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La Roulotte, a fixture of the Nyon café scene for 10 years now is located by the Nyon Train Station (North Side). It's a great meeting spot to take some moments to enjoy fresh, seasonal food and drinks all year round. It's also in the perfect place to grab a drink before or after a journey to have there or take with you. As we are now well into Autumn and the clocks are going backwards this Sunday (30th), La Roulotte is also keeping up-to-date and fresh for the changing seasons. Ready for hot dishes and drinks in the cosy warmth, not to mention some Vin Chaud? The Yurt is back! Also on offer is their version of the croque-monsieur, CROQU’CHALET. What makes it so special? It’s made with Lard de Begnins and raclette cheese from a mountain pasture in Champoussin. La Roulotte's menu , is made up of a variety of vegetarian dishes including vegetable soup and they often have vegan options too. If you are looking for coffee and tea alternatives try some delicious hot apple juice with spices, hot lemon with honey and hot milk-honey-cinnamon. La Roulotte closes around 21:00, so not only is it a great place to catch up with friends over coffee but for an apéro too! They have a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails and beer on tap. In celebration of their 10 years, they have created a book filled with inspiring recipes. The second edition of this book is available to buy directly at La Roulotte for 30CHF (a great gift as the holiday season is quickly upon us).

Arts Day in Nyon is back for its 4th edition and the programme looks fantastic. It is organised by the Development of the Plastic Arts Association and is a great cultural event making art accessible to everyone. Highlighting different styles from painting and sculpture, to photography and installations, it is bringing people and artists from all over together. It is an exceptional opportunity for the public to visit artist's studios and engage with them and their work. Museums and art galleries will also be open and holding special animations with free entrance. The DAP Association sources artists and exhibition venues all throughout the year to bring an extensive programme showcasing the work of 48 artists for this years Journée des Arts, here in Nyon. One of the featured artists is Laurence Kubski. A Swiss photographer born in 1986. She studied at ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne (MA in Art Direction & BA in Graphic Design) and currently lives and works in Lausanne. Her artistic work is centred on the way people interact with animals in different cultures. The event will be held all over Nyon but don't worry about missing out on anything. Courtesy of Journée des Arts, there will be a free little train that will allow you to visit all of the exhibition venues. Experience art in all its forms in unusual and new spaces on your artistic journey.

Every year, Schilliger Garden Centre brings us new and magical ways to get into the Christmas mood and this year is no exception! It's the turn of Mrs Claus. Soak in the wonder and enchantment of the delightful world of Mrs Claus and her secret garden full of magical paths and a labyrinth. With the perfect blend of tradition and originality, there are delights and treats on display throughout the garden with its greenery and boxwood hedges, decorated with red and white accessories, filling us with an air of nostalgia.  An enchanting place where chocolate and delicacies grow on Christmas trees and firs, where small forest animals join in the harvest and where you can come face to face with giant candy canes. There will be plenty of festive events this season including The Chris tmas Market. Taking place 12th & 13th November in the Gland and Matran stores (12th November in Plan-les-Ouates). Food stalls Workshops A chance to meet not only Santa Claus but Mrs Claus as well! Personalisation of glass baubles - From 10th November to 9th December (Gland) The Gland store is open every Sunday from 6th November to 11th December. Click here for the full program of activities and events. Decor Schilliger is renowned for their stunning decor and table displays that make you want to copy and paste them straight onto your own dining tables and into your homes. Well, now you can! Check out their top tips on how you can also create magical settings for your family and friends. From the candles and centre pieces , to decorating the Christmas tree. They also have a range of artificial Christmas trees to choose from. Exclusively designed fir trees designed to present a colour, texture and structure that are unmistakably similar to natural conifers. There are still the usual beautiful decorations available - baubles, figurines, crockery, glassware and much more. So whether you are looking to buy some Christmas decorations and gifts, or just want to soak in the festive displays and ambiance, there is definitely something for everyone. Don't forget to make a stop at Café Agnès for a drink or bite to eat before you head home. Model World Why not make your own miniature model world ? Schilliger has everything you need to create your own display. If you're not sure where to begin, just ask one of their experienced advisors in store or visit here for some advice. Behind the Scenes From conception to creation, it takes thousands of hours of teamwork, behind the scenes, to create the fantastic Schilliger displays every year. Have a look at this video on the creation of last year's 2021  Christmas at the edge of the oceans theme to give you an idea of how it all comes together. Read more about Schilliger's C afé Agnès, in the heart of their tropical greenhouse here.

Sleeping Beauty The Geneva Amateur Operatic Socieity (GAOS) is back with a musical production of Sleeping Beauty at the Théâtre de Marens in Nyon. This Christmas Pantomime promises to deliver fun and laughter to all the family. This famous pantomime features the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, staged of course with a prince and princess, an evil witch and some surprisingly sassy fairies plus a large cast of talented children and adults. Showtimes Friday 25th November 20:00 Saturday 26th November 14:00, 19:00 Sunday 27th November 14:00 Thursday 1st December 20:00 Friday 2nd December 20:00 Saturday 3rd December 14:00, 19:00 Sunday 4th December 14:00 Tickets are on sale now. Click here for to book.

Even those of us who do not herald originally from North America know only too well about the Thanksgiving holiday and the many shopping-related offshoots associated with this upcoming celebration. What is a one-day celebration of family, friendship and food, has also turned into a full-on commercial assault with sales on everything from toys to toiletries and treadmills. But whether the deals are really as good as they seem, it is also a chance for savvy shoppers to stock up on more expensive items that they need or to buy presents at a discount that are on Christmas lists. Last year, a number of Nyon’s biggest supermarkets had up to 30% off toys. Keep an eye out for that next week if anyone is looking to bag a bargain. But amidst all the shopping, sales and bargains, it can be easy to forget the origins of this annual national holiday celebrated in the United States  on the last Thursday in November. In Canada the holiday is earlier in the year, usually the second Monday in October. Calendar of Events Thanksgiving, Thursday 24 November Black Friday, Friday 25 November Small Business Saturday, Saturday 26 November - encouraging shoppers to visit local retailers Cyber Monday, Monday 28 November - promoting shopping online One of the shopping holidays that seems more in keeping with the origins of Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday. Shoppers get the chance to say thank you to the smaller businesses that keep our high streets and town centres distinct, different and local. We are very lucky here in Nyon to have so many independent shops, not to mention a plethora of small independent businesses based in the surrounding villages that make beautiful and unique gifts. The Nyon Tourist Office website has a list of markets and sales of local goods that are a particularly good source of gifts as well as the Nyon Christmas Market that is organised each year in the centre of the town by SIC. They are the Nyon Traders’ Association, whose main objectives are to promote and stimulate local trade and crafts and to highlight the many assets of the town. You can find details of their members and the upcoming Christmas Market taking place from 8-24 December on their website . Another good place to find a local business to support is on social media. Facebook groups can be a good place to start. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you are looking to source in your area. It could be a specific item or even an experience to enjoy. You are sure to put a smile on the face of someone who doesn’t have a blockbuster budget to advertise their wares at this time of year. But if you ask for inspiration, they then get a chance to do that for free. For those celebrating, we wish our readers a Happy Thanksgiving!

This wonderful region knows how to do Christmas and celebrate all things festive. It kicks off this weekend with the Montreux Christmas Market.Montreux Christmas Market - 18th - 24th December 2022 There is no better way to experience the magic of Christmas then at the Montreux Christmas Market. 150 beautifully decorated chalet stalls set alongside the stunning lakefront. Find all types of artisanal products and crafts, local specialities, mulled wine and plenty of gift ideas. Where else will you see Santa Claus and his sleigh fly high above you? Click here for all the details and attractions on offer.     Also this week, get into the Christmas spirit at Christmas at Le White Loft. Taking place in Vinzel on Thursday 24th & Friday 25th November, 10:00 - 17:00. A group of local artisans have got together to bring you Christmas gift ideas, goodies, and mini-photo shoots, all in one place! Click here for more details for this event.

Those who frequent the Plage des Trois Jetée during the colder months will have noticed the construction of a small cabin at the lakeside. This is the work of the Association of the Bains des Trois Jetées who, with the help of a band of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers and members, erected the brand-new sauna in late October. It is the result of a successful campaign to raise the necessary funds to replace the old sauna. The aim of the association is to animate and promote the use of the Nyon beach from October to April by, amongst other things, running a seasonal sauna at prices accessible to all. The beautifully designed cabin is cleverly positioned to give the impression of actually being in the water with a huge floor to ceiling window overlooking the lake and the mountains beyond. It is an inviting sanctuary allowing you moments of warmth and calm before, and in between, the two to three recommended dips into the cold water outside. All you need is your swimming costume, a towel to sit on and the courage to brace the cold water of the lake. Ideal to do alone, but even better with friends. Finish it all off with a calming cup of tea in a cosy, fire-lit room, hosted by the volunteer on duty. And for a seasonal event with a difference there is the possibility to hire out the entire sauna on a Friday evening! The sauna is open until April with some special events and early morning sauna sessions coming up. Check out their site for information on opening hours, prices, private hire and special events. Read our previous article on swimming in the lake and the sauna here.

The Christmas Season is fast upon us and we are all for keeping up with traditions. And here we have another very important one coming up for the diary. The Paléo Festival traditional Christmas ticket office will be open from Thursday 1st December to Thursday 22nd December with the following options to buy: •    6-day packs to share •    Personal 6-day passes •    Flex tickets, which guarantee you a ticket for the evening of your choice* *The availability of tickets and passes cannot be guaranteed. How to purchase tickets?Online at paleo.ch •    Limited to 4 tickets per purchase •    Payment by Twint or credit card The Paléo Shop Opening hours from 1st to 22nd December: •    Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays: 10:00-12:00 and 13:30-18:30 •    Fridays 10:00-12:00 and 13:30-17:00 There is a NEW 6-Day Pack that you can purchase. Tickets for all 6 days but you can share with friends or family if you can't make all the festival days but still want to keep your options open. For more information and details on ticketing visit Paléo.ch Also for those of you who had purchased Céline Dion tickets for 20th July 2020, this will now be happening on Monday July 17th 2023 (tickets are sold out). Stay tuned for the Line-Up revealed at a later date but what we know so far is the Village du Monde will explore the beauties of Brazil for 2023. Paléo Week is one of Living in Nyon's favourite times of the year. Read some of our previous coverage of Paléo 2022 here .

Sue Lake from notebynote started this event because I met so many people who missed the opportunities to sing Christmas songs with other people so we aim to create a community event for all ages to come together to sing just for fun. When: Saturday 10th December at 14:00 Where: Chéserex Salle Communale - Route de la Poste, 16, 1275.Contact Sue Lake for more information on suelake@notebynote.eu  This is your time to shine and audience participation is a must!

We wish all our readers a very Happy New Year! After a fantastic break, we are back and will continue to bring you articles about this wonderful town of Nyon and the surrounding region. So, to start us off, we have some charming news from the Ville de Nyon - announcing that the population of Nyon has officially passed 23,000 inhabitants. Jóhann Gudmundur Gudmundsson was born on 27th October 2022 and alongside his parents Stephanie Keegstra and Einar Gudmundsson, were welcomed by Daniel Rossellat, the Mayor of Nyon and Resident Control Officer, Maria Frei to mark the occasion on 21st December 2022. “ Welcome to the world to Jóhann Gudmundur Gudmundsson and welcome to Nyon. We wish Jóhann and his family a lot of happiness enjoying all that the most beautiful city in the world can offer them, thus taking advantage of the educational, extracurricular, social, cultural and sporting infrastructures” - Daniel Rossellat (translation from French). As of now, there are officially 132 nationalities in Nyon. The population of Nyon was 6,000 in 1950 and grew to the 20,000 milestone at the end of 2014. Since March 2018, the number was 21,000 and the growth rate as it stands is approximately 1,000 inhabitants per two years! We wish baby Jóhann all the best! Look out for our upcoming articles from Living in Nyon's interview with the Mayor Of Nyon, Daniel Rossellat. Giving us insights into the growth and development for Nyon, we will also be digging deeper into some interesting stats on the demographic of the people of Nyon.

Nyonnaise and self-proclaimed introvert Charlie Stewart-Brown is the founder of Indiv Yoga Switzerland and has dedicated her life to bringing yoga and meditation to the world. Read more about Charlie in our interview below. We met at the local Portuguese Bakery Bessa . Fitting, as Charlie herself is half-Portuguese and a regular there.She gave us some great insights into her own practices and some simple advice to those of us seeking balance within our busy lives and how to incorporate mindfulness and meditation. Charlie certifies yoga teachers at her teacher training courses as well as offering you the chance to disconnect from daily life, relax & re-balance at her yoga retreats in Switzerland and other locations. Thank you Charlie for sitting down with Living in Nyon.How did you come to live in Nyon? It was around 10 years ago and because of John, my husband's work. He’s in finance and wanted to set up a company in Switzerland. We were going to live in Geneva but I really liked Nyon and its country nature feel. You have got farms and mountains and the lake but then it’s still a little city with everything you need. How did your yoga journey begin? I grew up in London and started suffering with anxiety around the age of 10. I tried non-medical therapies, reflexology, different diets and aromatherapy but none of it was working. I was about 13 or 14 and the doctor said there’s this thing that I’ve heard of called Yoga - it comes from India, there’s breathing and relaxation, maybe you should try it! I found a class and I really enjoyed it and after a school trip to a Buddhist monastery in London, the Eastern philosophy really resonated with me. Together with yoga it really helped me at the time. I realised quite young that my calling was to help people. I didn’t know exactly how yet, but as I started to get into my yoga journey, I felt my dharma in life was to bring yoga and meditation to as many people as I could, because it had benefitted me so much. Even though it was in the 90s when yoga was still considered very esoteric – I believe that it is what I was put in this lifetime to do. After university, working in the corporate world, I got to a point where I wasn't happy, I wasn’t being true to myself. I no longer wanted to work because of other people’s expectations.  In my late 20s, I went off on my own to Madeira Island for a 4 day silent retreat. During that time I decided that all I really wanted to do was dedicate myself to teaching yoga and meditation, and bring the same benefits I had experienced to others. Now in my 40s I’m so glad I made that decision and I hope to be able to still be teaching well into my 80s! What did you do next? I went off and did my first teacher training course and went back to India before I started working as a yoga teacher. I was living in Lisbon and I started teaching at the American Embassy and the International School. It was there I also became known for teaching yoga for Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. I started giving retreats, private and group classes and it just spiralled. I then realised that not one style of yoga suited everyone, so over the next two years I did another six courses with some of the best teachers around the world, so that I could apply different types of yoga for different bodies and minds. This way I could tailor classes specifically for the limitations, objectives and health conditions of my different clients, and also train my teachers to do the same. How do you start your day? My alarm goes off, I lie in bed and check-in with my breathing and my body. I feel where I have got tension and do a bit of deep breathing and stretching where I feel the body needs it. Then I get up and do a meditation down in our little meditation room, say my Buddhist prayers, make a cup of chamomile tea and sit down at my desk to work. What advice would you give to people on how to make time for their own well-being in their busy lives? Well the very first thing and this is going to sound a bit silly, is you have to want to do it. I think a lot of people will hear yoga and meditation is really good for you and want to jump on the bandwagon because they know they should, but they don't actually want to do it. Second of all, there’s this misconception that you have to sit for meditation in silence and stillness for 15, 30, 45 minutes. That can be quite daunting and people get quite nervous about that. Nowadays we are never in silence and we are never in stillness.  I really advocate for meditations with some sort of stimulus. Guided meditations on an app are absolutely brilliant. Repeating a mantra is a wonderful way to meditate. If I am feeling distracted, l will still use my meditation beads. Deep Breathing Deep breathing is the number one thing. Even before meditation because it brings so many physiological, psychological and emotional benefits. I think people really undervalue how important breathing is, even if you’re not ready to dedicate time to meditation. I always say people who do not have time to meditate are the people who need it the most. Just do one minute if that’s all you feel you have got. Set your alarm for 5 minutes earlier or take 5 minutes at lunchtime to listen to a guided meditation, or go out for a mindful walk. Just focus and say to yourself inhale, exhale, with each breath in your mind. Mindfulness One thing I do with all my clients is give them small stickers to put somewhere where they are going to see it throughout the day. It’s a mindfulness sticker. So when you see the sticker you stop and you just check-in with yourself and your breath. What can you hear, see, feel, smell and perhaps taste in the mouth? Just be mindful of your senses and breath for a few minutes each time. How did you go from teaching yoga to teaching teachers? I had been teaching for a few years when we moved to Nyon and set up a small studio here. I had a lot of classes going on but there was only so many people I could teach a week. I felt like I was not reaching enough people and was getting exhausted. I asked myself how can I spread the benefits of yoga and meditation to more people? That’s when I realised that if I trained teachers, then  they  can go out into the world. I call my students my spiders and we are basically building a web around the globe! So I’ve now trained over 400 teachers from all over the world and they are teaching, so my spread is wider. I have had students aged from 18 to 68, and during the courses it is like they’re the children I never had.  I get to experience so much pride. They come on the course as yoga practitioners, and leave as certified yoga teachers. I get to be a part of their journey and progression and there’s not much else in life that makes me happier. As well as teacher trainings you also hold retreats. It’s a way to still keep teaching yoga to people without the pressure of them studying so hard to certify, without the role that I have to play as teacher. There is always this teacher/student dynamic in the teacher training courses whereas on a retreat it is a lot more equal. The dynamic with my clients is a nice change from my students. You have done couple of meditation sessions here in Nyon. Have you had good response to that? Very good, but more response from the expat community. I have held teacher training courses here in Nyon before with students from all over - Taiwan, Alaska, Canada and Hong Kong. But it’s quite expensive to rent a space and organise accommodation for students here in Swizerland. There is this notion that Swiss is expensive. In Portugal and Greece for instance, it’s a lot more attractive because of the weather and I can make the courses less expensive.  I do love doing retreats here in Switzerland though because of the nature and scenery. Favourite place to get coffee in Nyon? Tête de Course  for tea. I never got into coffee because of my past issues with anxiety. They also do amazing cookies, give me honey not just sugar for my tea, and the service is really nice. Favourite place to meditate? Either in our little meditation room at home or down by the lake somewhere. Favourite thing to do in Nyon? It might sound a bit boring but sitting on one of the green benches near the Roman ruins, snuggling in John’s arms looking out at the lake in silence. That’s my happy place. My other favourite thing to do in Nyon is paddle board on the lake. Also I love bowling! Indiv Yoga's last retreat was in October 2022, filled with yoga and meditation sessions throughout the weekend with meals included and set in the stunning backdrop of Schwarzsee, Switzerland. Charlie's next retreat will be held 9th - 12th March 2023 in Schwarzsee, Switzerland. This 4 day Yoga & Buddhist Meditation Retreat is a sure-fire way to recharge those batteries and learn about Buddhist meditation and philosophy, breathing and yoga techniques. You can find the full retreat schedule and can book here .  If you are interested in either Charlie’s teacher training courses or retreats visit the Indiv Yoga website or follow Charlie on Instagram for some more inspiration and mindfulness. Namaste!

What better way to start 2023 than by getting back to nature and cultivating your very own vegetable garden, with the added support of market gardeners and the Au-Potager Association committee. Located in the fields of Bois-Bougy, this community garden with its turnkey concept, allows you to maintain your own plot of land, cultivate your plants, harvest your vegetables and fruits and meet like-minded people. "Each lot is 30 square meters and there is a wide variety of vegetables provided (seeds and plants) and guides on when, where and how to sow and plant them. Gardening tools are also provided on site to make it as easy as possible to dive into the adventure without any hassle! Several times a week, a professional gardener is on site to answer questions of members, takes care of the general maintenance and irrigation system. Gardens are often shared by two people/families to make it fun and share the workload and harvests." As well as Nyon there are two other Au-Potager sites in the area - Prangins and Gland. For more information visit the Au-Potager Website There are still lots available for the 2023 season! Sign up below. Nyon Prangins Gland