Working Retreats

THIS EVENT HAPPENED IN 2003, click here for current events.

All dates in 2003 are now fully booked. Please join our mailing list (newsletter button at top of page) to be kept informed of last minute spaces, and future events.

Cost: FREE

Overview

Experience the pleasure of working at The Sun Centre this coming spring with like-minded people. Assistance to keep the centre running is always welcome as there are 1.5 acres of land to manage. The woodlands, grassy terraces and gardens all need constant care and attention. There are jobs to suit all abilities from delicate weeding and pruning to building work, where you can achieve the satisfaction of creating something of lasting value.

It is important that you enjoy what you do, so care is taken to find the appropriate task. Expect to work for half a day (approx. 4 hours) every day, usually outdoors. The rest of the day is free.

In exchange for your contribution, you can receive a daily class in yoga, mantra, Ayurveda etc—usually first thing in the morning before work begins. Twin room accommodation and all meals are provided. Single room accommodation may be available for a small fee.

Projects

There are all sorts of tasks we need help with, including:

• Clearing up woodland areas. Dead wood needs to be stockpiled or burned, leaves cleared, rocks and stones moved, etc.
• Fence building. Involves felling trees (small ones!), stripping off the bark, pointing fence posts, burning the tips (to preserve them), then constructing the fences (see pic ) using a wattle method.
• Paths & steps. Footpaths, steps and walls (see pic ) need to be built and repaired. Methods are traditional and involve digging / clearing the way then placing stones.
• Gardening. Cutting back, pruning, clearing plants and flowers, planting trees, weeding, clearing small stones from lawns, minor landscaping.
• Sign painting and installation. We need to make several sign posts to direct people around the centre. Hobby/DIY skills required.
• Carpentry / building. Help construct a 7m diametre circular wooden deck and adjacent veranda for our new Mongolian yurt (see pics: inside outside )

Our aims

Our motivation in running Working Retreats are two-fold. One, we need to get things done for the start of the summer season. Two, we want to provide an opportunity for people to benefit from the satisfaction of working among like-minded people in a convivial, supportive environment.

Numbers will be kept deliberately small (between 4-8 people), in order to minimise the load at our end, as well as provide an intimate group experience.

We will try to bring you all together at least some of the time for group work on the land. Sharing tasks in a team makes work fun and there will be time to rest and meditate in among all the hard work.

Requirements

You must be prepared to work, within your capacity, for at least 4 hours per day (more is fine!) To do this, you must be motivated and reasonably fit.

Duration

We intend to run four week-long working retreats in March, and two in September (see dates at top of this page). However, if you cannot manage these dates, or if you want to stay for more than one week, let us know.

You may extend/combine your Working Retreat with an Open Retreat, where you have no work obligations yet still benefit from the availability of complementary therapies and daily classes.

Do I need skills?

As long as you are determined and willing to learn new skills, then you are qualified. However, we do have a particular need at the moment for people with some manual work experience and/or gardening knowledge.

Teaching

Alex teaches hatha yoga and mantra chanting, and provides talks on Ayurveda—emphasising its practical integration into a western lifestyle. He also leads massage and music-making sessions. Sharon offers group and one-to-one life-counselling sessions based on her experience with Louise Hay self-development.

Timetable

• 6.30 Daily class (yoga, mantra chanting, etc.)
• 8.00 Breakfast
• 9.00 - 12:00 Group meeting and work activities
• 12:00 - Free time
• 13:00 Lunch
• 14:00 Free time
• 17:00 Work activities
• 18:00 Free time
• 19:00 Dinner
• 20:00 Free time, occasional evening activities.

Throughout each day we seek to create and sustain a contemplative atmosphere. We meet regularly to sit silently together in The Cabin (see pic ). Other spontaneous activities include massage, mantra chanting, music-making, hikes, games and discussions on a particular theme. Sometimes we will invite you into our home to watch a film.

Working Retreats provide a good opportunity to learn or develop skills used in organic gardening, rural living and craft work. All activities are supervised. We try to bring meditation practice into our daily lives by creating an environment of working mindfully.

The weekly schedule also includes:

• A talk by Alex on Practical Ayurveda.
• One unstructured day to settle in (minimum stay 5 days).
• Opportunities and materials for creative activities.

Further details of the centre are given in the Centre & Surroundings section.

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Gardoussel, 30940 St Andre de Valborgne, France

France : +33 4 66 60 16 78 (from UK dial 0033 466 601 678)

Sharon :

Alex :