Winter Yoga and Ski/Snowboard Retreat in the Alps!

I am delighted to invite you to the first Affordable Yoga Winter Retreat in the French Alps.

Set in one of the most jaw dropping places in the world, the Winter Yoga and Ski & Snowboard Retreat is a 7 day event filled with equal measures of relaxation and activity in the heart of the French Alps, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.

Renowned as the adventure sports capital of Europe, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is an ideal place to enjoy the healing and invigorating energy of the mountains, experience physical and mental exhilaration and joy doing your favourite snow sport, and reward your body and mind with the practice of yoga.

The unique combination of activity, relaxation and healthy nutritious food will ensure you come back feeling invigorated, full of energy and wonderful memories.

The retreat is open to all levels and abilities. Complete beginners are welcome. The classes are suitable for all and you will be given lots of alternatives to make sure everyone experiences the soothing energy of the classes.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE RETREAT

Welcome each day with a rejuvenating yoga practice before you hit the slopes or enjoy your day in the valley doing one of the other numerous fun activities. And wind down with a deeply restorative evening yoga session to help you relax into the evening of your preferred passtime. Enjoy a nutritious dinner in the company of others or venture out to explore town or perhaps enjoy a relaxing spa experience.

Allow us to introduce you to a holistic way of holiday-making as well as take care of lodging, healthy diet, ski passes, equipment rental and your orientation in the resort. That way you can enjoy your active holiday to the maximum, forge new friendships and nurture your body with a healthy active lifestyle.

Typical day at the retreat

• 7.15am – warming and energising morning yoga session

• 8.15am onwards – nutritious, energising breakfast

• 8.45am onwards – lift up to the slopes for early birds

• 9.30am onwards – lift to the slopes for relaxed yogis

• 9.30am–5pm – free time to enjoy the mountains

• 5pm-6.30pm - relax, afternoon tea and snack

• 6.30pm – 7.45pm - relaxing and restorative yoga session

• 8pm – wholesome, nutritious and filling evening meal

• 10pm onwards - bedtime

The Yoga

You will enjoy the daily Hatha Yoga sessions...

• That are specifically tailored to help skiers and snowboarders increase mobility and stability of joints heavily used in these sports

• Help increase strength and flexibility in the muscles used in skiing and snowboarding

• Help strengthen mental focus and energy

• At the end of the day will restore, relax, stretch, rejuvenate your body, and speed up your recovery for the next day

THE PLACE

A true mountain chalet experience. Decorated to a high standard, it was beautifully renovated to offer comfortable and tastily appointed accommodation close to the centre of downtown Chamonix. It comes with a large open space lounge area where we will practice yoga with uninterrupted views of the mountains.

THE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING

Chamonix offers a multitude of slopes for all levels, each ski area having its own merit. Tremendously long slopes, skiing through the trees, freeride and off-piste, beginners slopes : an infinite number of possibilities for snowriders and mountain lovers alike.
For detailed description of all the areas please see this link.
http://www.chamonix.com/ski-areas,22,en.html

THE PRICE

We offer three package options:

1. Yoga Winter Retreat with in a shared room (with 1 or 2 others) - €635

2. Yoga Winter Retreat with communal catering option - €655 + food (at cost price)

3. Fully catered option - €885

For more details of what is included in each package, please read below.

THE PACKAGE

What’s included in the €635 package.

Accommodation: 22-29th March 2014. - Stay of 7 days (7 nights) Saturday to Saturday in a shared room (with 1 or 2 others) in a luxury chalet in Chamonix. (Single occupancy is available at a supplement of €250)

Yoga: 6 days of blissful yoga classes, run twice a day - Energising morning session - 60mins and relaxing evening session - 75mins

Hosts services: Anna and Paul will be there to assist with all your needs on and off the slopes!

Welcome packs: Special retreat welcome packs will be given to each guest outlining everything you need to know about the retreat and the resort to help make your stay as smooth as possible.

Resort orientation: We will be happy to show you the best ski areas for your ability, advice on where to hire equipment etc any time throughout the week,. In addition to that - we will host a special ‘Yoga on the slopes’ session to show you our favourite runs in the valley on one day of the week and great yoga postures you can do in your snow gear just before you hit the slopes.

What is included in the Communal Catering package €655 + cost of food.

All the above, plus supply of all groceries, recipes and cooking instructions and supervision of communal cooking process for 7 breakfasts and 6 dinners.

What is communal catering?

Following the same successful formula of the Summer Retreats, - to keep the price as affordable as possible we offer you to take part in the communal catering activities throughout your stay.

What we provide - Fridge filling and menu planning service for the whole of your stay. Recipe book to take home for every participant.

We will design a special healthy, nutritious menu for 7 breakfasts and 6 dinners (Wednesday is chef's night off). And will supply you with a beautiful recipe book with detailed cooking instructions and all the food ingredients needed to cook the meals.

What you provide - your initiative and help in preparing the meals together. We would ask for one or two people to volunteer each morning and evening to be responsible for cooking the food for the group. That way you will all learn first hand how to cook a healthy meal (knowledge you can take away into your life back home) and, depending on the size of the group, each person will only have to cook for the group once or twice in the whole week and relax all the other days.

Costs involved in this option:

• Food at cost price (supplied by us) - all receipts will be provided

• Service charge for fridge filling, recipe planning and cooking supervision (€20 per person for the 7 day retreat)

• Your time to help with cooking.

What is included in the Fully Catered package (€885):

If you prefer to just sit back and enjoy your evenings and leave the cooking to the professionals, we also offer a fully catered service at a fixed price of €250 per person.

Included in this option are all the services from the first package plus 7 Breakfasts, 7 afternoon snacks, and 6 dinners cooked for you at the chalet.

Breakfasts: Delicious, nutritionally balanced, healthy breakfasts served every morning after yoga. Designed by Anna to nourish your body and mind, be healthy and highly nutritious, and give you sustained energy for your skiing or snowboarding all the way through lunch.

Afternoon snacks: Best post-workout nutritious and healthy snacks available for you upon your return to the chalet.
Hot drinks throughout the day: The kitchen will be stocked with a healthy selection of infusions and teas for you to drink at your preference

Dinners: Highly nutritious, hearty gourmet vegetarian dinners and freshly brewed Ayurvedic infusions on 6 nights. (Local wines available on request) (Wednesday is the chef’s night off, and we will be happy to recommend and book you one of the many great Chamonix Restaurants)

Whats’s NOT included in the price of the Packages:

Trains and flights - Nearest Airport is Geneva (60min drive), and the nearest train station is Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, which is only 5 min car drive or a 15min walk from the Chalet!
Transfers - Pick up and drop off to and from the Chalet from the train station or the airport can be arranged separately.

Spa treatments - If you are looking for a special way to pamper yourself during the week, we are proud to offer indulgent spa treatment at the chalet, using 100% natural cosmetics from and Austrian brand ‘Styx’. These treatments have a warming, intensely slimming, deeply relaxing and uplifting effect and will prepared you perfectly for the evening yoga practice. (Please note: it is recommended to take these treatments after your hot-tub session as the cosmetics needs to stay on the skin to keep nourishing your skin).

Ski passes - If you would like to pre-order your ski pass, we can arrange for your ski passes to be available from your hosts at the chalet upon your arrival. (pre-pay necessary)

Insurance - please arrange your own insurance if desired.

Ski/snowboard equipment hire - Information on best places to hire will be available in your welcome packs

Ski/snowboard lessons - Information on ski/snowboard schools will be available in your welcome packs

Supply of yoga mats - please bring your own mats if you have them. If you do not have one, it is possible to reserve one for us to purchase at €20 each.

BOOKING

Booking Process

1. Register your interest via facebook page, meetup site, or by directly emailing the organisers on info@yogapluseverything.com and indicate your preferred package and payment option (i.e in installments or in full)

2. We will send you a PayPal request for the deposit sum requested

3. Pay the deposit to guarantee your place and receive the confirmation of the booking

4. To complete the booking - we will send you further PayPal requests for the outstanding balance on the dates indicated

Please note there are limited places available and already quite a few people interested so I expect they will sell out fast. To guarantee your place, please kindly pay a deposit as soon as possible as your place will be guaranteed only after you complete the payment transaction.

Payment options:

1. Holding deposit of €200 is required to guarantee your place

2. You can pay the outstanding package price in several instalments or in full

3. You can reserve and pay for the catering up to 2 weeks before the holiday.

3 installments:

1. Deposit of €200 upon reservation.
2. 1st installment of €200 6 weeks before the holiday the (22 February)
3. Remaining balance of €235 2 weeks before the holiday. (8 March)

2 installments:
1.Deposit of €200 upon reservation.
2.Remaining balance of €435 2 weeks before the holiday. (8 March)

In full:
or €635 in full if you prefer at the time of reservation.
Option to pay for catering
Communal Catering and Full Catering options:
You can have time to decide if you would like to take the catering option up to 2 weeks before the holiday. Therefore, you can delay payment for the catering up to 2 weeks before the holiday. Catering needs to be paid in full to ensure we can procure all the necessary food supplies for you in time.

Cancellation policy

The deposit of €200 is non-refundable.

Cancellation les than 14 days before the retreat start date is non refundable

Refund of 70% of the paid retreat sum (other the holding deposit) will be made for cancellations made before 22nd February 2014

Refund of 50% of the paid retreat sum (other the holding deposit) will be made for cancellations made after 22nd February 2014

The cancelling party bears all the costs of monetary transactions. i.e. PayPal or bank charges.

FOR MORE DETAILS READ ON...

WHY GO ON A WINTER HOLIDAY IN THE MOUNTAINS

Our bodies are designed to move. Biologically, we require continuous, regular motion. Yet, often in the winter months, we stay indoors, moving less and sitting more. Skiing / snowboarding satisfies our primal need for motion while reconnecting us with nature. Both novice and veteran skiers and snowboarders can attest to the physical and spiritual exhilaration of a day on the slopes.

WHY DO YOGA ON A WINTER HOLIDAY

Yoga is therapeutic. To get the most from your days on skis or a board, follow the wisdom of yogis and stretch those muscles before and after you tackle the mountain.

• Doing yoga before a day of skiing or snowboarding - dramatically reduces your chances of injury, makes your joints more supple, your muscles more toned, and your mind more focused on control and performance.

• Doing yoga after your day of adventure - helps your body rejuvenate, restores energy reserves, speeds up your muscle recovery, reduces physical and mental tension, induces relaxation and promotes deep sleep, making you stronger both physically and mentally for the next day

OUR CONCEPT AND PHILOSOPHY

The uniqueness of this retreat is in its overarching CONCEPT and philosophy.

1. Price flexibility and affordability

To make the retreat as affordable as possible we are offering 3 price options so you can chose the package that is most suitable for you whilst enjoying the same core retreat experience.

2. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere

The package includes a great programme of activities for you to enjoy. However, there is no pressure to participate in all of them. If you prefer to have a lazy morning and sleep in one day, or stay for an extended ‘apres-ski’ in the evening and miss a yoga session or breakfast or dinner - you are free to do so. It is your holiday to enjoy, make new friends and take advantage only of those services you need.

3. Passionate and engaged service

Anna and Paul are not just your chalet hosts for the week, but 2 people passionate and knowledgeable about the mountains, snow sports and healthy lifestyle. They will be on hand to take care of all of your wishes for you, as well as share their knowledge about anything from yoga philosophy, healthy nutrition, health and safety in the snow, and their favourite places in the resort on and off the slopes. For more detail of services available see the relevant section below.

4. The healthy lifestyle immersion and education

We strongly believe that a great holiday can become truly transformational if we can learn something new during it that can be transcended into our life back at home. Because of this there will be an opportunity for those who want to ask questions, learn through hands-on practice healthy cooking and eating. We will not only supply you with healthy meals, but will be ready to answer any questions on why and how these have been put together as well as give you a chance to practice cooking them as a group. Aa a special bonus every guest will receive a healthy eating recipe book to take home with them.

TRAVEL OPTIONS

Chamonix is extremely well connected by all means of transport. Nearest airport is only 60mins drive and nearest train station drops you off right at the heart of town. If you are travelling by road - rough driving time from Paris is 6 hours.

If we have enough people interested in travelling from Paris - I will be happy to look into a shuttle bus service for the group.

Access from airports

Geneva International Airport ( 88km) - Tel : + 41 (0) 22 717 71 11
The SAT bus company provides daily connections between Geneva airport and Chamonix.

Lyon International Airport (220km) - Tel : +33 (0) 8 26 800 826
The airport is served by a TGV high-speed train station. http://www.sncf.fr

Haute-Savoie Mont Blanc Airport ( 90km) - Tel : +33 (0) 4 50 27 30 06
Do not hesitate to call upon private or public service professionals for your transfers to or from an airport.
Access for rail travellers

SNCF railway stations in the resorts.
TER regional train and TGV high-speed mainline train connections from St Gervais-le Fayet railway station, just 20km away.

The Mont Blanc Express: This SNCF railway line serves all villages from St Gervais-le Fayet to Martigny (Switzerland) via Servoz, Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine.
Informations SNCF - Tel : 3635 - http://www.voyage-sncf.com
London to Chamonix – rail timetables and information : http://www.snowcarbon.co.uk/ski-resorts/chamonix

Access by road

From France : Accessible directly via the Autoroute Blanche (A40), which connects to the European motorway network.
Via Switzerland : Motorway to Martigny, Col de la Forclaz, Col des Montets.

Via Italiy : 15km from the border via Mont-Blanc Tunnel.
Mont-Blanc Tunnel information - http://www.atmb.net
Coach services : Daily connections with Geneva and Italy.
SAT - Tel/fax : +33 (0)4 50 53 01 15 - http://www.sat-montblanc.com
Do not hesitate to call upon private or public service professionals for your transfers to or from an airport, station or town.

THE AREA

The Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley

Here, it's worth lingering at every stopping-off point. Four places that are part of the same whole but different, four unmissable destinations and a charming little railway line.

Legendary Chamonix

Cham' is a destination popular the world over. In the streets of this high-mountain town you'll hear languages from every corner of the globe. But the people who come to this 'summit meeting' share the same way of thinking, the same love for mountaineering, its legends and its ethics.
When you're out shopping in the town centre, wherever you are look up and you'll see 'it' there… 4,810 metres (15,781 ft) of rock, snow, ice and dreams of things to come.

Family-Friendly les Houches

How do you enable your children to share in the magic of Mont Blanc ? By treating them to a front-row view of this
never-ending spectacle.
In full view of the Aiguilles rising above the Chamonix Valley, Les Houches, a scattering of hamlets set among deep forests and rolling Alpine meadows, is still the 'sentinel of Mont Blanc'. It's the perfect place to introduce children gently to the high mountains, to the sound of rushing mountain streams.

>Les Houches Tourism office

Unspoilt Servoz

Servoz has long been part of France's mountaineering heritage and is familiar to climbers everywhere. Settled calmly at the foot of the magnificent Fiz Mountains, the village is steeped in authenticity, standing guard over the valley and providing a magnificent vista acrossto its 'big brother', Mont Blanc.

>Servoz Tourist office

Natural Vallorcine

Would you love to catch a glimpse of chamois, red squirrels and deer?
In Vallorcine you're in their territory. This village near the Swiss border has grown in harmony with the untouched countryside and rich animal and plant life. Here, nature is all around.
The perfect place to recharge your batteries.

>Vallorcine Tourist office

THE SNOW ACTIVITIES

Chamonix offers a multitude of slopes for all levels, each ski area having its own merit. Tremendously long slopes, skiing through the trees, freeride and off-piste, beginners slopes : an infinite number of possibilities for snowriders and mountain lovers alike.
For detailed description of all the areas please see this link.
http://www.chamonix.com/ski-areas,22,en.html

Other activities:
There is huge variety of things to do beside of skiing or snowboarding, such as hiking, speed riding, cross country skiing, swimming, ice skating.. as well as of course shopping and enjoying the lively town activities.
For more info see the website.
nearby :Italy, Switzerland..

Your hosts’ services include:

• Welcome pack outlining all you need to know for a smooth stay.
• Help with arranging of transfers
• Help with arranging of ski passes
• Help with rental of ski equipment
• Help with arranging of lessons
• Resort orientation
• Booking of restaurants for your meals out
• Meal time nutrition lectures and consultations (explaining the concepts of putting a healthy and balanced meal together)
• On hand to answer your health, nutrition and yoga related questions.
• All cleaning and bed linen services
• Etc etc...

WE HOPE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN US ON WHAT SHOULD BE AN UNFORGETTABLE WEEK IN THE MOUNTAINS!!!!

ANNA & PAUL