Testimonials from our Customers. Verified honest reviews can also be found on Book Yoga Retreats
What people say?
"The seven days of yoga retreat with Jo and her family in Varna were the highlight of my summer!"
"It was a perfect mix of relaxation, inspiration and warm reception in a beautiful environment. Right from the start, I felt most warmly welcomed; the house and the garden are beautiful and cosy; the garden invites to linger and enjoy nature; the swimming pool is perfect to refresh or just to lie in the water and enjoy the view of the lovely trees and flowers around. The Yoga Sessions were brilliant; twice a day on Jo's terrace with a view to the sky, wonderfully guided by Jo's warm and meditative voice. All meals were a feast, starting from self-made granola and many other things in the mornings to Mark's refreshing lunches and excellent dinners in the evening - a pleasure for the eyes and the gum, always including fresh ingredients from the garden. Altogether, I absolutely enjoyed my stay with Jo and her wonderful family and I can recommend this experience full-heartedly to anyone!"
Angelika
Belgium
Thank you for a lovely stay at your retreat. We both had such a good break and timeout from work and really enjoyed our introduction to Bulgaria.
Looking for a place to take time out and practice yoga we stumbled across Tranquil Times. Set in a beautiful humble surroundings of the Bulgarian countryside Jo and her family have made a small haven away from the busy city world where you will find roaming chickens and some young kittens (if you are lucky) playing in the garden. Nothing was better than waking up in the morning sun a slowly warming up into our yoga poses, then grabbing some ripe and ready hazelnuts from the tree by the terrace for a quick snack. The treatments available help to fully wind down and relax, we recommend the Indian head massage in particular. As well as restful days by the pool we also enjoyed a couple of day trips around Bulgaria taking in a flavour of the local culture. It was like staying with a friend at Jo's and we left feeling rejuvenated and ready to face our home lives. Thank you Jo and the boys, we hope to keep in touch,
Shanta & Fern
London UK
"We are a group of 4 yoga friends who had a lovely one week holiday with Jo, Mark and the boys in July 2016. We stayed in the cottages which were beautifully done out - comfortable mattresses, blankets if needed, decent water pressure and plenty of hot water in the shower etc. Mark's food was wonderful, and Jo is a lovely, warm, friendly host and teacher. We had two sessions a day, mostly yoga but Jo was also very happy to throw in some Tai Chi for beginner’s sessions too. She also took us out on several excursions, which made a nice change. We had gorgeous weather, so the pool was much appreciated too. All in all we had a wonderful stay - highly recommended!"
Christine, Hilarie, Lesley & Tricia
uk
"I have just come back to the UK after having spent a fabulous week at the Tranquil Times Yoga retreat. I feel so calm, happy and content. I can’t thank Jo, Mark and their boys enough for having made me feel so welcome and comfortable there.
The place is set in rural Bulgaria, surrounded by trees, birds and nature and its best. There’s nothing quite like practising Yoga under the blue skies and with birds chirping around you. Jo’s Yoga classes are easy to follow and Jo is an excellent teacher, always so patient and understanding, and always ready to adapt the practice to your level of ability.
The food is absolutely DELICIOUS and it was definitely one of the highlights of my stay there. The rooms are clean, cosy and very quiet and they foster the best of sleeps.
Thank you so much for the wonderful time I had there. I will never forget you and I will definitely recommend you to all my friends and patients alike."
Tiziana Bertinotti
UK
"I spent a very nice relaxing week at Tranquil Times resort in July 2014. The family was very welcoming and hospitable. The room was nice & neat and all the food was fresh, local and delicious. I felt like I was eating in a restaurant all week and I enjoyed especially as the kids helped to set up the dinner table in the garden every evening.
Jo's yoga lessons were absolutely amazing. I felt so much better after a week and I have continued to do some of the stretching techniques and relaxing movements at home . Jo also did couple of meditation sessions which I found very relaxing.
Jo and myself both share a passion and interest for healthy nutrition and we had nice chats about it together. I learned from Jo to add tofu into berry smoothie and I have continued to do so at home. I also learned a lot about Bulgarian life & culture and had a chance to visit Varna.
I highly recommend Tranguil Times resort to anyone who is looking for a nice, relaxing and neat yoga resort. I am sure I will be back one day."
Johanna
Helsinki, Finland
"My stay at Tranquil Times was wonderful and it felt more like staying with a relative/friend than in a retreat.
Jo and her family were super welcoming from the very first sight.
The place itself is amazing - my room (I booked a private) was spacious including a modern bathroom with a wonderful rain shower. I absolutely enjoyed sleeping with open window, watching the huge pool and listening to the sounds of nature- jackals, dogs, birds, chickens, cats - HEAVEN!
This sound underlined the Yoga outside the terrace. Jo is a very good teacher and made sure that we get the relaxation and flexibility needed. My highlight was the guided meditation which revealed a lot of interesting insights.
The food made by Jo's husband Mark was always fresh cooked with healthy ingredients and always super, super tasty.
My stay was overall absolutely enjoyable and I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for relaxation, good company with very few people in a family surrounding and a less developed country!
Thanks a lot for this amazing week! Hope to be back soon!"
Heike
Germany
I really enjoyed my stay with Jo and her family. They were nice and friendly and respected their guest's need for space and stillness and were comfortable to be around. We had good talks and laughs. The pool was nice and the food delicious! The yoga was relaxing and well suited for the warm weather. I really feel like I got want I wanted and needed from my week in Tranquil Times Holistic Retreat. Stillness and peace and renewed energy.
Maja
Denmark
The location is in a quiet and peaceful place and driving there we passed many fields of gorgeous sunflowers. As we had our evening meal the sun went down and the garden felt quite magical, like a fairy tale. The surroundings immediately relax you and bring you peace. Practising our yoga and qigong on a daily basis, was bliss. So was the food and therapies. I learned so much on this holiday as Jo is a great teacher and I really deepened my understanding of energy work and also about myself.
Nicoleta
Bulgaria
Thanks to all of you for my amazing holiday in Sadovo. Thanks to Mark for the gorgeous food and thank you for everything else, including the wonderful yoga.
You made me feel like part of your family. See you again xxx
Izabela K
Poland
This is just a short note to thank you for the fabulous time I’ve spent at your wonderful oasis – THANK YOU! All the wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable days and all the fun we’ve had! I was enjoying myself a lot!
Guess what: Since my return I’ve managed to start my day with a short yoga session every morning (not exactly 8ish though… ;-).
Thanks for everything
Kind regards and a big hug!
Aleks
Germany
We're back... in Berlin. We had two nice days in Varna and Sofia.
I miss Sadovo and your little paradise! Thanks a lot for all.
We'll send you the pics in the next days.
I wish you a great day,
And don't forget ... "deep and nicely" 😉
Best Kinds to all of you
Marinka and Thomas
Berlin, germany
A big thank you to you and your family, and Lesley of course, for my week. It was truly a blessing to have such a relaxing yet fulfilling week. I feel I have improved my yoga practice so much (even doing neck rotations on the train!) and really appreciated the personalised advice you gave us. I will miss the food and conversation especially :)Who knows, maybe I shall return next year and see the new barn. :
All the best now,
Jennifer
Aberdeen, Scotland
I booked to stay at Tranquil Times in May half term this year. Although my flight was delayed 3hrs, Mark was there to bring me to the retreat. My week was just wonderful!!. The food superb & organic as most of the veg came fresh from Jo's garden. The weather very warm mostly 28 - 30c,so I made use of the pool every day. We had a great trip into Varna to the market & a walk in a city sea gardens, to a beach & swam in the Black Sea. The yoga & meditation made me feel healthy & strong again after having a shoulder operation earlier in the year. The accommodation is clean & roomy, I will definitely book again as I loved it!.
Sara
uk
After hours of research we chose Tranquil Times because it is a non-corporate retreat run by a family using local resource.The accommodation was excellent - very modern with great facilities. Jo and Mark managed to achieve a great balance of making you feel part of the family but without encroaching on your personal space. Mark prepared most of the meals which were delicious and used local fresh ingredients, many home grown. Jo ran the excellent yoga/tai chi sessions which were tailored to our needs and abilities. Jo and Mark have superb knowledge of Bulgaria and the local areas of interest. One day we walked through beautiful Bulgarian country side, past local goat farmers and their flocks, to a local lake at the Eco Park, where Mark and the boys met us for lunch. We spent another day at a thermal spring at St Constantine known locally for their healing qualities.
I strongly recommend Tranquil Times and Bulgaria as the perfect yoga retreat, in a beautiful country.
Jacalyn
Edinburgh, Scotland
Thanks again for making my week at your place so relaxing and special.
My journey home went very smoothly and I had some time to reflect on my week. It was just what I needed 🙂
So here is my little review for your website:
My week at Tranquil Times Yoga Retreat was wonderful! So relaxing and special, just what I needed! Jo is an excellent Yoga teacher and was very attentive to my special needs during practise and meditation. Every single meal was absolutely tasty and after two yoga classes and swimming in the pool I was always looking forward to the yummy dinners Mark prepared. The whole place was created with great care. My little apartment by the pool had a lovely charm and I felt very much at home there. I also enjoyed the trips down to the beach and to Varna. I wanted to learn a bit about Bulgarian culture and Jo has lots of knowledge that she was happy to share. Overall I can highly recommend staying here! All the best, Isabell
Isabel
Germany
My sister and I spent a lovely week at Tranquil Times. We loved every minute of it! The daily rhythm was perfect in terms of balance between yoga/meditation practise and free time. It gave us enough time to reflect, do some reading/swimming and digest our personal journeys. Jo provided gentle guidance and led the practise in a way that suits all levels. She has an amazingly soothing voice! Still in mid winter Finland, it feels warm when I imagine myself lying on the warm rooftop yoga terrace.…We had such a lovely time and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this yoga retreat to anyone needing a space to breathe, relax and reflect.
Julia & Linda
Finland
"amazing experience"
I had a wonderful time and cannot express how much the time spent at Tranquil Times healed me both physically and mentally. Jo's kindness and generosity of spirit made me feel welcome, supported and really helped me to move out of a dark place with strength and resolve. Mark is an amazing chef and the food was gorgeous and Alex is very good too
Helen Jameison
Great Britain
"Review Tranquil times "
Very friendly wonderful people who run the retreat. Other guests were a delight as well.
Maryam Kamal Hedayat
Belgium
"I loved my stay at this retreat "
It was a fantastic experience that felt bespoke throughout. The yoga teaching was terrific and I was particularly impressed as my restricted spinal movement didn’t phase Jo at all. She tailored poses for me where it was helpful and as a result, I feel much more confident in my yoga abilities. The food was delicious,all meals were home cooked and freshly prepared and it was lovely to feel part of the family. The pool and deck was fabulous for kicking back in the afternoons and I can absolutely recommend the Indian head massage, hot stone massage and reiki treatments offered
Suzanne Harding
Great Britain
"Inspiring and relaxing reatreat"
A lovely and relaxing place to be. Personalized and very good yoga classes. I went back home with new inspirations for my personal yoga path. The food was delicious and adapted to my personal preferences. I also loved the beautyful garden with a nice pool and hangmat. Staying at this retreat felt like visiting a friends home.
Swantje Nikolai
Germany
"Wonderful retreat"
Barbara Spurrier
Great Britain
"A wonderful break"
A 4-day relaxing break in the Bulgarian countryside, with a lovely teacher, really good fresh food cooked by the family, a swimming pool and a nice room to enjoy. The yoga sessions were varied, Jo adapted to our needs and wishes. I also recommend the reki with Jo, I had a very fruitful session. We loved the cats as well, especially George!
Coralie Bouloiseau
France
Perfect retreat in perfect surroundings
The yoga teacher Jo tailored the units exactly to my needs and gave lots of tips. I felt very good. The rooms are clean and spacious, there is a well equipped kitchen if you want to cook something yourself. But it's really not necessary because Mark, Jo's husband, cooks perfectly and prepares various dishes, e.g. Indian. The breakfast is very good with muesli with fresh fruit and Bulgarian yoghurt. The pool is very nice and clean. The trip to the Black Sea with Jo was very nice. Many thanks to the very hospitable family Jo and Mark
Uli Ruoff
Germany
This was a very relaxing holiday in peaceful countryside but with opportunities to explore the area, particularly the coast, so was ideal for me. Jo and Mark were extremely helpful and very hospitable hosts. I felt very welcome and enjoyed sharing meals with them and their two boys. The fresh produce, home cooking and plentiful breakfasts were great. Although visiting alone I never felt lonely. The pool was lovely for swimming! Jo and Mark speak Bulgarian fluently which was very helpful. They are very knowledgeable about Bulgarian life and culture and this helped me to understand more about the country in the time I was there. Overall I found this a refreshing, relaxing, enjoyable and very interesting holiday.
Jenny
Bristol, UK
"I felt like like a VIP / member of the family !"
It’s been a wonderful restful balancing grounding healing week. I’ve loved practicing and chatting with Jo and enjoyed Mark’s cooking so much I wanted to take some home! The place and the surroundings are great, I wish I had more time to travel around the country.
Nadège Le Nir
France
"Exceeded my expectation "
Jo is excellent teacher and very nice person. She is very experienced yoga Guru and knows almost all techniques in yoga, healings, meditation, breathing techniques. I liked her individual approach to every person. The food was delicious and healthy. I feel very good after this trip and plan to visit again.
Luiza Samieva
Great Britain
"Relax Restore Rediscover. "
Jo is an incredible person she manages to merge the role of expert instructor with friendship, honesty, trust and confidante. Jo listened and adapted the sessions to target my needs which were challenging as they were emotional as well as physical. I left the retreat feeling relaxed like I have never felt before. I had a feeling of peace and a quiet mind. My body felt restored my aches and pains diminished and my posture improved beyond belief. Through the yoga sessions and Jo’s company I have managed to rediscover myself, my beliefs and feel content within my own body and mind. The house is beautiful and the welcome from the whole family was lovely. I can’t remember a time as an adult of feeling so nurtured. The setting is peaceful and the food is delicious. Every meal was beautifully presented, varied, healthy and so tasty. I truly felt nourished from every possible angle with Jo and the yoga and company, Mark and Alex for the food and Jo and Jake for the music in the gong bath. I will definitely be returning and would thoroughly recommend it for anyone!
Ruth Saville
Great Britain
"A tranquil haven indeed for souls in need of peace."
The ambience of Jo's lovely retreat brought peace and rejuvination to us at a time of deep stress and unhappiness. Jo's warmth and attention to our needs was much appreciated. She is attentive to her guests' abilities and requirements in a gentle and thoughtful manner.. This was our first yoga retreat and has made us keen to experience more. Everything, from the cosy and comfortable accommodation, to the treatments available and the healthy and nutritious meals provided, contributed to an overall feeling of well-being and notion of being kind to oneself. Jo was wonderfully attuned to what we needed from our visit and I recommend this retreat whole-heartedly.
Joanna Kaliniecka-williamson
Great Britain
"Wonderful experience just what I needed to rest and renew "
Loved the location, tranquil setting, beach, nature, walks up to church and into town. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The massages were the best I’ve ever experienced what a great experience.
Lisa Pollard
Australia
"Tranquillity is the right word"
I was lucky to be out when the sunflowers. were blooming. A short walk away there were fields of sunflowers and lavender. Stunning. The accommodation was lovely, comfortable beds, spotless and great shower. Guests kitchen was well stocked and has a coffee machine. Lovely pool to relax by. The food was fabulous! Loved the fact Jo’s husband picked raspberries from the bush in the morning for breakfast! It was so peaceful here and I came home feeling restored relaxed and rejuvenated! Absolutely loved it!
Anonymous
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