Meet the Team
Murphy Williams will feed and look after you during your stay and Megane Thiboust or Sonia Malheiro will lead yoga classes in the barn. Read on for what they'll offer
Host, Retreat Programmer, Writing Advisor
`Murphy Williams
Murphy will be on hand to make sure all your needs are taken care of. She will prepare fresh, healthy meals, make sure the breadbag is put out for the boulangere in the mornings, show you the way to the farm shop and swimming lake, teach you how to play French billiards and maybe tell tales of the ancestors whose portraits hang about. As an experienced editor and journalist, she will be happy to offer advice on your writing.
Her parents were married in the adjacent church, both her children christened there, and she has celebrated a few birthdays at the château in Grand Meaulnes style, so knows how joyous a place it is. She can't wait to introduce you to some local specialties, such as Flamiche and Ficelle Picarde, and maybe make some elderberry fritters too.
Murphy started out in London as an arts editor and staff journalist at Vogue, Esquire, GQ and the Telegraph, and still writes the occasional feature for its Saturday magazine. In 2004, she moved to Cornwall to raise her family, where she booked performers for Port Eliot Festival over its 15 years and launched Cloud Nine Marshmallows, a brand of natural, handmade pillows of luxury that have earned eight Good Taste stars from the Guild of Fine Food. She is still getting her head around French bakeries' wildly varying opening hours.
Yoga instructor
Megane Thiboust
Megane took her first yoga class eight years ago in Paris after specialising in dance. With it she discovered a practice that allowed her to slow down, feel, connect to her body and feelings and to move however she liked. She then trained as a yoga teacher 2020 at Green Yoga international in Mallorca. Since then, she has taught full time in gyms, yoga studios, corporations and retreats.
Megane can accommodate all levels in her vinyasa classes, a dynamic yoga with flowing positions and movements in line with your breathing. Her classes start with a short meditation, followed by a warm-up with sun salutations, moving fluidly into various positions – the themes change daily – and rounding off with a relaxation. Her Yin Yoga classes are slower, and involve postures being held for several minutes.
2025 will be Megane's third season at Chateau de Sacy, where she has led dozens of very satisfied (and relaxed) retreaters.