Shining week at Cascina Bellaria, Seddzadio, North West Italy

11 - 17 July 2011 - Teachers: Peter Roussel and Marco Mandrino

Cost from €525 per person

Cascina Bellaria is a classical farmhouse in Piemont style, part of it dates back to the nineteenth century. It is located in a quiet, hilly area of the countryside between Alessandria and Acqui Terme in North West Italy.

Far from the main inhabited centres and roads, the farmhouse is surrounded by a quiet and relaxed atmosphere that follows the rhythm of nature. Foxes, deers, squirrels, wild boars and many kinds of birds live in the countryside and very often they get close to the house and to the small lake, which is located inside the land of the farmhouse.

The oldest side of the property has become a dining room, characterised by the barrel vaults with bricks and a fireplace that warms the whole setting during winter months.

The barn has become the spacious yoga room with a naked wood roof, wooden floor and a whole glass window wall which offers a great countryside landscape.

The farmhouse has a room for ayurveda massages with a wooden massage table in respect of the traditional Indian medicine.

Shining week is seven days in the calm of the countryside marked by the rhythm of yoga lessons, ayurvedic massages, shiatsu treatments, yogi parties and natural, vegetarian cuisine.

Classes will be given by experienced practitioners Marco Mandrino and Peter Roussel and will include many practices of hatha yoga, asana in dynamic and technical forms, pranayama and meditation. 

There will be two classes each day plus optional, additional workshops the Sunday before the holiday and the Saturday and Sunday at the end of the week.

Each day the morning will start with meditation and pranayama outdoors (depending on the weather), followed by yoga asanas in the stunning yoga space. Breakfast will be served on the terrace. The group will meet again in the late afternoon for a class which will, at times, incorporate slow gentle asanas, alignment based asana with props for deeper opening and at other times, vinyasa flow for dynamic charge.

There will be the chance to take private consultations with the teachers. These can be just for extra practice or help with specific challenges or to build you a self practice routine that you feel confident to stay practising in your daily life (these classes are available at extra cost).

The passionate week of yoga and bhakti will be in a very friendly environment. There will be a  DJ accompanied vinyasa class at the climax of the week leading into a yogi cocktail party.

Casa Bellaria is a restored farmhouse that has become the home of the Hari-Om School of yoga from Milan. The massive studio has floor to ceiling windows looking out over the rolling fields outside the village of Seddzadio.

There are several overnight possibilities. Bellaria offer shared rooms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms, double rooms with shared bathrooms or private single, double, triple or quadruple rooms with bathrooms. There's also a small one-room apartment.

All meals are included and consist of a  vegetarian buffet of fresh and homemade food.

For those who want a longer break it is possible to extend your stay and take part in the additional workshops listed below. Extra nights are charged per day (including classes and meals).

Workshop on Restorative Yoga on Sunday 10th July
Workshop on The Mantras and the Devas on Saturday 16th July
Workshop on Yoga with Props on Sunday 17th July

The price for these additional workshops is €40 each.

An expert therapist will be on site for ayurvedic, shiatsu and Thai massage at a cost of €40 per treatment.