Escape to the tiny, traditional French alpine village of Villard Reculas for a week of skiing and daily yoga. Stay in a boho chic chalet, practise in the original village hall with sweeping mountain views, and enjoy a small, friendly group where everyone quickly feels at home.
Delicious vegetarian meals, home made breads, juices and house wines are served daily as the sun rises and sets over the mountains of the Oisans ranges.
This is an ancient village where time has been preserved in the twists of the timbers that support the tumbling tiles and wood piles high beside the cow shed door and yet.. we can potter up the road and with one ski-lift are deposited into the heart of one of Europe’s favourite ski areas, Alpe D’Huez. Single, twin or double en-suite accommodation available.
80% of our bookings are return guests, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
The yoga is inside a lovely hall space. Whilst practically it will be tailored to the needs of a skier or snow-boarder, yoga retreat is also a time to deepen other aspects of your practice. Daily meditation in serene silence, pranayama the science of breath, enjoying the purest of air. Sweet strong intuitive hatha yoga flow to start the day and a shorter quieter evening practice of restorative sahdana to cultivate stillness every other evening. A loving yogic enquiry into the essence of you through a powerful cocktail of asana, mindfulness and breath, this practice has grown from and is inspired by the teachings of Mr. Iyengar, Ashtanga and Swami Sivananda. The shala space looks over the mountain, the eyes drawn towards the rising sun and then to the heart.
I am a keeper of words and a lover of stories, philosophy and poetry. My yoga offers clarity, suggests precision, offers strength whilst suggesting softness. Mornings will be dynamic and flowing and evenings restorative. I am senior yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance, I am a teacher of teachers and my quest is that of the pure spirit, my guides are integrity and joy. A strong skier who loves the mountains, this is a dream coming true to offer the clarity of yoga in the serenity of the alps.
A bespoke spacious chalet, this venue has homely elegance in a traditional building surrounded by snow covered mountainous vistas. It is a converted 200 year old traditional Oisans stone barn which faces south with panoramic uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountains. Snuggle, cocooned in the warmth of this comfortable homely hideaway where there are 6 bedrooms with either en-suite or private facilities and two bedrooms with a shared bathroom. Log fired sitting rooms and libraries offer plenty of nooks and corners to rest with a hot chocolate steaming in your hands. There is also wifi and massage available. Eco friendly the chalet generates its own hot water on sunny days. It is a five minute walk to the slopes or there is a free navette bus.
Traditional skiing food is hearty and plentiful. I have requested a wholesome and healthy brunch type breakfast to propel you up the slopes. The evening meal will be vegetarian, have three courses and pay homage to some local specialities. Meals are available in the chalet every evening except one when we will eat in the village.
The village is a spring board into the ski resort of Alpe D’Huez – one fast lift takes you into the heart of the ski area. If you are new to skiing, you can book ski school or private instruction and can enjoy staying local as you learn this exhilarating sport. More experienced skiers might choose to buy a lift pass for the whole resort and we will offer a ski orientation tour for the first three mornings for those who like to ski in a group and would like to get to know what the mountain can offer. Boots, skis and boards can be hired through us and picked up and dropped off in the village. Ski guides can be hired for off-piste adventures.
Why Skiing & Yoga Work So Well Together - Long days on the mountain can leave legs heavy, backs tight and shoulders complained about over dinner. Our Skiing & Yoga holiday is designed to keep you feeling strong, supple and clear-headed all week. Morning practices prepare your body for the slopes; evening restorative sessions release tired muscles so you wake up ready to go again. You ski better, recover faster and enjoy every run more.
Summer or winter, the walking around these mountains is soul affirming. Snow shoeing is fun and doesn’t require a lift pass. There is dog sledding from Alpe D’Huez and the most beautiful out door swimming pool. Adrenaline seekers might fancy a paragliding trip or to learn to snow-kite, or in the summer do some guided rock climbing or via ferrata. There is an also a cross-country ski area. Summer guests also enjoy the iconic cycling challenges that this epic area facilitates. Our sauna and cold water immersion therapy sessions are a firm favourites.
We recommend certain flights to ensure straight forward cost efficient group transfers. Flights are to and from Grenoble with Easy Jet or British Airways. From here transfers of one and a half hours to the resort need to be arranged, details can be shared on enquiry. You could also be green and choose to travel by train, from St Pancras London to Grenoble with a change in Paris gives total trip time of between 6:40 hours and 7:30 hours. The advantage of booking early is to ensure very cheap flights and trains.
with shared bathtoom
with en-suite or private bathroom
with shared bathroom in large attic apartment
with en-suite or private bathroom
Included in the price is accommodation half-board, yoga, afternoon tea, pre-dinner nibbles, wine, ski area orientation and assistance with transfers, assistance with your lift pass purchase, assistance with your ski and board hire and assistance booking your ski tuition. Not included in the price is travel, holiday insurance, lift pass, equipment hire and one evening meal in the village.
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