Astanga – Pranayama – Meditation

"Santa Maria del Sole"

Yoga Retreat in Southern Italy

with Marianne Jacuzzi

12 – 18 July 2009

· Come to Santa Maria del Sole in Puglia, land of olive trees, vineyards and sunshine. Under the vast blue sky and close to the cycles of nature, we will deepen into our yoga practice, tuning our hearts to the still voice at the centre of our being. Santa Maria Del Sole provides the perfect atmosphere for developing spiritual disciplines and living the yogic life. Set apart from the hectic pace of modern cities, it offers the peaceful tranquillity of the countryside, where the song of birds and gentle breezes rustling the leaves are all you will hear, where the open sky and rich earth will nourish your soul.

The Yoga Programme includes:

· Morning and evening meditation

· Morning Mysore – style Astanga Practice – strong and deep!

· Evening asana and pranayama

· Periods of Silence

· Free afternoons to swim, sunbathe, read, cycle, explore the countryside, commune with nature

The price of the retreat includes:

· All yoga classes

· Six nights accommodation in a beautiful room in the local style of white stone, simply but comfortably furnished and immaculately clean

· Choice of triple, double or single rooms, all with private bath

· Three delicious vegetarian meals a day, all home-made from the finest local products – bountiful fresh vegetables and fruits, traditional cheeses, olive oil, pasta, specialties of Puglia

· Use of the swimming pool

· Use of bicycles to explore the countryside

· Transfers to and from Santa Maria del Sole from Brindisi or Bari airports

Set on 15 hectares of land, Santa Maria del Sole was created from the ruins of a 16th century Masseria (a traditional Puglian farm). The main house, beautifully restored in an elegant yet rustic style, belongs to the small resident community. At meal times, everyone gathers in the common area, usually outside on the patio, to enjoy fabulous food and the conviviality of the table. Guest accommodation extends beyond the main house, sometimes in restored trulli (the vernacular architecture of Puglia). The white tones throughout the buildings create an atmosphere of peace and spaciousness, highly conducive to spiritual work.

The centre has two beautiful yoga spaces, one a fully-equipped indoor studio with hard wood floors and stone walls (once the stable). It has an ample supply of mats (including “black” astanga mats), bolsters, blocks, belts and blankets. All you need to bring for practice is your own cotton mat (if you use one), a small towel and a lungi or sarong for savasana. The outdoor yoga space is a raised platform with views over open fields and woods.

The grounds include a tiny chapel with old frescos on the walls, lovingly restored and set aside as a sanctuary. The traditional Catholic artwork, meditation cushion against old stone, and living orchids upon the main altar provide an ideal place for encountering the sacred.

Surrounding the Masseria, fields and woods spread out in all directions. Paths have been cut into the forest, so you can spend your free time wandering into the wilderness and communing with nature. Santa Maria del Sole also has many bicycles available for guests. Cycling along the country roads is a great way to explore the countryside more freely.

A swimming pool for the use of guests, complete with lounge chairs for sunbathing, is set behind the guest accommodation.

Visit www.santamariadelsole.it for more pictures and details of the venue.

This retreat is open to all sincere practitioners of Astanga Yoga. It is not suitable for complete beginners. You need to know the series and be familiar with Mysore style. But all levels are welcome, even those new to astanga. An open heart and the desire to deepen and broaden in your practice are all you need.

Silence is kept in the mornings. Very early, you have time for private contemplation, certain traditional practices and light breakfast.

Morning practice begins with a half hour of sitting meditation.

The Mysore practice follows. In it you have plenty of time to deepen into poses, focusing upon breath, bandhas and the meditative flow of the series. My approach to asana practice is flexible and non-dogmatic. Though I honour the traditional sequences and encourage all students to learn them accurately, I also encourage openness to the voice of the inner guru, an experimental, dynamic and intuitive style of practising that adapts to differences in constitutions and nature.

Astanga practice is strong, deep and vigorous, powerfully transformative on many levels. An inner fire builds during practice, manifesting as sweat on the physical plane and transformative energy on the subtle plane. Everyone will be encouraged to explore the full power of this practice, within the limits of safety.

Silence continues after morning practice, so that the benefits can deepen into body and mind without distraction or dissipation.

Silence breaks at lunch, as we gather for a leisurely Mediterranean feast, enjoying the finest vegetarian food--lovingly prepared in traditional Puglian style--and great conversation.

After lunch you are free to sunbathe, swim, read, walk, cycle, have a siesta, or go on an excursion, continuing to honour--whatever you choose to do--an attitude of mindfulness toward the deeper dimension of every moment.

Evening yoga practice will vary, sometimes focusing upon specific areas of asana practice, like back-bending or hip-opening, sometimes upon restorative poses, sometimes upon chanting or themes from the vast subject of yoga philosophy. Evenings will always include an extended session of traditional pranayama and a half hour of sitting meditation.

At dinner we gather round the table again. Together with the permanent residents of Santa Maria del Sole, evenings can sometimes spill over into singing and music. The balmy night air and star-light sky have an irresistible magic. . . Silence begins as we break for the evening (and not too late as we rise early for practice!). Silence continues throughout the night and lasts until lunch the next day.

During the retreat, there will be plenty of time to ask questions and share experiences with fellow travellers upon the path of yoga.

Away from the responsibilities of ordinary life, time opens up. You can dedicate yourself to yoga practice, taking it all to a deeper level and discovering how yoga can restore, invigorate, sensitise, open and transform you.

Excursions. For a minimal extra charge, Santa Maria del Sole can organise afternoon excursions to local sights of interest, the beach, or traditional Puglian markets. Puglia protrudes into the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, so the seaside is never far way, though you definitely need a car to get to the beach from Santa Maria del Sole. The Itria Valley (location of Santa Maria del Sole) has many charming towns, rich in history and culture. The white baroque architecture of the cities and the fairy-tale like beauty of the traditional trulli make this truly a unique corner of Italy. Many traditional artisans still work in the old way, producing ceramics and lovely pieces from wood and cloth.

 Yet in spite of the many beautiful places to visit in the area, this is a yoga retreat, not a yoga holiday. You are of course free to do as you like in the afternoons, and perhaps we will organise one group excursion during the week. But maintaining a spiritual focus and conserving energy for the strong practices will definitely enhance your experience of the retreat. For those of you who can’t resist the draw of this magical land, I suggest you come a few days early or stay a few days afterwards, staying in a hotel and seeing all the sights then.

Dates and Travel:

You should arrive in Puglia Sunday evening 12 July. The retreat includes 6 days of morning astanga practice and 5 evening classes. It finishes on Saturday 18 July after lunch. Ryan Air flies to Brindisi from London Stansted. A direct flight to Rome from Dublin and then a train journey to Ostuni is also an option, though the train takes 5 – 6 hours. For those interested in doing something else in Italy, either before or after the retreat, other travel options are possible. (Travel expenses are not included in the price of the retreat.)

Prices:

Triple room: €750 per person, sharing with friends or other retreat participants
Double room: €900 per person, twin and double bed options
Single room: €1280 (one person in a twin or double room)

A non-refundable deposit of €350 is necessary to hold your place. Payment in full must be received before 1 May 2009. Places are limited, so please book early so as not to be disappointed. An early-bird discount of €50 will apply to all those who pay in full before 1 March 2009.

You can pay in cash or by cheque made payable to Marianne Jacuzzi
Send to Longford House, 21 Lanesville, Monkstown, Co Dublin

Contact Marianne at sevenwinds@indigo.ie or 087-920-3600

Om Shanti