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Walking & Wellness Retreat Workshops & Activities: Creativity, Mindfulness & Breathing
Expand Your Walking Experience with Creative Workshops and Mindful Moments
Our Vistas and Villages walking and wellness retreat goes beyond scenic trails and tranquil village exploration to reveal the deep connection between mind and body. Carefully curated workshops complement your daily walks with practical techniques to enhance focus, reduce stress, and deepen your sense of presence.
Designed to inspire and rejuvenate, this intimate retreat offers warmth and creativity in an enchanting setting. Enjoy hands-on creative sessions, mindfulness and breathing workshops, and daily moments of mindful practice, all led by experienced facilitators.
Whether new to mindfulness or already familiar with breathwork, you’ll explore accessible, science-supported methods that enrich both your walking and everyday life. All workshops are included in your retreat package.
The small group size (maximum 15 participants) ensures individual attention, with sessions held in our comfortable indoor spaces and selected mindful practices taking place outdoors in the gardens.
Workshop Schedule at a Glance
• Creative Art Workshop: Hosted by local artists or onsite (no prior experience necessary)
• Mindfulness Workshop (30-45 mins): Early in retreat to support deep reading
• Breathing Techniques Workshop (30-45 mins): For cognitive clarity and emotional calm
• Daily Mindfulness Moments: Gentle practices throughout the retreat
All workshops included in your retreat package.
Mindfulness Workshop (30-45 mins) and Practice
Early in the walking retreat, Sophie leads a mindfulness workshop focused on cultivating present-moment awareness, tailored to enhance your connection with the breathtaking landscapes of South West France. Guests learn techniques to deepen both focused attention and open awareness, helping to reduce stress, refresh the mind and enrich each step on this walking holiday in the French countryside.
What You'll Learn:
● Focused Attention – Techniques to concentrate on a single point of awareness, helping to calm the mind and sharpen your senses as you walk through historic villages
● Open Awareness – Practices to broaden your perception, allowing you to fully absorb the beauty of medieval architecture and countryside vistas
● Present-Moment Connection – Tools to stay grounded in the here and now, deepening your appreciation of each walk and cultural experience
Throughout the retreat, Sophie facilitates gentle daily mindfulness moments, encouraging a calm and attentive mindset that supports reflection and relaxation in this timeless rural setting.
Benefits for Your Walking Experience:
Reduced stress and mental clarity
Enhanced appreciation of natural beauty
Deeper connection with your surroundings
Improved focus and emotional balance
Greater sense of peace and well-being
No previous mindfulness experience is required—just an open mind and willingness to explore these gentle practices that complement your walking retreat through South West France.
Breathing Techniques Workshop (30-45 mins)
Sophie guides participants through breathing exercises designed to foster mental clarity and emotional balance—essential for sustained energy and calm during your walking adventure in Occitanie. Drawing on principles of embodied cognition, this workshop explores how adapting your breath can help manage stress, improve focus and deepen your connection with the environment.
Much like mindfulness, Sophie’s approach broadens the understanding of breathwork beyond common perceptions, equipping guests with practical techniques tailored for specific needs—whether calming anxiety, enhancing concentration or boosting energy.
Participants will gain insights into how mindful breathing activates neural pathways that regulate stress and emotions, and how these subtle shifts in breath can promote improved cognitive function and emotional balance.
You will leave with practical tools to harness the power of mindful breathing both on this walking holiday through South West France and in your everyday life.
Daily Mindfulness Moments for Enhanced Reading
Throughout the retreat, Sophie facilitates gentle daily mindfulness moments, encouraging a calm and attentive mindset that enriches experience and reflection during your stay. These brief practices help guests cultivate greater body awareness and calm—empowering them to relax deeply and engage fully with their walking, activities and surroundings.
Creative Art Workshop
Immerse yourself in a hands-on creative workshop designed to inspire and complement your walking retreat through medieval villages and scenic vistas in the Occitanie region. Led by local experts or hosted onsite, this engaging session encourages self-expression and discovery through artistic or activities connected to the themes of rural France. Whether exploring flavours or colours, no previous experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and a spirit of adventure!
Ready to Experience This Walking Adventure?
Join us for a retreat that combines scenic walks, medieval village exploration, creative workshops and mindful practices you'll use for life.
Additional Walking Retreat Activities
Beyond our structured workshops, your retreat includes plenty of opportunities to relax, explore and recharge:
🏊 Pool Access for Relaxation
After morning village excursions, cool down with a refreshing swim in our outdoor pool. The perfect way to relax while enjoying the peaceful French countryside. Pool towels provided.
✨ Nighttime Star Gazing (Weather Permitting)
End your evenings under the vast Occitanie sky. Far from city lights, Belvèze offers spectacular views of the Milky Way and constellations—simply lie back and soak in the wonder.
🌿 Free Time Exploration
Each day includes unstructured time to:
Explore medieval villages independently after your morning walk
Relax in the gardens with a book
Take scenic walks through the surrounding countryside
Connect with fellow readers over coffee or wine
Simply rest and reflect
Optional Add-Ons (Arranged in Advance):
Potential extended stay before or after the retreat for independent exploration (subject to existing bookings)
Partner/non-walker retreat options
All activities are entirely optional—you're free to participate as much or as little as you like. This is your retreat to design according to your needs.
For the complete day-by-day schedule showing when workshops occur, view the full itinerary →
Meet Your Workshop Leader
Sophie -Mindfulness & Breathing Workshop Leader
MSc(Dist) Communication, Behaviour and Credibility Analysis
Former Professional Artist (Ceramics & Wood Carving, 15+ years)
Sophie's career began as a professional artist, spending over 15 years specialising in ceramics and wood carving. During this time, she created commissions for museums and galleries, ran workshops and received multiple awards, with sculptures still held in Wolverhampton Art Gallery's permanent collection. Following her artistic career, Sophie transitioned into the field of nonverbal communication, completing a master's degree and becoming a specialist in embodied cognition and behaviour analysis.
Now combining her artistic sensibility with scientific understanding, Sophie explores how the body directly influences mental and emotional states—a principle she applies to help guests harness mindfulness practices for greater focus and well-being. Her approach to mindfulness breaks away from traditional meditation stereotypes, offering accessible, varied techniques that work for busy lives and active minds.
Sophie's breathing workshops draw on neuroscience research, showing how intentional breathwork activates specific neural pathways to regulate stress, sharpen focus or boost energy. With her warm, engaging teaching style and dual expertise in creative expression and body-mind connection, Sophie ensures everyone—from complete beginners to experienced practitioners—gains valuable tools that enhance both reading immersion and everyday well-being.
Ready to Wander Through Medieval Villages & Countryside?
Join our Scenic Medieval Village Walking Retreat in Southwest France in 2026. Experience peaceful walks through breathtaking hilltop villages. Secure your spot today and transform your wellness journey with culture, mindfulness and stunning vistas!
From €1,350 per person | Limited to 15 Guests
Common Questions About Our Workshops
Q: I've never done mindfulness/breathing work before. Will I feel lost?
A: Absolutely not! Sophie designs her workshops for complete beginners. No prior experience needed.
Q: Are the workshops mandatory?
A: While we highly recommend them, all workshops are optional. You're free to rest or explore instead.
Q: What is the creative workshop?
A: The creative workshop will be announced closer to the retreat date. It will be either a creative art workshop or a creative culinary tasting experience, depending on the availability of external suppliers.
Q: What if I'm not artistic? Can I still enjoy the creative workshop?
A: Absolutely! The creative workshop is designed for everyone, regardless of artistic experience. It's about exploration and self-expression, not creating masterpieces.
Q: Can I get one-on-one support?
A: Yes! Sophie is available throughout the retreat for personal questions and guidance about mindfulness, breathing techniques and creative expression.
Tips for an Amazing Experience
Before You Arrive:
Train with some hill walking if possible (but don't stress if you haven't)
Practice 5km distance walks
Pack comfortable walking shoes and break them in well before arrival
Bring a journal or notebook if you enjoy reflecting on your experience
Don't forget comfortable clothes for relaxing and casual creative activities
During Your Retreat:
Stay hydrated—bring your water bottle everywhere
Embrace the workshops with an open mind—even if you're new to mindfulness or creativity
Connect with fellow walkers—friendships are part of the magic
Take photos but also put the phone down and be present
Feel empowered to slow down, take time for yourself to rest, pause activities, or enjoy a rejuvenating afternoon nap
After Your Retreat:
Continue the mindfulness and breathing practices at home
Share your experience (tag us @rossignols.artdevivre)
Stay in touch with your walking retreat community
Consider booking your next retreat adventure with us!
Ready to Experience This Adventure?
Join us for an unforgettable week of walking, mindfulness, creativity and medieval village exploration in the heart of South West France.
Limited to 15 guests