Tuscan Yoga & Soul Retreat in a Medieval Village: Ashtanga, Breathwork & Slow Living

The retreat is anchored by daily 90-minute Ashtanga Vinyasa classes in a private chapel that's been part of the village for centuries. The frescoes on the walls date back 200 years, and the energy of the space is a big part of what makes the practice feel different from a studio class at home. Alice teaches with a strong emphasis on breath and alignment, and she's careful to make the practice accessible to beginners while still offering depth for more experienced students. Each day follows a gentle rhythm: morning practice, Italian breakfast, farm-to-table lunch in town, and then free time that you can fill with optional Yin Yoga, pranayama sessions, or a short trip to the thermal waters of Casciana Terme for a mud treatment or massage. Evenings are open — you choose from the village's handful of family-run restaurants, from a cozy spot under the pines to a farm-to-table experience nearby. Alice is a biologist with a background in nutrition, which shows in how she talks about movement and food throughout the retreat. Her teaching is informed by years spent in India — she's certified in Ashtanga in Mysore and Hatha in Varkala — and she has a way of breaking down complex postures so that even a total beginner can build confidence. The small group size (never more than ten) means you get plenty of individual attention, and the flexible structure means you can make the retreat as active or as restful as you need. Lajatico itself is a working village, not a tourist stop, which is exactly the point: there are no crowds, just quiet lanes, a few shops, and views over the hills toward Volterra and San Gimignano.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation in a historic apartment - Daily yoga classes (Ashtanga Vinyasa) in a frescoed chapel - Welcome drink - Daily Italian breakfast with herbal teas - 2 farm-to-table Tuscan lunches at local trattorias - Wifi connection - Free parking - Luggage storage

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional spa treatments (massages, mud treatments) - Dinners - Pranayama and Yin Yoga classes (optional extras) - Train station transfer