Dr Karen Coates is Australia's leading holistic medical doctor and naturopathic physician.
Join Dr Karen and co-host Sharon Kolkka on a rejuvenating women’s retreat in the heart of the French Riviera in the south of France. Your hosts are internationally respected experts in the field of women’s health and stress resilience, and co-authors of How to Be Well – a Handbook for Women, a top 3 seller on Amazon in Women’s Health.
Over the six-day retreat you will have the opportunity to explore all aspects of wellness with these experts. Both hosts have been sharing their wisdom internationally and present regular workshops at Australia’s leading health retreat and World’s Best Eco Spa, Gwinganna. Their Women’s Discovery retreats have been rated in the world’s top 10 Best Women’s retreat experiences.
A trailblazer in Women’s health Dr Karen brings more than 30 years’ experience as an internationally respected integrative MD in women’s health. Her ‘mission’ is to help women understand and tame their hormones to achieve wellness and hormonal balance from their fertile years to beyond menopause.
When she’s not deep in research, helping clients or writing, Dr Karen can be found planning her next European adventure, in her garden with the family dog Snickers …or just enjoying some Vitamin D on the back deck with a little dark chocolate and a good book.
Sharon delights in the company of her family and grandson, while caring for her horses in the beautiful hinterland of southeast Queensland. She is an internationally respected thought leader, author, educator and wellness mentor. A master of stress resilience, she will share with you her expertise in the practices of Qi gong, mindfulness, meditation and breathe work. You will leave the retreat with tools to regulate stress, and find calm amongst the chaos of everyday life.
Whether you’re navigating fertility or embracing the menopausal phase, this retreat is crafted to support and enlighten you. Invest in your health and join our small circle of women whilst bathing in the soothing energy of the south of France.
Embark on a transformational retreat designed to empower you with the tools to find hormonal harmony, reduce stress, and improve your health and wellbeing. Over the course of five days, you will have the opportunity to experience the beautiful and serene environment of Saint-Jeannet located in the Cote d’Azur region of the French Riviera. Each day includes an interactive workshop giving you practical take-home strategies for navigating key hormonal challenges as we move from our fertile years to menopause and beyond. Alongside your journey to hormonal harmony, you will also learn quick stress reduction techniques based on breath practices and indulge in a fantastic French gastronomy workshop. Each day provides the opportunity to enjoy the French culture and enjoy memorable excursions to locations like the vibrant Antibes markets and coastal Villefranche, as well as exploring the beautiful medieval walled city of St Paul de Vence.
It's a pleasure to have you on this wonderful journey that aims to help you take the first step towards transforming your life. Arriving at Nice International Airport, you'll be whisked away to The FrogS’ House, a charming bed and breakfast nestled in the picturesque village of Saint-Jeannet. The beauty of this location will be an ideal complement to the holistic health workshops we'll enjoy over the next few days.
Once we've checked into the accommodation, gather for a welcome briefing before enjoying a moment of free time to get settled in — we want you to feel at home during this retreat! To close the day, we will gather in a shared circle to get to know each other and set our intentions for this transformative retreat. During this time, we will introduce ourselves and learn about each other's personal wellness goals, before sharing a welcome dinner at Le Vieux Four, the renowned pizzeria (included in price).
Day 2 of our wellness journey in France begins with a calming breathing practice session, allowing you to learn to be mindful of using your breath as a proven stress management skill. This will also train you to feel centred and energized as we move through our day.
Following our practice, comes a nourishing breakfast, before gathering for our first wellness workshop, where you'll learn practical tips and tools that you can use to start to take control of your health and your hormones in a practical, sustainable way.
After our workshop, we will enjoy a healthy lunch, which will help you refuel for the afternoon ahead. Transfer a short distance through a landscape reminiscent of Tuscany to the local village of St Paul De Vence, world-renown for its Baroque architecture and as a retreat for the famous 18th century painters wanting to capture the unique light of the Cote d’Azur in their masterpieces. Karen will help you explore the village, seeing sites such as The Rosary Chapel designed by Henri Matisse, art galleries, and more. You’ll also have free time to meander through the markets lining the charming narrow streets of the walled city.
We will return to our accommodation for a little free time before dinner at one of the charming local restaurants.
Rise and shine, I hope you had a restful sleep last night. Today, we will ease into the morning with a breathing practice session, which will aid us in focusing ourselves for the day ahead. This practice will help reduce stress, promote relaxation, and set the tone for a day of rejuvenation.
After our breathing practice, we will gather for a nourishing breakfast before travelling through the French countryside to the seaside town of Antibes, where the morning markets provide an insight into French daily life. Surrounded by a region known for its fresh produce, artisanal foods, and crafts, we're sure to chance upon some wonderful things while exploring and soaking in the culture. We'll return to our accommodation in time for a nutritious lunch.
The afternoon will be dedicated to our second workshop, which will provide you with valuable insights into how to support your hormonal health safely and effectively. Hormonal health is incredibly important in promoting a happy and balanced life, having a strong correlation to one’s fertility, emotional state, and physical wellbeing. We will explore the latest research on women's health, including ways to support your hormone levels through nutrition, stress reduction, and other holistic practices. Finally, wrap up the day by grabbing some dinner at La Table des Baous and enjoying some free time before heading to bed.
The morning starts with a workshop where we dive into the link between chronic stress and hormonal imbalance. You'll learn practical tips and tools that you can use to regulate the unavoidable stress in your life and enhance your health in a practical, sustainable way.
Following lunch, we will transfer to Villefranche for a memorable trip that will include a beach excursion! We will spend our time relaxing and taking in the beautiful surroundings — it's also our perfect time to enjoy the warm Mediterranean sun, breathe in the fresh sea air, and perhaps take a dip in the sea. After our day excursion, we'll enjoy a serene dinner in the Villefranche-sur-Mer (dinner not included in price). Return to Saint-Jeannet for a well- deserved and restorative sleep.
It's our last full day here in Saint-Jeannet! We'll start the day with our usual routine of breathing practice, breakfast, and a wellness workshop. In the evening, we will follow this session with a French gastronomy workshop. A unique opportunity to experience the local culture and cuisine, this workshop will provide you with a hands-on experience that will teach us some French culinary skills and allow us to appreciate French food and wine over a delectable last dinner together. Finally, head to bed and prepare to travel home tomorrow!
We've come to the final day of our retreat in Saint-Jeannet! As the sun rises, we will begin the day with a restorative breathing practice before one last breakfast together. Then, we will gather for a final wellness workshop — take this opportunity to discuss ways for you to maintain the holistic health approaches you have learned. Then, it’s time to check out and leave Saint-Jeannet and depart for the airport. Before the airport, you will have the chance to eat lunch to ensure you are fuelled for the journey ahead.
I hope to see you again — Safe travels!
