Who are we
Sophie Vandenkerchove
Sophie has always had a great passion and love for Nature.
After travelling through the world’s cities and a lot of walks alone in nature, she decided to answer the strong call she heard inside.
Since then, Sophie lives in the Old Presbytery with her partner Gert and offers nature trainings and weekends under Chamai. Through Chamai, she wants to bring people in touch with themselves, a warm community of people, inspiring teachers and the beautiful Ardennes where she takes her refuge.
In her own year longs, she interweaves the power of ceremonies, rites of passage, herbal wisdom, pilgrimages in nature and authentic womanhood.
The dream of the nature retreat house became possible thanks to the heritage of her grandmother who was a proud of her ancestry, and also thanks to her parents’ devotion to this special place and the surrounding forests.
As guardian of this place, she would like to share those places with people who are looking for a deep connection to their own roots, an authentic humanity and a simple spirituality anchored in life and nature. As the village’s Old Presbytery and an important meeting place, the place has been allowed to give many a powerful experience of community, tranquillity and conviviality over the past centuries.
May this place touch you too !
Gert Daniels
Gert is a treasure of a man and he enjoys life as a dance and yoga teacher. He invites everyone to live from their Heart and Feeling.
As director of the non-profit organisation We See You, he brings movement, dance, singing and martial arts to vulnerable children and young people in youth care and schools. Thanks to many wise teachers from all over the world, he has innumerable inner treasures to share with those who can make use of them. Especially by being present (sense/sense/being) softly and listening with what is.
His specialities are the Sacred Sufi Dervish Dance and the Sword Dance (Tog Chöd Wisdom Sword). Furthermore, for years he has been co-organising men’s gatherings to guide men more in heart and feeling and to inspire young and less young men.
Together with Sophie, Gert is the guardian of this ancestral place in the heart of the Ardennes, and together they are building Chamai into an oasis of peace and love. Together, they bring the wisdom of mother nature to you and especially to the young generation.
Join us to become a cocreator of the Tribe of the Heart, where every Heart is much needed in these intense times.