A place to be well - La Roane

26/11/2025

Wednesday Wellbeing -

Connections with others. 👫
Real connections, real conversations are essential to us.

Most people enjoy spending time with other humans. 💃 🕺

I was never expecting to love running a retreat center with all these new people I’d “have to meet”.

Because I am an introvert and was incredibly shy when I was younger.

But I’ve grown up. 🌟 Yipee
And I’ve realised over the years that it can be so difficult to meet new people once the “kids” leave school and then also the family home.

Let alone make new friends!

Meeting people that you feel will become friends is not obvious. And sometimes it can take a lot of time. Sometimes almost a lifetime. ⏳

But it’s so fun! 🥰 🥳

Cos, aren’t friendships the best thing?
We don’t choose our family, but we can choose our friends.

So, at our retreat center, A Place To Be Well -La Roane, we get to meet a lot of people. If I’m lucky and can take some time out from working, I actually get to know some of the retreat participants and retreat leaders.

And I love that.

I love hearing other people’s stories.

And I bet that next time, when they return, it will feel like seeing a friend again.

What a joy that will be! 🥰

This year, we have had a few “old" friends come to see us here. Not to take part in retreats, but to spend time with us. It was so fun. 💫

And next year, other friends are also coming. We can’t wait to show them around this little gem of a place we now call home.

One set of friends have fallen in love with this area so much that they are starting to look into buying property here! 🤭 💫

Maybe you too will join us in this little paradise of France?!
Pourquoi pas?

21/11/2025

A new newsletter zipped over to the subscriber’s e-mail inboxes on Wednesday.🌟

Do you want to read it?🙏

I’m so excited about a retreat we will be hosting here in June 2026:

A Writing and Art retreat with two amazing teachers!🌟🌸🎨✍

I can just imagine the creativity flowing all over this place!🍃🌸🍃

Artists know that this is a place to create art. Jeannette MacDougall knows it.

We have seen her and her students in action.

And writers...well, I have no doubt that if you want to get inspiration, learn and share your work, you will be in the right place with the amazing author and professor of creative writing who is running the writing retreat, Cathryn Hankla. Her poetry is so inspiring and beautiful. Yes, artistic!

For the first time, these two talented women are coming together to teach a combined retreat. So, if you want to learn and practice your art (writing or painting), you don’t want to miss this one!

https://mailchi.mp/f3486335270a/writing-and-art-retreats-why-not

Art retreat was not one of the choices, since we already welcome artists here. And they know it’s the perfect place to teach art. Just like yoga teachers know.

19/11/2025

Wellbeing Wednesday -

Hopefully this will be the start of regular posts from me. I’ve been told that consistency is key 🔑 😉

🌟 What is wellbeing?

There are lots of aspects to it, right?

I have many favorites, but probably my top choice, when I need to feel well is.....

NATURE

Have you ever noticed how much calmer and at ease you feel after spending time outside in nature? We as humans need nature to be healthy and feel well. That has been proven. So many different ways.

It’s about the sunlight, the natural food we put into our bodies, the cleaner air we breathe when surrounded by trees or by the sea, the ground under our feet and the relationships with other living beings.

Ever since I was a child I’ve had a felt need to spend time in nature. As a “bored” teenager, I’d go sit in the forest and just observe and wait to see what animal might come around the corner. What teenager does this today? Not too many, unfortunately. And the thing is, if we as parents don’t spend time in nature with our kids, then they also loose out on that crucial wellbeing need.

I could go on...but you get my point.

Below is an article explaining the benefits on us of being in nature, but also, crucially how our whole planet is suffering because less people are taking time to be in nature.

Want a week of connecting with yourself and the nature around you? 🌟

Want a week of feeling the calm that can envelope you when you give yourself the gift of just BEing? 🍁 🍀

Without technology that pulls your attention in all directions. Without distractions that aren’t serving you?

Feel the benefits of connecting with nature and with other people who also want the same.

Oh, yes, connections, that is not only with nature, but also with other humans. Another aspect of wellbeing. That’s for next time!

Be well sweet people. Take care of yourself and those you love.
And if you’re curious about our Wellbeing retreat centre in the south west of France, here’s the website: aplacetobewell.com

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/notre-d%C3%A9connexion-%C3%A0-la-nature-amput%C3%A9e-de-60-en-deux-cygec

- 60 %. Une étude publiée au cœur de l’été dans la r***e scientifique Earth (pilotée par le chercheur en psychologie Miles Richardson, de l’Université de Derby au Royaume-Uni) chiffre ainsi le déclin de notre connexion à la nature, observé dans le monde occidental entre 1800 et 2020.

30/10/2025

Here’s a link to the latest newsletter from A Place To Be Well -La Roane, where we have been living and running the retreat center for almost a year!

Already! Time flies when you’re having fun. 🥰

Time seems to fly also when you’re very busy and constantly learning. And when we live by a calendar of retreats! 📆 🧘‍♀️ 🖼️

Been planning the next season, which will be starting early February.

We are filling up with a variety of retreats in 2026.

If you want to book a retreat or know someone who would be interested in running a retreat here in the beautiful, tranquil SW of France, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I can hopefully find a week for you in 2026. 🤔 😃

Sharing with you here the latest newsletter from A Place To Be Well -La Roane, where we have been living and running the retreat center for almost a year!

Already! Time flies when you’re having fun. 🥰

Time seems to fly also when you’re very busy and constantly learning. And when we live by a calendar of retreats! 📆 🧘‍♀️ 🖼️

Been planning the next season, which will be starting early February.

We are filling up with a variety of retreats in 2026.

If you want to book a retreat or know someone who would be interested in running a retreat here in the beautiful, tranquil SW of France, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I can hopefully find a week for you in 2026. 🤔 😃

NB: small mistake in the post about Manouk’s Yoga Teacher Training 3 week retreat in March -the starting date is March 15 and it ends on April 5th (Sunday to Sunday).

We are wrapping up this season, as I write this, with a 200 hour yoga teacher training course with Manouk Tideman of the Yoga Therapy Institute. She is returning on 16 March together with Biddy Messchaert and another new group of students. So, if you want to learn to teach yoga, this is a highly rec...

11/10/2025

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24/09/2025

Get ready to unleash your creativity! 🎨

Swiss friends and beyond, we're thrilled to introduce you to the talented Katerina, an artist who's passionate about empowering women through art.

🌸 She'll guide you through a journey of self-expression, using watercolour and mixed media techniques.

🍃Immerse yourself in the serene natural surroundings, savour delicious veggie meals, and explore the charming village of Saint Antonin-Noble-Val. 🏞️

Plus, treat yourself to a rejuvenating massage and let go of all worries!

Ready to connect with your inner artist? Look up Katerina on social media and reach out to her at katerinakestemont.ch to reserve your spot.

Don't forget to book before the end of October to receive a 20% discount!

🎁

21/09/2025

Connections -

What do you think when you read that word?

These days, with social media, I think many will think of connections online.

Not you? Real people connections are better, aren’t they? I definitely think that. But often, online connections can lead to in-person meetings. And that’s fun.

At our retreat center, that is one of the things I enjoy the most. Meeting new people. People that I otherwise would probably never get to meet.

We are fortunate to also have a few new clients this year.

We connected online at first, of course. And then, when they arrive here, we get to meet in person. So wonderful!

I’m already looking forward to next year when those new friends come back here for the next retreat!!

There is another type of connection -connection to nature.

That’s the kind of connection that was always more fundamental to me -ever since I was a child. I was never a people person, being an introvert and very shy when I small. I had a few best friends but I always needed time alone too. Like most introverts.

But nature...it’s always here. Waiting for you and allowing you to feel connected without expecting anything in return.

I love standing barefoot on the ground and looking up at the stars at night or being in the forest. 👣🌲

I used to escape to the forest in Sweden when I was a teenager and needed space and time alone. I’d sit on a tree trunk... listening and watching nature.

Now, I am incredibly grateful to have nature all around me.....here 🌲

Here, at A Place To Be Well -La Roane. 🍃

It’s a retreat center in the middle of “nowhere”. 🍃 🍃

That’s incorrect, not “nowhere”. No, in fact, it’s in the middle of everything that’s important and powerful: trees, flowers, insects, butterflies and birds. Etc...

Which kind of connection is most important to you?

📷 ✨ A note about the photos
1) the moon and Venus, that’s a credit to our neighbour Stan -Have you seen the video on our website that he made?
2) those people hugging their knees while lying on the ground in the outdoor yoga space...those are some of the lovely people at our current yoga retreat. They are connected to the earth and to each other. 🍃 🧘‍♀️ ☀️