SUMMER SOLSTICE WEEKEND RETREAT
Celebrate International Yoga Day
20-22 June 2025
Durbuy, Ardennes, Belgium
Celebrate International Yoga Day
20-22 June 2025
Durbuy, Ardennes, Belgium
If you want to awaken your energy, celebrate movement, and embrace the vibrant power of the Summer Solstice, this Weekend Retreat in the Belgian Ardennes is for you. Step into the warmth of the longest days of the year, immerse yourself in uplifting yoga, joyful nature connection, and celebrate International Yoga Day in a truly special way. You will return home feeling recharged, inspired, and radiating vitality.
This retreat is a vibrant and holistic experience blending movement, mindfulness, meditation, and nature – for you to return home not just recharged, but truly uplifted.
This retreat invites you to move, breathe, and celebrate under the vast summer sky so that you can return to your daily life feeling invigorated, radiant, and inspired.
Through dynamic yoga and powerful meditations, you’ll shake off stagnation, awaken your inner fire, and step into clarity and renewed motivation.
The Solstice Ceremony and intention-setting practice will help you honour your journey, set bold intentions, and step forward with purpose and passion.
The Sun Salutation Workshop will break down each posture in the sequence, helping you understand customised alignment tailored to your unique body, so that you know how to move with greater stability and ease.
With sunlit forest walks, grounding practices, and outdoor meditation, you’ll reconnect with nature’s full bloom, so that you feel more aligned, present, and revitalised.
This retreat brings together like-minded people on a journey of transformation, creating a space for joy, deep conversations, and meaningful connections.
Enjoy a powerful time of the year celebrating International Yoga Day and Summer Solstice. Feel the energy of the longest day of the year and absorb its warmth and abundance.
You wake up to the sounds of nature and begin your day with an opening intention-setting meditation and energising yoga, feeling your body awake and fully alive.
A nourishing breakfast waits for you, wholesome and prepared with care. Sipping your warm tea, you feel a sense of joy and presence, knowing this weekend is a celebration of movement, light, and renewal.
You step outside and breathe deeply, the scent of sun-warmed earth filling your lungs. You walk silently through nature, and pause for a meditation guided to open your heart, embrace clarity, and step forward with confidence.
As the day unfolds, you dive into the Solstice Ceremony, a powerful moment to release limitations and set bold intentions for the next phase of your life. With guided journaling, you plant the seeds for growth and expansion, feeling a sense of empowerment and excitement.
After a nourishing lunch and some much-needed me-time, you gather for an educational workshop on Sun Salutations, where you will explore each posture in depth, learning how to apply customised alignment to suit your unique body.
As the sun sets, you move through a gentle yoga session, allowing yourself to unwind, soften, and integrate the day’s experiences.
The vibrations of Tibetan Singing Bowls wrap around you, melting away any stress, carrying you into a state of deep rest. Time slows, your body softens, and your mind becomes quiet as you finish the day with a closing meditation.
Before bed, you take a moment to journal your reflections, capturing the insights of the day. Your body feels light, your breath soft, and your heart open. You close your eyes with a sense of deep peace, knowing that you have given yourself exactly what you needed.
Nestled in the forest, our retreat venue is a cozy and tranquil residence designed for both relaxation and renewal. You will stay in comfortable apartments and rooms, available in single, twin/double, or triple settings.
Bathrooms are shared with one or two other guests. Bed linen and towels are provided, so you can travel light and focus entirely on your retreat experience. The spacious Yoga Hall is fully equipped with yoga mats, meditation cushions, and other props.
Every meal is an invitation to slow down, savour, and nourish yourself. Thoughtfully prepared at an authentic vegetarian and vegan local restaurant, our meals are crafted with fresh, wholesome ingredients, bringing together comforting flavors and vibrant colours.
Mornings begin with a heartwarming breakfast: artisanal baked goods, creamy spreads, fresh fruits, and warm drinks. Midday, you’ll enjoy a rich meal inspired by oriental flavors, where fragrant spices, nourishing grains, and colourful vegetables come together in a Thali platter. Dinner is a light selection of warming soups, seasonal vegetables, and fresh salads.
Our retreat takes place at Bhaktivedanta College, a hidden gem in the Ardennes region of Belgium. Just a short distance away, you’ll find Durbuy, often referred to as ‘the smallest city in the world.’
Surrounded by lush forest, our venue is a secluded haven for movement, celebration, and connection with nature. A scenic forest path invites you to walk mindfully and soak in the summer energy – a perfect way to align with the radiance of the Solstice.
This is an ideal escape to step away from the busyness of daily life, embrace the light-filled days, celebrate the joy of movement and have fun!
This retreat is a unique opportunity to celebrate two powerful events – International Yoga Day and the Summer Solstice – in one transformative weekend. Immerse yourself in movement and nature, honoring the energy and abundance of the longest days of the year.
Designed according to my signature SHAPE method, the retreat follows the cycle of 5 Nature Elements, with each of them being a unique lens for transformation:
Arrival and welcome
Evening practices
Morning practices
Afternoon practices
Evening practices
Morning practices
Closing rituals
You’ll experience two yoga sessions daily – energising Vinyasa yoga in the morning to awaken your body and calming Restorative, Yin and Nidra yoga in the evening to help you unwind and reflect. Each session is inspired by the energy of the 5 nature elements, guiding you through awakening, grounding, flow, transformation, and renewal.
Every class is thoughtfully adapted on the spot to meet your unique needs, movement experience, and energy levels, ensuring that the practice feels accessible and personal.
Meditation is an integral part of this retreat, giving you moments of stillness, reflection, and deep connection to yourself and nature. Each session anchors you in the present, helping you absorb the vibrant energy of the Solstice, and step into new possibilities with confidence.
We will meditate during the morning yoga sessions to set your intention for the day, and during the evening yoga sessions to integrate your experiences of the day. We will also meditate in the forest to have a fully immersive experience and receive clarity from the wisdom of nature surrounding you and align with the peak energy of the season.
This is your opportunity to engage your senses and absorb the vibrant, life-giving energy of nature, in perfect harmony with the Summer Solstice’s peak radiance.
As you walk in silence, you will tune into the golden sunlight filtering through the trees, the rustling leaves in the warm breeze, and the grounding touch of the earth beneath your feet. With each breath, you will invite a deep sense of expansion and clarity.
Guided prompts along the way will help you anchor into the present moment, align with the season’s abundant energy, and embrace the light within you.
Let go and surrender to the soothing vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls. This sound journey inward will guide you into a state of deep relaxation – to melt away tension, quiet the mind, and realign with the expansive energy of the Summer Solstice.
As the sound waves ripple through your body, you feel lighter, clearer, and more at ease. This will help you integrate the retreat experiences and step into the next phase of your journey with renewed energy and clarity.
The Summer Solstice marks the peak of light, energy, and expansion – a powerful time to celebrate growth and embrace transformation.
In this guided ceremony, you will reflect on the abundance in your life, acknowledge your personal evolution, and tune into the Solstice’s energy to ignite your next steps.
Through journaling prompts, you will gain clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose, fully supported by the radiant energy of the longest day of the year.
In this practical workshop, you will break down the Sun Salutations sequence, learning how to refine each posture to support your body’s unique conditions. Through customised alignment, you will discover how to move with greater stability and ease, ensuring that your practice is both safe and empowering.
With my teaching experience, I will guide you through effective adjustments on all the postures with Sun Salutations, including the intricate details Chaturanga, Up Dog, Down Dog, Warrior 1.
Bonus: This workshop is part of my Yoga Alliance Continuing Education (YACEP) offerings, meaning you will receive a certificate of completion that can be counted toward your YACEP credits.
The Summer Solstice is a time of clarity and stepping into your fullest potential. In moments of transition, we often seek deeper insight and guidance – and this retreat offers a unique opportunity to do just that.
During this retreat, you will have an opportunity to turn to Runes – an ancient system of symbols where each of them carries a unique meaning and energetic imprint, and gives you profound perspectives on your choices.
You will also be guided through an Oracle Card experience, where intuitive messages will help you connect with your inner wisdom.
This weekend is about celebrating your energy, honoring your growth, and giving yourself the space to fully absorb the power of the Summer Solstice.
Going through deep practices and shared experiences, true integration happens in the quiet moments – when you simply allow yourself to be. Each day of the retreat has a dedicated time for you to chill, read a book, journal, go for a walk, and admire the beautiful skies. It is your opportunity to listen inward, recharge, and fully embody the vibrant energy you have awakened during this retreat.
Hi, I’m Irina Oshchepkova! I am a certified yoga teacher with 1300+ hours of teaching experience and 12+ years in the corporate world.
I see so many people craving energy and inspiration, and a sense of expansion, yet feeling stuck in routine. Between work demands, personal responsibilities, and the fast pace of life, we often forget to pause and realign with our purpose.
This is why I created this Summer Solstice Weekend Retreat – a vibrant, uplifting space where you can step away from disheartening routine and immerse yourself in movement, nature, and connection.
With my signature SHAPE method, I guide people through a structured process inspired by nature meant to create lasting transformation.
You will leave this retreat feeling lighter, stronger, and deeply energised, carrying forward a sense of clarity and confidence.
The number one benefit you get is the ability to re-center. Great teacher: right balance between clear explanation, respect, humour, serenity and challenge. Clear indication of what to do and why.
I feel that [the retreat] really changed me, it really helped me to connect with myself, to connect with nature, to be in contact with my body and my real feelings that we don’t have the time to listen to every day.
Irina has a great knowledge about the human body and yoga. Her playful and chill attitude makes it more fun. I always feel challenged and learn something new.
The payment is non-refundable but can be fully transferred to another person, if you’d like to gift the experience. All the payments are made by credit card or by direct bank transfer. Please contact me at [email protected] for details on bank transfer, invoicing and possible payment plans.
Do you have any questions that you would like to discuss with me in detail? Book a free call with me!
It’s time to step away from the busyness of daily life and gift yourself a weekend of energy, movement, and expansion. A chance to celebrate the light of the Summer Solstice, align with its powerful energy, and begin the next chapter of your journey with clarity and confidence.
This retreat is a sacred celebration of light and a powerful gateway to transformation.
It is your invitation to create space for what truly matters. Will you step into the light?
All levels are welcome, from zero to advanced! Each class is adapted to the needs of participants
Make sure to bring comfortable clothes for yoga, outdoors and indoors. Comfortable shoes for walking are highly recommended. I will send you a detailed list when you book your experience.
By car
It takes 1 hour 40 min by car from Brussels city centre. I highly recommend carpooling among the guests for environmental reasons – so if you plan to come by car and have space for fellow passengers, please let me know, and I will get you in touch.
The address of the retreat centre is: Bhaktivedanta College, Petite Somme 10, 6940 Durbuy.
By train
Take a train from Brussels to Marloie or to Barvaux (source: SNCB https://www.belgiantrain.be/).
Friday 20 June (ca. 20 euro per person): 13:37 From Brussels Central (train IC 2113) – 15:21 Arrival Marloie [train journey of 1 hour 44 min]
Sunday 22 June (ca. 20 euro per person): 12:39 From Marloie (train IC 2134) – 14:23 Arrival Brussels Central [train journey of 1 hour 44 min]
From/to Marloie, I will arrange a pick-up service at an additional cost of 13 euro per person. It will take around 20 min.
Friday 20 June (ca. 23 euro per person): 14:01 From Brussels Central (train IC 512 + L 5564) – 16:05 Arrival Barvaux [train journey of 2 hours 4 min]
Sunday 22 June (ca. 23 euro per person): 13:06 From Barvaux (train L 5561 + IC 2135) – 15:23 Arrival Brussels Central [train journey of 2 hours 17 min]
From/to Barvaux, I will arrange a pick-up service at an additional cost of 6 euro per person. It will take around 10 min.