with Alessandra & Amanda

Retreat at In Sabina Italy, 7 to 14 August 2010 
Ideal for beginners or more experienced practitioners who want to get back to basics. Spend a wonderful week exploring pilates and developing your personal yoga practice in a beautiful and tranquil hillside paradise.  

The Property
The property is in the heart of the Sabine Hills, just north of Rome near Umbria, set amidst olive groves, woodlands and a rolling landscape. The surrounding area is unspoilt farmland and the house and grounds are peaceful and quiet.

The grounds comprise seven lush acres with a natural spring and pond. There are spaces indoors and out for yoga, meditation and reading. Accommodation is in two beautifully restored 17th century stone farmhouses with terraces which open out to a gentle panorama of olive groves, fruit trees and stunning sunsets. The medieval village of Torri in Sabina (1000 inhabitants) is three kilometres away.

Yoga & Pilates
The retreat begins on the afternoon of Saturday August 7th. The first class is on the Sunday morning. There are two classes a day apart from Wednesday where there will only be a morning class. 
The classes will run from 7.30-9.30am and 5-6.30pm.  
The morning class will be a gentle yet invigorating yoga session based on the precision and alignment of Iyengar yoga and the breath work of hatha yoga. We will work in a progressive manner throughout the week building a foundation for a strong integral practice. These sessions will guide you towards a  deeper understanding of asanas and the bio-mechanics of your body allowing you to progress through your practice without injury. 
The early evening practice (1.5hour) will be Pilates matwork, drawing from both, the classical and evolved repertoire that works the core, with insights from Yoga Therapy, Gyrokinesis and Ideokinesis. Over the week Alessandra will introduce a series of movements to develop and strengthen the whole body thus perfectly complimenting the yoga practice. Her creative approach to body alignment will benefit anybody who wishes to experience greater energy, dynamic relaxation and a sense of freedom in movement.

The Teachers 
Alessandra is a Pilates Foundation accredited teacher who combines strengthening muscles with postural work and stretches that allow tight muscles to relax so that the weaker muscles have a chance to strengthen. Often neck, shoulder and back problems are largely caused by tension
in the 'wrong' muscles and a weakness in the 'right' muscles. Her classes address these postural issues by not only strengthening muscles but also  lengthening and stretching. Her teachers have included Susanne Lahausen, Hanna Jones, Doug Keller and Ursula Stricker.

Amanda is a mature and intuitive yoga teacher who is highly experienced at guiding students of all levels  through the fundamental steps of their yoga practice. She has a very clear and precise method of teaching and a deep understanding of how to ease bodies of all shapes and sizes into a comfortable beneficial practice. Her teachers have included Ruth White, John Evans, Shandor Remete and Safia Dias.

Accommodation
Rooms are beautifully designed in a natural style – a combination of old and new. Furnishings and fabrics complement the buildings and their setting, creating a calming and comfortable environment. Bedrooms are allocated on a first come first serve basis. Some students may stay in a nearby house, a 5-minute walk away.

Massage & Treatments
Massage is available to help you recuperate and relax and is a very useful tool to help lengthen muscle fibres, improving your physical yoga practice. Treatments can be booked on arrival

Activities & Excursions
In Sabina and the surrounding area is rich in history and natural beauty. A walk in the hills and/or a trip to the hot outdoor sulphur springs (an hour away) can be organised for those who wish to explore the surrounding countryside.

Transportation and Transfers
In Sabina is approximately one hour from the centre of Rome (by car or train) and around 1.5 hours’ drive from both airports.  
From Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci Airport) - take the Orte train from the ‘Stazione’ inside the airport. Get off at Stimigliano (1.5 hours), where we will pick you up. The train ticket costs ¤7.90. 
From Ciampino airport (Ryanair, Easyjet) -  take the airport bus to Termini station in the centre of Rome. From there take the Metro to Tiburtina Station. Then take the Orte train, and get off at Stimigliano (45 minutes) where we will pick you up. The train ticket costs ¤2.90. (This whole journey can take 2.5 to 3 hours.)

Cost
£595 which includes shared accommodation (2 or 3 in a room), two  classes a day (except on Wednesday when there will be one in the morning), three vegetarian meals a day (apart from the last evening when we go out to a restaurant),  mats and equipment, linens and bath towels
Single accommodation is limited and costs an extra £200.  
The cost does not include flights to Italy and transfers to InSabina, massage and other treatments, guided walks and excursions, the friday evening meal.

Booking
To confirm your booking please contact  Amanda (07930 412707) or Alessandra (07958412386). A non-refundable deposit of £200 is required to secure your place.  The remainder of the cost of the holiday is due six weeks before the retreat begins.  
To find out more and to make a booking please contact

For information about the property see www.insabina.com.

Alessandra Margarito
Pilates Foundation Instructor
tel : 07958 412 386
www.rhythmoflife.org.uk