It is our pleasure to invite you to experience an authentic Tuscan Mountain life with daily yoga, meditation, nature walks, healthy and yet super tasty food. This is a 3-day Yoga retreat which includes 6 Yoga sessions, vegetarian meals, organized walks in the mountains with opportunities to visit local places of interest and a chance to stay in a genuine Medieval village in the heart of the countryside with likeminded people.
The Yoga classes will be led by Natasa Nirou qualified in hatha, Vinyasa flow, Yin Yoga and Mindfulness meditation. The retreat will combine the dynamic nature of Vinyasa flow yoga to strengthen the body and balance the nervous system and Yin yoga to provide a sense of both physical and mental release and surrender.
Why choose this yoga retreat
Yoga Classes will be accompanied by the beautiful sound vibrations of drumming by the amazing Annika Nicolaou. The beat of drumming activates the alpha waves of the brain which in combination with the meditative nature of yin yoga practice we will open the doors to a higher level of consciousness; uncovering the layers of the body, emotions, thoughts to find quietness and return to your natural condition of calmness and peacefulness
The combination of both Yang (Vinyasa) and Yin yoga practices along with drumming is the perfect transition from summer vibes to autumn and winter season.
September Schedule:
10th: Evening yoga & dinner
11th: Morning yoga and brunch / evening yoga & dinner
12th: Morning yoga & brunch / evening yoga & dinner
13th: Morning yoga & brunch
Flow of the Day
We will start the day with a 90-minute Yang Yoga practice blending Vinyasa Flow and Hatha Yoga traditions to wake-up, strengthen the body and balanced the nervous system. The Yoga sessions are designed for mixed level practitioners, providing modifications to accommodate beginners and/or offer greater challenge for more advanced practitioners.
After morning practice which will include shavasana and/or a short meditation practice, we roll the mats and walk back for brunch. After brunch you can relax in the gardens or come to one of the organised events. TBC
We meet back for a 90-minute of soothing and meditative evening Yin Yoga practice along with sound vibrations of drumming. Being in stillness with the company of drumming vibrations, which increase the alpha waves of brain activity, will open the doors to a higher level of meditative state; by uncovering the layers of the body, emotions, thoughts you will find quietness and return to your natural condition of calmness and peacefulness.
Once we finish our silent and meditative practice we meet for dinner; you can use that time to share your experiences of your day, your practice, emotions and physical sensations with the people around you or to stay in silence.
Price
The retreat prices are per person and include all yoga sessions, accommodation and meals (brunch & dinner):
£245 Shared Room
£295 Single Room
The above prices do not include transportations/travelling expenses from/to Tuscany.
For that you need to make your own traveling arrangements, but we are happy to help if you have questions. More information related to this subject you can find below on “how to get there”.
If you wish to stay additional nights the price is £30 per room.
Meet our Team
Annika and Natasa for the last year are travelling around Cyprus and now Europe offering this unique experience of Yin yoga practice in combination with drumming sound vibrations.
Annika’s professional and experiential view on this combination is that when it comes to relaxation and 
wellbeing everything is about balance, drumming gives you a steady ground to stand on, making you feel balanced and self-confidant. Drumming or even just listening to a steady beat, helps to wake up the alpha waves in you, helping you reach a higher state of consciousness and making you feel happy. Annika quotes “When I am holding a drum circle and all my students are synchronized into one power, I feel in love”
Natasa feels that the slow moving nature of yin yoga develops mindfulness, and patience; holding the asanas (poses) longer and by embodying the experience, we release all mental and physical resistance. We connect with the more yin parts (feminen, soft parts) of ourselves cultivating acceptance, and feeling the present moment!
Yoga Teacher ~ Natasa Nirou
Natasa’s journey with yoga started 10 years ago, where she visited a yoga class in a gym and fall in love with yoga instantly, after 4 years of practice she felt the need to share her love for yoga with other people which led her to her first teacher training course and other trainings to follow. Natasa is trained in Vinyasa flow, yin yoga, mindfulness meditation yoga, and asana techniques and physiology.
She considers yoga a moving meditation which helps us recognize how our feelings affect our body. Practicing Yoga mindfully, trains us to listen to our body and emotions; accept situations as they are, and direct our feelings towards the right direction. During this journey of self-discovery, she strives to add a little bit of fun in her practice and Yoga classes, like we should all do in our lives, to remind us that we should not take everything so seriously. Meanwhile, she keeps a steady connection with breath, hoping to impart some Yogi wisdom along the way. Her Vinyasa (breath synchronization with movement) classes have strong emphasis on alignment and yin yoga in mindfulness meditation and surrender.
Drumming ~ Annika Nikolaou
Annika’s passion for percussion started early in life with music and rhythmic games as a child, playing piano, bass guitar and percussion in Rock & Reggae bands in her teens. Writing her own songs, inspired by the meditative state that the Hang induces.
“Singing is freedom”, she states. “I love calm music and to sing. The Hang makes me want to sing; it asks me to sing!”
Besides playing the Hang, she also plays the African djembe and the hand-held frame drum; She loves sharing her passion for the beneficial effects of drumming and offers regular classes in rhythmic, playing small percussion instruments and dancing to express and share their feelings as well as she also enjoy playing at festivals and special events.
How to get there
Perugia: Bus to train station (11.30am, €8), train to Sansepolcro (€5) – arrive 1.30pm. Driving takes less than an hour.
Pisa: Train to Arezzo (approx. 2.5-3hrs, change in Florence, €15-23), bus to Sansepolcro (1 hour, approx. €4). Driving takes about 2.5 hours.
Florence: Train to Arezzo (approx. 1hr, €8-13), bus to Sansepolcro (1hr, approx.€4). Driving takes about 1.5 hours.
Rome: Airport shuttle train or bus to Termini. Train to Arezzo (approx. 2.5hrs,€15-27), bus to Sansepolcro (1hr, approx. €4). Driving takes about 3 hours. We can pick you up/drop off from Sansepolcro, or provide lift to Arezzo (€40) or Perugia for €30 per person (min. 2 people, otherwise €60 per journey).
Train timetables are available on www.trenitalia.it You can also fly in to Milan and take a train. Or hire a car through various companies (best to try google).
Yoga Room and/or Yoga in nature depending on the weather. Yoga in nature means fresh air, bird song, probably some insects and somewhat uneven surfaces.
Register
For registration and Information please contact Elina on the email below. Please pay your deposit (non-refundable) of £100 by 15 th August by paypal to elinablue@btopenworld, or ask for bank transfer details. Remaining balance to be paid by transfer or cash on day of arrival.
How to get there
Perugia: Bus to train station (11.30am, €8), train to Sansepolcro (€5) – arrive 1.30pm. Driving takes less than an hour.
Pisa: Train to Arezzo (approx. 2.5-3hrs, change in Florence, €15-23), bus to Sansepolcro (1 hour, approx. €4). Driving takes about 2.5 hours.
Florence: Train to Arezzo (approx. 1hr, €8-13), bus to Sansepolcro (1hr, approx.€4). Driving takes about 1.5 hours.
Rome: Airport shuttle train or bus to Termini. Train to Arezzo (approx. 2.5hrs,€15-27), bus to Sansepolcro (1hr, approx. €4). Driving takes about 3 hours.
We can pick you up/drop off from Sansepolcro, or provide lift to Arezzo (€40) or Perugia for €30 per person (min. 2 people, otherwise €60 per journey). Train timetables are available on www.trenitalia.it. You can also fly in to Milan and take a train. Or hire a car through various companies (best to try google).
