Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat was just beautiful. Yoga practice was meditative, deconstructing asana and building them back beautifully. The space was held by Ciara, an expert at what she does. We had energy medicine with Stefanie, which was so gentle and enriching with her generous caring. The food, the place, everything was just perfect. Thank you Ciara, Stefanie and the lovely team. Honestly at the end of the weekend, it felt that time had stood still whilst there and that it was time spent with a soul family. Would love to return.
Macalla Farm - is a must to visit!
Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat was just beautiful. Yoga practice was meditative, deconstructing asana and building them back beautifully. The space was held by Ciara, an expert at what she does. We had energy medicine with Stefanie, which was so gentle and enriching with her generous caring. The food, the place, everything was just perfect. Thank you Ciara, Stefanie and the lovely team. Honestly at the end of the weekend, it felt that time had stood still whilst there and that it was time spent with a soul family. Would love to return.
Clare Island is an ideal location to spend time connecting with yourself & quieting your mind. Ciara & Maud were gracious hosts, the food was excellent & the accommodations comfortable. Ciara’s approach to yoga & meditation makes it accessible for newbies while offering a deeper practice for long-time yogis - a tricky balance for any instructor and Ciara does it with skill and humor. I had a delightful weekend retreat with a wonderful group of people and, in addition to some great memories, took away practical skills to improve my yoga practice.
A delightful way to unwind
Macalla Farm’s weekend yoga retreat was the perfect way to deepen or kickstart a personal yoga practice. Ciara’s instruction makes yoga & meditation accessible to beginners while deepening skills for those with more experience. The accommodations are comfortable and the food is fantastic. And Clare Island is a beautiful location.
My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the Easter workshop with Ciara, alongside a warm and diverse group. While we wouldn’t describe ourselves as typical yoga types, Ciara is far from a conventional teacher—and that’s exactly what made the experience so enriching. Her unique approach offered deep insights, particularly in breathing and mindfulness. Combined with the stunning island setting and food that rivaled Michelin-star quality, the weekend left us with lasting memories and valuable tools we'll carry with us. Sean
What a wonderful way to spend the end of the year and start the next. I loved Ciara's relaxed and deep approach to meditation and yoga, and look forward to gently integrating new methods into my daily routine. The food was amazing, the houses were so cosy and Clare Island is just a magical place to explore (alone and with new friends) during your free time. I highly recommend the investment!
Yoga and Meditation Retreat
Yet another fabulous yoga and meditation retreat at Macalla Farm this August. A fantastic place to get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life and rejuvenate on glorious Clare Island. Fantastic yoga, mediation, walking, swimming, and food, thanks to Ciara, Christophe, Theo and Maude. And great company of fellow retreaters. Absolutely brilliant experience. Highly recommend.
A gem. My third time here but this time for a vegetarian cookery course. Had such a lovely time, Ciara and Christophe share their knowledge and skill in a glorious way, we learnt so much. On top of that the farm is a wonder, the accommodation is great, the animals and it attracts lots of like minded souls. There is a great stop for a dip in the sea very close, I usually bring a bike so can pop around the island. The sense of peace and calmness you get coming away from a weekend like this is priceless. Loved it!!
Vegetarian Cooking Course
Glorious sanctuary of food, friends, animals, came away in a state of calm and inspiration ... if you ever need a reset this is the place. The accommodation is stylish, the food is exceptional, and Clare Island a magical place. Ciara and Christophe are great teachers. This is my third visit and looking forward to my fourth!
Amazing.
The retreat in Macalla Farm was amazing. The emphasis on breathing and the paring back of yoga to its essence was a revelation. Tools for life!! And then you had the food... wow. To see ethical, sustainable farm living on the farm in action was inspiring, an over used term but in this case true! And most of all, it was great fun. Highly recommended.
It's a gorgeous experience to stay at Macalla farm for a retreat. Sessions are led by an authentic, experienced hosts. The accommodation is traditional and cosy; the setting beautiful; the food mouth-watering, healthy and sustainable. Would absolutely recommend!
We were staying to visit someone working on the farm. There was no retreat on at the time. We were perfectly comfortable & enjoyed exploring Clare island. All food provided by the cafe/restaurant was delicious
A gem to be discovered!! I attended the wke yoga retreat and it was incredible from start to finish! Ciara & Christoph have a lot to teach you about yoga & meditation and welcome you wholeheartedly into their home along with their friendly dogs & cat! The remote setting is perfect for a relaxing quiet time though if you like to walk you can easily explore the whole island on foot!
A surprise highlight was the food, delicious & nourishing, I can't wait to come back for a cooking course & to visit the well regarded cafe!!
Thank you Ciara & Christoph for an unforgettable experience ❤️
This is my third time doing a yoga retreat at Macalla farm. I've never been anywhere like it. The years of experience as practitioners and teachers that Ciara and Christophe have, embedded in such a beautiful place that they have grown, makes for really transformative experiences for those that attend these retreats. This weekend was very good for my soul ❤ I often struggle with how yoga and mediation Is often co-opted into individualised consumer packages separate from the realities of the world. In contrast to this, the yoga and breathwork practices taught at Macalla farm are deeply connected to the radical potential of weaving together self care and collective care. The incredible library which always leads to brilliant conversations allow space for all different kinds of learning. The interconnection of everything in the theory and practice of what Macalla farm does is very clear from the library alone. Macalla farm is a very open and supportive environment. The forest they continue to grow is a beautiful haven and of course there are many amazing spots for swimming and hiking. As I arrived quite exhausted my down time involved alot of napping! it is a very restful peaceful environment. The food is incredible and everything is made with such attention to detail, I love it!
Macalla Farm is the real deal
This is my third time doing a yoga retreat at Macalla farm. I've never been anywhere like it. The years of experience as practitioners and teachers that Ciara and Christophe have, embedded in such a beautiful place that they have grown, makes for really transformative experiences for those that attend these retreats. This weekend was very good for my soul ❤ I often struggle with how yoga and mediation Is often co-opted into individualised consumer packages separate from the realities of the world. In contrast to this, the yoga and breathwork practices taught at Macalla farm are deeply connected to the radical potential of weaving together self care and collective care. The incredible library which always leads to brilliant conversations allow space for all different kinds of learning. The interconnection of everything in the theory and practice of what Macalla farm does is very clear from the library alone. Macalla farm is a very open and supportive environment. The forest they continue to grow is a beautiful haven and of course there are many amazing spots for swimming and hiking. As I arrived quite exhausted my down time involved alot of napping! it is a very restful peaceful environment. The food is incredible and everything is made with such attention to detail, I love it!
The warmest of thanks to Ciara and Christophe at Macalla Farm for an amazing, richly wholesome yoga weekend. It was a beautiful space in time where sessions in sati yoga, grounding and breath work were guided by Ciara and Christophe, and I found these to be nourishing to my body, mind and soul.
We ate truly delicious vegetarian food, in the good company of like minded souls. It was wonderful seeing how it is grown organically there at the farm. The quiet, the space, the fresh air... Simple pleasures. I would have loved to stay longer and will definitely return. 💚
Nourishing body & soul
The warmest of thanks to Ciara and Christophe at Macalla Farm for an amazing, richly wholesome yoga weekend. It was a beautiful space in time where sessions in sati yoga, grounding and breath work were guided by Ciara and Christophe, and I found these to be nourishing to my body, mind and soul. We ate truly delicious vegetarian food, in the good company of like minded souls. It was wonderful seeing how it is grown organically there at the farm. The quiet, the space, the fresh air... Simple pleasures. I would have loved to stay longer and will definitely return. 💚
It's wonderful to come back to Macalla Farm to experience the growth and depth in how Ciara and Christophe are teaching now. The last time I was on a retreat with them was 18 years ago when I was 12! I felt at home right away from start to finish at this family run retreat space. It takes place at their home on the farm.
I have been practicing yoga for a long time, but this time I was coming with a recent shoulder injury, so I was approaching the practice from the mindset of a beginner. This perfectly demonstrates how the retreat can cater to both advanced and beginning practitioners. The pace of the classes is intentionally slow in order to create the space for personal exploration and curiosity. This is where it can be a very interesting journey for people who enjoy a faster paced practice, because by going slower it's like re-building a stronger foundation of integrity. This pace also suits the beginner who has perhaps been put off by yoga classes that are too intense.
Ciara teaches the asana practice in a very detailed and carefully thoughtful way. She breaks down the postures to help students to cultivate a greater sense of awareness to the body, integrating the philosophy of mindfulness in an authentic and grounded way. The approach to pranayama led by Christophe is guided with this same level of care and attention. He explores multiple breathing techniques in a very accessible and patient way. The three days were broken down to reflect on the three qualities of 'Sati' (mindfulness), so we focused on Curiosity, Discernment and Kindness. In the asana practice we are guided through a careful unfolding of the traditional Hatha postures using buddhist philosophy. Ciara has a way to always tie it in with experiences in daily life. Both Ciara and Chrisophe come from an intense Ashtanga background and have evolved their approach to teaching in a way that encourages the student to develop the tools to have their own practice. In this way, I feel I'm leaving the retreat empowered to continue, rather than relying on a teacher to lead me into a practice. They make space in the classes for a dialogue with students to discuss the role of yoga in the world today, the ethics and how the practice can be applied in the world.
Since they grow almost all the food for the retreat on the farm, not only are the meals delicious, they reflect the values of the yoga practice. This is their home, so it's a very rare and special experience to come into it and connect to a more holistic way of living.
The cottages for accommodation are very cosy and you have wood-burning fires for the evening, and views of Clew bay and Crough Patrick as you wake up in the morning. There is the option of having a private room but most are shared. Which, as an introvert, wasn't a problem for me as silence in the morning (before the first practice) is encouraged, but everyone on the retreat was so warm and friendly.
You can take walks up to the cliffs for the most incredible view of the sunset over the Atlantic. I suggest waking up early and going for a swim at the cove before practice, which is only a 10 min walk from the farm. It's cold water but crystal clear and calm. They also have the last remaining indigenous woodlands on their land which are worth a wander to!
If you like animals, there's three horses, three dogs, two cats, ducks and sheep! And if you're lucky, maybe you'll see dolphins on your ferry ride over to the island.
Highly recommend this retreat, I hope you find it as magical as I did.
Magical, grounded and authentic - Highly recommend!
It's wonderful to come back to Macalla Farm to experience the growth and depth in how Ciara and Christophe are teaching now. The last time I was on a retreat with them was 18 years ago when I was 12! I have been practicing yoga for a long time, but this time I was coming with a recent shoulder injury, so I was approaching the practice from the mindset of a beginner. This perfectly demonstrates how the retreat can cater to both advanced and beginning practitioners. The pace of the classes is intentionally slow in order to create the space for personal exploration and curiosity. This is where it can be a very interesting journey for people who enjoy a faster paced practice, because by going slower it's like re-building a stronger foundation of integrity. This pace also suits the beginner who has perhaps been put off by yoga classes that are too intense. I felt at home right away from start to finish. Ciara teaches the asana practice in a very detailed and carefully thoughtful way. She breaks down the postures to help students to cultivate a greater sense of awareness to the body, integrating the philosophy of mindfulness in an authentic and grounded way. The approach to pranayama led by Christophe is guided with this same level of care and attention. He explores multiple breathing techniques in a very accessible and patient way. The three days were broken down to reflect on the three qualities of 'Sati' (mindfulness), so we focused on Curiosity, Discernment and Kindness. In the asana practice we are guided through a careful unfolding of the traditional Hatha postures using buddhist philosophy. Ciara has a way to always tie it in with experiences in daily life. Both Ciara and Chrisophe come from an intense Ashtanga background and have evolved their approach to teaching in a way that encourages the student to develop the tools to have their own practice. In this way, I feel I'm leaving the retreat empowered to continue, rather than relying on a teacher to lead me into a practice. They make space in the classes for a dialogue with students to discuss the role of yoga in the world today, the ethics and how the practice can be applied in the world. Since they grow almost all the food for the retreat on the farm, not only are the meals delicious, they reflect the values of the yoga practice. This is their home, so it's a very rare and special experience to come into it and connect to a more holistic way of living. The cottages for accommodation are very cosy and you have wood-burning fires for the evening, and views of Clew bay and Crough Patrick as you wake up in the morning. There is the option of having a private room but most are shared. Which, as an introvert, wasn't a problem for me as silence in the morning (before the first practice) is encouraged, but everyone on the retreat was so warm and friendly. You can take walks up to the cliffs for the most incredible view of the sunset over the Atlantic. I suggest waking up early and going for a swim at the cove before practice, which is only a 10 min walk from the farm. It's cold water but crystal clear and calm. They also have the last remaining indigenous woodlands on their land which are worth a wander to! If you like animals, there's three horses, three dogs, two cats, ducks and sheep! And if you're lucky, maybe you'll see dolphins on your ferry ride over to the island. Highly recommend this retreat, I hope you find it as magical as I did.
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