YOGA & BHAKTI IMMERSION IN TUSCANY
OCTOBER 10-17 2024
Join Madhuri & Amrita for a week of yoga, philosophy, kirtan & bhakti in Tuscany, Italy!
Yoga108’s retreats take the immersive vibe of a yoga training and bring it to an amazing part of the world. We will dive into the study of yoga and bhakti…while also soaking in Italy!
We offer a deep learning experience and daily grounding & healing yoga + meditation practices, while having an incredible cultural immersion abroad.
Where are we going?
We chose to travel to Tuscany because it’s one of our favorite places in the world! Its beauty is hard to match, and it’s a bucket list place to visit for so many people.
Tuscany is a region in central Italy. Its capital, Florence, it’s home to some of the world’s most recognizable Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s "David" statue, Botticelli’s works in the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo basilica. Tuscany is one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in Italy, specializing in cereals (especially wheat), olives and olive oil, and wines, notably those of the Chianti district near Siena.
We will be located in the heart of the Chianti region, about 20 km outside of Florence, adjacent to a village called San Casciano Val di Pesa. A place of incomparable beauty!
Where Will We Stay?
We will be spending 7 nights at the incredible Villa Casavecchia, located right outside the town of San Casciano Val di Pesa and nestled into the hills of the Tuscan countryside.
Villa Casavecchia consists of 3 large villas and ample grounds where you can take relaxing nature walks. One of these villas (which has been lovingly restored) was originally built in the 1200’s! These villas have an old-world charm that transports you to another time and provides you with an authentic experience of Tuscany.
Read more about Villa Casavecchia here.
What will our days look like?
We will move at a relaxed pace in Italy! Our goal is for you to be able find a slower pace of life, while also deepening your knowledge of yoga, and soaking in Italian culture and history.
Our days will consist of morning meditation, daily vinyasa yoga, plus a longer evening seminar. We have 4 planned excursions, and there will also be plenty of free time where you can take a long walk on the grounds, visit a nearby temple (Villa Vrndavana), walk to town, or just relax by the pool! You can wander into the local town (San Casciano) as much as you’d like! San Casciano is the quintessential archaic European village…full of charm…and at your leisure you can get food, coffee, pastries, and visit the shops.
Our Daily schedule:
Schedule is subject to some change & fluctuation based on what we are doing on a given day
6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. Meditation Practice
7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Vinyasa Yoga Practice
9:15 a.m. Breakfast
1:00 p.m. Lunch
Planned excursion or free time, depending on the day.
4:30 p.m. Evening Seminar
7:00 p.m. Dinner
OUR TRIP SCHEDULE:
Thursday Oct 10: Arrive and settle in, evening yoga class & dinner
Friday Oct 11: First full day w/yoga and seminars (regular daily schedule)
Saturday Oct 12: Florence Trip (modified daily schedule)
Sunday Oct 13: Regular daily schedule
Monday Oct 14: Volterra and San Gimignano Trip (modified daily schedule)
Tuesday Oct 15: Optional Tuscany Bike Tour or resting day
Wednesday Oct 16: Cinque Terre trip (modified daily schedule)
Thursday Oct 17: Departure
OUR planned activities:
Florence- Traverse some of the world’s most beautiful cities!
Tuscany Bike Tour- A 12k bike adventure through the beautiful Tuscan Countryside.
Volterra and San Gimignano- Explore medieval cities in Tuscany.
Cinque Terre- explore centuries-old seaside villages on the beautiful Italian Riviera coastline.
local attractions:
San Casciano- A nearby medieval town within walking distance from our Villas- perfect place to go get coffee or a snack!
Villa Vrndavana- A nearby bhakti temple! Soak in the spiritual energy of this temple and its beautiful grounds. Visit the incredible museum with artwork from the Indian epic the Mahabharata.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE COST:
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2-3 vegetarian meals per day
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On the days where we are on excursions, lunch will not be provided but can be purchased.
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All meals are vegetarian, vegan/gf can be accommodated.
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Accommodations for 7 nights.
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Daily meditation, yoga classes, and seminars.
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All activities (bike tour excluded).
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Transport to scheduled activities.
WHAT you will need:
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A current, valid passport.
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Clothing to span cool temperatures in the morning and evening, and warm temperatures in the daytime.
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Yoga clothing.
what isn't included in the cost:
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Airfare
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Transport to unscheduled activities and to/from airport.
cost of trip and flight info:
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Double Room: $2850 per person, Early Bird $2650 (before May 15th)
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Single Room: $3350 per person
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You will fly to Florence Airport (Firenze-Peretola) arriving on Monday, October 10th. You can hire a taxi to take you directly to Casavecchia.
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We will leave for home on October 17th.
Meet Your Guides: Madhuri & Amrita
Madhuri:
Madhuri is the founder and director of Yoga108 located in Downtown Long Beach, California. She is an advanced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) and has studied and taught yoga for the past 18 years.
Inspired by her teachers, community, and personal healing process, Madhuri shares spiritual tools through teaching yoga classes, seminars, 200hr + 300hr teacher trainings, and leading international retreats.
Madhuri received a degree in Dance Performance from the University of California, Irvine,where she studied the body and movement extensively, mentored by visionary choreographers Donald McKayle and Loretta Livingston. Subsequently, she completed 500 hours of training at NYC’s Laughing Lotus Yoga Center under the mentorship of studio owner, Dana Flynn. Further study has included trainings with Balance Integration
Corporation, Lineage Project, and RISE Yoga For Youth.
After a life-changing trip to India in 2012, Madhuri dove into yoga philosophy, studying with NYC master yoga teachers Yogi Charu and Raghunath. In 2014, Madhuri relocated from NYC to Long Beach, California, to live in an ashram for 2 years and intensely study yoga philosophy and the Bhagavad Gita. In 2016, she took formal initiation into her spiritual path and received the name “Madhuri.”
Madhuri continues to be a student of yoga and study the wisdom of the Gita, and takes yearly trips to India to connect more deeply with the sacred Bhakti tradition.
Amrita:
Amrita is a yoga instructor, studio manager at Yoga108, professional belly dance teacher, mother, and wife. Dedicating much of her life to yoga and belly dance, she's been studying both for over 20 years. She teaches weekly yoga classes, is a lead instructor of teacher trainings at Yoga108, and regularly lectures on her favorite topic; yoga philosophy.
Amrita's an advanced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) through Yoga108, as well as a certified kids yoga teacher through Rainbow Kids yoga and a certified group fitness instructor with a focus on strength training through AFAA. Amrita's extensive dance training includes 2 certifications through the 8 Elements of Belly Dance program at Studio Datura in Portland, Oregon, where she trained with Rachel Brice, as well as training with some of the top dancers in the world over the past 2 decades.
Amrita is an aspiring Bhakti Yogi, and in July of 2019 took formal initiation into the Krishna Bhakti lineage, receiving the name Amrita Gaurangi Devi Dasi. She engages in daily Sadhana and regularly studies ancient wisdom texts such as the Bhagavad Gita under her beloved teachers Tukaram Das Prabhu and Radhanath Swami.
A forever student, Amrita is passionate about continuously expanding her knowledge of yoga, its deep philosophy and practices. Her teachers and dedication to learning, provide Amrita the ability to come closer to becoming the teacher she strives to be, hoping to truly inspire others to cultivate balance, peace, compassion and depth in their lives.
What You Will Get Out of this trip:
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A cultural and historical experience of Tuscany!
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Curated seminars that introduce and delve into primary philosophical tenets of yoga such as the yamas + niyamas, 8 limbs of yoga, the gunas and lessons from yoga’s primary text, the Bhagavad Gita.
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An introduction to bhakti yoga and its primary practice, kirtan.
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An introduction to mantra meditation and daily meditation practice.
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Community and new friends!
You leave with a storehouse of new knowledge, plus an incredible travel experience!