Give yourself permission to simply breathe and restore
This 4-day retreat at Bliss & Stars is designed to create a setting for you to balance your mind as you pause and relearn how to breathe.
This is a chance to create the space you need in order to reconnect with yourself and nourish your body, heart, and mind.
We invite you to deepen your breath and find the freedom of expression and connection with yourself to restore and rebalance your body and mind.
During this retreat we will embrace breathing practices, mindful movement, daily yoga Nidra, nature, and journaling to release stress and tension, boost your energy, improve digestion, gain deeper insights into current life challenges and restore your natural state of balance, health and vitality. You’ll develop skills to regulate your nervous system.
Your breath will be your guide through this journey.
No meditation or breathwork experience is required. All fitness levels are welcome.
THE DATES
13 - 16 APRIL 2023
PRICES & ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
The entire experience is included in the stated prices. We never have extra “hidden” charges.
CHALET DOUBLE
R30,000 | 2 PERSONS
CHALET SINGLE
R20,000 | 1 PERSON
TENTED CHALET DOUBLE
R24,000 | 2 PERSONS
TENTED CHALET SINGLE
R16,000 | ONE PERSON
THE PRICE INCLUDES
3 nights of luxury accommodation
Healthy plant-based meals using fresh local produce
Somatic, mindfulness practices and breath work
Daily mindful movement, stretching, and Yoga Nidra
Coaching Circle and 1:1 sessions with meditation
Guided moon and stargazing sessions
Opening and closing ceremonies
Clean and biodegradable skin care products
Access to 1,350 ha of wild and pristine nature
MEET your GUIDE
As a recovering workaholic, I understand how challenging it can feel to balance it all. My journey and practice has taught me a lot about myself and helped me to understand why I constantly got caught up in states of near burnout.
I truly believe that we can be successful in our careers without sacrificing our health, self-care or time with loved ones.
I developed a unique result-focussed approach to managing stress and restoring mental and physical balance. I am committed to sharing my knowledge and experience to guide you towards balance and a nourished mind and body – one breath at a time.
See you in the bush.
Daria Rasmussen
BALANCE and breath
One of the keys to your well-being lies in the most simple and easily accessible way of balancing yourself: through breath.
We can live without food for weeks and water for days but air for just a few minutes. While we spend a great deal of time and attention on what we eat and drink: we pay little attention to the air we breathe.
Breathing is absolutely essential to life but it’s often overlooked as a necessity for a good body, mind, and spiritual health.
"Thank you SO SO SO much for the best time ever!! I’m still in awe of my experience… I feel like a cup overflowing with peace and amazement…"
Michelle E.
DAily flow
Mornings: restorative movement and stretching, and breath work
Midday: nature immersion and breath work
Afternoons: coaching and breath work
Evenings: yoga Nidra
BENEFITS
Stress relief
Relax the body and mind.
Boost your mood
Find joy in breathing.
Increase energy levels
Improve your sleep and get more energy.
Improve digestion
More joy of eating, less indigestions.
CUISINE
Bliss & Stars is thrilled to bring you the talent and expertise of Aphelele and Phillipa who specialize in plant-based and nourishing food.
Together with them, we’ll explore mindful eating and we’ll nourish our bodies and minds with delicious meals, snacks, and refreshing teas and juices.
Mindful eating allows us the opportunity to get curious about our connection with food and the underlying emotions that drive our choices around nourishment on and off the plate.
Made with local produce grown on the farm, the food will be fresh and seasonal; planned with any specific dietary requirements and your ultimate well-being in mind.
Come as you areWe take care of the rest
BLISS & STARS EXPERIENCE
Rest in spacious chalets that seamlessly mesh with nature
Be amazed by nature and observe the night sky through our state-of-the-art telescopes
Saunter in secluded mountainous areas
Relax and breathe deeply with mindfulness practices
Discover Bushmen cave paintings
Build bonds with others in small groups of a maximum of 10 people
Share the living space with eland, baboons, Cape leopards and many more beautiful animals
Travel light with daily laundry service
FAQ
It is a +- 4.5 hour drive from Cape Town to the Bliss & Stars meeting point. Bliss & Stars is 60km north of Clanwilliam in the Western Cape. It is a 45-minute drive on a gravel road from Clanwilliam to the meeting point however no 4 x 4 or raised vehicle is necessary. At the meeting point, you can safely park your car and will take you the last bit of the way in our vehicle.
You are welcome to drive all the way to Bliss & Stars however: after the meeting point the road is sandy and rocky so a high clearance vehicle and confident driving skills are needed.
If you need a transfer from CPT or Cape Town International Airport then let us know.
Please aim to check in before 2pm. On the last day the retreat ends at 11 am and you will be able to check out from 12pm onwards.
If you are flying back home: we recommend booking your flight after 4pm. Alternatively break your travel and stay in Clanwilliam before you head back. We recommend the Yellow Aloe guesthouse in Clanwilliam.
Everyone is welcome at all of our experiences regardless of meditation and yoga experience or fitness levels. We cater for different levels so that you will be supported, challenged and encouraged to learn.
Once your reservation has been confirmed: you’ll be sent a welcome letter providing lots of useful information about the retreat, including a helpful guide on what to pack.
These experiences are designed to be more intimate. We limit the number of guests to 6 – 10 people to ensure you receive full attention from the team.
Yes, we are very happy to welcome couples at this retreat.
Bliss & Stars is not conducive to children. We have a minimum age requirement of 21.
Please arrive no later than 2pm and plan to leave no earlier than 12pm. Exact arrival and departure times can be arranged with us closer to the time.
We cater to specific nutritional and dietary requirements including food allergies and food intolerances. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are always available.
Everyone is welcome at all of our experiences regardless of the meditation and yoga experience or fitness levels. We cater for different levels, so that you will be supported, challenged and encouraged to learn.
No. You can pace yourself to find the perfect amount of activity that suits you. We support you in doing as much or as little as you’d like, depending on how you are feeling. Personally, we wouldn’t want to miss a thing!
Unfortunately not. We ask that you leave by 5pm on the closing day.
No, we don’t have facilities to cater for disabled access and people with limited mobility. Bliss & Stars is located in the wilderness and the terrain doesn’t allow for wheelchair access.
For the benefit of everyone: we ask that all participants commit to attending the entire retreat from beginning to end. Your wholehearted commitment supports those in your group and expresses respect for the retreat staff.
We offer personalized payment plans for all our retreats up to 2 months before the start date of your stay.
Please read our terms & conditions for our cancelation policy
We always strive to make our experiences available to everyone and therefore we have a bursary programme. Learn more here.
No, there is no mobile coverage or WIFI available. There is a computer with guest access available in case of emergency and you will be provided with a phone number should you need to be reached while staying at Bliss & Stars
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
Please answer the questions below so we can tailor the experience to meet your needs.
We require a 50% deposit to confirm your reservation.
If you are not committed to making a reservation yet and have some questions, contact us here.