We’re passionate about helping you grow and make an impact.
About Us
We create space — for rest, clarity, and joy.
At Viveka Centre for Being, a welcoming retreat centre in a small hamlet in the Ariège, every retreat, class, and shared moment is held with warmth, simplicity, and deep care. Everything we offer is designed to help you slow down, feel deeply, and return to your life feeling calmer, clearer, and more alive.
Our home is a beautiful Maison de Maître, with sweeping views of the river and surrounding mountains. Nestled in nature and surrounded by woodlands, hills, and flowing water, it’s a place where you can truly exhale.
Here, you wake to birdsong, breathe fresh mountain air, and share laughter around the dinner table. You might feel the warmth of the sun on your yoga mat, or head out on one of the many walks that begin right at the door — through shady woodland or up to far-reaching views of snow-capped peaks and sunlit hills.
Beyond the house, the region offers plenty to explore: local markets, horse-riding trails, thermal baths in Ax-les-Thermes, the remarkable Grotte de Mas d’Azil, and even an underground river.
Meet Claire-Louise
Claire-Louise is an experienced yoga and mindfulness teacher who works with sensitivity, care, and deep respect for the body. Her approach is somatic, mindful, and trauma-sensitive, with sessions that are gently therapeutic and always grounded in lived experience.
Her teaching is deeply responsive. She listens carefully, meets you where you are, and tailors each session to support your individual needs — helping you feel safe, supported, and at ease in your body.
Claire-Louise trained as a Scaravelli Yoga teacher with the Inner Yoga Trust, qualifying in 2009, and later completed further training with them in Pregnancy Yoga and Yoga Therapy. She is also a fully qualified mindfulness teacher, with a qualification from Bangor University, and is registered with BAMBA.
Alongside a strong grounding in anatomy and physiology, Claire-Louise is a qualified nurse. This medical background allows her to adapt postures and practices thoughtfully, ensuring they are accessible, appropriate, and supportive for a wide range of bodies and experiences.
Meet Jon
Jon is a creative and thoughtful cook who loves experimenting with flavours and cuisines from around the world. He brings curiosity, care, and generosity to the kitchen, and is highly experienced in catering for a wide range of dietary needs.
Jon prepares all the meals for our in-house retreats, cooking with love and attention to nourishment. He is also available to fully cater retreats hosted at Viveka, offering food that supports both wellbeing and enjoyment.
Outside the kitchen, Jon enjoys travelling, walking, and getting lost in a good book. He also loves staying active, with a particular fondness for badminton and padel.
Come and join us!
Rest and relax
Join one of our Seasonal Retreats
Immerse yourself in nature
Through our monthly workshops
Develop your skills
Learn about mindful awareness