HIGHLIGHTS: ELEMENTAL WORKSHOPS • BOAT DAY • SPA TREATMENTS • WINE CHATEAU VISIT • FIRE CEREMONY • SOUNDBATH

OVERVIEW

ELEMENTAL ENERGY

Join us for a week of diving into a journey through the elements using the lens of movement, meditation, and magic. Throughout the week, we’ll embrace the five elements as our guide—earth, water, fire, air, and space—to align our inner rhythms with nature’s cycles. Begin with an opening circle to set intentions, and close with a gathering to reflect on newfound insights and practices you can carry forward into daily life.

Below is a glimpse of the unique activities that will support your path toward longevity with this themed itinerary:

EARTH ELEMENT
Grounding Yoga, Guided Nature Meditation Walk, Hands-on Earth-based Crafting Session

WATER ELEMENT
Yoga Flow, Coastal Boat Trip, Lunch on Board, Personalized Readings

FIRE (SUN) ELEMENT
Morning Yoga, Daytrip to St Emilion Wineries, Fire & Cacao Ceremony

AIR + ETHER ELEMENTS
Spa Treatments, Restorative Yoga + Soundbath, Closing Circle

LOCATION + ACCOMMODATION

On this special retreat, we will have exclusive use of the stunning Villa la Tosca in southwest France on the coast outside of Bordeaux. Nestled on the beach, enveloped in the scent of pine trees, Villa La Tosca offers the ideal setting for a retreat from the noise of the world: a stunning property on 4000m2 of land on the Arcachon Bay. The daily movement of the tides and the natural environment diffuse a quality of ionized air and energy that exist nowhere else.

ARCACHON BAY: SAND DUNES, CHARMING BEACHSIDE TOWNS, NATURE PARKS, LOCAL DINING.

The Arcachon Bay is renowned for its healing and soothing properties for the respiratory system. The villa is located in a culturally rich area, surrounded by nature preservation parks, unique coastal towns in close proximity and near to the Dune du Pyla (Highest sand dune in Europe).

Our time during the retreat will take us around the natural landscapes near the villa, as well as on a boat to explore the unique coastline. Then we’ll venture inland one day to visit the world-famous wine region of Bordeaux getting to explore the wineries around beautiful St Emilion.

CUISINE

Healthful, local food is part of the retreat experience. The food is simple and delicious, using fresh ingredients from the local markets and prepared onsite at our villa with both vegetarian and seafood options. Breakfast is provided at the villa each morning, and our dinners and lunches will be either enjoyed on site or out on our day trips. We will have a private chef for our time at the villa and, besides nourishing meals on-site, we will also enjoy a lunch on board during our private boat day, a couple of wine tastings and lunch out during our day in St Emilion (Bordeaux’s premier wine region), and a cozy local dinner in the village.

ACTIVITIES

Guests will not only enjoy the grounds of the Villa La Tosca, but also we’ll be incorporating daily activities both on and off site to add to the full retreat experience. Each day we’ll enjoy yoga/meditation time as well card readings throughout the week by Mindy. Since our week will be themed with the elements, we will enjoy the first part of the week in the earth element with a Guided Nature Meditation Walk and Hands-on Earth-based Crafting Session. Then we move on to the water element with a Coastal Boat Trip and Lunch on Board to explore the beautiful coastline of this part of France. Next we’ll explore the fire element by participating in an activity that needs sunshine - wine! We’ll have a day trip to the gem of the Bordeaux wine region, St Emilion, for some winery tours and tastings, and close the day with a Fire Ceremony. Finally on our celebration of the air and ether elements, we’ll enjoy spa treatments on site with a special restorative yoga and sound bath healing session.

WELLNESS

Daily meditation and yoga will be offered in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced.* Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students' needs, and with our limited retreat class size, students will be able to get personalized attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice. We’ll be practicing in the villa’s stunning yoga shala overlooking the lush garden. In addition to our yoga classes each day there will be elemental-themed classes/meditations focused to find the elements in your own life.

MINDY JOHNSTONE

This retreat will be led by EPM collaborator, MINDY JOHNSTONE. Living in the awe inspiring Canadian Rockies, Mindy has a love of the outdoors, all things artistic and wellness related. Her hometown in Banff is her foundation for teaching art and yoga for the past 25 years. No travel experience is complete without a journal to record the finer details of her surroundings through sketches combined with watercolours, acrylic pens and ink. On retreat, prepare to be inspired and nurtured as her strength lies in the ability to cater to groups and individuals needs. Mindy loves to inspire guests to see the delight in their surroundings through art and how we can feel at ‘OM in the world.’

*Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

WHAT PAST GUESTS ARE SAYING

DETAILS / PRICING

• 6 Days / 5 Nights (Apr 7-12, 2026)

• Inclusive Retreat Price = $4695USD (shared room*) + various upgrades and single room supplements available during registration

• Deposit to hold space = $1500
  ** 50% of final balance due 120 days before retreat start date, and remaining 50% due 60 days before retreat start date.
  Read full cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions.

INCLUDED*:

• Exclusive use of Villa

• Accommodation (spacious bedrooms each with private bathrooms, linens)

• Daily Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Welcome Aperitif Reception + Orientation

• Transportation to/from day trips

• Daily yoga / meditation classes

• Daily elemental-focused class or meditation

• Use of estate premises (gardens, trails, pool, sauna, cold plunge, etc.)

• Guided nature meditation walk

• Private coastal boat trip

• Lunch on board private boat

• Daytrip to St Emilion Bordeaux wine region

• Winery visit with tour + tasting lunch

• Evening fire ceremony

• Crafting class

• Visit and dinner in local village

• On-site spa treatment day

• Soundbath

• Personalized card reading

• Taxes

* airfare not included
**activities may change based on weather or unforeseen circumstances

LOCATION / TRAVEL:

The villa is located in the South West of France, 40 minutes from the city of Bordeaux in the town of Lanton, in the heart of the Arcachon Bay, where the garden gates open right up onto the beach. Close to the towns of Cap Ferret and Arcachon. 

1 GROUP TRANSFER FROM BOD AIRPORT AND/OR TRAIN STATION WILL BE OFFERED AT 2PM ON START DAY, AND 1 GROUP TRANSFER OFFERED TO BOD AIRPORT AND/OR TRAIN STATION WILL BE OFFERED AT 10AM ON END DAY.
Airport: Bordeaux Mérignac airport (BOD) is about 35min from the villa and reachable by taxi.
Train station: Bordeaux St Jean TGV station (40min) which offers connections to Paris in 2.5hrs. Biganos Facture train station (20min). Both easily accessible by taxi.

SUGGESTED PACKING:

Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you.

• Yoga mats and props are provided

• Bathing suit (on-site pool, boat day, etc)

• Layers of clothing for weather changes

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Plug adaptors / converters

• Journal