provence
enquire hereEmbodiment & Writing with our Senses
May 18th – 24th
Join embodiment specialist Tashi Dawa and writer Susan Elderkin for an extraordinary collaboration to find our natural creative expression through daily moving, breathing, meditation and creative writing.
This 7-day retreat will allow each of us to rediscover the tremendous satisfaction of living in our bodies, of capturing what we think and feel, and allowing us to feel the bliss of being wakeful and fully alive.
Yoga & Creative Meditation
May 25th – 31st
October 12th – 18th
Our third collaborative retreat featuring the extraordinary talents of two remarkable individuals, Tashi Dawa and Tashi Mannox. This 7-day retreat invites us to tune into our physical, meditative and creative potential.
Immerse yourself in the wisdom & stories from Tashi Mannox’s 20 years of monastic life in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Tashi Mannox will guide you in sitting meditation, offering profound insights and experiences.
Twice daily yoga practice, meditation and daily creative workshops
RETREAT IN PROVENCE - ENQUIRE FOR 2025
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Le Grand Banc’s yoga, writing and art retreats with Tashi Dawa and her various expert collaborators offer a truly enriching experience. These week-long offerings invite you to connect with a great community of people and be looked after with genuine old school charm and hospitality.
THE RETREATS
Embodiment and Writing with our Senses
Twice daily mindful movement with Tashi Dawa to reconnect with our inner being and rediscover the pleasure of inhabiting our physical world.
Creative writing workshops with Susan Elderkin, an accomplished author with two prize-winning novels to her credit, who will lead daily writing exercises and techniques, facilitating exploration of your creative potential.
In daily sessions, Tashi and Suse will encourage us to move, feel and discover the natural spring of our awareness and expression. With expert guidance for deep action and reflection, we can expect to ignite our creative fire.
Susan, herself a long-time yogi, is the author of two novels and two books about bibliotherapy. Based in Somerset, she has worked as a journalist and a travel writer, and has taught on several of the leading post-graduate creative-writing courses in the UK.
Yoga Meditation & the Art of Enso
Meditation and Enso practice with the master Tashi Mannox. Enso is a sacred symbol in Zen Buddhism representing the “circle of togetherness,” is traditionally created with a single brushstroke. This meditative practice fosters the art of letting go of the mind, allowing the body to create. The Dharma Arts practice of Enso nurtures inner trust, elegance, and deep focus.
This extraordinary collaboration invites us to harmonise body, mind, and spirit while exploring ancient practices with Tashi Dawa and Tashi Mannox.
ABOUT THE VENUE
Le Grand Banc is a private hamlet in the heart of the Luberon. It is an absurdly charismatic place to host a retreat. Prices start from £1,400 for sharing and we have a few private rooms from £1,600
ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation options at Le Grand Banc are a diverse selection of rooms and apartments to suit your preferences. Whether you prefer a single room, twin sharing, or a double room apartment there is a gorgeous space for you.
Upon receiving your booking enquiry, we will provide pictures and detailed descriptions of the rooms.
PRICES
GETTING THERE
This is a lovely area to explore and hiring a car is highly recommended. The nearest airport is Marseille and TGV train station is Avignon. For those without their own transport, we will support you with group transfers.
A COLOURFUL HISTORY
Le Grand Banc has an incredible back story. Originally abandoned after World War One, it was rediscovered in the 1960s by the adventurous Englishman, Jeremy Fry. He undertook the monumental task of rescuing it from ruin. The property comprises several houses, each uniquely decorated in an eclectic style. The interiors feature an amazing collection of paintings and furniture, primarily from the 1960s and 1970s. Le Grand Banc offers comfort without extravagance and style without being ostentatious.
After its restoration, Le Grand Banc became a gathering place for Fry’s renowned friends, including Lord Snowdon, artists Kaffe Fassett and Craigie Aitchison, and entrepreneur James Dyson. Tom Stoppard was a frequent visitor, and legend has it that he penned “Shakespeare in Love” in one of the bedrooms. Renowned opera director Robert Carsen even used this space to workshop his operas and assist in managing the vast 400-acre estate.
Many of the distinguished individuals who graced Le Grand Banc’s halls generously contributed artworks that now infuse the place with bohemian exuberance. Although Jeremy Fry passed away in 2005, his spirit of vibrant hospitality lives on through his younger son, Cosmo Fry, who has opened the doors to private rentals and yoga retreats, keeping the legacy alive.
“As with yoga, writing is a way to live more deeply, this retreat will be aimed at giving each of us the tremendous satisfaction of living in our bodies, of capturing what we think and feel in words, and making us feel more whole and more fully alive.”
