoga, guided meditation, and some quiet creative or nature-based exercises. It's held on the deck by the pond when the weather allows. There's also an optional Satsang, a small group conversation where you can ask questions. Supper is at 7pm and the evening guided meditation is at 8:30pm.

The silence makes this week different from most yoga holidays. There's no small talk at meals and no phones. You mostly communicate through the teaching sessions and the occasional guided dialogue. Former guests often say they were surprised at how close they felt to the group despite barely speaking. One wrote that the silence helped them get clearer about their own boundaries.

The teaching mixes Iyengar and yin yoga with Buddhist Dharma talks and psychological enquiry, which means looking at your reactions and emotional patterns while they happen. Ayala's recurring theme is responding to yourself and other people with love rather than reactivity. Past students say the physical side is real work. One described the amount of yoga as challenging but just right, and said they could feel their strength and stability building over the week. Another mentioned learning to breathe properly in every posture.

Moulin de Chaves is a dedicated Insight Meditation centre. There are Buddhist statues and altars throughout the grounds, and the staff and volunteers all have their own meditation practice. It sits in green countryside just outside Cubjac, with tall trees, sandy paths and lit walkways leading to the evening meditation.

Getting there is fairly easy from the UK. Most people fly to Limoges and share a taxi, or take the train from London to Paris, Bordeaux and then Périgueux, sharing a taxi from Périgueux for the last stretch. Brive, Bergerac and Bordeaux airports are also within reach. Participants are encouraged to coordinate travel together. Arrival is between 2pm and 5pm on day one, and departure is between 8:30 and 11am on the last morning.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation at Moulin de Chaves (room type of your choice) - All meals: breakfast, lunch and supper - Vegetarian, organic, locally sourced food - Vegan and gluten-free options - Daily Iyengar yoga sessions - Daily yin yoga sessions - Morning, daytime and evening guided meditation - Dharma teachings and enquiry - Optional one-to-one meetings with the teacher - Optional Satsang group meetings - Optional daily silent river swim - Use of Tara Hall, the pond deck and the grounds

What's not included

- Teaching fee (offered on a Dana / donation basis after the retreat) - Flights or train travel to France - Taxi from Limoges, Périgueux or other arrival points - Travel insurance - Personal expenses