Tourné: A truly professional team.
Paula Davidson
Paula is central to everything at Tourné. She has over 20 years of experience as a manager and director of residential retreat centres. She designed and contributed to the renovations at Tourné. She is an acclaimed cook, manages the estate and runs the office as well as the team. She has considerable experience hosting teachers from a variety of traditions. She will welcome you with a smile as she has thousands of participants in the past.
Ram Chatlani
Ram guides the majority of retreats at Tourné, you can see his bio here. When he’s not teaching he will cook and manage practical aspects of the house and grounds. In the 1980’s he began to make plans for a holistic education centre. He spent many years visiting other centres worldwide, working with teachers and groups developing his skills as a teacher and insight into what a retreat centre can offer. Tourné is a joint vision he has shared with Paula and the rest of the team. An organic evolution of space.
Letti
An essential part of the Tourné team, Letti is likely to be the first person you meet if you travel by train. As well as organising transport, Letti is part of our silent background support in the house. She is an excellent masseuse and offers participants on retreats or guests at the house or gites massage sessions. Letti’s training is unique, learning through her contact with Olympic trainers.
Tom Long
Tom arrived at Tourné in 2005 for a retreat. He decided to stay! Since that time he has contributed to house renovations and maintenance as well as the gardens. An essential part of our team, he will also arrange transport and supports the needs of the team or of guests. Tom is also a masseur who has worked in Asia at health resorts and the UK at sports clinics as well as here in France.
Tom in white with ram at the zen Dojo de Lyon, France.
Tom Robbins
Tom Robbins has worked with Paula and Ram since the mid 1980’s. He has been a professional ballet dancer at the Royal Opera house, the Berlin Ballet, the Lyon Ballet, the Berlin Ballet and has taught ballet and dance in Ecuador as well as in Lyon and London. He is a highly skilled teacher of dance and is a source of inspiration for all the team. His energy and outlook as well as his considerable skills as a craftsman are essential to our work at Tourné. He has over 20 years experience supporting retreat teachers, participants and the retreat centre.
Émilie Barbier
A long term participant in the Tourné project, she met Ram when he was teaching at zen dojo de Lyon where she was a student for over 5 years. She set up an association with Tatatao, teaching qigong in Tours, France until she moved to le Matilis, near Tourné, to join the team permanently. She regularly assists Ram and participants during private retreats