8-Day Ashtanga & Yin Yoga Wellness Escape in Puglia, Italy

The retreat runs for eight days and is based at Masseria Torre Luciana, a restored masseria in San Pietro in Lama, about 15 minutes from Lecce. Days start early with Ashtanga Vinyasa — a dynamic, structured practice that follows a set sequence. Alice Micheli leads these sessions and adjusts for different levels, though some familiarity with sun salutations helps. After practice there's breakfast, then a Pranayama and meditation session mid-morning. That's the energetic half of the day done by noon.

After lunch, afternoons are free. You can use the natural cave spa on the property, sit by the pool, or head into Lecce or one of the nearby towns. The cantina is open for tastings of Salento wines — Primitivo and Negroamaro are the local reds. Two afternoons are set aside for workshops: one is a handpan introduction with a local artisan, where you get to try the instrument and there's a discount if you want to buy one. The other is a pasta-making class, usually orecchiette, which is the shape this region is known for.

Evenings wind down with Yin Yoga — long-held floor poses, lots of props, aimed at releasing the hips and lower back after the morning's activity. Dinner follows, either at the masseria or at the bio agriturismo nearby. The meals are vegetarian-friendly and based on Puglian cooking: fava bean purée, seasonal vegetables, local olive oil, handmade pasta, and fruit. It's not a detox — it's proper food, just lighter than what you'd eat at a restaurant every night.

What makes this different from a standard yoga retreat is the location and the extras. The cave spa is carved into the rock and is genuinely unusual — it's not a hotel spa with piped music, it's a natural space. The tower suite gives groups a way to stay together without splitting into separate rooms. And the workshops are led by people from the area, so you're not doing a generic craft session; you're learning orecchiette from someone who's made it their whole life.

Alice has been running retreats in Italy for several years and also teaches in India. Her teaching style is direct — she'll correct your alignment and expects you to show up on time — but she keeps the room relaxed. The group size is kept small enough that she can give individual adjustments. Most guests come solo or as couples, and the mix tends to be people in their 30s to 50s who practise regularly at home.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in private en-suite suite or tower suite - Daily Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga classes - Daily Pranayama and meditation sessions - Daily Yin Yoga sessions - Nourishing meals at nearby bio agriturismo - Access to tower suite (suitable for group use) - Handpan workshop with local artisan - Italian pasta-making class - Natural cave spa access - Pool access - On-site cantina tastings

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Airport transfers (unless arranged) - Optional handpan instrument purchase (discount available) - Additional meals or drinks outside the program