“I feel like I came broken and have left feeling stronger and healthier…” A., Residential Retreat Guest in 2019
Residential Retreats
Our Haven on earth is by the sea on the fabulous Ile de Ré, just off the coast from La Rochelle, France. Over many years this Island our place of refuge, to blow away the cobwebs, take time out to think, relax or recouperate. We are thrilled to be able to now offer it as a haven to our clients too.
Located in La Flotte, a beautiful small market town famous for its white walls and houses, its ancient market, pretty harbour and colourful hollyhocks lining the narrow streets.
For your residential retreat you have the private cottage to yourself. From here you can relax on your sunny terrace, walk or cycle to amazing beaches and the lovely harbour. Also, the surrounding countryside is lovely to explore with long cycle paths through the woodland and along the coast.
The pretty sitting room has large glass doors leading to a terrace with woodburner, table, chairs and sun lounger. There is a dining and kitchenette area, a TV with netflix and DVD player if required and selection of books.
Opening onto the terrace the bedroom has a very pretty and comfortable iron bed.
In the bathroom is a stunning wooden Japanese soaking bath. Relax and unwind allowing the stresses and toxins to soak away in the essential oil baths salts provided for you.
Extra options available
We can arrange spa sessions in the local 5 star hotel, just ten minutes walk away. Firstly you can enjoy the warm salt water pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. This is followed by a one hour deeply theraputic massage by some of the best therapists we have tried. Finally, relax and enjoy a tissaine in the salt lined relaxation room – utter bliss!
For a more dynamic experience, from April – October, we can arrange surfing or paddleboard classes.
Yoga classes can be arranged all year around either one to one or joining a group class.
Gourmet Delights for Guests of our Residential Retreats
For guests of our residential retreats, we offer a delicious, high raw, gourmet, plant food diet. It is very healing, nourishing and cleansing whilst also satisfying the desire and need to ENJOY your food. It has been very highly reviewed by guests of past retreats.
That doesn’t mean going through an awful detoxification process (though we can offer more intense cleansing when required), but you will still be cleaning out toxins and reinforcing your immune system from day one.
A plant based diet:
is made up of fresh, ripe fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds. Most of the focus of our meals is on raw produce however, especially during the cooler months, we do include some cooked food too (we give the option). The meals we achieve using first-class equipment (high-speed blenders, dehydrators, sous-vide water baths, sprouters and masticating juicers) are amazing. Every mouthful nourishes the mind and body, soothing and energising.
Why?
We provide juices, smoothies, meals and snacks throughout the day to really pack those nutrients in. These are prepared with mostly organic produce, often fresh from our garden or local producers, to nourish you on every level including pure indulgence! In the cooler months especially, some cooked elements can be included.
Juices allow speedy absorption with minimal digestion. Green smoothies satisfy both on a nutritional level and alleviate hunger pangs (as well as increasing our stomach acids – all will be explained to you if you are interested).
There will be cake and chocolate, snacks and savoury morsels.
Nutritional help
During your residential retreat we provide, if required, nutritional and well-being consultations with Desri, addressing any problems you have. Any food or lifestyle-related topics can be covered, E.G. feeding a family or avoiding afternoon brain fog.
You can learn how to substitute healthful ingredients and recipes to create better versions of your favourite foods. This could enable and empower you to continue on your new path. We can cover how to achieve that ever-elusive 5-10 fruit and veg a day, meal planning and how to sneak nutrients into picky eaters.
We all need delicious and nutritious!
An day-in-the-life of a residential retreat guest at Haven
NB: This is a simple example of a day: your stay with us will be tailored to your requirements.
On rising
Help yourself to a large glass of fresh lemon in water.
8-9 am
Morning juice.
Followed by a walk weather depending – optional of course
9-10 am
Breakfast followed by…
Your first session of the day
1 pm
Lunch
and time for you to relax
2-6 pm
Second formal session of the day. Depending on what you need this will be with either Robin and/or Desri.
Afterwhich: Relax. Maybe use the pool, go to the beach (seasonal/location dependant) or to the local spa.
4 pm
Snack or juice
6 pm
Energy Healing, depending on time available and necessity.
6.30 pm
Evening meal
– this is your time, until tomorrow.
An example menu at our residential retreats
NB: All meals are vegan
Breakfast
Granola with seeds, nuts and berries or walnut toast, avocado, tomatoes and ‘bacon’.
Lunch
Large mixed salad with fruit, seasoned nuts, roast vegetables and a delicious dressing or falafel with wraps, sauces and tabouleh.
Snack
Milk ‘n’ Cookies, fruit or a chocolate macaroon (regime depending)
Dinner
Tree nut Ravioli: beetroot, creamy cheese, herb oil
Truffled mushroom risotto: Mushroom, truffle, garden salad
Carrot cake, vanilla ice cream, physalis
All meals can be taken in your accomdation, on the terrace or could be packed for you to take to the beach.
Evenings are your own – take a gentle stroll, read a book, watch a film curled up on the sofa or make the most of a relaxing bath and early night.
Sit outside and watch the sun go down, if its chilly we could light the outside woodburner and blankets are always available.
Think about what is happening to you, what you want to discuss tomorrow. Maybe start to write a diary. Enjoy a guided meditation or relaxation.
Teas and tisanes and filtered water are available to you at all times and we encourage you to keep hydrated.
*We use superfoods and supplements as appropriate.
We can also offer a deeper detox of mainly fresh juices and/or lighter meals if required.
Options for our residential retreats
We have several options for the Residential Retreats. To ensure the most effective benefits, we limit the number of clients staying at the Haven to one person or couple at any one time.
Intensive Emotional Residential Retreat: 3+ nights
Example 3 nights
Price: £1805 pp (approx 10 hrs 1-to-1 overall).
Includes all therapy, coaching, energy work (optional), accommodation, meals, juices and snacks.
Example 7 nights
Price: £4,350 pp (approx 25 hrs 1-to-1 overall).
Includes all therapy, coaching, energy work (optional), accommodation, meals, juices and snacks.
Gourmet Raw Food Retreat
Gourmet Raw Food Retreat: Cleansing retreats for a health boost, weight loss and regain your glow. Includes accommodation, all meals, snacks, juices and drinks (teas, pure filtered water, tisanes).
3 nights: Morning walks plus approximately 2 hours of optional nutritional consultation, NLP and/or motivational coaching to resolve issues and move forward more healthily £955 pp.
3 nights : Morning walks plus approximately 6 hours of optional nutritional consultation, NLP and/or motivational coaching to resolve issues and move forward more healthily £1,355 pp.
Example 7 nights
Morning walks plus approximately 2 hours of optional nutritional consultation, NLP and/or motivational coaching to resolve issues and move forward more healthily £2,990 pp. With 6 hours of therapy/coaching of choice £3,500 pp.
We can offer a lighter regime and/or juiced fast resulting in a deeper cleanse/detox. Also available over a longer period of time if required. Please contact us to discuss.
NB It is possible for a couple to come without following the same program. For example, one person can have an Intensive Emotional stay, whilst the other has the Gourmet Raw Food Retreat. We also offer couples therapy.