Savoring Simplicity

PUGLIA

Yoga Retreat

July 5 - 11, 2027

Puglia, Italy

Imagine enchanted forests filled with ancient cedar trees, sacred paths, and Shinto temples. Picture majestic gardens coming alive with delicate, pink cherry blossoms. Snow-capped mountains surround villages and historic Buddhist temples. Japan's Nagano Prefecture is known for its slower pace and wild, natural beauty.

Traditional Japanese practices rooted in spirituality, ritual, and mindfulness have inspired our Sensing Beauty retreat. On retreat, we'll practice forest bathing, participate in a traditional tea ceremony, meditatively copy Buddhist scriptures, and soak under the stars in a 100-year onsen bath. These are just some of the experiences that make Nagano an ideal place to decompress, learn from the Japanese people, and deepen our yoga practice.

The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi has shaped our vision for Sensing Beauty. In a world that encourages us to strive for perfection and pursue more, Wabi-Sabi offers an alternative. It's a way of living that focuses on the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. We will connect more deeply with the living beauty of the landscape, the culture, and people of Japan.

As we journey, the wisdom of yoga will guide us inward to reframe how we see and engage with the world around us. Sensing Beauty retreat invites you to slow down, attune to your senses, and live with intention. After our time in Japan, you will return home feeling a renewed sense of mindfulness, appreciation, and inspiration.

Pricing and Registration
  • Trullo (house) in Puglia

    Trulli (Conical houses)

  • Mediterranean beach

    Mediterranean beaches

  • Hands holding olives

    Fresh olives

  • Steps in Ostuni

    Historic towns

  • Fresh burrata cheese

    Local delicacies

  • Women making pasta

    Fresh pasta

Trip Highlights

  • Yoga space

    Yoga

    Angela will lead a deeply held and thoughtful yoga journey, including themed talks, slow flow yoga, and meditation practices. We will also focus on how Japanese philosophy and Buddhist wisdom can nurture a mindful way of living.

  • Olive oil being poured on tomatoes

    Olive oil tasting

    We will

  • Path to beach

    Nearby Beach

    Take a short 15 minute walk from our retreat home and dive into the Mediterranean.

  • Eggplant parmigiana

    Delicious Meals

    Experience Puglia’s rich culinary heritage of seasonal food. Bram’s superpower is finding the best places to eat wherever we travel. 

  • Dinner table

    Communal meals

    We will gather around large tables for our meals during the retreat. Coming together, we will eat, share stories, and build community.

  • Ostuni Square

    Ostuni

    Wander through the famed “white city” at sunset and take in its picturesque beauty.

  • Lecce

    Lecce

    Enjoy a day in the “Florence of the South.” Lecce is full of beautiful baroque architecture and Roman ruins.

    • 7 days, 6 nights accommodation in a beautifully restored farmhouse from the 1600s

    • Delicious meals

      • Breakfast and dinner every day

      • 1 lunch is included

      • Aperitivo on the first and last nights

      • Every meal has vegetarian and vegan options

    • Transport from and to Brindisi Airport or train station

    • Private transportation for day trips

    • Daily yoga & meditation classes with Angela

    • Daily discussions about Puglia’s history and culture with Bram

    • Day trips to Lecce and Ostuni

    • Pasta making workshop

    • Olive oil or wine tasting

    • Taxes & Fees

    • Airfare to and from Italy

    • Travel insurance

    • Spending money

    • Alcohol

    • Tips for staff

    • Lunch on 5 days

  • Our Puglia retreat is much more than a yoga holiday. It’s an opportunity to slow down and immerse yourself in southern Italian culture. As with all Shared Pilgrimages, we will keep our group small.

    Bram will lead the outward portion of our journey. He will guide us through and explain Puglia’s culture and history.

    Angela will guide the journey inward with yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices. She will help you dive deep within yourself to notice the imprint of this unforgettable place and its people.

    “Thus travel spins us round in two ways at once: It shows us the sights and values and issues that we might ordinarily ignore; but it also, and more deeply, shows us all the parts of ourselves that might otherwise grow rusty. For in traveling to a truly foreign place, we inevitably travel to moods and states of mind and hidden inward passages that we’d otherwise seldom have cause to visit.” - Pico Iyer

Pricing and Registration
Book call to discuss retreat

Accommodation

Beautifully Restored Farmhouse

We have exclusive use of a lovingly restored farmhouse, just a 15-minute walk from the crystal-clear Ionian Sea. Whitewashed stone buildings are surrounded by olive trees. Inside the walls are beautifully decorated rooms. A team of loving nonnas prepares delicious family recipes with local, fresh ingredients. Gardens and a small soak pool invite you to relax and enjoy the space’s natural beauty.

Click on images to enlarge.

Pricing

Shared room

$3950 per person - Early Bird Discount until October 31

$4200 after October 31

Private room

$4750 per person - Early Bird Discount until October 31

$5100 after October 31

An $800 non-refundable deposit secures your spot on the retreat.

  • The second payment is due by January 1, 2027.

  • The remaining balance is due by April 1, 2027.

If you need to discuss alternative payment options, please contact us.

Pay Deposit and Register
Book call to discuss retreat

FAQs

  • Travel in Italy

    All international travel requires stepping outside one's comfort zone. If you have never traveled with us before, or have any questions about travel in the developing world, we ask that you have a chat with us before submitting your deposit.

    Weather

    September is the ideal time to visit Zanzibar. It’s dry season, and the weather is warm, sunny, and breezy during the day. At night, the temperature cools slightly. Visitors should pack for the tropics. The average daily temperature is 85º F during the day and 70º F at night.

    Amenities & Internet

    Wi-fi access is complimentary. Laundry service is available for an additional cost.

  • What Airport Should I Fly Into?

    Everyone should fly into one of Tokyo’s two international airports. Narita (NRT) is further from the city center. Haneda (HND) is closer. It is easy to take a train from either airport to downtown Tokyo.

    We will meet at the downtown Tokyo train station and take the shinkansen to Nagano.

    What Airlines Do You Recommend?

    Most major airlines fly to Japan. Choose whatever airline works best for you.

    When Should I Arrive?

    Plan to arrive in Tokyo no later than 6 am on Saturday, April 17, so you have time to get to the downtown train station and meet the group.

    We recommend arriving at least one day early and spending a night in Tokyo. That way you can see a little bit of Tokyo and begin adjusting to the time change.

    When Should I Depart?

    That depends on where you want to go after Nagano. If you are flying home on April 24, it’s easiest to fly out of Tokyo airport.

    Please book your flight departure no earlier than 6 pm. We will depart from Nagano at 10 am. It can take up to 4 hours to get to the airport.

    If you are continuing on to Kyoto with the group, you can fly home from Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka. It takes about an hour to travel from Kyoto to the airport.

    Please book your flight departure from Osaka no earlier than 3 pm. We will depart from Nagano at 11 am.

    ​What are good resources to look for Flights?

    Our preferred search engine to first look for an international flight is Kayak. Expedia and JustFly are also good resources. We also recommend looking at an airline’s website after you find a flight on a search engine. There are sometimes better deals on the airline’s website.

    How Long Should I Wait to Buy My Flight?

    The recommended time to purchase international fares at the best deals varies. You’re likely to find the best deals 6 months to 3 months before your travel date.​​ 

    Kayak also makes recommendations about when it is a good time to buy a flight.

    Flight Booking Advice

    We recommend booking flights directly with the carrier, rather than through a third party. Some tickets booked through third parties can be difficult to change due to unexpected events, such as inclement weather.

  • The $800 or $1000 deposit secures your place and is non-refundable.

    If you wish to cancel your trip, you must notify Angela and Bram via email. Once we’ve received your notice, cancellation will take effect subject to the following:​

    • If cancellation takes place on or before August 1, 2026, any payments made will be refunded, minus your deposit.​

    • If cancellation takes place on or after August 1, 2026, all payments will be forfeited, and no refunds will be given.

    • Any refunds will incur a 6% administrative cost

    • Always purchase travel insurance that covers your trip interruption, trip cancellation, luggage and/or valuables loss, and medical assistance, including repatriation if necessary. We recommend travel insurance that includes "cancel for any reason" coverage.

    • Please ensure that your passport is valid, with at least 6 months until expiry, and that you are aware of immigration/visa laws in Tanzania.

    • Visas: As a US citizen, if you want to travel to Zanzibar for tourism, you must obtain a Tanzanian visa. You can purchase a visa in advance or upon arrival at the airport. We will send you the link to apply for a visa directly from the Tanzanian government. You can also use a third-party service, if you want help applying for a visa.

    • Zanzibar requires all foreign visitors to purchase Zanzibari travel insurance in addition to travel insurance purchased outside the country. Their travel insurance guarantees you emergency services on the island. As we approach the retreat date, we will provide you with further details.

If you have any questions that we have not answered, please write to us HERE.