Take a break. Take a breath. Take a moment to increase your ease, joy and efficiency both in practice and in performance

What can you expect on the retreat

The Breathing Bow Retreat 2020 offers three full days of workshops within a supportive group setting. Focusing on breath, meditation and yoga-inspired techniques, it will give you the tools you need to play freely and effortlessly both in the practice room and on stage. Held in a beautiful country farmhouse in the South of France with delicious locally-sourced cuisine, the retreat will increase your well-being and help you reconnect with yourself and the music you love.

What else will you enjoy?

Mealtimes are important moments of relaxation on the workshop, where you not only experience a delicious meal but also laughter, debate and exchange with your fellow guests.

You will enjoy delectable and nutritious meals prepared by Mediterranean chef Tara-Lee Byrne, accompanied by local bio-dynamic wines. We’re committed to sustainability, and as such everything is locally sourced, seasonal and organic wherever possible.

Dietary requirements can be catered for.

Where will you be staying?

The retreat will be held at Domaine Saint Jacques, Blauvac, in the Provence area of the South of France. This charmingly renovated farmhouse is set in 180 acres of vineyard, meadow and garrigue.

Guests on the retreat will enjoy a beautiful shared room, with an en-suite bathroom. The workshops will be held in a state-of-the-art yoga room.

The Retreat is easily accessed from both Marseille Airport and Avignon Gare TGV.

Includes four nights’ luxury board and lodging, three full days’ coaching with Jane Fenton and Ruth Phillips and pick up and drop off from Avignon TGV station. Accommodation is at Domaine de la Grange Neuve, Blauvac. A splendidly renovated Provencal farmhouse, La Grange Neuve is set in 180 acres of vineyard, meadow and garrigue to the south of Mont Ventoux. It has original terra cotta floors and a Steinway piano. Accommodation is in shared en-suite rooms and we work in a state-of-the-art yoga room overlooking the lush Provençal countryside. Delicious healthy Mediterranean food is prepared by Tara Lee Byrne and dinner is accompanied by local bio dynamic wines.

Who is running the retreat?

The Breathing Bow Retreat is run by Ruth Phillips and Jane Fenton.

Ruth Phillips will coach you on how to practise so that your performance becomes graceful and fills you with joy. Ruth draws on her own experience as a professional cellist, performance coach and therapist, as well as three decades of yoga and meditation practise.

Jane Fenton, of Release and Breathe, is a British Wheel of Yoga teacher and renowned cellist. Jane is passionate about yoga, and credits implementing yoga-inspired techniques in musical practise with renewed integration and focus.

What’s included in the retreat?

Four nights in a luxurious shared en-suite room

Three full days of workshops

Three delicious and nutritious meals a day

Shuttle to and from Avignon Gare TGV

The price for the retreat is 650 euros.

Cello hire may be arranged upon request.