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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230722
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230729
DTSTAMP:20251003T134702Z
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SUMMARY:'Divino Amore' Retreat\, Sicily
DESCRIPTION:Want to experience the vibrant and colourful island of Sicily in this European summer? Ready for a dose of ‘divino amore’?\n\n\n\n\nJoin me this July for a deep dive into yoga\, meditation\, pranayama and music (mantras)\, in the exquisitely beautiful ancient city of Siracusa\, which is actually on a small island. \nThis island of Ortigia is about just a few kilometres squared\, but this small space is one of the most vibrant cultural and archeological meccas in Sicily\, and also a place with a strong healing energy. Each morning we will practice yoga outdoors in front of the sea\, and the rest of the day will be devoted to exploring the nooks and crannies of this enchanting \nFYI: This is the first time I am running this event\, that’s why I don’t have any pics with groups! It’s not that I want to post only me\, but if you join this inaugural retreat\, I’ll be able to put your smiling face in here (with your permission of course!) for the next event! \n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe ‘Diana’ Fountain Sculpture in the Piazza Archimede\, Ortigia\, by Giulio Moschetti\n\n\n\nYoga Every Morning\, in Front of the Sea\nEvery morning we will do our yoga\, meditation and pranayama practice on the fort in front of the sea\, next to the piattaforma. The sun heats up quickly in the morning so we will finish by about 9am. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHistory\, Culture\, Art\, Sea\, Yoga!\n\n  \nOrtigia\, being a small island – is surrounded by sea! \nThere is a lovely small beach at one end of the island\, and a ‘piattaforma’ swimming platform just nearby. Both are great for wiling away a few hours in the afternoon\, chatting to locals and tourists in between swims. \nIf you are feeling more active\, each day there will be afternoon activities including guided tours of the city\, of the market\, as well as a Sicilian cooking class! Siracusa and particularly Ortigia has a fascinating history\, starting out as one of the most important cities of the Ancient Greek civilisation. \nThe Temple of Apollo right next to the market in Ortigia – just over the bridge on entering the town\, dates back to the the 6th century BC. The Temple of Athena – which is now the Cathedral of Saint Lucia in the centre of the island\, dates back to the 5th century BC. Under the city is a network of catacombs that criss crosses the whole island\, and connects with the lower levels of the church of Saint Fillipo the Apostle\, home to a Jewish ritual bath dating back to the 14th century. \n  \n\n\n\n\nMichelle at a special art exhibition at Castello Maniace\, Ortigia\, Sicily. 2022\n\n\nAfternoon City Tours/Activities*\n*optional and not included in the retreat cost\nPiattaforma\, Ortigia\, Sicily\nEach afternoon there will be a suggested tour itinerary to explore the island. This is optional and you are also free of course to just relax with the locals on either the Cala Rossa beach or the popular piattaforma (shown on left). \nMost of these tours will be less that 20 euros and some are free or by donation\, with either Michelle (no extra fee) or local tour operators. \n\nThe Castello Maniace (Fortress at the far point of the island built in the 13th Century) (Entry price 15 euros)\nThe Temple of Apollo (free)\nThe Temple of Athena / Cathedral of Santa Lucia (donation)\nThe Jewish Ritual Baths under the Church of St Filippo the Apostle (donation)\nA circumnavigation of the Island on the Love Boat (about 25 euros)\nThe Fountain of Aretusa (either free or with a guided tour)\nThe ancient Greek Amphitheatre (just 5 kms outside of Siracusa town)\nA Sicilian Cooking Class with a local chef\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStreet at night. Ortigia\, Sicily\n\n\n\n\n\nSample Daily Program\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMorning\n7am: Wake up\n7:30-9: Yoga and Meditation in front of the sea\n9:15: Delicious breakfast of fresh fruits\, muesli and Italian pastries\n10-12pm: Self Love Workshop\n1pm: Lunch \nAfternoon\n3-5pm: Optional city tour / relax at the swimming piattaforma or the Cala Rossa beach\nDinner: You are free to go for dinner to any of the nearby amazing restaurants on offer (that cater to a wide range of budgets!) except the last night where we will go to dinner together! \nEvening Activities Include: \n\nOrtigia Film Festival – a fantastic documentary film festival offered every summer in a few different piazzas in Ortigia. Films are free and are shown every night in 3 different outdoor venues in the city.\nWatching concerts / street performers in the Piazza Del Duomo\nMantra Singing / Drumming Workshop (Last night of our retreat)\n\n\n\nMorning Workshops\n  \n\nCathedral\, Ortigia – once the Temple of Athena\nMonday 24th: 10am – 12pm | Channeling your Inner Goddess \nn the ancient days of this city of Siracusa\, before Italy existed\, and before the Roman Empire\, it was a Greek city state\, settled by the Corinthians in 734BC. \nIn this workshop we will look at the purpose of Gods and Goddesses in ancient Greek culture\, and how it can be helpful to us\, as women\, to work on embodying the qualities of Goddess like Athena. \n\nThursday 27th 10am – 12pm: Free Your Voice\, Open Your Heart with Mantra Chanting \nYour hostess + her guitar\nThis will be a guided workshop in Mantra Singing // Kirtan. \nThere will be percussion instruments for you to play along with if you like and the words to all the songs will be provided. \nWednesday 26th 10am – 12pm: Pranayama Breathwork Meditation \nHow does the depth of our breathing impact our emotions and our emotional processing? \nIn this workshop we will look at – and practice a variety of different Pranayama (pranic breathing practices)\, before going on a guided breath journey (lying down) with music\, for emotional release and healing. \n\n\n\n\nLa Cucina! Il Cibo ~ Our Food\n\n\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n		\n\n\nImages by The Guardian and iloveitaly.com \nBreakfast and Lunch will be lacto vegetarian (also with vegan options) provided by a local Sicilian chef\, using the incredible range of fruit and veggies\, olives\, tapanades (and yes\, some Italian formaggios (for those who like cheeses) available fresh each day\, (almost all of them grown and sourced in Sicily) from the local market in Ortigia. \n  \n\nKind Words from Past Retreatants\n  \nInner Freedom Meditation Retreat\, Happy Buddha\, NSW\, Feb 2020 \nAnswers to the Question: What did you enjoy most about the retreat? \n“Everything! Nothing was less significant than the other part. Although it was exactly as Michelle described – good for mental development\, so it was also challenging – very! Michelle is an amazing teacher\, her sense of peace\, strength and inner joy is all that I aspire to have.” \n“Any of the guided meditations. I also really liked the meditation on self and non-self\, something really interesting to think about\, and allowed me to reflect more deeply.” \nAnd from the Bali Radical Self Love Retreats \n“The self love classes caused me to really dig deep and be honest with myself.  It is time to accept who I am\, flaws and all.  Be proud of who I am and where I am at in my life.  Hold my head up high and live life to the fullest.  Create the life for myself that I deserve.   Deal with that ‘negative voice’ in my head rationally and importantly\, don’t take life too seriously; roll with the punches.  Be present each day\, stop planning for 2\, 5\, 15 years time. Enjoy each day\, relax\, take time to just be.  Give myself permission to enjoy life and do the things that I love to do…. \nI came home very relaxed and determined to continue my new way of life.  I can thoroughly recommend attending.  I can’t wait for Michelle to schedule a retreat in India.” \nJenny\, RSL\, Bali\, August 2019 \nMichelle is also a great yoga and meditation teacher; she is patient\, communicates very well\, and demonstrates yoga practice and meditation on both spiritual and physical platforms\, in a connected\, calming\, supportive and inspiring way. I would really encourage individuals who wish to explore and develop self love\, as well as to enhance their yoga and meditation techniques\, to attend one of Michelle’s RSL retreats. Apart from the fact that she chooses great locations in which to open up an ambient space for RSL exploration!” \nKim\, RSL\, Bali\, April 2019 \n\n[tribulant_slideshow gallery_id=1] \n\nInvestment\nFor Single Occupancy\, investment is 900 Euros (Early bird rate: 780 paid in full before Feb 28th). \nFor Double Occupancy (shared with one other)\, investment is 700 Euros (Early bird rate: 630 paid in full by Feb 28th). \nPrice includes: \n\n3 Star Hotel Accomodation in Ortigia\nBreakfast and Lunch x 6 days\nAll yoga and meditation classes\nAll morning workshops\nMantra Singing / Drumming Event on the last night of our retreat\n\nPrice doesn’t include: \n\nDinners\nAfternoon Tours / Sicilian Cooking Class\nSnacks etc. throughout the day\nAny public (in the city) Evening events\nTransportation to or from Catania airport (this can be arranged for an extra fee)\n\n\nGetting There\nSiracusa is easily accessible from Catania Airport. You can either take a bus to Siracusa direct from the airport\, or you can get a bus to the train station\, and get a train from Catania central to Siracusa. Price for a bus from the airport to Siracusa is about 15 euros. \nAlternatively\, we can easily arrange for a private taxi to pick you up (fee is 80 euros). \n\nAccomodation\nResidenci Dei Baroni\, Ortigia\, Siracusa\nOur 3 star hotel (above\, the Residence Dei Baroni) is located in a beautiful 18th century Palazzo one street back from the sea on the sunrise side of the island on the street Via Veneto. \nRooms are spacious and beautiful and have a double bed\, and many a small balcony. Many of them also have a small kitchen with kitchen table and a fridge included (for midnight snacks!). If you want to share a room with a friend\, just let me know their name when you are booking. \n\nPLACES AVAILABLE: 1 space\n***Update JULY 2023*****  \nThere is one place available on this retreat – a double room of your own in a shared apartment for the special last minute price of 650 Euro!!! Email: hello@akashalove.life to grab it! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEntry to one of the homes in the Maestranza Street\, Ortigia.\n\n \n\n\nAbout your Host and Teacher\nChelle\, in Ortigia\, July 2022. Pic: Martin Krammer.\n  \n‘Akasha’ Chelle is a global yogi\, healer\, artist\, musician and an experienced yoga and meditation teacher who’s been running her own retreats (and teaching at other people’s retreats) for five years now. She has a daily Ashtanga yoga practice\, and is a dedicated and passionate yogi\, very excited to share this practice that has transformed her life. She’s had a personal yoga and meditation practice since she took her first class with her teacher Rene while living in Palma de Mallorca\, Spain\, in 2005. In November 2018\, after she’d already been teaching for some years\, she completed her RTA 200 Hours Yoga Teaching Certification at Samma Karuna in Koh Phangan\, Thailand. She’s also an experienced and qualified meditation and mindfulness teacher and has facilitated at many Vipassana retreats in Thailand. \nA passionate traveller\, who fell in love with the island of Ortigia on her first visit to Siracusa\, Sicily\, in 2014\, she’s been returning to the island\, and particularly to Ortigia\, ever since. She speaks basic conversational Italian\, and knows many of the interesting personalities in Ortigia\, as well as the iconic and the less well known sites of cultural and historical significance on the island. She will be delighted to introduce them to you (the historic sites\, and the personalities\, should we bump into them in our afternoon walks around the island). \nShe also loves talking about herself in third person (not!). Find out more about her here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTerms and Conditions: Refunds are available with an administration fee of 100 euros\, up until June 22nd. The fee will be waived if you find someone to fill your spot on the retreat. After June 22nd (a month prior to the event)\, no refund will be made.
URL:https://akashalove.life/event/divino-amore-yoga-and-culture-retreat-sicily/
LOCATION:Ortigia\, Ortigia\, Siracusa\, Italy
CATEGORIES:Yoga Retreat
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