Music with a little bit of chi kung, cookery and yoga
Spring with all its wondrous gifts is a time to renew your passion for life. An inspiring week of fun and laughter, based around music, blended with other activities such as chi kung, vegetarian cookery, nature walks and yoga. We sing and play our way through songs from all over the world. Plus chanting and voice exercises, playful group exercises and jam sessions.

All activities are optional, so plenty of time for rest and renewal. No pressure to perform. "Non-singers" are welcome, and you do not have to have musical ability. Just bring your enthusiasm. We have instruments available to share, including guitars, percussion and a keyboard. Or bring your own.

warm-up/chi kung session before breakfast

a couple of yoga sessions before dinner, with emphasis on breathing, relaxation and meditation. No great exertion and no experience of yoga is necessary.

a walking meditation through our extensive woodlands.

a cookery class with our wonderful award-winning chef Enzo Dipietro. A huge part of La Roane's success, witty Enzo is an artist whose medium is food. He teaches in French via a translator.

Plenty of walking opportunities to explore the beautiful countryside that surrounds the centre.

STUART MARSHALL has over 20 years experience in the music business: producer, teacher, singer songwriter and performer. Stuart believes with a passion that everybody can make music. He teaches voice work, and inspires budding guitarists through the joy of playing together in his group workshops. Stuart's inspiring but light-hearted approach to music will help you build confidence in your ability and to "do it your way". More at www.guitar-retreats.co.uk

ENZO DI PIETRO has grown his own food for years and is a past winner of Italian "Young Chef of the Year ". A wise and highly entertaining teacher he peppers his classes with vignettes of wisdom about growing food and life in general.

NIGEL SHAMASH is the owner of La Roane. He has been practising yoga most of his life and is a skilled and enthusiastic teacher. For more, see 'Who we are'.

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An inspiring week of fun and laughter
Spring with all its promise is in the air! This week is about living your life to the full, cherishing each moment and renewing your passion for life. A mixed bag of activities with special emphasis on singing and yoga. The singing will be mostly informal, with no pressure t perform: “non-singers” are welcome. There will be a variety of exercises to loosen our inhibitions and to let our voices flow, using harmony and improvisation.

There will be yoga sessions before dinner, with an emphasis on breathing, relaxation, chanting and meditation rather than on physical exertion. Suitable for all levels of experience and ability. Dance, massage, chi kung, “laughter therapy” and other activities will be used according to the needs of the group-.

A gentle process of renewal in a loving and supportive environment.

For biography of Nigel, see the section 'Who we are'. At certain times there will be other facilitators, helping to make this a memorable and life enhancing week.

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Come and join us for a wonderful week of fun and relaxation.
There will be a mixed bag of activities, mostly led by your host, Nigel Shamash. There will be a couple of vegetarian cookery classes with our expert chef, Enzo, as well as several organised walks and excursions, visiting mediaeval villages, picnicking and swimming in the River Aveyron and an opportunity to go canoeing. In addition there will be some very simple yoga and relaxation exercises, a session of creative play with Tig Land and plenty of opportunities to sing and dance. All of the activities are optional and there will of course be time to be on your own, to explore the surrounding countryside, by foot or by bicycle, play table tennis or simply laze by the pool.

This is an exciting time of year with wild flowers, birds and insects in abundance.

A great opportunity to find peace and clarity and to renew your zest for life



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A week combining vegetarian cookery at its very best together with a wonderfully restorative brand of yoga.

Our cook, the ever-popular Enzo, will share his vast experience of cuisine with passion and artistry, using seasonal fruits and vegetables where possible, Enzo has grown his own food virtually since childhood and received the Italian " Young Chef of the Year " award in 1982. His highly entertaining style of teaching is peppered with vignettes of wisdom about cookery, growing food and life in general. He is an artist whose medium is food, and he shares his knowledge with great passion. He teaches is French with the aid of a translator, a golden opportunity to brush up on your French

Whilst Enzo is in the kitchen with one group, Rose Marie will be working with the other group so that each group has one session of yoga and one of cooking on a daily basis. Rose Marie is a highly accomplished and dedicated yoga teacher. Her style is gentle and is suitable for all levels of experience and ability. Her classes generally include postures, breathing techniques (pranayama,) relaxation and chanting. The emphasis is on creating awareness and inner stillness rather than the exact duplication of a posture., . She has also training in yoga therapy and can tailor her approach to meet the needs of each individual. Even if you have never done yoga before and/or have a number of physical problems, don't miss this opportunity. Rose Marie lives near Dublin where she teaches yoga on a regular basis. She has a deep interest in all the spiritual traditions and her aim is to help and encourage people to find their life path and their passion using the medium of yoga..

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Responding to the beautiful surroundings of La Roane, through painting, drawing, and mindfulness meditation, this will be a inspirational and relaxing week, offering a very rich and varied programme for complete beginners, as well as those with experience.

Each day Annie will facilitate a process of tuning into nature, using mindfulness meditation to deepen relaxation and develop sense perception, whilst learning how to see, so that everyone can creatively respond to their own personal experience. There will be time to experiment with creative techniques and methods using various art materials in group workshops, with demonstrations and playful exploration as well as time set aside for one to one tuition. Each day you will be guided to make starting points and journeys in art to find new marks, colours, textures and ideas from direct encounters with the surrounding landscape. Drawing inspiration from nature and creative visualisation, there will also be some excursions and other opportunities to make art at other locations. Learning to balance visual elements and create images that are both pleasing and nourishing you will have many opportunities to make beautiful visual reminders of your time at La Roane.

Each morning will start with a 30 minute session with Nigel of wake -up exercises, with stretching and vocal expression, leading to a series of chi kung movements to energise your day. In the evening there will be other opportunities for some yoga, music dance and fun.

What to bring - it will be essential to bring some charcoal, soft pencils, markers or felt tips, a set of coloured pastels (oil or chalk will do) and an A3 sketch book and smaller sketch book. You may also want to bring your favourite art materials such as coloured inks or watercolours or acrylic paints, brushes and heavy cartridge paper. Annie will bring some additional materials to share so that you can bring as little or as much as you would like to experiment with. Remember the restrictions on carrying liquids and sharp items as hand luggage whilst all dry and soft materials are permitted. A more detailed list of what to bring and how to pack will be sent out a few weeks prior to the course

ANNIE COUSINS is an artist and psychotherapist who has been teaching art, mindfulness meditation and creative retreats for many years in Greece and the UK. For 15 years she taught painting and drawing at Sussex University and has been training art tutors for the last 5 years and currently runs art courses and workshops in the UK . She brings much vitality, sensitivity as well as a sense of fun to the therapeutic experience of making art. Please get in touch with Annie on 01903 812130 or email anniecousins@talktalk.net if you would like to discuss what to bring or buy at affordable prices, or any other information about the course.

www.anniecousins.co.uk

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This week of yoga is truly for everyone - every session being tailor made for the individual needs of each student whilst letting the group as a whole flow at their own pace. A chance to be invigorated, balanced and restored to your true Self. Gentle restorative asanas (poses) and opening practices, combined with energetic flowing sequences will gradually lead everyone on their journey. There will be a balance of mat work, breathing techniques and discussion times allowing everyone to explore their own practice.

In a safe and comforting environment Rosie will lead this workshop using breath work (pranayama), attention to alignment with careful adjustments creating an awareness of the connection of the body and mind. With dedication Rosie's thorough instructions help even the beginner to feel that there is an understanding of their yoga practice - allowing it to become more meaningful. She is very careful to respect everyone's beliefs whilst encouraging them to connect to their spirituality.

"With breath and mindfulness even the simplest of movements can become very powerful."

Rosie leads her classes with compassion and humour, embracing the Iyengar approach of using props enabling students to feel the depth of their practice whilst working in partners will enable students to go deeper into postures allowing them to gradually open their bodies with integrity.

Rosie opened The Yoga Studio in Bude, Cornwall when she returned to UK in 2009 having studied in the Caribbean and U.S.A. and continues to attend workshops and retreats to enable her teaching and practice to keep growing. Her teaching is very intuitive and spontaneous and as a result her mixed classes attract a wide range of ages and abilities which help keep her classes fresh. From teenagers to grand- parents, her classes are always fun and inspiring and she is very excited about leading her first retreat at La Roane.

"Yoga is a light that we all have inside us - allow me to give you the space to find yours"

www.yogastudiobude.com

N.B. This course is from Tuesday to Tuesday

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Enjoy allowing your body and mind to experience many strands of yoga under the tuition of Janaki and Davy. Each day there will be two sessions where you can experience Janaki's unique style of hatha flow yoga and Davy's dynamic ashtanga yoga style. In addition, there will be chance to explore pranayama, meditation and visualisation with plenty of time for advice and help with your yoga practice. Beginners and more experienced yogis alike are welcome and over the week, we can explore together backbends, twists, balances and inversions, and much much more, going as far as your mind and body will allow. You will have a lot of fun and laughter and surprises!

Janaki has been teaching and practising yoga for many years and graduated from Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram, Kerala in 1998. Davy has been teaching and practising for almost 10 years. They share a sense of fun and passion for yoga. and believe it should be inclusive and available to all.
www.inspirationyoga.net
janaki@inspirationyoga.net or call 07905 494009

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"Yoga is a light which, once lit, will never dim". BKS Iyengar.
Join us for a truly invigorating week! No need to be an experienced Yogi or at the peak of physical health. Even the less experienced or less flexible will find ways of practicing the postures (asanas) that give maximum benefit. There will be a short pranayama (yoga breathing) practice before breakfast and 2 main sessions per day covering the classic postures of yoga. The morning yoga session will be awakening and invigorating, whilst the afternoon session will have a quieter, more restorative focus.
This course is not recommended for complete beginners.

Karen has been practicing yoga for about 20 years and is a certified Iyengar teacher. She teaches classes and runs workshops in London with sensitivity, clarity and infectious enthusiasm.

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There is a yoga class each day which starts with a gentle opening of the body and attunement of the mind to the breath. The class will slowly move and build into a flowing and dynamic hatha sequence, always incorporating the cultivation of awareness, physical alignment, breath and chakras (energy centres). The class aims to be suitable for all levels and yoga experience.

Afternoon sessions will vary and may include: moving meditations on the chakras, free movement, group singing and harmony, kundalini kriyas, alongside guided relaxations and restorative postures. These sessions are designed to explore and free our innate creative spirit and are offered in a totally supportive environment free from judgement and expectation. In these creative workshops no-one will be expected to sing or dance on their own, or do anything they are not comfortable with.

After dinner, we will gather together for group singing with Kate and Nigel Shamash (your host), an evening stroll, a game of table tennis or simply to hang out and chat and listen to the call of the night creatures... A truly inspirational and life changing week!

Further details see www.katemckenzie.co.uk

N.B. This course is from Friday to Friday to avoid the expensive airfares on the Saturday bank holiday

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Circle dances are drawn from many different cultures and traditions. They can be meditative, lively, playful, healing and fun. No partners needed. All are welcome.
Anne Armstrong returns to La Roane bringing a great wealth of experience, ability and enthusiasm. She has been involved with circle dancing for over 15 years and leads a number of groups in the UK. She creates a very convivial atmosphere in which everybody feels relaxed and inspired. www.circledancenetwork.org.uk

N.B. The single supplement of this course is only £30 (as opposed to £50 on other courses) and the transfer charge (2 ways) is £45 instead of £60.

A week combining vegetarian cookery at its very best together with a wonderfully restorative brand of yoga.

Our cook, the ever-popular Enzo, will share his vast experience of cuisine with passion and artistry, using seasonal fruits and vegetables where possible, Enzo has grown his own food virtually since childhood and received the Italian " Young Chef of the Year " award in 1982. His highly entertaining style of teaching is peppered with vignettes of wisdom about cookery, growing food and life in general. He is an artist whose medium is food, and he shares his knowledge with great passion. He teaches is French with the aid of a translator, a golden opportunity to brush up on your French

Whilst Enzo is in the kitchen with one group, Alison will be working with the other group so that each group has one session of yoga and one of cooking on a daily basis.

Alison is a friendly and welcoming teacher, bringing humour and warmth into her classes.

Her personal practice has been influenced by several styles of yoga having experienced the benefits of Iyengar, Sivananda and Vinyasa yoga. Alison believes in guiding each student to find the best version of each pose for their own body, depending on their ability and experience. Alison also enjoys teaching about the power of ‘the breath’ and teaches simple and valuable breathing techniques and incorporates relaxation and meditation into her classes.

Alison began to practice and study yoga after suffering from chronic pain and headaches for many years. This has helped her develop a deep understanding of all the health benefits that yoga has to offer. She comes from a background of working and teaching within the NHS and overseas as a nurse and midwife for twenty years and teaches pregnancy yoga too. She is also an accomplished dancer and dance teacher. Alison dances salsa and tango and has danced twice in the tango world championships in Argentina. She will lead one or two fun and easy dance sessions during the week in the evenings.