Happy New Year!

Wonderful Video of French "Time for Outrage" Author

We're ordering his book today as we just stumbled upon it on the Twelve website. Here's a snippet of what they say about him:

Rejecting the dictatorship of world financial markets and defending the social values of modern democracy, 93-old Stéphane Hessel -- Resistance leader, concentration camp survivor, and former UN speechwriter -- reminds us that life and liberty must still be fought for, and urges us to reclaim those essential rights we have permitted our governments to erode since the end of World War II.

Wow, now this is climbing...

Ueli Steck speed solo Eiger record par lemarswayer

Awesome Videos on LGBT rights

First Hilary Clinton at the United Nations:




and here's the son of a gay couple in Iowa:

Tanya Byrne

Tanya Byrne

Well done to the lovely Londoner Tania Byrne!

Her debut novel Heart-Shaped Bruise is going to be published next May by Headline.

Tanya started the novel at La Muse and is now really excited about writing the next one. (Headline also bought up the rights to that one too.) 

The story is about Emily Koll, the most notorious inmate of Archway Young Offenders Institution. Through her journals, she relates the story of how far she went to get revenge on the girl whose testimony sent her father to prison.

This is what the commisioning editor had to say about Tanya's novel:

Her writing is stunning and we’re convinced she’s got a fabulous career ahead of her.

We're so excited for Tanya. Again, well done!

Jill Satterfield - Winter Yoga Retreats

New Year’s Yoga Retreat:

December 27-January 3

Winter Yoga Retreat:

February 2-9

200 hr. Yoga Teacher Training Retreat:

February 27-March 15

About Jill:

Jill Satterfield was named one of the "four leading Buddhist and Yoga teachers in the country" by the Shambhala Sun Magazine and is a pioneer in the field of mind body awareness. She has been teaching and consulting for over 20 years.

Jill is the founder of Vajra Yoga & Meditation, a synthesis of yoga and Buddhism that combines meditation, yoga postures, visualization and contemplation practices.

She is also the founder and Director of the School for Compassionate Action: Meditation, Yoga and Education for Communities in Need and Those Who Serve Them, a not for profit that trains teachers and offers classes to at-risk youth, people suffering with chronic pain and illnesses, PTSD, and addictions.

Jill turned to meditation and yoga 30 years ago to successfully heal from a debilitating physical condition coupled with acute chronic pain while in art school. In 1992, she extended her exploration of the integral relationship of the mind and body through the study of Buddhism. Jill is on the founding faculty of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Mindfulness for Yoga Training and the Kripalu Institute’s Integral Leadership Program for young adults. Jill was scholar and teacher in residence at the Kripalu Center in 2004. She has been featured in the New York Times, Crains, NY Post, MORE, Self, Marie Claire, Tricycle and Yoga Journal amongst others.

In Her Words:

Sometimes we leave home, forget about our body, and neglect our hearts. Our mind gets scattered to the winds as we become consumed by life’s details, looking outwardly, not inwardly.

During this 7-day yoga and meditation retreat our yoga practice will bring us back to the earth through the vehicle of the body, re-discovering alignment, remembering space, sweeping the body physically and energetically clean.

We will practice meditation on its own as well as through each yoga asana and in general mindfulness for awareness, re-centering, renewed intention, and re-kindling focus.

Most importantly, we’ll see our way back home through the eyes of our heart, opening windows of kindness so that we might take care, accept and embrace ourselves and others.

Please bring journals and a camera to record your thoughts and the practices that we will cover. You will leave with wonderful memories, a refreshed and invigorated practice, and many prescriptions for a home practice of meditation, mindful asana and pranayama.

Fees:

Yoga Workshop:

500.00 Euros.

Accommodation:

Calliope: 870 Euros (queen-size double, private salon, ensuite toilet, spa-style bath, shower)

Erato: 625 Euros (double with ensuite toilet, bath and shower)

Clio: 670 Euros (double with ensuite toilet, bath and shower)

Euterpe: 625 Euros (double with ensuite shower)

Thalia: 625 Euros (double with ensuite shower)

Melpomene: 570 Euros (double with shared toilet and shower)

Terpsichore: 570 Euros (double with shared toilet, bath and shower)

Polyhymnia: 570 Euros (double with shared toilet, bath and shower)

Urania: 570 Euros (double with shared toilet, bath and shower)

Chapelle Cottage: 1070 Euros (two double bedrooms that share a shower and toilet)

Check out the rooms here.

Accommodation fee includes:

• evening meals
• local transportation (airport pickup, a trip to the grocery store on the way up to La Muse, and departure drop off).
• Couples Welcome. There is a 25% double occupancy fee for couples.
• Participants shop for and prepare their own breakfasts and lunches.

We look forward to meeting you.

Email us now for availability!

Irish TV Show

So, the lovely Julianne Mooney talked us up on her slot on Ireland's TV3 show Ireland AM.

You can watch the interview here.

Photos of La Muse by Lowell Brower

Just uploaded a load more photos like this onto Facebook, all taken by the lovely writer Lowell Brower here.

Video and Photos of "Scenes from a Village" Expo

Hey,

So here's the video of Deborah's Expo that we promised:

You can find out more about Deborah here.

Deborah, just before people came to see her paintings...

Deborah talking to Kerry and the American playwright Nora Seilheimer

John having fun talking to the locals about the paintings of their dogs an houses...

Filou waiting patiently for some food from the annual village Aperitif

It was a lot of fun...

"Scenes from a Village" - Deborah Clarke - Expo

Above is the poster for Deborah Clarke's "Scenes From a Village" which is showing here today and tomorrow!

Deborah lives in Grenoble and has been to La Muse three time now. You can check out more of her great watercolors here.

Going fast: Reduced Rates for August/September Retreat!

We still have rooms available for the August/September retreat.

So, a call to all former Musers: we are reducing the high season retreat rate to 600 Euros for the three weeks, on a first come first serve basis!

That's nearly 400 Euros off on Clio and 335 Euros off on Euterpe!

And for all of you out there who have not been to La Muse before: we are reducing the high season retreat rate to 750 Euros for the three weeks retreat, again on a first come first serve basis!

That means nearly 200 Euros off Euterpe and 245 Euros off Clio!

Email us now to book your room or please spread the news!

Colline de l'hirondelle

Been a while since we posted anything as we've been renovating and full at La Muse...

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know about our friends' Didier and Jenn's great wine at the Colline de l'hirondelle.

It's in Douzens, not that far from here.

At left is their latest wine ad. Classic!