The sun goes down at around 10 p.m. on Clare Island at this time of the year, and the light is just gorgeous.



After our first night's meal, I realised that the food was going to be one of the highlights of this retreat. Some of the guests mentioned that it is why they come back again and again each year. Most of the food is grown on the farm with 90% of the food being organic and home grown. Breakfast (brunch) will be freshly baked breads, porridge, seasonal fruits and homemade sheep's milk yogurt. Dinner is imaginative and delicious and has received rave reviews from many guests. I can vouch that the food is truly awe inspiring, especially when you see Christophe or Ciara dipping outside to pick a fresh bunch of spinach or milking the sheep for the next day's batch of yogurt. Hopefully we will see a cookbook emerge in the near future. Until that time some of the recipes are offered for free on the website .





Ciara and Christophe both have studied yoga for many years. Christophe trained as an Iyengar teacher and Ciara in Ashtanga. Their approach to yoga is very particular. Ciara spends a good amount of time explaining the workings of the body and the effects of  yoga. She is simply so charming and smiley that we are all entranced by her. Christophe teaches the afternoon class and he is a little tougher on us than Ciara, which nevertheless we enjoy very much.



Many of us are astonished how much we sleep. The air is so pure and the food so fresh that our bodies go into hibernation mode. We do yoga, we eat, we take a walk then we sleep, eat and sleep some more. It is wonderful; my batteries are recharging.



There are a couple of families here with their children and we watch them race around with Ciara and Christophe's children. One of the  yoga student comments: "Free range kids!" These children have a dream upbringing, in my opinion. They are fed on organic fresh produce, homemade bread and milk straight from the sheep. For this week I am lucky to share this dream with them. It is hard work for Ciara and Christophe, as mostly they do the work by themselves. Some seasons woofers come to help and that gives them a little relief.



By day three I have slept and eaten enough to have the energy to finally go for a walk up to the lighthouse. It is at the end of the road from the yoga retreat and only takes about 15 minutes to get there. It is perched on one of the most spectacular cliffs on the island. On the way there it is worth stopping at the Ballytoughey loom .



Beth Moran has been weaving her magic there for the past 15 years and produces the most exquisite fabrics. She holds courses there frequently that a very popular.



By far the most spectacular thing to do is to take the walking track around the main part of the island. It takes about three hours and during the week you will find only yourself and perhaps the odd sheep on the track. If you have the inclination you can also take the archeological trails and visit the Heritage Centre near the harbour.





Even though this retreat offers ultimate tranquility, there is plenty to do. Some even brave the small beaches near the harbour and others like me simply enjoy abandoning themselves to pure leisure enhanced by the practice of yoga.



For some people, like myself, it is a long way to go; and who would have ever thought that somewhere off the coast of Ireland there could be such a wonderful place. If you are in dire need of recharging your batteries, or making a big change in your life, this is definitely the place to come to; and I am sure you would come back, just as I will in the not so distant future.