Retreat-Holidays
Body, Mind and Spirit programme:
the Living Water and healing
Retreat leader:
Dr Stephanie Rybak
director of Retreat-Holidays,
who has experienced for herself the benefits of French spa treatment - and goes every year. She is the author of a dozen French courses, so is uniquely equipped to help you get the most out of the experience. And, of course, she is an experienced
retreat leader and is looking forward to exploring the themes of Living Water and healing in this very appropriate context.
Body
Treatments will be at the “Celtic, Gallo-Roman, Troglodytic Spa” of Gréoux-les-Bains in the Alps of Haute Provence. Its thermal waters are considered beneficial for rhumatological problems: osteo-arthritis, rhumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, sciatica, stiffness of the joints and pain resulting from injuries. Treatments have to be prescribed by a doctor of thermal medicine, so you will have an appointment with an English-speaking doctor on the day after you arrive.
Mind
If you enjoy practising your French, the thing to do is to go somewhere that French people go – and where there are very few tourists. Having treatments at a French spa is ideal. Your group leader will help you with the practicalities and give you the necessary technical vocabulary, so that you can enjoy the treatments and interact with the staff and the other “curistes”.
There are also opportunities for speaking French with other guests in your accommodation and with the local shopkeepers. Various social and cultural events take place in the town.
A local coach company sometimes organises excursions to local attractions such as the Grand Canyon of the Verdon or Marseille and Cassis and our retreat-holiday includes an excursion by scheduled bus to Aix-en-Provence. The spa operates a small library of French books.
Spirit
Inspired by the healing waters of the spa, our retreat will follow the themes of living water and healing, drawing primarily on St John’s Gospel and the Psalms.
Your treatments will take about an hour and a half each morning. You are instructed to rest for a couple of hours afterwards: it is a good time to reflect and pray. On seven afternoons, there will be a short session of input from the group leader, with suggestions of Bible texts and ideas for you to meditate on the next day.
Body, Mind and Spirit: Gréoux-les-Bains
Body, Mind and Spirit: Accommodation