AMALFI, ITALY

[FORM+FLAVORS] Join us at this ever-popular location – the Amalfi Coast of Italy – where we’ll enjoy daily yoga + scenic walks around the extreme landscape, as well as a food-focused itinerary. Plus of course luxury spa day and a Michelin restaurant visit!

FORM+FLAVORS RETREAT

Join us for our newest addition of a YOGA + FOOD retreat. “FORM” – Besides a daily yoga class (and on this Amalfi retreat, it will be a class overlooking the sea!), we will also enjoy many walks/hikes around the breathtaking scenery on the Amalfi Coast, including a day walking one of Italy’s most renowned scenic hikes, the “Sentiero degli Dei” and several other lesser known paths in the area. The yoga classes this week will be led by collaborator, Michelle Lee and will include a movement portion as well as a more meditative part as well delving in to themes of grounding/connection/discussion/and inward observance.  “FLAVORS” – We’ll not only balance the week with the healthy “form” part of the retreat, but also with learning about and experiencing firsthand the amazing flavors of this region. Each day we’ll be able to enjoy mouth-watering cuisine, as well as take part in tastings from wine and olive oil, to cheeses, pastries, and lemons. From award-winning restaurants to family farms and kitchens, learning and enjoying the food will be an added bonus to working up an appetite during our classes and walks!

HOTEL

Our home for the week will be an amazing hotel in the beautiful town of Praiano. The hotel boasts a wonderful terrace with a panoramic view, equipped with a swimming pool and a restaurant, at the tables of which you will be able to taste the delicacies of the cuisine surrounded by the intense colours of the hills and the sea. From the pool terrace there are incredible views of the sea, the coast and the islands of Li Galli. Boasting plenty of sun loungers, citrus trees, and a short walk to the beach, our home for the week will make you want to stay much longer. All rooms have a balcony overlooking the sea or the garden, with classic Amalfi décor, traditional furniture and majolica tiles.

Praiano is one of the favored towns on the Amalfi coast for it’s location and proximity to the more popular tourist destinations of Positano and Amalfi, but without the bustling crowds. Flanked on both ends by some of the coast’s most amazing coves, this town is the perfect place to retreat!

SURROUNDING AREA

Our day trips will allow us to experience the many unique landscapes and activities that this area has to offer. We will begin our week with a lemon tour + cooking class, as well as a tasting of the region’s famous mozzarella – both while visiting the famous nearby towns of Ravello and Amalfi. We’ll take a daytrip by private boat to the nearby island of Capri to see the chic sites of this beautiful “blue island” and visit a winery for a tour and tasting of the wines that hail from this region. Others days will be filled with time to relax by the private pool and nearby beach, as well as a hike on the Sentiero degli Dei, one of Amalfi’s most famous paths, on our way to Positano for a lunch. We’ll end the week with a day at a 5* spa being pampered with treatments and time to relax before ending the week with another scrumptious meal.

CUISINE

Healthful, vegetarian food is part of the retreat experience, including breakfast and dinner daily, as well as selected lunches. We’ve carefully chosen delicious and fresh meals from renowned restaurants and chefs which will give guests an expansive experience of the cuisine. Our dinners will include a few multi-course tasting menus as well as tastings of the regional specialties throughout the week. We’ll experience tastings from where certain local delicacies are produced, like rocky vineyards and small family kitchens. And while on-site we’ll dine in the hotel’s dining room or outside sea-view terrace.

YOGA

A daily meditation and yoga class will be offered at the start of the day in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and will be lead in a general vinyasa flow style and will be the assistant to help guests feel prepared and open to explore deeper in the meditation part of the class.* Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students’ needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalized attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice. On this FORM+FLAVORS retreat, the other time of the day we’ll enjoy various walks around the area, and focus on classes and experiences to learn about the region and the cuisine/wine – this combines with the asana practice to deepen our mindful experience during the week in a balanced way.

After leading a successful 13-year career in the corporate world, Michelle transitioned her career into a life & financial consultant, retreat organizer & leader, and internationally certified yoga instructor, following her passions and sharing this with others around the globe. She now leads EPM retreats which, besides yoga, adds workshops for life development, manifesting your dreams, and vision board creation. She holds an MBA in Finance from USC, an MA in Spiritual Psychology from University of Santa Monica, and became a certified Ashtanga yoga instructor in Florence, Italy. She lives part of the year in Florence, part in Los Angeles, and part wherever her heart takes her.

* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!