Yoga holidays in Italy
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Le Marche |
| departures: | 2008: 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 11 Sep, 25 Sep |
| price: | From £595 (7 days) excluding flights. Price includes full board accommodation and classes |
| offers: | 15-20% off selected holidays: 15% discount on yoga week 21-28 August with Dan Levitas. 20% off all yoga holidays from 28 August - 25 September 2008 |
read 5 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
We run a holistic centre in the heart of Italy where you can enjoy a holiday that satisfies every bit of you: from your deepest spiritual side to your need for pizza side. The holistic philosophy is at the heart of what we do: that we are whole beings, part of a whole universe… and that it’s important to accept ourselves and others as we are.
So what’s the appeal? - A programme of fabulous weeks from yoga to tai chi to world famous masters. All set on a 100 acre wooded hill with Italian farmhouse, panoramic pool, geodesic dome in the woods and close to the renaissance hill-town of Urbino (birthplace of Raphael and a world heritage site).
Then there’s the fact that we’re light-hearted about spirituality: if you want a mantra-chanting, nut-eating serious kind of place, please google these words. We’re holistic in the true sense of the word (it means ‘whole’): you don’t have to be peaceful, at one with yourself or sorted – just come and be yourself.
Our food: Our food is vegetarian but most of our guests aren't! So why do they all leave raving about the food? Well, it's Italian, it's delicious and it's plentiful. Lemon and fennel risotto - grilled aubergine and garlic pizza - wild mushroom lasagna.....enough said!
Our accommodation: Our recently renovated farmhouse is beautiful and eco-friendly - we take our heat from the sun and our water from the hill. You’ll love where you eat. You’ll love where you sleep. And you’ll love where you swim: we have a large salt-water pool which emerges from the deep woodland and has the most amazing views across the hills.
Free time: Whatever’s on in your week, life is easy here. A light breakfast is followed by the morning session and then into an early lunch. The afternoon is then free until the session before dinner. So there’s time to sunbathe, sleep, go for a walk or have a massage. There’s also one full day off to venture out to Urbino or wherever you fancy.
Dan Levitas teaches Astanga yoga, a system developed by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, involving synchronising the breath with a progressive series of postures. This vigorous system detoxifies muscles and organs, improves circulation and creates a light, strong body and calm mind. Dan is also a trained classical guitarist and will play during relaxation sessions (as well as after dinner).
12-19 June 2008, Dynamic Flow & Yin yoga with Dina Cohen
Dina Cohen teaches Dynamic Flow yoga which balances the dynamism and power of a strong flowing form with the softness and stillness of Yin yoga. It’s a comprehensive practice designed to increase flexibility, tone and strengthen the body, soothe the mind and nourish the soul. Dina’s passion for yoga shines through her teaching.
26 June - 3 July 2008, Hatha yoga with Helena Bingham
Helena Bingham is our yoga consultant and has been with us from the beginning. Helena’s foundation is Hatha Yoga, but she mixes different styles and flavours of yoga into her classes. She creates lots of space between the asanas to encourage letting go. This is gentle, opening yoga: it’s not too serious and you don’t even have to be able to touch your toes.
10-17 July 2008, Hatha Yoga with Nigel Gilderson
Nigel Gilderson is a well-known international teacher. His journey through yoga has been up the hill and down the other side. From the commitment of daily rigorous practice in the astanga form to the softer more forgiving flow of the Sivananda style, through to the technical precision of the Iyengar system, his journey has brought him to a fusion of styles. He’s synthesised these influences over years into a flowing practice that also uses elements of Tai Chi and Chi Kung in the shadow form: so that students can expect to be strengthened, loosened and laid open to enjoy the natural beauty of the Hill and its delights.
24 – 31 July and 31 July – 7 August 2008, Family Weeks
Due to huge demand, we’re doing two consecutive Family Weeks this year. This is a rare chance to have a holistic holiday as a family. Drag along the less keen members of the family with the promise of the pool and pizza. Then get stuck into yoga classes for the parents in the morning, whilst the children are taught yoga or entertained separately. Spend some time together during the day, and then wave the kids off to an afternoon yoga session whilst you have some time for yourselves. They’ll swing in the hammocks, bounce on the trampoline and play table football as you sit and read a book.
7 – 14 August 2008, Iyengar Yoga with Bharti and Duccio
Bharti Roopanand and Duccio Alessandri are something else. They both trained directly with Shri B.K.S. Iyengar in Pune, India. Iyengar it is the style of yoga on which much of the western forms have been based. The practice centres around familiar asanas and pranayamas (using the breath), but with a strong emphasis on correct body alignment to encourage healing of current problems. Bharti and Duccio’s long and profound understanding of this yoga is evident, and you’ll benefit right from the first asana. They have a loyal following in Italy and this will be a very special week with two outstanding teachers.
21-28 August 2008, Astanga yoga with Dan Levitas
Dan Levitas teaches Astanga yoga, a system developed by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, involving synchronising the breath with a progressive series of postures. This vigorous system detoxifies muscles and organs, improves circulation and creates a light, strong body and calm mind.
28 August – 4 September 2008, Hatha yoga with Helena Bingham
Helena Bingham is our yoga consultant and has been with us from the beginning. Helena’s foundation is Hatha Yoga, but she mixes different styles and flavours of yoga into her classes. She creates lots of space between the asanas to encourage letting go. This is gentle, opening yoga: it’s not too serious and you don’t even have to be able to touch your toes.
4 - 11 September 2008, Hatha yoga with Helena Bingham
Helena Bingham is our yoga consultant and has been with us from the beginning. Helena’s foundation is Hatha Yoga, but she mixes different styles and flavours of yoga into her classes. She creates lots of space between the asanas to encourage letting go. This is gentle, opening yoga: it’s not too serious and you don’t even have to be able to touch your toes.
11-18 September 2008, Shadow Yoga with Tim Cummins
Tim trained in and taught Shivenanda and then Astanga yoga for years before falling for Shadow Yoga. This simple and enjoyable yet challenging form frees up energy (prana) in the body to dissolve restrictions and stuck areas, or ‘shadows’. Expect to give your hips some serious stretching & unblocking whilst strengthening your legs. The breathing techniques will calm your emotions & centre your mind whilst discouraging any build up of stiffness in the body.
25 September – 2 October 2008, Scaravelli yoga with Catherine Annis
Catherine Malynicz teaches a gentle form of Hatha yoga developed by Vanda Scaravelli which develops core strength through releasing tension and creating length in the spine. It is a soft but powerful internal yoga, which uses the breath and gravity to allow the spine to unfold like a wave, allowing the uninhibited opening and energising of the whole body.
So what’s the appeal? - A programme of fabulous weeks from yoga to tai chi to world famous masters. All set on a 100 acre wooded hill with Italian farmhouse, panoramic pool, geodesic dome in the woods and close to the renaissance hill-town of Urbino (birthplace of Raphael and a world heritage site).
Then there’s the fact that we’re light-hearted about spirituality: if you want a mantra-chanting, nut-eating serious kind of place, please google these words. We’re holistic in the true sense of the word (it means ‘whole’): you don’t have to be peaceful, at one with yourself or sorted – just come and be yourself.
Our food: Our food is vegetarian but most of our guests aren't! So why do they all leave raving about the food? Well, it's Italian, it's delicious and it's plentiful. Lemon and fennel risotto - grilled aubergine and garlic pizza - wild mushroom lasagna.....enough said!
Our accommodation: Our recently renovated farmhouse is beautiful and eco-friendly - we take our heat from the sun and our water from the hill. You’ll love where you eat. You’ll love where you sleep. And you’ll love where you swim: we have a large salt-water pool which emerges from the deep woodland and has the most amazing views across the hills. Free time: Whatever’s on in your week, life is easy here. A light breakfast is followed by the morning session and then into an early lunch. The afternoon is then free until the session before dinner. So there’s time to sunbathe, sleep, go for a walk or have a massage. There’s also one full day off to venture out to Urbino or wherever you fancy.
yoga courses
22-29 May 2008, Astanga yoga with Dan Levitas. Dan Levitas teaches Astanga yoga, a system developed by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, involving synchronising the breath with a progressive series of postures. This vigorous system detoxifies muscles and organs, improves circulation and creates a light, strong body and calm mind. Dan is also a trained classical guitarist and will play during relaxation sessions (as well as after dinner).
12-19 June 2008, Dynamic Flow & Yin yoga with Dina Cohen
Dina Cohen teaches Dynamic Flow yoga which balances the dynamism and power of a strong flowing form with the softness and stillness of Yin yoga. It’s a comprehensive practice designed to increase flexibility, tone and strengthen the body, soothe the mind and nourish the soul. Dina’s passion for yoga shines through her teaching.
26 June - 3 July 2008, Hatha yoga with Helena Bingham
Helena Bingham is our yoga consultant and has been with us from the beginning. Helena’s foundation is Hatha Yoga, but she mixes different styles and flavours of yoga into her classes. She creates lots of space between the asanas to encourage letting go. This is gentle, opening yoga: it’s not too serious and you don’t even have to be able to touch your toes.
10-17 July 2008, Hatha Yoga with Nigel Gilderson
Nigel Gilderson is a well-known international teacher. His journey through yoga has been up the hill and down the other side. From the commitment of daily rigorous practice in the astanga form to the softer more forgiving flow of the Sivananda style, through to the technical precision of the Iyengar system, his journey has brought him to a fusion of styles. He’s synthesised these influences over years into a flowing practice that also uses elements of Tai Chi and Chi Kung in the shadow form: so that students can expect to be strengthened, loosened and laid open to enjoy the natural beauty of the Hill and its delights.
24 – 31 July and 31 July – 7 August 2008, Family Weeks
Due to huge demand, we’re doing two consecutive Family Weeks this year. This is a rare chance to have a holistic holiday as a family. Drag along the less keen members of the family with the promise of the pool and pizza. Then get stuck into yoga classes for the parents in the morning, whilst the children are taught yoga or entertained separately. Spend some time together during the day, and then wave the kids off to an afternoon yoga session whilst you have some time for yourselves. They’ll swing in the hammocks, bounce on the trampoline and play table football as you sit and read a book.
7 – 14 August 2008, Iyengar Yoga with Bharti and Duccio
Bharti Roopanand and Duccio Alessandri are something else. They both trained directly with Shri B.K.S. Iyengar in Pune, India. Iyengar it is the style of yoga on which much of the western forms have been based. The practice centres around familiar asanas and pranayamas (using the breath), but with a strong emphasis on correct body alignment to encourage healing of current problems. Bharti and Duccio’s long and profound understanding of this yoga is evident, and you’ll benefit right from the first asana. They have a loyal following in Italy and this will be a very special week with two outstanding teachers.
21-28 August 2008, Astanga yoga with Dan Levitas
Dan Levitas teaches Astanga yoga, a system developed by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, involving synchronising the breath with a progressive series of postures. This vigorous system detoxifies muscles and organs, improves circulation and creates a light, strong body and calm mind.
28 August – 4 September 2008, Hatha yoga with Helena Bingham
Helena Bingham is our yoga consultant and has been with us from the beginning. Helena’s foundation is Hatha Yoga, but she mixes different styles and flavours of yoga into her classes. She creates lots of space between the asanas to encourage letting go. This is gentle, opening yoga: it’s not too serious and you don’t even have to be able to touch your toes.
4 - 11 September 2008, Hatha yoga with Helena Bingham
Helena Bingham is our yoga consultant and has been with us from the beginning. Helena’s foundation is Hatha Yoga, but she mixes different styles and flavours of yoga into her classes. She creates lots of space between the asanas to encourage letting go. This is gentle, opening yoga: it’s not too serious and you don’t even have to be able to touch your toes.
11-18 September 2008, Shadow Yoga with Tim Cummins
Tim trained in and taught Shivenanda and then Astanga yoga for years before falling for Shadow Yoga. This simple and enjoyable yet challenging form frees up energy (prana) in the body to dissolve restrictions and stuck areas, or ‘shadows’. Expect to give your hips some serious stretching & unblocking whilst strengthening your legs. The breathing techniques will calm your emotions & centre your mind whilst discouraging any build up of stiffness in the body.
25 September – 2 October 2008, Scaravelli yoga with Catherine Annis
Catherine Malynicz teaches a gentle form of Hatha yoga developed by Vanda Scaravelli which develops core strength through releasing tension and creating length in the spine. It is a soft but powerful internal yoga, which uses the breath and gravity to allow the spine to unfold like a wave, allowing the uninhibited opening and energising of the whole body.
travellers' tales
Yoga heaven! Outdoors, saluting the sun overlooking hills that take your breath away, or indoors in the most incredible yoga space I've ever come across: a geodesic dome nestled in the woods! (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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As a holistic centre with a holistic philosophy, we encourage the recognition that we are whole beings inseparable from our environment: that healing ourselves contributes to healing others and the earth… that healing others and the earth contributes to healing ourselves.
Well water is used and advice is given on how to conserve this limited supply. Solar panels heat the water and guests are encouraged to have only one shower and to take it late afternoon. Glass, plastic, paper/card and printer cartridges are recycled, and we have a paper free policy for enquiries and bookings ie. internet/email only. We own 100 acres of woodland, which we manage and maintain to create new tree growth and sustain the local wildlife (deer, boar, badger, fox, red squirrel, etc.). Guests are given advice on appropriate behaviour (keeping to tracks, picking up any rubbish, etc.). Destination visits with environmental benefits are available, including walks in the mountains led by a local guide, an expert on the flora and fauna of the area, who naturally imparts his love of this environment and his desire to maintain and nurture it.  We employ local people and encourage our partner companies (e.g. if extra accommodation is needed) to do so. Our local staff include those who advise and guide on visits into the local community and inform guests of local events and traditions so that they can offer support (eg. craft fairs, markets, carnival events, saints’ days celebrations, local village fairs etc.). We source food locally wherever possible. Beds etc. are purchased from local factories and guests are encouraged to purchase locally from farms, shops, restaurants, etc. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |