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Contact us to learn more or answer any questions – Email [email protected] or phone +1 (504) 234-9165 or [email protected] or phone +44 (0)7836 326878. If you are ready to commit, book online now.
Join Anne Lonsdale and Jessica Blanchard in an idyllic Tuscan setting for a 7 day yoga retreat! Together, we will explore postures, breath, cleansing, attitude and nutrition to experience how yoga can enhance and transform our inner and outer vitality. Learn how to build and keep your body vibrantly healthy using Ayurvedic principles, diet and lifestyle.
Open to all levels from beginners to advanced, this all inclusive yoga holiday includes twice daily inspiring yoga sessions, three delicious and healthy vegetarian meals per day, guided nature hikes, wonderful sightseeing to explore local villages, time to relax and contemplate, optional excursions and in-house holistic treatments.
The week long yoga retreat will be held at Villa Benvenuti, a beautifully restored 17th century Villa just outside the medieval town of Lucca – one of Tuscany’s best kept secrets! Located just thirty minutes from Pisa and 1.5 hrs from Florence, the villa sits high on a hillside overlooking a panorama of mountains, olive groves, fruit trees and vineyards. With 28 hectares of unspoilt nature to explore, the natural surroundings and secluded setting create an atmosphere of calm and stillness, making it ideal for yoga and contemplative practices. We practise yoga in several indoor and outdoor spaces – the indoor yoga room is fully equipped with mats, bolsters, belts and blocks and we use the grassed terraces with views overlooking the hills and olive groves for sunrise and sunset sessions.
Fabulous location and fresh, regional food
Olive oil, herbs, vegetables, fruit and wine are all produced in abundance on the estate and provide the essential ingredients for delicious, fresh vegetarian meals, cleansing juices and herbal teas. The atmosphere at the villa is very relaxed and informal and participants are free to help themselves to fresh fruit, water and herbal teas throughout the day.
About the teachers
Jessica Blanchard (co-owner, Balance Yoga & Wellness)
After yoga touched her life deeply, Jessica shifted paths to devote herself to spreading the wisdom of eastern healing modalities. Jessica leads Yoga, Nutrition and Ayurveda workshops each year in Asia and Europe. When not traveling she teaches and sees clients at Balance Yoga & Wellness. She has studied nutrition and wellness in the Eastern tradition of Ayurveda and is currently becoming a registered dietitian. A student of Ashtanga Yoga since 2000, Jessica studied primarily with the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, who gave her his blessing to teach in 2005. She teaches with compassion and intelligence, and loves seeing how yoga uncovers the layers of dust, letting the spark of intelligence shine through each individual.
Anne Lonsdale
Anne has trained for many years in Hatha yoga practises and philosophy and continues to spend time each year with her teachers in Thailand & India. Currently, she leads retreats and workshops around the world and regularly teaches Yoga Teacher Training Courses. Her classes combine a mixture of breath work (Pranayama), postures (Asana) & meditation techniques and she combines this with guidance on general lifestyle choices to enhance well being and contentment.
Her interest is in how our attitude affects us both in our yoga practice and in life generally. She draws on her 25 years experience working as a leadership development trainer, facilitator & coach in the corporate world where she ran her own successful consultancy.
Retreat Fees & Terms
£1100 / $1735 per person in a shared twin room, 4 sharing bathroom equipped with 2 oak-stone-units/(4 rooms)
£1295 / $2075 per person in a shared twin room, ensuite (2 rooms)
£1295 / $2075 per person in a shared double room, ensuite (1 room)
Most people are happy to share a room and if booking a shared twin room, we will put you in a room with a same sex person. Rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Book online now.
The price includes:
Wine (produced from the estate) at dinnerBookings and Enquiries
To book your place, a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of £300/ $400 per person is required. Full payment by 15 April 2012.
We are here to answer any questions by phone or email.
To enquire/book, please email: UK—[email protected] or phone +44 (0)7836 326878 USA—[email protected] or phone +1 (504) 234-9165.
Payment can be made by bank transfer, credit card or check.
Weekly Program
7:30-9:30am Morning Practices
9:30am Nutritious Breakfast
10:30-1pm Free time or Optional Excursions
1pm – Delicious Lunch
2-4:30pm – Free time, massage, nature walk, swim, read, relax, explore or just do nothing!)
4:30-7pm – Afternoon session & practices
7pm – Delicious home cooked dinner
8:30pm – Evening Practices (Sunday & Thursday), Film or Dinner Out (Friday)
Notes
Click here for a downloadable .pdf file with photos, description and full schedule.