Paula Strupeck Gardner
Serenity in the South of France
Dates :
7 - 13 September 2025
Take yourself from ARGHH to AHHHHHH with this beautiful, life-affirming, restorative, relaxing retreat in the South of France.
Let yourself receive the softness of being deeply cared for, sweetly honored and lovingly soothed by practices steeped in the traditions of ayurveda, restorative yoga, gentle yoga, nature healing, sound bathing and more.
Body = Mind = Spirit are inseparable.
What we do for one, we do for the others.
A refuge from the every day
Paula has curated each aspect of the retreat to best offer you a refuge from the every day so that you may return to your world, refreshed and ready to integrate all of your experiences into your renewed perspective…So that you take yourself home feeling greater ease, greater energy, greater joy.
Like all of Paula’s work, Serenity in the South of France 2025 retreat weaves philosophy, music, gentle movement and deeply restorative practices with excursions to the local countryside to allow us to experience beauty from within and from around us.
Feel the joy that comes from pairing mindful, self-care practices with exploring French cuisine, connecting with like-minded souls, experiencing unique creative activities, “bathing” in the light and stillness of the nearby limestone rock formations carved by weather over millennia, indulging in the relaxation of a beach day…
Feel the inspiring effects of witnessing the breath-taking panoramas all around.
Feel the sigh of release and relief that comes when you care tenderly for your self, leaning back into the arms of Beauty, ….
If you’ve never enjoyed the deliciousness of restorative yoga with Paula, prepare to be amazed: you’re surrounded by pillows and blankets, lovingly attended to by Paula, with no stretching and with your only focus on softening and rest. And Paula makes all Gentle Yoga sessions accessible to all who choose to participate so that you are able to embody your beauty, your courage, your joy.
Benoit and Ali of the frogs’ house, provide us with the warmest welcome and most exquisite meals. They are ever-present to gather us together, shepherd our excursions, and guide our tours. Our yoga and sound healing experiences take place in the frogs’ house.
All participants receive Paula’s signature care package to help you savor the retreat and integrate the retreat into your EveryDay life! And all participants receive inspirational emails before and after the retreat to ease your way into and out of the transformative nature of this retreat.
Who is Paula ?
Paula Strupeck Gardner has been teaching, coaching, guiding retreats, creating and leading workshops and courses, writing, and loving on her students and clients for over 40 years.
She’s a best-selling author of 3 books and a lifelong student of all things spiritual and corporeal.
Paula has multiple advanced degrees and certificates of study, an uncommon resume of life adventures (including being the first-ever US woman to complete the Mt. Everest Marathon, 1989; finishing 3rd woman in the Nanisivik Midnight Sun Marathon, 1991; living in France and Italy and Quebec before and with her sons.)
But what she MOST wants you to know about her is this:
Paula cares for you. Deeply. She cheers for you. Loudly, without reservation, and with unmatched enthusiasm.
She is your staunchest supporter, the most loving mirror you’ll ever look into, the most transparent, unflinchingly authentic voice you’ll ever hear.
Paula makes EVERYTHING accessible to EVERYONE who wants access. She is generous with her whole spirit.
And she holds space for you to do the same for you…
Join her on this beautiful, soul soothing, mind and heart expanding retreat!
The Program
Adjustments in the schedule may be made due to outside circumstances.
Arrival in Nice
Group transfer from airport/train station to the frogs’ house
2pm-5pm
Check in at the frogs’ house
5pm-6pm
Opening Circle and Restorative Yoga Session
6pm-9pm
Welcome buffet dinner and tour (wine included)
Price, payment terms, early bird discounts
● Full retreat with accommodation in a shared ensuite twin/double room with sea view & balcony reduced from 4865 € to 3900 € / person - sharing with another guest of the same gender, or as a couple
● Full retreat with accommodation in an ensuite double room with hill view reduced from 5165 € to 4200 € for one person
Deposit to reserve your space: 500 € - not refundable
Balance to be paid by 15 June 2025
Early bird discount deadlines
● 1000€ off if booked by 14 February2025
● 800 € off if booked between 15 February and 20 March 2025
● 500 € off if booked between 21 March and 15 May 2025
Paula has now discounted the price of the retreat for all bookings, without deadlines or restrictions, because in this turbulent world, we all need a gentle pause, to breathe.
INCLUSIONS
● Transfers in groups of 3 or more to the airport or train station in Nice on arrival and departure days
● Accommodation during your stay - please feel free to explore our accommodation further by clicking on the link
● Breakfast and dinner every day including Farewell dinner at La Table des Baous, sumptuous picnic lunch on days 1 and 2, lunch during gastronomic tour of Nice
● Wine at all meals other than during the gastronomic tour of Nice
● All activities (including two-way transport): wine tasting, guided walks, guided visit to the Chapel of the Rosary, glassblowing workshop, gastronomic tour of Nice, day out in Antibes
● All yoga sessions with Paula
● Breathwork (pranayama) integrated into our practices
● Paula’s signature care package
● Your personal empowerment portrait session will be scheduled with our photographer.
● pre- and post-retreat care
The frogs' house has 6 bedrooms, 3 with balconies and sea views and 3 with views of the foothills of the Alps, locally called "Baou".
What to bring ?
Comfortable shoes that have a good grip and support your ankles for the walks - if you have running shoes that fit that description, those suffice.
Sunscreen and sunglasses, a hat, swimsuit for a dip in Antibes, a windproof jacket and/or a rain mac just in case.
The nearest ATM is a 15 minute walk downhill to the lower part of our village. It’s fine to go there, but coming back up might take a little longer! There is however a bus. It would be advisable to bring cash if you mean to spend some in the village, though most if not all village shops accept credit cards. There are of course ATMs
available in the towns and cities you’d be visiting during your excursions.
What you don’t need to bring ?
The water in saint-Jeannet comes from under the hills we can see from our rooms. It is crystal clear and of high quality. It is treated right next to the source and pumped in our pipes. You don’t need to buy bottled water. We can provide you with metal water bottles that you can keep for the duration of your stay here.
There is no need to bring a yoga mat, unless you really want to use your own. We also provide blocks and small stools to sit on if you need them, and blankets for comfort in yoga sessions. As the focus of our yoga sessions is not “achieving postures” we do not provide props such as belts, wall fixings, backless chairs etc.
Towels, including beach towels and basic but high quality organic toiletries are provided.
The frogs’ house will provide backpacks and walking sticks when you need them.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
● A limited number of personal healing sound experiences are available at 75 €.
● Two in-depth personal coaching sessions are available at 150 €.
EXCLUSIONS
● Air fare, travel insurance or other personal insurance, any transport other than to the
activities on the schedule
● Lunch in Biot, Lunch in Antibes, drinks during the gastronomic tour of Nice
● Any activities not included in the schedule
● Laundry or dry cleaning services (these are available in the village at extra cost)
