I’ve been to Tuscany several times in my life, and I can’t deny that is my Italian favourite region. There is something truly magical about its breathtaking landscape, the gently rolling hills and the clear water, sea cliffs and white sandy beaches located between Versilia and Maremma. And then there are the lovely cities such as Florence, Siena, Arezzo and Pisa and an incredible number of charming villages with their magnificent monuments, streets, squares, towers and bridges that represent almost half the historical, cultural and artistic heritage of Italy. Last but not least there are the exquisite wines and delicious food and cooking traditions that date back thousands of years.
If you are planning to visit Tuscany and you still wish to deepen your yoga practice here are 5 yoga retreats held in this beautiful region that will allow you to have it all:
Yoga Drumming Retreat, Italy 2nd – 9th July
Merging yoga and drumming creates a powerful way to unite body, mind and spirit, it represents a new way for improving all aspects of our yoga practice, deepening our self investigation. Drumming and yoga form a natural partnership. The vibrating resonance of the drum seems to pull students and practitioner deeper into the practice. The drummer moves energy into space while the yogini moves energy through the body. The tempo of the drumming can influence the intensity of the movement.
In this week long yoga drumming retreat, we will explore the practice of Hatha yoga, meditation and Pranayama with the aid of live drumming. A beautiful dance between teacher, drummer, space and student. Your teacher Massimo is a registered yoga teacher with SYM (Shiatsu Yoga Mediterraneo) as well as a professional Shiatsu therapist, teacher, qualified kinesiologist and cranial sacral therapist. Massimo has finally found a way to merge 35 years of drumming experience with his 30 years of activities as a martial artist, therapist and yoga teacher.
During the week long stay, one day will be completely free to allow participants to explore the stunning surroundings or to visit the Chiusi della Verna Monastery.
EAT.PRAY.MOVE yoga and photography in Tuscany, 10th – 16th July
EAT.PRAY.MOVE is excited to host yoga and photography in Tuscany along with Julian Hyzler from EASEL&LENS. Yoga and meditation classes will help us find focus of body and mind that we can then apply to art and photo projects, including “ifonography” (smartphone photography).
The Italian countryside will provide both backdrop and inspiration for our art and practice. We will experience the richness of Italian cities on day trips that focus on arts, culture and beauty.We will visit small villages as well as larger cities, along with outdoor activities in the Italian countryside. A thermal spa also awaits our arrival.
Our daily meditation and yoga classes will relax, stimulate and help you grow your personal practice. Classes range from gentle, restorative yoga to more vigorous vinyasa and ashtanga sessions.
We will be enjoying delicious Italian cuisine made with fresh, organic local ingredients from the Chiusi market. Dishes such as pumpkin risotto, pasta al forno and slow roasted fennel with red onions will be prepared for us using seasonal ingredients. We will also be providing good local wine from the famous Montepulciano vineyards.
Transformational Yoga & Wellness Retreat in Tuscany, 5 – 11 August/9 – 15 October
Effortlessly combining yoga with a range of holistic therapies such as oriental health diagnosis, macrobiotic nutrition and signature body treatments, KU Retreats is offering you a truly transformational wellness experience.
The 7 day programme has been specifically designed to help accelerate a positive shift in your overall wellbeing. Through years of expertise and personal experience the dedicated team at KU Retreats Tuscany will help you to identify patterns and habits that have been restricting your potential and stopping you from living the life you desire.
During the course of your stay you’ll receive a wellness consultation which covers nutrition, fitness and natural therapies to assess your current state of health and clarify your future goals. A Macrobiotic diet will be served to help your body detox and cleanse, as well as twice daily Yoga classes, Tai Chi, Qigong, Meditation, Healthy cooking classes, Theory lectures on the benefits of Macrobiotics, a visit to hot springs, and full use of the retreat facilities which include outdoor swimming pools and chill out areas.
Your accommodation for the week will be Vila Gaia, located on a mountaintop in the Tuscany countryside and offering sweeping views of the valley below. There’ll be plenty to keep you occupied with nature walks right on your doorstep, visits to local wine and cheese producers and dozens of world heritage sites within a 15-20 minute drive.
Kundalini retreat in Tuscany, 6th – 13th September
Our home for the week is the Villa Michelucci, a handsome Italian Villa set in the hills of Tuscany. Perfectly balancing luxury with rustic character, it is the ideal space for a personal development quest. With a maximum capacity of 19 people, we guarantee an intimate, bespoke experience. The villa is filled with grand, high ceilinged rooms that offer amazing spaces to socialise and quiet corners for reading, resting and meditation.
Dani Sher, an inspirational teacher of ancient yogic traditions and healing arts, will lead this kundalini retreat. Dani harnesses the spiritual power of crystals, sacred geometry and kundalini activation for deep personal healing and spiritual transformation.The teaching has been developed to help you to dive deeper into your own spiritual awakening. You will experience deep healing and purification on physical, emotional and spiritual levels.
The flow of healing energies goes deep into the body-mind-spirit complex, removing negativity, entities, and implants, while opening blockages and clearing past traumas. An incredible volume of healing energy will be directed toward you throughout the workshop, supporting you on your journey and helping you to manifest your dreams and goals.
Yoga, wine, cooking and culture retreat in Italy, 8th – 15th October
This yoga, wine, cooking and culture retreat in Italy blends the fun of yoga practice with good living! Stay in a historic casale (farm), turned luxury boutique hotel, set in the Italian countryside and enjoy the bliss of Italian cuisine, culture, wine, nature, all dressed up with classic Italian art and history! The farm sits on the top of a natural amphitheater facing south-west, 350m above sea level. The farm owns 52 hectares, of which 25 hectares are dedicated to vineyards, 2 hectares host olive trees, while a wood of live oaks and cork oaks occupies the remaining 25 hectares.
The retreat offers a good balance of workout, down-time and cultural excursions. Some people are perfectly at ease staying at the hotel to enjoy the peace and luxury of the countryside, pool and relax. For those people who enjoy excursions and cultural discovery, we have a choice of suggestions ranging from the world famous UNESCO heritage city of Siena to the famous medieval town of Montalcino, known for the famous wine Brunello di Montalcino, to the sea side resorts or nature reserves.
We will also organize for you two hands on cooking classes with the chef Fabio Loda, and an in-house wine tasting of the prize winner “Montecucco wine” produced by the farm. In the program you’ll also find a visit to the hot spa of Petriolo just a few kilometers away.
Get in contact with camilla@soulseedmedia.com to receive more information about the retreats and to reserve your spot.
