SEPTEMBER 16 – 23, 2023 | AWAKENING THE HEART – YOGA RETREAT IN TUSCANY with PADMA SHAKTI
Join us on a journey to reawaken your LOVE of life.
Together with the integration of the four aims of life, we will create an experience of celebration, reflection and transformation with the intention of awakening the physical, emotional and spiritual heart!
We will enjoy the beauty of Tuscany along with the profoundly experiential process of mindfulness while we integrate practice, prayer and play!
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is open to all levels and anyone who is:
- Seeking to bring enthusiasm into daily life
- Desiring to reignite the zest for your work
- Experiencing a life transition or healing
- Searching for a shift in perspective
- Discovering your creative self through art, beauty and presence
- Awakening to new possibilities in your potential
- Wanting to remember your true self
Padma has created a retreat that you will come away from feeling truly refreshed and renewed by the vacation of a lifetime.
Yoga
We have access to a fully-equipped yoga studio with Manduka mats, bolsters, blankets and straps as well as a stunning outdoor yoga shala set amongst vineyards and olive trees. With incredible views to the surrounding country side and the valley below, this is the perfect space to practice our sunset restorative yoga sessions.
Location
Our retreat home for the week will be is a beautiful 18th century Tuscan estate set amongst the hills and olive groves just outside the medieval town of Lucca.
The property hat has been meticulously restored to provide elegant comfortable living with wood beamed ceilings, stone, terracotta and marble. With plenty of outdoor seating, and tables to eat al fresco, the property boasts beautiful, landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, a dedicated yoga studio and an outdoor grassed area for practicing yoga.
Optional Activities and excursions
Below is a sample of other optional excursions and activities available during your retreat:
- Guided bike and walking cultural tour of Lucca with a local guide – informative + fun!
- Wine tasting excursion: a scenic 4.5 km walk to a beautiful local winery followed by an interesting tour and tasting
- Puccini Opera in Lucca; for the opera lovers, this is a 1 hour taste of Puccini in a beautiful church
- Cooking class – learn from the best with our wonderful local cook who dishes up all our meals during the retreat
About Tracie Brace Hatton (Padma Shakti)
Padma Shakti is Founder and Director of Rasa Yoga School of Yoga and Ayurveda, Visible Belief Education Foundation and Bay Area Yoga Collective. Padma holds a firm commitment that Yoga and Ayurveda are on the cutting edge for success and leadership development. Through her ability to effectively assimilate and disseminate the teachings of yoga and Ayurveda, she enables people to craft a life beyond just getting by, to live a full life thriving and healthy toward the absolute highest quality possible. Padma Shakti is committed to the power of community and seeks to demonstrate that through functional relationships, you strengthen and empower not only yourself, but the whole of humanity.
Study + Experience
Padma’s ability and clarity to to empower others is made possible by her study, training and love of these great beings: Dr. David Hoch, Lex Gillian, Reverend Karen Tudor, Sandra Summerfield-Kozak of International Yoga Studies, Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea, Dr. David Frawley, Dr. Stephen Phillips and Swami Atma. There are many other masters and teachers to pay homage to as well whether by lineage living now or before. Her current studies and training are influenced mostly by Master Jason Campbell, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait and Yogarupa Rod Stryker.
More details about Padma on www.rasayogaschool.org
What’s Included?
- Daily Yoga Practices with Padma Shakti including use of yoga room, yoga mats, blocks, blankets, belts, and bolsters, plus additional yoga mats for use outdoors
- 7 nights’ accommodation at villa, linens and towels
- 3 delicious vegetarian meals daily, except for one lunch out on Wednesday and one dinner out on a day to be decided.
- Fresh detox fruit / vegetable juice at breakfast
- Local wine at dinner (1/2 bottle per person, per night)
- Unlimited fruit, water, and herbal tea throughout the day.
- Transfer from/to Lucca to/from the retreat centre on the day of arrival and departure (one scheduled pick-up and drop-off only).
- Outdoor pool and large communal living areas
- Pool Towels, Hair dryers and laundry facilities
- Free Wi-fi
- Tourist tax
What’s Not Included?
- Airfare from/to your home city
- Travel insurance
- Ground transportation outside the scheduled pick-up on arrival day and drop-off on departure day *
- One lunch, one dinner, and any other additional meals
- Optional activities other than those specified as included in the retreat price
- Other travel-related expenses
* Transfers outside the scheduled pick-up or drop-off can be arranged for an additional fee
Retreat Prices
Twin room + private bathroom (2 guests per room) $TBA per person
Private rooms are available on a limited basis.
Terms and Conditions
A $1500 USD DEPOSIT reserves your spot, please indicate what type of room you would like. Once we receive your reservation, we will email you a confirmation along with more trip details. The final balance is due March 1, 2019.
For more information, click on the button “Reserve Your Place” or contact Padma at padmashakti@icloud.com
Transport Options – Getting to and from the retreat centre
- The nearest airport to Lucca is Pisa international Airport “Galileo Galileo” – 18 Miles from Lucca
- Florence International Airport “Amerigo Vespucci” is 50 Miles from Lucca
- If you are flying into Rome, Fiumicino Airport is 162 miles from Lucca.
- Regular trains and buses run from both Pisa and Florence airports to Lucca and are very reasonably priced. Trains also run regularly from Rome airport but the trip is much longer and takes around 4.5 hours.
Check-in and Check-out
- Check-in at the retreat center is strictly 4pm on the day of arrival.
- When booking your flights, we recommend you plan your arrival time in Lucca for around 15:45pm, to coincide with the group transfer to the retreat centre at 16:00 There will be one scheduled pick-up only. Please email your arrival details to info@yogainitaly.com as soon as they are available. If you are unable to make the pick-up, we can arrange for a taxi to bring you to the retreat center.
- Check-out from the retreat center is strictly 09:30am on the last day. Please plan your departure flights accordingly.
