March 20th – 27th, Essaouira Morocco with Pippa Polteau
There comes a moment when holding on no longer makes us stronger. A moment when freedom is not found in trying harder, controlling more or forcing life to follow the path we imagined. Sometimes, strength lies in softening the grip. In listening to what is changing. In recognising what requires our action, what asks for our patience, and what is ready to be released.
The Art of Surrender is an invitation to explore this space.
Not to give away our power, but to learn how to inhabit it differently. For one week, between the Atlantic Ocean and the vast Moroccan landscape, we will allow yoga, nature and the elements to guide us back towards a way of being that feels more spacious, grounded and alive.
A Practice of Trust and Discernment
In the Yoga Sūtra, Patañjali speaks of Īśvara Praṇidhāna: the offering of our actions to something greater than the individual self. This does not mean placing our lives in the hands of an external force. It means loosening the belief that we should be able to predict, control and possess every part of our experience. We continue to act. We continue to choose. We continue to participate fully in our lives. But we learn not to bind our inner peace to a particular outcome. Throughout this retreat, we will explore surrender as the meeting point between two essential qualities: the courage to engage wholeheartedly with life, and the freedom to release our attachment to how life should unfold. On the mat and in the ocean, we will learn to recognise the difference between conscious effort and unnecessary struggle. When to support. When to soften. When to wait. When to move.
La maison des sables, Essaouira
Our home for the week is La Maison des Sables, a secluded retreat nestled in the hills just outside Essaouira, where the Atlantic meets the Moroccan countryside.
Surrounded by open landscapes, dunes and ocean air, the house offers a private and intimate setting for our time together—an environment designed for rest, presence and shared practice.
Life here unfolds gently, guided by natural light, shared meals, the sound of the wind moving through the land, and the ever-changing rhythm of the nearby ocean. The intention is not to escape from life. It is to step far enough away from our habitual environment to perceive it—and ourselves—more clearly.
The Ocean as Teacher
The ocean cannot be controlled. We can observe its movement, learn to read its currents and develop the skills to meet its changing nature. But we cannot ask a wave to arrive earlier. We cannot make it smaller. We cannot demand that it carry us exactly as we imagined. In the water, presence becomes immediate. The ocean teaches patience, humility and responsiveness. It teaches us not to harden when the movement is greater than us. To breathe when our usual landmarks disappear. To rise again after losing our balance. Each wave becomes a mirror. It reveals the ways in which we anticipate, resist, rush or withdraw. It also reveals our capacity to trust, commit and respond to what is truly here.
Surfing will be offered as an extension of the practice — not as a pursuit of performance, but as an experience of presence, adaptation and relationship with the elements.
No previous surfing experience is required. Not included in the retreat price. Add on.
Meet the teacher
Pippa is a yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner and artist whose work is rooted in the meeting point between disciplined practice and subtle perception. Her teaching is grounded in the Aṣṭāṅga Vinyāsa Yoga tradition while remaining attentive to the individual experience of each practitioner. She weaves together āsana, prāṇāyāma, meditation, philosophy, energy work and somatic awareness to create practices that are both structured and deeply embodied. Her approach has evolved through years of practice, teaching and facilitating retreats in different environments around the world. She does not see yoga as a way of escaping the complexity of being human, but as a practice that helps us meet it with greater clarity, sensitivity and courage.
The Art of Surrender emerges from this evolution. From the understanding that softness is not the opposite of strength. That discipline and freedom can coexist. And that surrender is not the absence of choice, but the willingness to make our choices without trying to control everything that follows.
The Practices
The practices offered throughout the retreat are rooted in the understanding that yoga is not limited to the physical postures. It is a living system of study, observation and direct experience—one that engages the body, the breath, the mind and the subtler layers of our being. Our exploration will be informed by the traditional teachings of yoga, including the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, and by the questions these texts continue to raise within the reality of our contemporary lives.
Rather than approaching philosophy as something purely intellectual, we will allow it to enter into dialogue with our own experience. That will be explored through kriyā, prāṇāyāma, āsana, meditation, philosophical study, self-inquiry and subtle energy practices. The physical practices will be grounded in the tradition of Aṣṭāṅga Vinyāsa Yoga, where breath, movement and attention are woven together.
The intention is not to accumulate techniques or achieve a particular form. It is to develop a more intimate relationship with ourselves—to refine our perception, recognise our patterns and become more available to the intelligence already moving through the body, the breath and life itself.
The Rooms
The retreat will take place in a private and intimate house, chosen to offer both comfort and space throughout the week. Each bedroom has its own private bathroom, allowing every guest to enjoy a sense of privacy and ease. Most rooms are furnished with a double bed. One bedroom offers two separate single beds and is especially suited to two friends wishing to share a room while keeping their own sleeping space. Rooms can be booked for single or shared occupancy, depending on availability. As the house has a limited number of bedrooms, room allocation will be confirmed in the order bookings are received.
The Food Experience
Food will be an essential part of the retreat experience. Every meal will be prepared on site by local Moroccan cooks, using traditional recipes and flavours rooted in the country’s rich culinary culture. The menu will be entirely vegetarian, with generous homemade dishes designed to nourish us after practice and bring everyone together around the table. Throughout the week, we will discover a variety of typical Moroccan dishes, fragrant spices, slow-cooked vegetables, fresh salads, breads and shared plates. Meals will be more than a pause in the programme. They will be moments of connection, pleasure and discovery—an invitation to experience Morocco through its hospitality, its flavours and the ritual of eating together.
Inclusions
- 7 days & 7 nights accommodation at La Maison des Sables, from March 20th to 27th
- Daily guided yoga classes
- Daily meditation practices to cultivate presence and inner clarity
- Daily pranayama sessions to awaken and harmonize your vital energy Immersive
- Daily workshops to deepen your physical, emotional, and energetic exploration (we will have a day off workshop during the week).
- Access to the shala yourt
- Nourishing moroccan meals
- Personal guidance & support throughout the retreat. You will be gently accompanied in your journey, with space for individual check-ins, guidance, and a caring presence to support your experience—physically, emotionally, and energetically
- A safe and intimate group container to share, connect, and grow
- Time and space to rest, integrate, and reconnect with yourself and the surrounding elements
✘ Train or flight tickets, travel insurance, and any additional treatments or activities (such as surf lesson or Reiki sessions) are not included in the prices listed below.
Before the retreat, a WhatsApp group will be created so you can connect with the group and get to know each other before departure.
Your retreat rhythm
Each day is thoughtfully designed to create a balance between practice, nourishment, rest, and exploration.
Arrival Day (March 20th)
Arrival, check-in & welcome
Dinner together
Departure Day (March 27th)
Closing practice & breakfast
Farewell & departures
Daily Flow (except one afternoon off for rest or personal exploration)
08:00 — Morning Practice
(a blend of movement, breath, and presence to awaken the body and mind)
11:30 — Brunch
Nourishing, farm-to-table meals to replenish and ground
Afternoon — Free time
Rest, journaling, connection, or simply being
16:00 — Afteroon session
A deeper dive into practice, exploration, or inner work
19:00 — Dinner
Shared, wholesome evening meals in a relaxed atmosphere
Pricing
Shared Room:€1,090
Private Room:€1,390
Private rooms are available in limited numbers and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Their availability is subject to maintaining the financial viability of the retreat.
A 300€ deposit is required to secure your spot.
Spaces are limited and booking is recommended as soon as possible.
Pre-booking ends on October 31th
Terms & Conditions
Booking & Payment
Your place is confirmed upon receipt of a €300 non-refundable deposit, payable directly to the venue. The remaining balance is to be paid on site.
Cancellation Policy
The €300 deposit is non-refundable, as it secures your accommodation. If you cancel your participation:
- More than 60 days before the retreat: any additional payments made (excluding the deposit) will be refunded if recoverable.
- Within 60 days of the retreat: no refund can be guaranteed unless your place can be filled by another participant.
We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance, including cancellation coverage.
Retreat Confirmation
The retreat requires a minimum of 8 participants to take place. If the minimum number of participants has not been reached by the end of November 2026, the retreat may be cancelled. In this case, all amounts paid to the venue will be refunded in full.
Travel
Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the retreat venue. Detailed travel information will be provided after booking.
Private Rooms
Private rooms are available in limited numbers and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability is subject to maintaining the overall balance of the retreat.
Liability
By registering for the retreat, participants acknowledge that they are responsible for their own health and wellbeing throughout the retreat. We encourage everyone to practice within their own limits and to inform the teacher of any injuries or medical conditions prior to arrival.
