Gioconda Parker instructs Yoga

Gioconda Parker instructs Yoga

Gioconda has been practicing, teaching, and studying yoga for over 15 years. She is registered with Yoga Alliance and as an EYRT-500 and has led workshops, teacher trainings, and retreats, both nationally and internationally.

In 2008 she initiated and co-founded the Austin based community movement “Changing The World, One Om at a Time,” a seva project designed to unite yoga communities in practice and service. A continual student, Gioconda completed her Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology and is working at the advanced level training in Somatic Experiencing. The blending of these skills, along with her years of exploration in the philosophies of yoga and principles of Ayurveda, provide the foundation on which she founded her private practice, where she assists clients to heal, grow, and explore their full potential.

Gioconda combines alignment and flow to empower students to grow in their practice, inviting challenge in a nurturing environment. She encourages playfullness and enjoyment while exploring the science and art that is yoga. She believes passionately in yoga’s ability to bridge unity at an individual, community and global level. Learn more about Gioconda by visiting her website, facebook, twitter or instagram feeds.

What better way to get back to Source than to spend a week in the Dordogne region of France?

The author Henry Miller said his time in this region filled him with a sense of “gratitude unthinkable.” Spend a week in this land of beauty, enjoy farm to table meals in our beautiful chateau and toast our good fortune with wines from local vineyards.

Our chateau comes complete with a beautiful yoga studio, where we’ll practice twice daily—morning vinyasa practices offer intuitive sequences and invigorate us for the day’s activities, while evening practices guide us deeper and include yin yoga, thai yoga sessions and deep relaxation through pranayama and mediation.

We celebrate life, grateful for this opportunity to enjoy the best that Bergerac has to offer, and leave filled with a sense of gratitude for having created time to appreciate the joys of good food, good wine and good company.

Included:

• Yoga most mornings & each evening
• 7 nights chateau accommodation
• 3 farm-to-table meals each day
• Wine tasting
  • Sample the best of the region during an evening with a local sommelier
• Local vineyard winemaker for a day!
  • Teach your tastebuds with a lunch food/wine pairing class
  • Create, blend and bottle your own unique vino memories to bring home
• Day trip to La Roque Gageac and Beynac
  • Boating on the Dordogne
  • Excursions through medieval La Roque and Beynac
• Trip to the Issigeac market
  • Catch the tastes and colors of this medieval town during their famous Sunday market
• Transfers (on arrival and departure days only) from the Bergerac airport or train station

What’s not included:

• Airfare to Bergerac, France (EGC)
• Additional excursions
• Alcohol or items of a personal nature/souvenirs
• Travel insurance (recommended)
• Gratuities

Schedules will vary slightly and final itineraries will go out to the travel crew about a month prior to departure. Our schedule below gives you an overall picture of what a week in gorgeous south of France will look like:

Day 1

• Midday arrival to Bergerac
• Transfers from the Bergerac airport or train station (on arrival and departure days only)
• Check-in and soak up the general countryside splendor
• Evening de-travel and welcome yoga class
• Gourmet group welcome dinner

Day 2

• Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
• Wake up and refresh morning yoga
• Local and fresh breakfast
• Day trip to the locally famous Issigeac market
• Stroll through the medieval town’s farmers market for local and
• organic yummies
• Enjoy the local flavor and introduction to one of the area’s historic
• villages
• Souvenir shop, mix with the locals and sample tastes of the region
• Head back for lunch at the chateau
• Late afternoon yoga in the chateau yoga ‘stable’
• Group dinner

Day 3

• Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
• Morning yoga class
• Local and fresh breakfast
• Enjoy a chill morning
• Dig into a country fresh lunch
• Enjoy an afternoon in the country
• Walk a country lane
• Chill in the pool
• Explore the town of Bergerac
• Head back for an evening yoga class
• Delicious evening group dinner
• Post dinner sommelier visit
• Enjoy an evening tasting and learning about some of the regions most delicious wines
• Get the scoop on the local wineries in preparation of the next day’s vineyard visits

Day 4

• Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
• Morning yoga class
• Fresh poolside breakfast
• Enjoy a free day to explore or relax
• Book a day trip exploring local castles, Lascaux or local nature
• Rent a bike and cruise through the countryside
• Relax by the pool and chill
• Afternoon lunch at the chateau
• Early evening yoga class
• Poolside group dinner

Day 5

• Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
• Morning yoga class
• Fresh poolside breakfast
• Head out to a local organic vineyard to be a winemaker-for-a-day!
• Hands-on exploration of the vineyard and winery
• Enjoy a farm fresh lunch with a wine/food pairing talk from the vintners
• Test your blending skills as you create your own bottle of wine to enjoy, bottle and take home
• Late afternoon yoga class on the outdoor deck
• Sunset group dinner

Day 6

• Early morning breakfast
• Day trip to picture perfect Aquitaine region
  • Head to La Roque Gageac for a scenic Dordogne river trip
  • Board an authentic Gabarre river trip
  • Marvel at the centuries old buildings (1100s!) built up against and into the sheer cliff face
  • Catch a fish-eyes view of the castles dotting the Dordogne
  • Explore the castle town of Beynac
  • Marvel at the castle on the sheer limestone cliffs
  • Stroll through the 12th century village
• Picnic lunch
• Late afternoon yoga class
• Gourmet group dinner

Day 7

• Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
• Morning yoga class
• Fresh poolside breakfast
• Enjoy a last full day at your leisure
• Head back to a favorite spot
• Stroll through the beautiful countryside
• Take off on one last adventure
• Early evening yoga class and closing circle
• Final group dinner

Day 8

• Morning breakfast, hugs and goodbyes
• Transfer to the Bergerac airport or train station with new friends and awesome memories!