Founder
A personal journey
I'm Tamsin Jardinier, the owner and founder of Little French Retreat.
Little French Retreat is the culmination of my personal journey through loss, healing, and rediscovering purpose. The retreat began in the house that once belonged to my mum, who purchased it in 2005 with dreams of an adventurous retirement. However, just two years later, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away nine months after that. This profound loss marked a turning point in my life.
At the time, I was living in Brighton and working in London, immersed in a career in management for luxury retail and interiors companies. My mother's passing made me realize that I needed to redefine my life. I turned my focus to the things that brought me joy: yoga, cooking, and photography. These passions, coupled with a deep desire to feel close to my mum, eventually led me to relocate to her house in 2013 and establish Little French Retreat—a place where I could help others find the peace and well-being I had sought for myself.
Over the years, the house has become more than just a home; it has become a way of life and a canvas for my spiritual and creative practices. The slow pace of life in southwest France, along with the space the house offers, allows me to welcome guests while also dedicating time to my garden, pottery studio, writing, and photography.
I believe that our well-being is shaped by the harmony of mind, body, nutrition, creativity, and environment. At Little French Retreat, I've drawn on my experiences as a yoga instructor, Ayurvedic cook, coach, and artist to create a holistic experience that supports guests' overall health.
My aim has always been to make this way of life accessible and approachable, as I share practices that can be easily integrated into guests daily life, ensuring that they leave not only refreshed but also equipped with the tools and knowledge to make lasting changes toward better physical and emotional well-being.
Approach to Practice
I teach calm centred yoga based on my knowledge of Traditional Hatha. Yin Yoga and somatics movement. Ancient wisdom with a contemporary approach that follows a steady pace. The practice can be dynamic and strong in a slow way or deeply restorative with an emphasis on deepening the breath to harmonise all physical and emotional centres of the body and provide complete flexion of the spine for balance, providing you the feeling of being grounded yet energised, with a deeper sense of yourself.
Retreat practices are centred on guiding guests into rest, working from the base of the spine upwards to release blocked, held tensions and create an overall sense of deep relaxation.
Weekly classes focus on moving with the seasons to build Fire in winter, feel Calm in summer & stay grounded throughout Autumn. This approach enables us to stay in tune with nature and our optimal health.
qualifications
YOGA
I hold a 500hr teacher training certificate from Sivananda Yoga Vidya Peetham in Kerala, under the guidance of Swami Govindananda Saraswati. His school promotes the teachings of Sivananda Yoga and it’s five principles of Yoga practice, that originates from a lineage of guru’s that can be traced back 1000 years.
Before the start of Covid I spend winter months with my teachers, to deepen my knowledge and took groups to Kerala and the Himalayas, experiencing the magic of the country and birth place of Yoga. I have yet to return, but a trip is coming together for a return in 2025.
AYURVEDA
I am training under the guidance of David Frawley at the American Institute of Vedic Studies to become an Ayurvedic Life-Style Consultant. A 300hr course of this ancient healing system that originates from India. Ayurveda treats the physical body and its’ ailments and includes psychology and yogic spirituality as a holistic system of healing that considers our entire nature as body, mind and spirit for best health.
FOOD
A self-trained cook with a passion for vegetarian food and natural ingredients, inspired by Ayurvedic principles; that food is energy and medicine for healing. I have cooked in ashrams, on retreats and for supper clubs. For further information on my approach to food and online recipe book please visit HERE
COACH
I work with individuals and creative entrepreneurs as an intuitive coach drawing upon my experience as artist, wellbeing practitioner and entrepreneur to support creative and mindful approaches for those seeking to re-imagine life and work, as they represent themselves authentically and grow their vision for their life and work in a kind, expansive and inspiring way… please visit my coaching site HERE
inspiration
SWAMI GOVINDANANDA SARASWATI
They say your teacher appears when the student is ready. I had the fortune of meeting Swami Govindananda on a trip to Kerala in 2013 and have appreciated his guidance since. A true master of energy management and delivering Yogic philosophy in an uncomplicated and practical way to apply to our contemporary western lifestyles. He taught me the benefits of teaching and practicing slowly to feel a deep sense of peace.