This is where innovations such as the new iSis app come in.
Developed with off-piste skiers in mind, the purpose of this particular app is to provide winter sports daredevils with an additional level of avalanche security. Once installed, the app is able to ascertain whether or not the user is caught in an avalanche. If they are deemed to be in danger, it sends out an alert to piste security and friends, providing them with details of the victim’s last known location. Much like an avalanche beacon, the Bluetooth ‘bubble’ that the iSis app proceeds to activate allows search parties to home in on a reasonably specific area in which the unlucky skier is located.
Currently free on iTunes, the app may not be a substitute for conventional avalanche and off-piste training or equipment, but will doubtless be a must-have safety feature for visitors next season. Certainly, it will offer a degree of peace of mind to anyone who’s seen the recently-gone-viral footage of a spectacular avalanche in Saint Christophe en Oisans!
A similar app is also available, and works in much the same fashion except for the fact that it is user activated. Named Alpify, it’s currently available for free on the Android market.
There are currently over half a million smart phone apps available for download, several of which made an impact with skiers during the last season.
Ski Tracks is the most popular app of its kind with UK skiers, largely due to its versatility. Not only does it allow users to track their top speed, the distance that they’ve skied and the hight that they’ve descended, but the app enables boastful athletes to upload these stats directly to their social media profiles! To this end, it’s ideal for both monitoring your own progress and sharing your adventures with others.
Less focussed on the individual is the Ski Club of Great Britain snow report app which serves to gather reliable snow reports from over 250 ski resorts around the world, presenting them to the user’s finger tips. Those with the app installed will never again find themselves unsure of weather forecasts, piste conditions snow depths and snowfall information! As valuable a tool as this is, it’s completely free to acquire and use.
In keeping with our talk of safety concerns, the Mammut Safety app is an innovator in its field. Though certainly aimed at the cautious, its ability to tell users the exact direction in which they are skiing, their altitude at any given time and even the degree of the slope they’re about to descend, renders it an extremely valuable tool in a difficult situations.
Fast becoming an integral part of the winter sports experience, there will undoubtedly be more apps on the market by the time the season rolls around. We at Le Chardon are eagerly embracing the technology and can’t wait to find out how it will continue to revolutionise skiing in the future!
Images:
- mmarley.com
- 101bestiphoneapps.com
Health and safety is paramount to everybody in the tourist industry. One accident or incident can affect the perception of what is normally a very safe and fun experience.
The recent case of 27 year old Simon Dawe, who was last seen alive in Les Deux Alpes on the 12th of February, has affected everybody in the industry and made us look at our own heath and safety policies here at Le Chardon.
The Welsh Lieutenant Corporal had been enjoying an evening out with friends prior to his disappearance on a night when temperatures are reported to have been as low as -15c. It took a two month search before hikers stumbled upon a body matching the man’s description. While the exact details of Dawe’s circumstances at the point in which he went missing are unknown, his case serves to emphasise the need for diligence and caution when inhabiting the area.
Whatever happened to the young soldier, one can be certain that the volatile landscape on which the resort stands played a part in his fate. It is the duty of visitors and hosts alike to respectfully consider how this tragedy could have been avoided.
There will be stories similar to Dawe’s in the future, just as there will continue to be road accidents and instances of violent crime in most major cities. The inevitability of these events does not, however, means all involved in the tourism industry must improve health and safety conditions where possible.
We aim to ensure that our guests are guided through their trips as safely as possible, as well as encouraged to observe a number of survival tips, should they choose to place themselves at any risk.
We are entering a quieter period in our business just now, it’s a time for refit & repair in our 5 star chalets to ensure they are ready for our summer ActiveSpa visitors. But it’s also a time for reflection of what worked and what we can improve for ski season 2013 / 2104 – one that we hope will be the most action packed, eventful and safest ski season yet.
Images:
- makeadare.com
- 2alpesnet.com
The coming months will be quieter than we’re used to, and will certainly require some adjustment on our part, but we’re all glad for the period of relative rest about to be entered into. However, enough about us. In six weeks or so the Alps will play host to hordes of mountain climbing enthusiasts so the time between now will serve as a one of reflection and preparation for most residents and business owners.
Known as interseason, the proceeding weeks are unlikely to be the most exciting in Val d’Isere’s calendar as many of its best bars and restaurants close and the town undergoes extensive renovations with roadworks filling up the streets. In an area renowned for the vibrancy of its night life and social scene, this can be hard to get used to, especially following months of relentless winter sports activity. Locals have to pass the time somehow though, and to most this means enrolling in one of the many language schools that positively boom in business over this period.
A large number of expatriates come to work in the Alps, in love with the scenery and the fast paced lifestyles enjoyed by those in the tourism industry. As such, these courses present not only an opportunity for many to improve their French, but also their employment prospects.
They can be affordable too, for if you are employed on a French contract or own a French registered business and have access to a registered language training provider, then you are eligible to receive a cost-covering training budget.
As well as catering to residents of the area, these language schools are a popular tourist attraction with many offering intensive courses scheduled to allow for exploration of the surrounding mountains.
There are, however, a wide variety of different courses available across several institutions, all of which boast perks of their own. For example, Lost in Translation, a school based in Morzine, provides accommodation to any students in need of a place to stay. Switzerland’s nearby Verbier Language School, meanwhile, offers language camps for corporates and adults, as well as an equivalent camp for children that places its focus on activities and practical language use. The majority of teachers at each institution are highly qualified French nationals, many of whom hold Masters Degrees in teaching languages.
When out of class, students make their own fun, whether that means skiing on whatever snow remains, biking, hiking or even swimming in lakes if the temperature’s warm enough. For most, the onus is on keeping active. Lovers of outdoor sports will face new challenges once the summer season begins and this interim period serves as the perfect opportunity to prepare for them.
Images:
- leotrippi.com
- wlang.co.uk
What’s unique about the area, and the Espace Killy especially, is that for all it’s expansive grandeur, it too provides a sense of intimacy and seclusion, of isolation amidst its deep valleys. For recent visitors, their place within the immense scenery was never more apparent than on 7th April when an avalanche blocked access to both Val d’Isere and Tignes for an entire evening, effectively trapping both communes.
The avalanche, which was 7m high and 40m wide, occurred at the entrance to the Brevieres tunnel, the site of a powerful landslide that had much the same effect in Spring of last year. It blocked traffic from 7:30 to 11pm and, although no casualties were involved, the incident served as a reminder of how harsh and unpredictable nature can be.
The avalanche is best explained by the fact that, for the last few years, the heaviest snowfall of the ski season has arrived in March, almost immediately prior to the significant increases in temperature that April brings. With this vast quantity of snow continuing to melt in parts, authorities are currently warning of a high avalanche risk and urging those in the area to exercise caution. Despite of the severity of these precautions, ski resorts within the Alps are safe for visitors, it is off-piste skiers who are generally at the most risk from avalanches.
The sight of snow capped peaks illuminated by golden sunlight as it pours down from a clear blue sky is undoubtedly appealing, and partly accounts for the influx of visitors that ski resorts in the French Alps experience toward the end of the season. Unfortunately, research carried out by meteorologist Gilles Brunot from his office in the alpine resort of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc indicates that the climate we’ve grown accustomed to is verging on the abnormal.
In focusing on the temperature of Annecy, a town north west of Val d’Isere, Brunot notes the extent to which it has risen since the late 19th century. He showed the Observer a graph in which a black through-line represents the average temperature recorded during this time, 9.6C. At the graph’s beginning, subsequent temperatures fall evenly above and below this line. Slowly, however, a rise becomes apparent in the temperatures being recorded. Since 1987 there has not once been an average annual temperature below 9.6C, today’s being around 10.8C. This may not sound like much of an increase, but it is proof of an incredibly steep change that similar research into other locations has confirmed.
Brunot explains his research as showing that “since the 1990s there has been a rapid rise in temperatures in the mountains and since the 1960s there has been a slower, but evident, trend of less snow at lower altitudes.” With the recent avalanche having most likely been a direct result of global warming, never has it been more important for the Alps and their residents to consider matters of environmental sustainability.
Taking the environment into consideration is now part of the Le Chardon philosophy, it is important to us as a family business that we manage our impact on the local Val d’isere environment to enjoy this beautiful area for years to come.
Images:
- easyvoyage.co.uk
- dailytravelphotos.com
Le Chardon Mountain Lodges and TV nutritionist and author Amanda Hamilton launch ActivSPA in Val d’Isere
ActiveSPA, a combination of Fit ‘n’ Fast retreats, Alpine Detox and Yoga and ActivFamily holidays, all from the stunning location of Le Chardon Mountain Lodges in Val d’Isere, France.
Leading UK nutritionist, TV health expert and best-selling author Amanda Hamilton has launched an exciting new ActivSPA wellness holiday programme this summer in the iconic mountain resort of Val d’Isere in the French Alps offering mountain detox, yoga, walking and ‘ActivFamily’ holidays during July and August.
Based at the 5* Le Chardon Mountain Lodges in Val d’Isere, Amanda will be leading the delivery of her retreats personally with a team of experienced and professional therapists. Under the name ActivSPA, the wellness holidays include Alpine Fit ‘n’ Fast Retreats, Alpine Detox & Yoga Retreats and ActivFamily holidays.
“Over the past ten years I have held health retreats in the Alps, some of them shown on my TV series, and 5* Le Chardon Mountain Lodges in Val d’Isere is the place where we have decided to base our ActivSPA Programme this summer – it is the perfect venue for all that we are doing” commented Amanda Hamilton.
ActiveSPA will offer guests three different retreat types this summer: ActivSPA Fast ‘n’ Fit Retreats, will offers guests a chance to shape up, tone up and invigorate themselves with a luxury programme of activities, workshops and delicious food. ActivSPA Mountain Detox and Yoga, offers a stimulating week of cleansing foods and juices, yoga in mountain meadows and a range of activities ranging from luxuriating in the sun or spa, to hill walking and cycling in the surrounding mountains.
The Bespoke ActivFamily weeks include a range of activities such as hiking, cycling and glacier skiing alongside wellness and nutrition therapies and consultations. The teens, kids and toddlers will also be kept active in stimulating activity clubs which offer a massive range of outdoor activities – all with 5* accommodation, food and concierge support.
Amanda Hamilton’s ActivSPA programme joins her husband’s AlpineRouleur cycling tour company also working from Le Chardon, Val d’Isere. The AlpineRouleur program offers 5* accommodation and cycling weeks, including L’Iseran Etape week, Tour de France week, and Classic Cols weeks throughout the summer. Participants in the AlpineRouleur cycling weeks will also benefit from Amanda’s activities, including yoga, nutritional workshops, and specially constructed nutritional meals.
ActivSPA Alpine Fast ‘n’ Fit Retreats
Want the body benefits of fasting while enjoying fantastic food? Then this is your retreat! Join Amanda and her experienced team this year in the comforts of Chalet Le Chardon for a deliciously healthy week based on the year’s hottest health topic, 5:2 fasting and HIIT (high intensity interval training) as currently featured in Amanda’s book Eat, Fast, Slim.
The Fast ‘n Fit package includes daily yoga, high intensity interval training and a daily outdoor activity. All breaks include 2 x 500 calorie fasting days taken either as juices or light meals.
“The recent popularity of the 5:2 fast has really helped people understand my holidays better – and prove the amazing benefits of fasting for health, weight loss and shape change. Simply put, the body burns more fat in a fasted state. Expect to come back from a Nourish holiday looking and feeling amazing” Amanda Hamilton.
Dates: July 7th -14th inclusive
Prices: from £1,295 per person, sharing, en suite
ActivSPA Mountain Detox and Yoga Week
If you are in need of a bit more rest and relaxation, then the Mountain Detox and Yoga Week is a perfect all-round wellbeing holiday that takes in yoga, gentle hikes, spa treatments and delicious healthy food. Led by Amanda herself the package includes a nutrition consultation, development of your own personal detox plan and daily workshops.
The menus are based on the French paradox of eating and drinking delicious food yet staying enviably slim! The package includes the chance to try out a juice detox day and take part in weekly healthy cooking workshops.
Dates: 14th – 21st July; 28th July – 4th August
Prices: from £1,295 per person, sharing, en suite
Throughout July and August our ActivFamily Holidays offer guests a bespoke holiday combining all their favourite outdoor activities in the beautiful surroundings of Val d’Isere and the Vanoise National Park. Designed especially with adults, teens, kids and toddlers in mind, our dedicated concierge team will happily talk you through everything that is available to keep you busy.
Whether it be white water rafting, horse riding, tennis, archery, mountain biking, hiking or cheering on mum in the adventure park, we have it covered!
This summer, we are also delighted to offer all guests a “carte decouverte” which gives unlimited access to the Val d’Isere lift system and the stunning Aquasportif centre and wellness spa, a half day guided hike by an experienced mountain guide and 2 free activities including archery and golf.
Dates: July 7th to August 25th
Prices: from £1,795 per adult, sharing, en suite
About Le Chardon Mountain Lodges, Val d’Isere
Family owned and operated since 1992, Le Chardon Mountain Lodges in Val d’Isere is a venue known as one of the most exclusive in the Alps yet one that still offers that home from home appeal. Le Chardon comprises five luxury chalets which are situated in a private enclave overlooking the Vanoise National Park and Val d’Isere, a view that many call “the best in the Alps”.
More Details: www.lechardonvaldisere.com
Amanda Hamilton, 38, is a health expert and nutritionist who regularly features on television and radio, most recently as This Morning’s resident nutritionist. She is a well-respected author and regularly contributes to national titles and is a member of the Guild of Health Writers. Best known by many in the health industry as the founder and director of a well-known and respected retreat company, her work has led to specialisations in the field of detoxification and weight loss. She is a Senior Associate of the Royal Society of Medicine. Her new book on fasting, called Eat, Fast, Slim was released in April 2013 and is due for release in the US in Jan 2014.
More Details: www.amandahamilton.co.uk
For more information
For more information on Le Chardon Mountain Lodges, the ActiveSPA summer program and Amanda Hamilton please contact the Le Chardon Mountain Lodges sales team on 0131 209 7969 or email us on info@lechardonvaldisere.com.
More details on ActiveSPA and the packages available for Summer2013 can be found here.
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We at Le Chardon hate saying goodbye almost as much as our guests regret having to end their stays with us. Make no mistake, we take great satisfaction in bidding visitors farewell safe in the knowledge that their break has brought them a wealth of memorable experiences and respite from the hectic pace and minutiae of their day-to-day lives.
It is, however, somewhat bittersweet parting with guests, most of whom we work with closely in order to ensure that their stay is as comfortable, relaxing and convenient as possible. Gone is the sense of expectation, excitement and possibility displayed as they arrived, replaced by dignified resignation at having to return to normality. It’s unfortunate for us that the more successfully we have done our jobs, the stronger these sentiments can be.
We like nothing more than to see people happy and it’s for this reason that we welcome and dread the end of the ski season in equal measure. There are surely few places on Earth as dynamic and full of life as the Espace Killy in April. In a previous blog entry, we made special mention of the Après-ski scene that reaches its annual zenith during this time, but the area has more to offer than even some of the most notoriously uninhibited parties in all of Europe.
Put simply, Spring’s combination of golden, sustained sunlight and fresh snow is so dazzling that it one can’t fail to be inspired by it. No artificial stimulants are required for an energizing, unforgettable time in such a climate and many are happy to limit their participation in Après-ski in favour of more subdued and reflective experiences.
For those interested in chilled out fun, dropping by the Foustock music festival is the perfect activity. Running from the 19th to the 21st of Apri, the event is held in Le Salon du Fous, a welcoming spot located in the heart of Val d’Isere and renowned for its fortnightly concerts. To cap the ski season off, a top bill has been assembled featuring the likes of atmospheric pop-rockers Sugar Girl and a lively troupe of gypsy jazz artists. It’s truly rare that one gets the chance to enjoy world class musicians playing against such a stunning backdrop and so this is certain to be a popular event.
Elsewhere during the month, Val d’Isere’s long running series of daily football tournaments draw ever closer to their conclusion. Having kicked off on the 1st of February, entrants have until the 31st of May to show off their skills as teams of four engage in battle over a series of short games.
That these are played on snow results in some brilliantly unpredictable action as winter and summer sports collide!
With the usual host of eclectic activities on offer, perhaps the most essential is to simply take the local air in as one soaks up Val d’Isere’s unique magic. Between 6-7:30pm every Thursday until the 2nd of May, Airstar Night Light has made this possible like never before, transforming the village into a pedestrianised zone alight in a multitude of colours. With hot chocolate and vin chaud available, what more could one ask for? You’d have to be made of pretty strong stuff not to miss this when it’s all over.
Images:
- valdinet.com
- boxofficefootball.com
Whenever the end of the ski season draws near, people of all nationalities make their way to Val d’Isere, eager to enjoy the area’s assets while they still can. Many of these individuals are seasoned ski veterans, perhaps having even acquainted themselves with our slopes in the preceding five months. Others are simply novices intent on experiencing the pleasures of winter sports while the window of opportunity remains open to them. Often furnished with all the latest equipment, most take to the snow with aplomb, conducting themselves safely on runs that match their levels of skill and experience. It has to be said, however, that a surprising number of visitors fail to fully comprehend the effect that the type of skis used can have on one’s performance and enjoyment.
As their name suggests, allround skis are the most versatile ski type and it’s no coincidence that they are far and away the most common on the market and on display at Val d’Isere. They are of medium length, width and stiffness, and can adapt to use in most skiing styles. It can be argued that, due to their lack of thrills, they allow the wearer to showcase their skills in their purest forms. The dimensions and properties of skis are responsible for their characteristics and, when straying from the allround’s conservative simplicity, one encounters more specialist fare.
Shorter skis, for instance, can be suitable for both beginners and Slalom racers depending on their stiffness. While a stiff ski benefits the latter by cutting through the snow as it aggressively builds momentum, flexibility allows beginners to recover from mistakes with greater ease. In both cases, the skis’ shortness allows for ease of movement and turning. In contrast to them, powder skis designed for off-piste skiing value width and length as a means of distributing weight across a large base. Once they pick up enough speed, this enables them to float above soft layers of unpredictable and unmaintained snow. Giant slalom skis and downhill skis (these can be dangerous in the wrong hands and so are generally commercially unavailable) are the longest by far, designed to pick up maximum speed and handle sharp turns. The most unconventional are freestyle skis, the twintips and flexibility of which allow brave wearers to ski backwards!
While the skis one uses should always be determined by their practicality, this is not to say that style shouldn’t come into consideration. The following, all top brands, are some of our favourite models spotted this season.
Salomon Rocker2 90
An all mountain ski in every sense, Salomon’s Rocker2 90 is the pinnacle of skiing comfort. A playful ski recommended for those seeking leisurely routes down the slopes.
Wagner Custom 100
Like most Wagners, the custom 100 is an expensive model, yet its price is wholly justified. It’s been deemed “suitable for anyone, anywhere” and rightly praised for its ease of use. Quite simply, it’s custom-made perfection.
Blizzard Cochise
Capable of reaching jaw dropping speeds, the Cochise is aimed at strong, serious skiers. Thankfully, it doesn’t throw users in at the deep end, its rocker allowing for a smooth initiation.
K2 SideSeth
This new pro model from Seth Morrison is an incredibly versatile proposition, suitable for all terrain. Whether going slow or fast, its lighter construction, makes for a smooth descent.
Nordica El Paco
Supremely flexible and with an early rise built in to the tip, these skis were this season’s ultimate playthings.
Image credits:
valdisere-snowberry.com
icesi.org
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With the ski season set to end on 5th May, there’s been an influx of visitors arriving in Val d’Isere determined to make the most of one final month’s access to snow and slopes. There’s still so much to do in Val d’Isere at this time of year. Spring is always a special time in this part of the French Alps, as longer and lighter days allow winter sports fans to really put in the hours atop layers of fresh snow. Indeed, for the past few years, March has seen more snowfall in the region than any other month, this tending to last well up to May with very little thawing in spite of marginally less freezing weather!
If these April holidaymakers are intent on maximising their time on the slopes and making the most of the daylight hours at their disposal, so too do they embrace the area’s Après-ski scene which isn’t so much winding down for the year as building toward an unforgettable climax.
No-one knows exactly why, but somehow rounding off an evening with drinking, dancing and generally raucous socialising has become a necessity for skiers the world over. Many are apparently unable even to wait until the end of their day’s activities. In Val d’Isere and throughout the rest of the Alps, it’s not uncommon to stumble upon skiers stopped in bars and still wearing all their gear en route to their last run of the day! Visitors to the region are serious about having good times and this is reflected in the bars and clubs that cater to them.
La Folie Douce is perhaps the most well known Après-ski spot in Val d’Isere. Proud to call itself the ‘highest club in Europe’, it’s also the first port of call for many. Between 3-5pm, its resident musicians offer revellers immersive, high energy performances, adding to the venue’s surreal, even carnivalesque atmosphere as table tops become dance floors and the place begins to buzz. For a high energy break in the afternoon, La Folie Douce can’t be beaten and paves the way nicely for an evening spent in Saloon. Situated at a much lower altitude, at the bottom of some beginners slopes and in close proximity to Val d’Isere’s high street, there’s a great party taking place at this easily accessible venue on a nightly basis. The club even provides a free ski-park service, so that patrons can leave their gear in safe hands as they enjoy the international bands, singers and DJs that it regularly hosts.
If what goes on in both these clubs is testament to the enthusiasm and vigour with which revellers in the area like to party, then Val d’Isere institution Dick’s Tea Bar is surely an indicator of their stamina. One of the best and biggest clubs in the region, it first opens its doors at 9am, allowing patrons the opportunity to start their day, and possibly recover from the previous night, with a hearty English breakfast. It continues to function as a popular bar and restaurant until the evening when it briefly closes to undergo a metamorphosis into a densely populated hot spot with a broad clientèle. In theory, one could spend an entire day at Dick’s without ever getting bored.
As the end of the season approaches, the atmosphere in these three spots is nothing short of electric and spending time in each is considered an essential part of any visitor’s itinerary before they explore further a boisterous world of theme nights, karaoke, live music and cocktails.
Image credits:
Familyskinews.com
freeskiing.dk
So far it’s proven to be an uncharacteristically chilly Spring in most areas of Europe. Consequently, the thick layer of snow currently coating Val d’Isere is perhaps less of an enticing novelty than it usually is at this time of year. While it’s likely that many will be spending their April in a cold climate without having made any travel plans, there’s no chance of visitors to the area leaving feeling short changed. Hordes of people are arriving in order to enjoy the precious remaining weeks of the ski season in France, with a typically compelling programme of events in Val d’Isere awaiting them and their families.
Kicking off proceedings from April 2nd to 5th is La Scara, four days of international junior alpine ski racing. Look out for talent scouts amid the throng of proud parents and spectators that crowd this ever-popular event, all striving to catch a glimpse of tomorrow’s champions today!
This blog has already gushed in anticipation of Val d’Isere’s first ever Yoga festival. Lasting from April 5th to 7th and affording interested parties the opportunity to meditate within a unique setting, the festival is sure to leave all who choose to combine it with a skiing trip feeling invigorated and free. It consists of 24 themed workshops, instruction from 12 teachers, a concert of Indian music, a cafe selling organic food and a market at which one can stock up on Yoga-related paraphernalia. Limited places are still available.
In a departure from the Yoga Festival’s holistic focus on body, mind and soul is the following BMW Val d’Isere Winter Golf Tournament (11th to 14th April). A novel take on the Scottish sport, the tournament is sure to be an interesting experience for competitors and spectators alike.
The rules of traditional golf apply to its high altitude cousin, the main difference being that if your ball lands on a green, then chances are you’ve over hit it by a good few miles. It’s the snow-bound caddies we feel sorry for!
Rounding off the month is the Adventure and Discovery Film Festival (22nd to 25th April), an event that’s been running annually since 1996. Entrants are invited to submit short documentary features concerned with any of the following themes: adventure, exploration, ethnic encounters, sport or expedition. The 12 best submissions will be screened throughout the week and judged by both the public and by a select jury of well known adventurers. The screenings are free to attend and will be followed by discussions with the film makers. Diverse and inclusive, the Film Festival is the perfect way to reflect on the latest ski season as it draws to a close.
Image credits:
golfnuke.info
festival-aventure-et-decouverte.com/
As April approaches, we at Le Chardon are growing increasingly excited about Val d’Isere’s inaugural Yoga festival, the first of its kind to be held in a French ski resort. Conceived by Charlotte Saint Jean, founder of the website YogaChezMoi.com, the English expatriate has stated that “My dream was to share my passion for yoga, meditation, life and the magnificent surroundings of my adopted home.” Having put together a programme comprising 24 yoga workshops, a performance of Indian music, a market selling a multitude of yoga related products and an organic cafe, Charlotte is on the verge of making her dream a reality in Val d’Isere that she hopes to share with enthusiasts of all experience and skill levels.
Participants will have a selection of 12 internationally sourced instructors on hand to help ensure that they achieve states of physical and mental balance, each boasting a distinct approach to meditation. Jane Allan, for instance, practices a fusion of Pilates and Yoga designed to lighten, open and energise the individual, while Katy Misson’s Anusara-inspired technique draws from her work as a physiotherapist. The workshops are themed and range from exercises in back bending and arm balance to musical response. Of all the session titles listed, ‘Lunar Dragon Flow’ and ‘Return to Earth’ are perhaps the most intriguing.
Yoga may still be in its infancy as a popular activity within Western culture, but the fact that it has been practised for over 5,000 years is indicative of the very real health benefits and sense of well being that it imparts on all who commit to it. Depending on the technique practised, one can improve and develop their breathing, flexibility, strength and balance with life-enriching results. The French Alps are the perfect setting for meditation, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy fresh air, solitude and tranquillity, all of which are factors in keeping with the festival’s promise of a relaxed and good natured atmosphere. The event is primarily a social experience intended to promote self expression, communication, togetherness and sharing. As such, the evening concert taking place on the Saturday 6thApril should prove a joyous communal event and calender highlight with attendance open to all interested.
Of course, Val d’Isere is best known as a haven for skiers and the festival has been designed to allow for and compliment enjoyment of winter sports. High octane thrills and disciplined calm may at first seem incompatible, but both lead to heightened sensory awareness and can exist in perfect balance as constituent parts of a healthy, active lifestyle. The curious are advised to try this combination for themselves and, if they heed our advice, may find themselves acquiring beneficial exercise techniques that they can come back to long after the ski season has reached its conclusion.
The festival runs from April 5th to 7th with limited places still available.
Image credits:
fitscape.co.uk
kukhahnyoga.com