About this Retreat
Our Retreat is your opportunity to discover or to deepen a clear pathway to healing your digestive issues, to feel more in tune with your doshas, the Ayurveda way.
Immerse in the stunning Italian countryside, you will learn alongside incredible teachers like Rich and Kate.
They will uncover:
- How to heal with a truly holistic approach from Ayurveda, what that means and why Ayurveda will work for all body types and its healing will last for long
- How to enjoy more satisfaction and variety in your diet, eating seasonal and farm to table food, locally produced
- How to empower yourself for lasting change
You are not alone in the desire to feel better. There are so many others out there who want to live a natural lifestyle and create a vibrant health.
We are here to support you. To offer you inspiration, insight and presence all the way to the healing process.
When you will start to learn about how food is digested and what actually takes place in the body from the perspective of Ayurveda, while nourished from a solid yoga practice, then everything will make more sense.
You will feel better.
Your health will swift.
Our Instructors
Our Story
Kate O'Donnell
Founder of Boston Ayurveda
Kate O’Donnell is the author of three Ayurvedic Cookbooks, including The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care, The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook: A Seasonal Guide to Eating and Living Well and Everyday Ayurvedic Cooking for a Calm, Clear Mind: 100 Sattvic Recipes.
She is a nationally certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and the founder of the Ayurvedic Living Institute. An authorized Ashtanga yoga instructor, she teaches yoga in Boston and Portland, Maine, and still travels to India annually for study.
Rich Ray
Ashtanga Teacher
Rich Ray is a Boston/Portland-based level II authorized Ashtanga yoga teacher. He began practice in 1996. He has made numerous trips to Mysore for study.
Rich offers traditional meditation practice for beginner and advances students alike. He continues his work as a student of meditation and has been practicing for over 25 years.
THE VENUE
La Rosa Dei 4 Venti is a renovated ancient farmhouse that has been designed with the purpose of hosting yoga disciplines, philosophies and activities from all over the world. The aim is to create a healthy, positive and regenerating environment with particular attention being paid to safeguard the exceptional energy and tranquility of the surroundings, promote good food philosophy, a careful and sensitive approach, and keen attention to detail ensures that all these values are met.
THE BENEFITS
Each day you will be blessed with a Mysore style yoga classe, meditation, mindfulness, personal reflection and everyday Ayurveda workshops, new adventures and immersion into the loving embrace of Italy’s ‘il dolce far niente’ spirit with endless opportunities to hike in the surrounding countryside and to visit ancient towns.
Allow yourself to entertain the idea that this opportunity is yours and that you deserve to take it. This journey in itself is priceless.
THE BONUSES
Family for life: You will be part of the Yogando community that will become your travelling family.
Memorable memories: will be captured in photos that will be shared with you at the end of the retreat.
Recipes and a new Italian as friends: You will go home knowing how to cook an Italian meal, how to pronounce bruschetta and how to avoid ordering cappuccino after a pizza. Also, you will learn that Fettuccine Alfredo are not Italian!
Last but not least … you will return to your families radiant and rejuvenated.
The Location
Where we will staying at
La Rosa dei Quattro Venti
Puglia, Italy
Restored and finely renovated ancient 17th century Monastery and “Masseria” (farmhouse), located a short distance from Martina Franca, a town halfway between Adriatic and Ionic Sea. Immersed in the peaceful and tranquil Valle D’Itria countryside, the 14 acres property includes: a manor house with several large communal areas, a small church with original frescoes dating back to the 18th century, a large and bright Yoga Shala converted from a stable, a wide glass gazebo room overlooking the open garden, a private forest with a meditational path in the woods, a swimming pool and various quiet areas to relax and meditate.
The Program
What you will be doing during this Retreat
Saturday 4
Pick up from Bari airport (one single pick up)
Lunch at Villafranca historic town
Transfer to the retreat center
Informative talk: teachers presentation and retreats highlights
Dinner
Sunday 5
7 AM
Ashtanga Mysore style yoga
9 AM
Breakfast
12:30 / 13:30
Kandeepan Joythimayananda
10 AM - 12 PM
Free time
12 PM
Lunch
2 PM
Ayurveda Workshop
5 PM
Hike in the surrounding countryside
7 PM
Dinner
9 PM
Relax and rejuvenate
MONday 6
6 AM
Ashtanga Mysore style yoga
9 AM
Breakfast
10 AM - 12 PM
Ayurveda Workshop
12 PM
Lunch
Afternoon excursion
7 PM
Dinner
9 PM
Relax and rejuvenate
tuesday 7
6 AM
Ashtanga Mysore style yoga
9 AM
Breakfast
10 AM - 12 PM
Ayurveda Workshop
12 PM
Lunch
Afternoon excursion
7 PM
Dinner
9 PM
Relax and rejuvenate
wednesday 8
7 AM
Ashtanga Mysore style yoga
9 AM
Breakfast
10 AM - 12 PM
Free time
12 PM
Lunch
2 PM
Ayurveda Workshop
5 PM
Hike in the surrounding countryside
7 PM
Dinner
9 PM
Relax and rejuvenate
THURSDAY 9
Breakfast
Transfer to Bari airport
Goodbyes
Extra Activities
Alberobello
Worth Seeing:
Trulli (traditional drystone huts) enclosed by vineyards and olive groves, this is the authentic side of the Itria Valley. The panorama is filled with a timeless magic, in the heart of which lie fascinating villages like Alberobello, Locorotondo, Martina Franca and Cisternino.
Leave the trulli, olive trees and drystone walls of the Itria Valley, and follow the way to the most beautiful beaches of the Adriatic or Ionian coast.
Take a journey at the marinas of Fasano and Ostuni, with their beaches and small coves in the low rocky coast.
Further south, search out an untamed corner of the marine nature reserve and enjoy sea breezes and the perfume of Mediterranean scrub, a natural paradise of inlets and high dunes overlooking the Ionian sea.
What is included
- Five nights accomodation
- 6 days FULL BOARD
- Daily yoga classes
- Daily Ayurveda workshops
- Relax Areas Access
- Swimming Pool Access
What is not included
- Your round-trip airfare from home
- Transportation to and from airport (we will organize a minivan for you, with a private driver)
- Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance
- Luggage and health insurance (mandatory)
- Excess baggage charges
- Visas or any other passport fees (make sure your passport is needed for this trip!)
- Alcoholic beverages (that includes wine)
- Excursions
- Other non-included items would include souvenir shopping, personal phone calls, extra spa services, taxis, laundry, and tips for your room maid
Flights
The closest airport is either Bari or Brindisi. You main landing airport in Italy is Rome and then hop on a 50 mns domestic flight.
If you want to come earlier or stay later in Rome for some exploring – we have a travel agency to recommend that can help you organize your stay and city tours.
FAQ
We offer wellness retreats, customized around your needs.
No, we do not book flights. However we offer the option to upgrade your trip with a travel agent who will assist with booking your flight, monitoring your flight arrival and departure, and sending any updates on changes if they occur.
Deposit $1.000 Due upon booking. A non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit of $1000 is required for your booking to be confirmed. A verbal reservation is not considered as valid. We cannot hold spots unless secured with a deposit.
The type of yoga is usually advertised for each retreat. There are usually a big variety of levels and we love that guests can attend and participate without feeling any pressure. This is YOUR WEEK so you’re encouraged to take the time you need, go at your own speed, and try and let go – whether that means diving in deep into the morning and evening classes for the week, or maybe it means needing to rest one day instead.
Many of our guests come alone and we match up based on guest profile which has always worked out really well. You can decide to have a single room or a shared room.
The deposit + any tickets purchased on your behalf are non-refundable upon purchase. All other bookings are as follows:
From 91 or more days prior to departure, we give a 50% refund.
From 0-90 days prior to departure, the total cost is non-refundable.
We highly urge you to purchase travel insurance, even in the case of extreme emergencies it is difficult to guarantee any money back after 91 days.
Our retreats are for all levels of yogis.
Absolutely! Non-participants are always welcome. All classes are voluntary and there is always daily excursions or relaxation that can be enjoyed in place of one of the yoga classes.
Children under 18: Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed in our retreats.
Travel Insurance: is required and it is mandatory for all travelers.
Travel protection will help protect travelers’ investment in the trip, and to provide certain medical coverage while they are outside the USA.
Sign up by using the “sign-up” link on any of the retreat pages. You will then fill out an information form, and then payment. We then will send you an official confirmation and welcome email with a disclosure and emergency contact form to fill out and sign, as well as any pertinent travel information you may need.
Yes! We book restaurants as part of the full service package.
Wanna Join?
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