2-Night Summer Retreat - The art of mindful cooking and eating

Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2026
Starts on Friday at 14.00
Ends on Sunday at 16.30

At the beautiful retreat center "Maison du Chemin des Roches" in Dongelberg.

Carpooling will be organised shortly before the event.

Join us for a deeply nourishing and renewing weekend in the beautiful countryside of Wallonia. This retreat offers a gentle pause from the fast pace of daily life — a space to slow down, reconnect with your body and senses, and rediscover what feels grounding and meaningful.

Set in the peaceful countryside of Wallonia, the weekend weaves together mindfulness meditation, gentle movement, time in nature, and an ongoing exploration of mindful cooking and eating. Rather than being limited to a few standalone sessions, awareness around food, nourishment and presence is integrated throughout the entire retreat.

The retreat is offered in a secular, inclusive and non-dogmatic framework and is open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Mindful eating is presented as a lived experience, not a technique, belief or ideology.

Through shared preparation and meals, brief reflections and invitations to notice, you are supported in observing your relationship with food — physically, emotionally and habitually. Small, practical teachings are offered throughout the weekend to support awareness of taste, hunger, satisfaction and the influence of attention and distraction.

There is no “right” way to eat here and no expectation to change your diet beyond what feels supportive for you. The emphasis is on awareness, kindness and choice.

Silence, simplicity, and a gentle digital pause are consciously woven into this retreat as supportive conditions for coming back to what is essential. By reducing external stimulation — conversation, information, screens — space naturally opens to sense more clearly what is here: the body, the breath, the senses, and the quiet movements of the mind and heart. Silence is not used as an achievement or withdrawal, but as a nourishing container that allows settling, listening, and inner clarity to emerge in its own time. In this simplicity, many participants rediscover a felt sense of presence, ease, and inner peace that can continue to inform daily life long after the retreat.

This retreat is open to anyone who feels is interested in:

• mindfulness and embodied awareness
• cooking and eating with more presence and enjoyment
• slowing down and reconnecting with what nourishes them
•  plant-based cooking and wholesome food
• in exploring presence with food and daily life
• a secular, non-judgmental framework
  

No prior meditation or cooking experience is required.

You are welcome exactly as you are.

Example: Saturday 9 July

• To give you a feel for the flow, here is the rhythm of a full retreat day:
• 07:30 – Gentle yoga and meditation
• 08:15 – Breakfast
• 09:00 – Karma yoga (shared help in the garden / simple mindful tasks)
• 10:15 – Cooking workshop
• 13:00 – Lunch
• 15:00 – Mindful sitting and walking practice
• 16:00 – Dessert, tasting, and reflections
• 16:45 – Guided herbal walk in the garden
• 18.15 -  Bodyscan
• 19:00 – Dinner
• 20:30 – Evening guided meditation & beginning of silence

The rhythm balances activity and rest, doing and being, individual practice and shared experience.

Meals are an integral part of the practice and offer repeated opportunities to explore mindful eating in a natural, supportive way. All lunches and dinners are vegetarian, seasonal, local and organic, and predominantly plant-based. Breakfast includes eggs, cheese, butter and honey, as well as plant-based alternatives, so participants can choose what feels nourishing. We strive to offer food that is wholesome, grounding and inclusive, while respecting different needs and relationships to food.

Dietary needs:

We can accommodate gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan meals. We are not able to cater for other specific diets or allergies. If you require a particular diet, please bring additional food that supports you.

Let yourself be nourished by organic, tasty and carefully prepared food.

Friday 10 July 2026, 14:00 – Sunday 12 July 2026, 16:30

Carpooling will be facilitated shortly before the retreat.

Group size: Small group setting (up to 16 people)

Registration closes 30 June 2026 (or when fully booked).

For the retreat of 2 nights with meals and accommodation in a shared twin room:

Early-bird fee (available until 1 April 2026): €525 (incl. VAT- €434 excl. VAT)

Thereafter full fee €575 (incl. VAT, - €475 excl. VAT)

Included in the fee:

• Lots of delicious dishes and recipes
• The fee for the cooking workshops 
• Teaching and administration fee
  
• Accommodation in a double room with private bathrooms
  
• All meals, coffee and tea breaks
• Relaxing lavender eye cushion
• Exclusive use of the entire location with its beautiful meditation hall, diner, library and gardens.

Not included in the fee (please provide cash):

• A single room for an additional fee of €30  per night
• Rental of bed linens - if you are not able to bring your own you can rent them at the location for the fee of €20

Cancellation policy

You may transfer your registration to another activity up to one month before the retreat (€75 administration fee).

From 30 days before the retreat, postponing is no longer possible.

If you cannot attend, you may transfer your spot to someone else with our approval.

Please refer to our terms & conditions for full details.

Do I need prior experience with mindfulness or meditation?
No. All practices are guided and accessible. You are welcome whether you are new to mindfulness or have an existing practice. Everything is offered as an invitation, at your own pace.

Do I need cooking experience to join the retreat?
Not at all. The cooking workshops are experiential and collaborative. Curiosity and openness are much more important than technical cooking skills.

What kind of food will we prepare and eat?
Meals are plant-based, seasonal and organic.

The retreat is fully suitable for a vegan diet

Meals are shared in a spirit of mindfulness, respect, and diversity of choice. Participants are invited to honour their own needs while recognising that others may make different food choices.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes. Vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets can be accommodated.

If you have other allergies or specific needs, please contact us in advance so we can explore what is possible.

I’m coming alone — is that okay? Can couples join?
Yes. Most participants come on their own, and couples are also very welcome.

The retreat offers a warm, inclusive atmosphere with a balance of shared activities and personal space.

How physically demanding is the retreat?
The programme includes guided meditation (seated or lying down), gentle yoga, walking, and light shared tasks (karma yoga). All activities are optional and can be adapted. You are encouraged to listen to your body and take breaks whenever needed.

Will there be silence during the retreat?
Yes. Each evening, silence begins after the last guided meditation and continues until breakfast the next morning. Silence is offered as a supportive container rather than a rigid rule, and you are invited to enter it with gentleness and self-care.

What if I feel unsure whether this retreat is right for me?
If you have questions or hesitations, you are very welcome to get in touch before registering. We’re happy to clarify and help you sense whether this retreat would be a good fit at this time.

What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation conditions are detailed in the registration form. We recommend reading them carefully before booking and contacting us if anything is unclear.

How do I get there?
The retreat takes place at Maison du Chemin des Roches in Dongelberg, about 50 minutes from Brussels. Carpooling will be organised among participants closer to the retreat date.