Marianne Durand

Trained in Ayurvedic medicine with Atreya Smith in Europe, and Dr. Joshi and Dr. Sapna in India, Marianne has been supporting those who wish to restore harmony between body, mind, and environment for over twenty years.

She discovered Ayurveda in 2004 while living in Sivananda yoga ashrams, where she met the pioneers who brought Ayurveda to the West: David Frawley and Robert Svoboda.

Since then, she has continuously trained in Ayurveda at several recognized schools and with renowned practitioners such as Vaidya Atreya Smith from European Institute of Vedic Studies, and traditional doctors like Dr. Joshi in Nagpur. She complemented this education with the study of therapeutic yoga, Ayurvedic nutrition, and Ayurveda-specific treatment and massage techniques. She learned Thaï massage at Sunshine School in Chiang Mai, Ayurvedic massage at Anjali School of Ayurveda in Kannur, as well as the California College of Ayurveda.

Her journey has led her to synthesize care practices learned in various schools in India and California. Throughout her practice, she has created several signature treatments inspired by traditional Ayurveda: Shilābhyanga, a hot stone massage acting deeply on tissues and energy circulation, and her own approach to Marma Therapy, a precise work on Ayurveda’s vital points promoting regeneration and inner balance.

After designing the treatment protocols offered during the retreats at Château de La Pierre, she trained the team members in their implementation. She thrives to constantly adapt to the needs of each guest, providing individualized support. Marianne conducts an initial Ayurvedic assessment on the first day of the retreat, aimed to establish a personalised treatment protocol, as well as a closing interview to evaluate the effects of the retreat and suggest lifestyle adjustments.

Marianne is a dedicated Yoga teacher of 22 years, teaching most of the morning yoga practices in all our retreats, with her gentle, deeply spiritual approach inherited from her time living in the ashram. She also guides the walking meditations in the ancient oak forest of Tronçais. She loves to share her knowledge of Ayurveda in an accessible, joyful and practical way, through workshops during the retreats.