I Tried It Out for You: The Mountain Wellness & Sports Festival—Pure Flow

A Day at the Pure Flow Festival in Les Orres

Summer in Les Orres is known for hiking,mountain biking, andoutdoor concerts. But there’s also a slightly different event in this Southern Alps resort: the Pure Flow Mountain Wellness and Sports Festival .

This year, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and take part in several workshops offered during the festival. It was my first time, and I can already say: I understand why some people come back every year.

Let me take you along to relive this day at the Pure Flow Festival, from the first workshop in the morning to the last one of the day.

A Hypnotic Walk: Reconnecting with Yourself... and the Mountains

I’m not going to lie: this was the workshop that intrigued me the most. Hypnosis in the middle of the mountains ? I had a hard time imagining what that would be like.

Very quickly, though, the trail became more than just a hike. Élodie, a mountain guide, invited us to slow down and choose a personal goal—something we wanted to make progress on. Even before we started walking, we took a few minutes to ask ourselves the right questions: Does this goal depend on me? Is it achievable? Why is it really important to me?

Throughout the hike, several exercises punctuate the trail. I won’t reveal everything—that would spoil the surprise—but each one led me to look at my goal in a different way.

The walk ends with a self-hypnosis exercise inspired by the Rossi method, which you can repeat at home. With your hands held out in front of you, imagine placing something in each one, then let them gradually come together, almost as if on their own.

Bonus info: If you love nature, Élodie also shares her knowledge about the trees, animals, and landscapes that surround us during the walk.

KEY STEPS IN A MUNZ FLOOR SESSION

Before we begin, Sandy, a massage therapist and physical therapist, explains whatMunz Floor is. This method is based on slow, precise movements that mobilize the spine and stretch the fascia—the tissues that surround the muscles and joints.

1. Getting into the Right Position

   Lying on your back with your arms spread shoulder-width apart, close your eyes and gradually imagine your body sinking into the sand, from your scalp all the way down to your pelvis.

2. First exercise: Perform an initial twist

   Very slowly tilt your knees to one side, centimeter by centimeter, before returning to the starting position. Then repeat the same movement on the other side, taking time to breathe.

3. Second exercise: work the pelvis

   Bring one knee toward your chest, then gradually lower the leg toward the floor to engage the pelvis, without ever forcing the movement.

4. Take your time with each movement

   There’s no need to rush: Sandy reminds us to slow down with each movement. After a few minutes, you can really feel your body relaxing and the stretches becoming deeper and deeper.

A duo challenge session, where team spirit takes center stage

The lymphatic drainage self-massage workshop, the most popular event of the day

I hurry to sign up for this workshop—it fills up very quickly. Led by a reflexologist, participants of all ages gather to learn the techniques of lymphatic self-massage. The goal? To stimulate lymphatic circulation and help the body relieve fatigue.

I’d already seen these massages featured on social media, but learning them from a professional is a whole different story. She shows us where to apply pressure, the correct order of the movements, and how to adapt the routine depending on the time of day.

In just under an hour, we learn a complete routine that we can do on our own tomaintain the benefits of lymphatic drainage every day. 

Waste-Free Cooking: Getting Behind the Stove

To wrap up the day, we head to the kitchen. A large table, several small groups, and everyone pitches in to prepare anti-waste recipes that are easy to recreate at home.

On the menu: pesto made with radish greens, French toast made from stale bread, and waffles filled with leftovers from the fridge, like cooked vegetables or a bit of cheese from the day before. I was pretty amazed to see just how much you can cook with ingredients we’d usually throw away.

The atmosphere is very friendly: we cook together, share tips, and then everyone tastes the dishes at the end. As for the recipes… I’m not going to reveal all the ingredients—you’ll have to come to the festival to discover them for yourself!

This day gave me the chance to try out activities I probably wouldn't have tried on my own. The workshops were all very different from one another, but there was always a great atmosphere. It was an experience I'd gladly do again!

Ready to experience it?

REGISTER FOR THE PURE FLOW FESTIVAL IN LES ORRES