Join master teachers Shelley Williams and Suzy Nece for 4 days of inspired courses/ workshops to dive into the elements of nature, connection and transformation in Cinque Terre National Park, Italy. 

~Daily, deeply conscious vinyasa yoga flow for high vibration, with the art of purposeful sequencing in practice and life, connection to self and each other.

~ Pilates techniques for aligning and integrating breath, posture, and centering

~Somatic Healing techniques working with breath, visualization, and simple Hands-On Thai bodywork techniques

This gathering will offer opportunities for:

~Our hands to open as extensions of our heart and intention

~Our bodies to become expressions of our awareness and conduit for peaceful flow

~Experience Italian culture through food, lifestyle, language, and the traditional sandhyas of the day; sunrise awakening, afternoon relaxation, evening sunset communal connection and joy.

~Embody connection of nature, community, and circadian cycles

~Develop a much deeper competence and confidence of therapeutic touch

~Develop awareness of yoga as personal healing medicine and manna for relationships

"THIS IS NOT A RETREAT, IT IS A NOT A TRAINING… 

IT IS A DROPPING AWAY OF THE WORLD 

TO OPEN INTO A NEW DIMENSION OF YOU… "

We will gather each morning in Bonassola for inspired vinyasa yoga AND pilates flow with Shelley by the sea with sequence breakdown, assists, drops of yoga philosophy nectar, and refining your skills and understanding of the art and science of yoga and mindful movement. 

Break for healthy lunch together at Albergo LungoMare, on the seaside, near the creek, or up at the local vineyard.

Resume our afternoon session with Suzy Nece and Shelley Williams alfresco in the garden at Cà du Ferrà , our local agriturismo cottage and nearby vineyard for somatic healing exercises and partner work, experiential learning of intuitive, simple, and accessible hands-on healing techniques inspired by Thai bodywork, group circle sharing for deep transmission and shared meaningful moments.

Early mornings and evenings are yours to explore the Cinque Terre National Park by train, boat, or hike from village to village along the rugged coastline.

This training course is offered in partnership with Indivisible Arts, as the body is an expression of the art of awareness, bodywork is the art of focused intention and listening through one's hands, and experiencing culture in community is the direct path to heal and connect the body/ mind/ spirit.

We suggest staying in the charming local village of Bonassola, where we will conduct our daily training sessions near the sea.. Bonassola has the same vibe and feel of the more famous Cinque Terre, yet is quieter and offers a more local feel with less of the summer-time hustle and bustle of the famous Cinque Terre villages. If accommodations in Bonassola are full, it is easy to stay in one of the nearby towns listed below. 

Levanto is the next nearest town that is a bit larger and has more options.  You can also choose to stay in any of the 5 Cinque Terre villages.  

La Spezia is the largest town just south of the Cinque Terre, and has plenty of options varying in price range.  All of these villages/ towns are within minutes of one another by train.  You can organize via Airbnb, book a room at local hotel, or stay at one of the many cost-effective hostels.

Please visit the Cinque Terre website and take the time to read and familiarize yourself with detailed and up to date information and links on lodging options, train schedules, etc. All the villages are within minutes of each other by train, so it is quite easy to get around from wherever you stay in the region.

The 5 Cinque Terre villages are:

Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. You can hike from village to village each afternoon for sunset, and then take a train back to wherever you are staying for just a few euros!

Once again, Bonassola is where we will be meeting each day, and is a lovely seaside village just 8 minutes (or 2 train stops north of Cinque Terre proper) and located one train stop north of Levanto. Levanto is the larger town north of Monterosso.  La Spezia is located one train stop south of Riomaggiore

We recommend the following locations for ease in planning for your lodging. Bonassola is the village our daily courses will be held in:

AirBnB

Options where to stay in Cinque Terre

Hostels in Cinque Terre

Camping in Levanto

Delicious lunch will be provided. Mornings and evenings are yours to explore the cafes, markets, and restaurants in the Cinque Terre villages. We will include a healthy, nutritious lunch in between our workshop sessions each day. 

We also will include a closing dinner celebration, which includes apertivo, dinner, and wine tasting at Cà du Ferrà vineyard.

~Light, comfortable stretchy clothing (your pajamas work best for Yoga and Zen Thai shiatsu!)

~Yoga Mat, any desired props, practice towel

~Notebook/ Journal

~Toiletries 

~Swimsuit, goggles or mask if desired

~Sun protection (sunblock, hat, sunglasses)

~Hiking shoes

~Day backpack

~Lightweight, cloth, collapsable grocery bags for market trips

~Sarong for beach, yoga, and Zen Thai session

~Reusable water bottle

~Comfortable clothing with a light layer for Italian Riviera in the evening in case its cool

~An open heart and sense of adventure 

Each day of our workshop & training is from 9am-4pm, with optional gathering for sunset and dinners together as desired each evening.  To enjoy the full experience, do plan to arrive in the Cinque Terre region at least 1-2 days prior to start date of our workshop (July 15-18) and depart a day or so after we conclude. This is a beautiful place to relax, so give yourself plenty of time to arrive, settle, and familiarize yourself with getting around via train and hiking. 

Flights:

The closest international airports are Pisa, Milan, or Genoa airports. If you are flying from the USA or Canada, you will typically fly through another larger hub, such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, or Madrid, on your way to Italy.  

Train:

Once you arrive into Italy, it is easy to utilize the express trains to get to Cinque Terre. Then there are local trains that run along the coast and stop at each of the villages.  You do not need a car in Cinque Terre region. 

Our daily workshops will be held in Bonassola, north of Levanto, in Cinque Terre region.

Check Tren Italia for transport from your airport to your lodging (and to Bonassola) 

Returning to your roots: Emphasizing earth element in yoga. Full yoga practice with Pilates mat exercise integrated, hands-on assists, sequence and blueprint to peak pose breakdown, drops of philosophy group chat and connection. Break for lunch by the seaside or the creek.  Gather in the garden at Ca du Ferra and relax in the garden as we open up to learning the potency of Somatic Healing through breath, self-inquiry, and accessible intro to Thai Bodywork inspired techniques .  Bookend the day morning and evening by learning & loving the land we are communing with... swim in the sea, enjoy barefoot lunch at the vineyard, walk the coastline at sunset, share the day's experience with new friends over Italian cuisine and culture..