In 2006 Danuta and her partner Steve set off in a camper van on what turned out to be a life changing adventure. The pair were headed for Spain and Portugal in search of a suitable property so that Danuta could fulfill a lifelong dream and open a yoga retreat centre. Danuta explains, “Steve had rashly offered to ‘build me’ a yoga centre and I thought, ‘wow’! Despite knowing exactly what we were looking for, we didn’t find anything suitable on our trip and we were on our way home and feeling quite despondent, when we stumbled across Caudet. The minute we crossed the Pyrenees into France we felt at home, and it was obviously meant to be as not only did we find it by accident but Caudet was the only property that fitted the bill! The Gascon countryside is absolutely stunning and the area around Caudet is especially lovely. We’re in the part referred to as the ‘golden triangle’ so we were really lucky to find the place.”
The centre opened in 2008 and the first couple of years saw the pair living in a tipi whilst working on the renovation. Family and friends pitched in to help, coming out for their holidays right from the start. Steve and Danuta are incredibly appreciative of both the support they received and the sheer hard work that their ‘holiday guests’ provided. Even so, it was a hard slog to get it finished in time to welcome the first guests and Danuta laughs, “We were lucky that our first guests were so understanding and were prepared to look beyond the bare concrete floors and un-plastered walls! We weren’t rushing to finish like some sort of Grand Designs episode. We deliberately chose to take our time and avoid stressing but local students appeared and wanted classes before the yoga room was finished. It was very reassuring to know that we were doing something that people found useful and it gave us a good indication that we would be able to get the business up and running.”
Caudet offers courses and retreats throughout the year using the reflective yoga practices developed by Swami Sivananda Radha. At the time they opened, the only other residential centres founded on the teachings of Swami Sivananda Radha (a pioneer in the development of yoga in the West, whose approach was distinguished by her unique ability to synthesize yogic teachings and western psychology) were in North America so Danuta knew there was a need for a residential centre located within Europe. She has been proved absolutely right and these days, Radha Caudet is a peaceful haven which welcomes guests from all over Europe. Their very first student came from Spain and since then, the centre has welcomed guests from Norway, Finland, Belgium, Australia and the USA, as well as France and of course, the UK.
People come to Caudet from all walks of life and all kinds of backgrounds. The centre is close to the pilgrim route of St. Jacques de Compostelle and walkers frequently stop for a night or longer. Guests come alone or with friends and partners. What connects them all, is the desire to find answers as Danuta explains, “People who come to stay are often at a crossroads in their lives. They are questioning what life is about. Perhaps they are searching for something or are simply aware that there is more to life and want to explore these thoughts. We provide a beautiful space and an environment where people can embark on a journey of self-enquiry and find their own answers. Guests very often find that they have reached a life changing point within a few days. It is a powerful process and discovering what is important and what makes you happy is a very individual experience. There are no right or wrong responses; we all have our own answers and exploring these responses allows people to take control of their lives. Yoga helped me enormously and that is why I share it.”
Danuta firmly believes that this change process is far easier to achieve in a residential situation where people are away from their day to day existence and all the resultant responsibilities. She explains “Staying at Caudet means that students can focus on themselves. The idyllic natural surroundings are an added bonus and this allows them to reconnect with nature which, is ultimately what holds life together.”
So what does a residential course at Caudet involve? Well, you could start with a
‘Strategies for life’ course. These short courses usually run on the first and last weekends of the month and are designed to help you discover the hidden language of Hatha Yoga, using the symbolism and metaphors within the Hatha yoga postures. Participants will also learn how to understand their dreams and use them for guidance. These courses are ideal as a ‘taster’ or for those who are simply short of time. They are priced at an incredibly reasonable 250€ and this is inclusive of all classes, workshops, accommodation, meals and drinks.
For those with slightly more time or who wish to delve a little deeper, the six day
‘Steps to Freedom’ course runs every month and this course uses the guidance of the Kundalini system to show you your next steps on your personal journey.
The centre also offers the opportunity to stay at a reduced rate for those embarking on the Karma Yoga programme - yoga taught through work - full details of this and the courses, classes and retreats can all be found on the website.
With plenty of space to expand at Caudet (there are three more buildings to renovate) Danuta’s long term dream is to build a community and share the Caudet experience with as many like minded people as possible. It’s an amazing dream but she is a pretty inspirational lady and I am sure she will manage it.
Full details of the courses and retreats are on the website:
What Ascent magazine had to say about the courses:
''This process may not be exciting to view from the outside, but from the inside it has all the thrills of the wildest adventure vacation and far more benefits"
What other guests have said:
http://radhacaudet.com/testimonials/