Days are built around yoga and meditation with Astrid Rioland. Sessions run for one or two hours and happen in the loft or outside, under the old oaks or in the orchard near the pool. Astrid has been practising for around 15 years and adjusts each class to the group on the day: how people are feeling, any health issues, the season, even the moon. Expect a gentle, adaptable style rather than a hard physical workout.

Outside class, the property itself is most of the appeal. The 6m x 12m pool was fully renovated and uses a salt system to keep chemical use low. Deckchairs, hammocks and floor cushions are spread around for lazy afternoons. At the bottom of the orchard, on the edge of the forest, is the wellness area with spring-water showers.

Bodywork is a big part of the stay. Nathalie gives Californian and Lomi-Lomi Hawaiian massages, usually outside under the fig or cherry tree. In summer, Vanessa offers Shiatsu, a manual therapy from Chinese medicine, and leads Qi Gong sessions. Astrid also runs separate meditation and relaxation sessions.

What sets this apart from a typical yoga retreat is the workshop side. Nathalie teaches the things she does at home: working in the garden, cooking healthy food, cutting down on waste, making simple natural cosmetics ('Cosmetic Slow'), and DIY projects using recycled materials. The aim is for you to leave with habits you can keep at home, not just a nice week. There are also music and singing sessions, and 'tapas yoga' (short bite-sized practices) appears on the programme.

The location is rural Béarn in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, surrounded by forest and countryside with the mountains close by. Navarrenx, a small walled town where Astrid used to teach yoga at the bilingual school, is nearby. The stays are pitched as a 'total disconnection', so come expecting quiet evenings, nature and slow days rather than nightlife.

What's included

- Accommodation for the length of the stay (weekend or week) - Healthy meals - Yoga sessions with Astrid Rioland - Meditation and relaxation sessions - Workshops: garden, healthy eating, zero waste, natural cosmetics, DIY - Music and singing sessions - Use of the saltwater swimming pool - Use of the wellness area with spring-water showers - Deckchairs, hammocks and lounging areas

What's not included

- Travel to and from the property - Travel insurance - Californian and Lomi-Lomi massages (likely booked separately) - Shiatsu and Qi Gong sessions with Vanessa (summer, likely booked separately) - Personal expenses