Salento, Italy Retreat
June 1 - June 8
Join David Robson and Jelena Vesić for a week of Ashtanga Yoga at beautiful Yoga in Salento, Italy.
Mornings will begin with a traditional Mysore-style practice. David & Jelena lead one of the world’s largest Mysore programs at AYCT, their studio in Toronto, and now you will get to experience their teaching in an intimate setting.
After practice, some days will offer workshops in the technique and philosophy of Ashtanga. Dive deeper into specific aspects of the Ashtanga Sadhana and learn invaluable tips to deepen your own practice.
And some days after practice are free, so that you have time to explore incredible Puglia, the heel of Italy’s “boot.” This region is known for its whitewashed hill towns, centuries-old farmland and hundreds of kilometers of Mediterranean coastline.
And after a full day of practicing and exploring, you get to come back to the retreat for delicious vegetarian food and good company. Next day you get to do it all again!
SATURDAY, JUN 1
8:30p: Welcome & Intro Talk
SUNDAY, JUN 2
7-9a: Mysore
11-1p: Moving Breathing System
Vinyasa means moving/breathing system, and the vinyasa system provides the defining structure for the Ashtanga practice. When breath and movement are in union, our practice becomes graceful and filled with ease. This workshop will provide you with invaluable techniques to help you bring lightness into your practice and find the real goal of a yoga practice.
MONDAY, JUN 3
7-9a: Mysore
TUESDAY, JUN 4
7-9a: Moon Day (no practice)
WEDNESDAY, JUN 5
7-9A: Mysore
11-1p: Jump Back & Jump Through
Jump Backs and Jump Throughs are the transitional movements that link Ashtanga’s sitting poses together. These vinyasas provide a bridge to carry our focus between asanas, and also build a purifying heat in the body that is said to boil the blood. This workshop will go over the actions and movements of the jump-back and jump-through in close detail, and provide invaluable instruction useful for all levels of practitioners.
THURSDAY, JUN 6
7-9a: Mysore
FRIDAY, JUN 7
7-9a: Mysore
5-7p: Pain-free Backbends
Backbends don’t have to hurt. This workshop will explore the basic alignment and actions of Ashtanga’s Primary & Intermediate Series backbends. By learning correct technique for the poses, take the pain out of backbending and allow your body to safely go deeper into the postures.
SATURDAY, JUN 8
7-8.30a: Led Primary Series
