Ashtanga Yoga Retreat
with Matthew Darling
9th - 15th July 2022
About the Retreat
Experience a joyful yoga journey with Matthew Darling on a 6 night retreat in beautiful Casalini, Italy. This is a wonderful and therapeutic setting for students to have an Italian adventure with an expert Ashtanga Yoga teacher and address their specific needs and questions with support and insight. Matthew's skilled approach to teaching allows for the yoga students to chart a course into understanding how to overcome obstacles, gain more awareness and access deeper consciousness.
Each morning begins with yoga in the traditional Mysore setting. Matthew will also offer two afternoon targeted yoga sessions during the week. These sessions will allow the practitioner to workshop specific asanas, ask questions, address concerns and
delve deeper into the nuances of their practice and yoga philosophy. The retreat culminates with a led Primary Series class taught to the traditional Sanskrit and vinyasa count with Matthew's insightful verbal queuing into the flow and form of the practice.
YogApulia. is a beautiful boutique retreat centre exclusively for yoga and meditation along with
amazing fresh vegetarian local and seasonal food. The center comfortably facilitates a maximum of 12 guests. This allows a more personal and intimate experience for the practitioner to maintain and grow their practice with a skilled teacher
in the enchanting setting of Italy. All levels are welcome. This will be the trip of a lifetime!
What's included?
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6 nights accommodation
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2 delicious plant based meals daily, to include breakfast/brunch and evening dinner
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Light snacks and refreshments including, a selection of teas, coffee, water & fruit
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Wi fi internet connection
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Daily morning mysore style yoga
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Led Primary class
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2 afternoon yoga sessions
What's not included?
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Flights
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Transport to/from the retreat centre ( YogApulia can help organise local taxis, this will be an additional cost paid direct to the taxi driver)
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Travel/medical insurance
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Massages available to book seperatly
More about Matthew
Matthew Darling has been in playful pursuit of the yoga consciousness to support mental and spiritual balance since 1994. Ashtanga Yoga and Transcendental Meditation have been his main practices. Matthew’s studies have been guided and inspired by a select collection of western teachers including Tim Miller, Richard Freeman, Annie Pace and Eileen Hall. In 1999, Matthew travelled to Mysore, India and spent 10 years studying as often as possible with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Learning many ways to support yoga’s healing transformation with daily practice, Matthew’s main focus is to meet and serve individuals where they are at without overwhelming them. His focus, attention and sensitivity to individual’s needs as well as his playful spirit and sense of humor are integrated in his teaching and guidance. His instruction offers an opportunity to find rhythm, skill and responsibility in the development of a yoga practice. He encourages the individual journey of each student to discover and understand their true nature, individual purpose and passion. Matthew was the director and instructor of Ashtanga Michigan from 2002 - 2020 (ami.yoga). Ashtanga Michigan was a gem in suburban Detroit. It offered a comfortable urban setting with a joyful and steady collective of practitioners from many disciplines of life. Matthew continues to daily maintain and uphold the transformative and the unique therapeutic quality of the Mysore class setting. He has evolved enough in himself and in our modern time to honor and recognize the need for responsibility and accountability in the 21st-century yoga teacher commitment and beyond. Matthew is also a creative musician and a metalsmith. He has been daily dedicated to recovery from drugs and alcohol since 1987. He now lives in Santa Barbara, California. Contact him at md@ami.yoga.
Accommodation and Facilities
Our retreat centre is set in 2.5 acres of grounds in a valley filled with olive and almond groves.
Accommodation consists of six twin rooms and one double room all with private ensuite bathroom. All rooms have been renovated to a high standard using locally sourced materials, to create a luxurious yet simple and understated feel. A large outdoor courtyard provides the main communal eating space, and several outdoor terraces offer a place to relax in the sun or the shade.
Situated at the heart of the complex, the swimming pool acts like a colourful meeting point – with the blue water combining with the green olive trees and the red soil.
Food plays a central role in both our yoga practice and life. We believe food should be varied, unprocessed and nourishing to promote energy and wellbeing. The food we serve is predominantly plant based with some vegetarian options. All produce we source and grow at YogApulia is local, seasonal and organic wherever possible.
Refreshments are also available throughout the day and include tea, coffee, water & fruit.
The international airport at Brindisi is approximately 40 minutes drive away and Bari is further to the north approximately 55 minutes drive. Hiring a car in Puglia is relatively inexpensive and provides a great way to explore the surrounding countryside, local historical towns and beaches. Both Bari and Brindisi airports have a large selection of hire car companies including Avis and Hertz. It is recommended to book a car before your arrival. Alternatively, we can arrange a taxi to collect you on your arrival.
Please contact Matthew to book your space at md@ami.yoga