Guest Coach Workshop with early bird accommodation at RisingSoul, starting from €227 for a 4-day package.

Across three immersive days, this clay plaster masterclass invites you to deepen your understanding of natural finishes through direct, hands-on practice. You’ll learn how to test and apply clay renders on different surfaces, while also exploring more advanced techniques such as burnishing, sculpting, and carving. The workshop also includes making your own clay paints from local, foraged clays.

This is a practical, experiential course, so expect to get thoroughly involved. Detailed information on what to bring will be shared with participants after enrolment.

Who this workshop is for

People renovating an old building
Anyone drawn to natural materials and mud building
Guests who want to create beautiful, non-toxic finishes
Those who enjoy learning alongside like-minded people

This may not be the right fit if you:

Do not want to get dirty
Prefer to avoid physical, hands-on work

What makes this experience special

Clay plastering is a rare skill, and this course offers the chance to work with the soil from your own land or yard to create natural finishes with real character. It is a unique opportunity to combine yoga and natural building within a nature-immersed setting, supported by pranic food and yogic practices throughout the day.

What you will learn

How to use different soil types in clay plaster
How to test clay mixtures for strength and adhesion
The role of each ingredient in a clay plaster mix and how to adapt it for your project
How to apply layers correctly when rendering, and what to avoid
How to make clay plaster adhere to different surfaces and materials
How to use a trowel and sponges for refined finishes
How to sculpt plaster with palette knives and other tools
How to carve clay plaster and create striking bas-reliefs
Burnishing techniques using a range of tools
How to repair and maintain clay plasters
An introduction to clay plaster for restoration work

Experience highlights

Advanced techniques on a real build
Hands-on learning for practical skill development
Daily yoga and embodiment practices
Ahimsa plant-based nourishment
In-depth teaching on clay plaster principles
Nature immersion
Ceremony and fire circles

A natural rhythm of community life

Life here is relaxed, yet held within a steady daily rhythm of practices and meals that support grounding and ease. At the same time, there is plenty of freedom to follow your own pace. The only essentials are Karma Yoga for 20 minutes twice a day, supporting shared community life, and the weekly Sharing Circle, which helps nurture connection and unity. Everything else is optional.

There is also space to rest, reflect, and breathe. You may choose to walk in the forest, settle into a hammock, write in the chai house, or spend quiet time by the river. Nature offers the perfect setting for integration and renewal.

Daily rhythm

07:00 Morning meditation (optional)
08:00 Breakfast + Cob construction principles class
08:45 Group walk to the eco village land (worksite)
09:00 – 12:45 Earth building session 1 (hands-on)
12:45 Walk home
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch at the Chai House with Q&A
14:00 – 15:30 Rest, relax, swim, or journal; massage available
15:30 – 18:15 Earth Building session 2 with Atulya on site
18:30 Dinner, theory & Q&A
20:30 – 21:30 Yoga Nidra, Yin or Restorative Yoga (optional)

Please note: instruction often happens on site while working with your hands, so this schedule is a flexible guide rather than a fixed timetable.

Included in your RisingSoul stay

Accommodation
Two daily yoga/moving meditation sessions
Welcome drink & circle
Ahimsa vegetarian breakfasts & dinner

Not included

Lunches at the Chai House
Organised trips
Massages & healing practices
Flights & transfers from Tryavna

Pricing

First Off The Blocks (first 3 tickets): £185
Early birds (next 3 tickets): £210
Standard ticket: £235

Food and accommodation are booked separately, and the stay is for four nights. Accommodation options at RisingSoul include camping (with your own tent) for 152 Euros, a yurt for 220 Euros, or a dorm room for 230 Euros. All options include food and home-cooked plant-based meals for the full stay. Tickets are non-refundable.

Your teacher

Atulya has spent 15 years building with natural materials and living off-grid. She is the founder and author of The Mud Home natural building website, and her work has been featured in publications such as Mother Earth News and Owner Builder Magazine, as well as podcasts including All that We Are and Regenerative Skills. Her journey into natural building began in Turkey in 2011, when necessity led her to teach herself how to build with mud. What started as practical survival soon became a creative passion, and within a year she had built her own house. She has continued to build and write about natural materials ever since.

RisingSoul is a women-led conscious community rooted in yoga, nature, and sustainability. Surrounded by forests, creeks, and mountain views, it offers a peaceful setting for reflection, learning, and meaningful connection.

Spaces are limited to keep the atmosphere intimate and sacred.

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