Pasta e Prana: A Sicily Yoga Retreat

Syracuse, Province of Syracuse, Italy

DM
David Moreno
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22 reviews
May 4 - 11, 2019
Group size: 10 - 23
Pasta e Prana: A Sicily Yoga Retreat
Syracuse, Province of Syracuse, Italy

David Moreno
  • Email address verified
  • Facebook verified
22 reviews

May 4 - 11, 2019
Group size: 10 - 23

About this trip

Sicily is the home of my Italian relatives... Danena is a stunning yoga retreat center on the southeast coast of Sicily. The main location is a 19th-century farmhouse - La Masseria - situated in a luscious natural landscape surrounded by the breathtaking Mediterranean Sea. The nearby Greek town of Siracusa is one of the main attractions as are Noto and Vendicari nature reserves. Sicily is a land full of history; Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Norman, Greek, and Spaniard (my other relatives!) There is so much to explore on this incredible island; the beautiful beaches, passionate people, incredible food and the snow-capped volcano Mount Etna. May is the perfect month to visit this sunny Mediterranean island.



What to Expect:

This week is both a yoga retreat and a bit of a travel adventure. Two daily yoga sessions including, Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Yoga Lab and Heart Circles will be the focus of each day. We will enjoy two sumptuous and healthy meals daily, that include vegetarian with fish and other seafood options. There will be ample time for laughter, casual hanging-out, group sharing, along with time for self-reflection and silence.


Registration also includes transport to and from the Catania Airport and excursions to the Greek town of Siracusa and to the nature reserve at Vedicari.. More regular updates are made to my website: https://moryoga.com/retreats/sicily-yoga-retreat/ 


Cancellations received 60 days or more prior to the departure date are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled 30-59 days prior to the departure date are subject to a cancellation fee in the amount of 50% of the journey cost. Reservations cancelled less than 29 days prior to the departure date are non-refundable.

About David

"World-class Yoga Instructor David Moreno, ERYT 500, YACEP, has led international yoga adventures and retreats to Bali; India, Costa Rica, Jordan, and Mexico. This will be his third time teaching in Italy. David has also taught throughout the U.K, Germany, Thailand, Greece, South Korea, and Jakarta. "


See "Your Organizer" below for more information about David.

Yoga Props & Car Rental

Yoga Props: Danena has plenty of yoga props including mats so you shouldn't need to  bring any props with you unless you have that very special one that needs to travel with you! 


Car Rentals or Car Hire: I originally suggested that you didn’t need to rent a car for the week that we are at Danena and that we would hire, but at this point, because we are about 20 it looks like a few hires would be a good thing. If you hire a car and we use it to go on a day outing everyone that shares a ride will pitch in to contribute towards rental. So, if you are considering renting a car and are driving from the airport to location please let me know. Driving in Sicily is not unlike driving in the USA so it’s pretty straightforward.

Airport

Catania

If you are driving: From Catania Airport, follow  signs towards Siracusa,then take the Siracusa - Gela highway towards  Rosolini, come out Rosolini take the exit on you right towards Pachino,  after 4.8 km you'll see a little white sign Contrada Belliscala, turn  left, you will find us up the road.

Google Maps - https://goo.gl/maps/u435edun16v

Syracuse

 “More than any other city, Syracuse encapsulates Sicily's timeless  beauty. Ancient Greek ruins rise out of lush citrus orchards, cafe  tables spill onto dazzling baroque piazzas, and honey-hued medieval  lanes lead down to the sparkling blue sea. It's difficult to imagine now  but in its heyday this was the largest city in the ancient world,  bigger even than Athens and Corinth. Its 'Once upon a Time' begins in  734 BC, when Corinthian colonists landed on the island of Ortygia and  founded the settlement, setting up the mainland city four years later.  Almost three millennia later, the ruins of that then-new city constitute  the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, one of Sicily's greatest  archaeological sites. Across the water from the mainland, Ortygia  remains the city's most beautiful corner, a casually chic, eclectic  marvel with an ever-growing legion of fans.” 

- Lonely Planet

Vedicari

 “Situated on the southern-most part of Sicily’s east coast, Vendicari  is a mixture of lagoons (pantano), sand dunes, rocky coastlines, and  sandy beaches. It was instituted in 1984 and is home to a wide variety  of flora and fauna. The high salinity of the ground provides an ideal  habitat for Mediterranean maquis, herbs such as thyme and rosemary and  other prickly customers such as juniper bushes.


Thousands of  migrating birds pass a few days here on their way to or from Africa.  Flamingos, herons, storks and cormorants are regulars during autumn,  while in the winter, ducks, mallards, pintails and terns take over. An  ornithologists' paradise, there are several hides for those who bring  their binoculars. For those whose interests are of a more active kind,  Vendicari offers a wonderful environment for a good seaside walk with  only the sound of the waves, birds and the wind for company.


Swimmers  (and sunbathers!) will find it hard to choose between the numerous  beaches and rocky coves that abound.”
- The Thinking Traveler

Available Packages

Double Occupancy

Cancellations received 60 days or more prior to the departure date are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled 30-59 days prior to the departure date are subject to a cancellation fee in the amount of 50% of the journey cost. Reservations cancelled less than 29 days prior to the departure date are non-refundable.

$1,575
Single Occupancy

Cancellations received 60 days or more prior to the departure date are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled 30-59 days prior to the departure date are subject to a cancellation fee in the amount of 50% of the journey cost. Reservations cancelled less than 29 days prior to the departure date are non-refundable.

$2,025


Your Organizer


DM
David Moreno
22 reviews
David Moreno, ERYT 500, YACEP, SFT, has taught at international yoga conferences, festivals, universities, and teacher trainings worldwide. He has worked privately with students in the fashion and entertainment industries as well as professional athletes. Among those athletes taught include the U.S. Olympic Men’s Swim team coaches for the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He has worked as a product advisor and ambassador for the Canadian Athletica Company, Lululemon, is a certified Pilates instructor, Somatic Fitness Trainer and, an ordained minister. His yoga commentaries have been published in Yoga Journal, Yoga International, LA Yoga Magazine, and Common Ground. His dance criticism and reviews are featured Culture Vulture. David is also the creator and producer for Yoga DVDs, electronic books, Yoga Nidra downloads, and subscription yoga classes for Yoga Vibes. He is known for his keen sense of humor, making his teachings fun and informative. David lives in San Francisco, CA.

Reviews

Incredible transformative experience!
By Ned M for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2024 on Feb 20, 2024
JM
i had a great time every day and evening on the stunning property. My treehouse #18 was just gorgeous, and amazing with our attached full bathroom perched up off the ground, and falling asleep every evening to the sound of the breaking waves was so serene. Delicious food was offered at every meal, and i adored helping out at the neighboring turtle sanctuary to bury harvested turtle eggs, and witness the newly-hatched baby turtles enter the sea. Everything was so thoughtfully laid out and executed so well, and the staff is so happy and pleasant. The outreach to the farm production and water conservation for the greater watershed is SO impressive and transformative to the local communities. What you all are doing is a game changer for your greater ecosystem, given the recent & disturbing shifts in the local climate. You are doing more with less, and empowering the local peoples to learn and teach these practices to others. Outstanding work. It was a privilege to stay at Playa Viva. Profound Thank you.
By James M for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2024 on Feb 17, 2024
David's humor and wisdom shone through, as always. Lovely people in an amazing setting. Thank you!
By Ted O for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2023 on Feb 10, 2023
It was an incredible day of self-reflection and growth. David is a wonderful leader, full of wisdom, humor and warmth. He made meditation very approachable and I found myself falling into my medidations much more easily by the end of the day and with subsequent meditations at home. I could eat the food at Green Gulch all day long, and it was so fullfilling to nourish both my body and soul at the same time. I can't wait to go back for another journey beyond the self with David.
By Lesley Z for Deliberate Stillness Day-long Retreat 2023 on Nov 22, 2022
TG
Thank you David, We had a great week and I greatly enjoyed the yoga The people and the food at Danena were great I hope it worked out well for you. Toni
By Toni G for Pasta e Prana: A Sicily Yoga Retreat 2022 on Oct 31, 2022
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References

Abhimanyu (David,) I’m glad I waited to tell you about my experience in New Mexico, because I wasn’t aware of how much it would affect me now that I’ve returned to my “normal life.” There was a sadness that I think we all felt when we had to say goodbye to our magical alternate reality we shared, and you helped create for us, in those mountains full of deep wisdom. But since I left the retreat I’ve felt a return to something that I forgot, or missed within me. I’ve taken so many tools for my own spiritual practice from this that I honestly did not expect, I’m so grateful. And like Wolf said, “so inspired by you!” I feel a deep connection with everyone who shared this experience with me, and I think they would agree that this was a transformative experience, to say the least. I would sincerely encourage anyone to do something like this. Going into this I was in a particularly worn down place, emotionally, but yoga has allowed me to transcend that and be in the moment, and cultivate a practice, both spiritually and physically that is nothing short of amazing. Like my mom said, this is a turning point for me, and I didn’t even realize it at the time, but my practice is bolstered by, and draws upon the truly transformative experience I’ve had at the Jemez retreat. I am eternally grateful! THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, much love.
By Marlowe K on 08 Nov, 2016
David's trip "Journey to Petra" was an unforgettable trip that was so much more than Petra. The community, the yoga, the food, the sights, the time spent walking the roads of ancient civilizations put so much of my daily life into better perspective. This was some combination of retreat and adventure in a land that holds history of mythic proportion. Seeing this part of the world was also a humbling experience that brought me compassion and understanding for past and present political, religious and social events. I am changed and I would do this Journey again in a heartbeat.
By Ceri, D on 12 Oct, 2016
My personal highlight of the trip was the famed Wadi Rum desert stay with an early morning camel ride with the Bedouins and an exquisite "glamping" private tent stay. Every moment was like a dream, steeped in age old history and beauty beyond explanation...
By Kevin, S on 12 Oct, 2016
Show More References