Tuscany with Cindy and Patrick

Tuscany with Cindy & Patrick
31 August - 7 September

Where are we going?

Tuscany because it’s one of our favorite places in the world. Its beauty is hard to match and we just love to come back here as much as possible.

Tuscany is a region in central Italy. Its capital, Florence, is home to some of the world’s most recognisable Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s "David" statue, Botticelli’s works in the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo basilica. Tuscany is one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in Italy, specializing in cereals (especially wheat), olive oil, and wines, notably those of the Chianti wine region located between Florence and Siena.

We will be located in the heart of this Chianti region, about 20 minutes outside of Florence, in a town called San Casciano in Val di Pesa. A place of incomparable beauty famous to be the hometown of Niccolo Macchiavelli.

Where will we stay?

We will be spending 7 nights at the incredible Villa Casavecchia, located right outside the town of San Casciano Val di Pesa and nestled into the hills of the Tuscan countryside.

Villa Casavecchia consists of 3 large villas and ample grounds where you can take relaxing nature walks. One of these villas (which has been lovingly restored) was originally built in the 1200’s! These villas have an old-world charm that transports you to another time and provides you with an authentic experience of Tuscany.

Our days will consist of daily morning satsang, yoga, workshops and ecstatic kirtans! We have 2 planned excursions to Florence and Cinque Terre, and there will also be plenty of free time where you can take a long walk on the grounds, walk to town, or just relax by the pool! You can wander into the local town (San Casciano) as much as you’d like! San Casciano is the quintessential archaic European village, full of charm and at your leisure you can get food, coffee, pastries, and visit the shops. There is a possibility to attend temple programs for those who would like to.

In the scope of maintaining a yoga lifestyle we kindly ask everyone not to engage in the consumption of alcohol, and maintain a vegetarian diet while on the Villa grounds.

What will our days look like?

With Who?

Meet Cindy

Cindy is the former owner of four Yoga studios in upstate New York and one in Nashville, Tennessee. She just recently opened Yogasoul Bhakti Center in Nashville. She is a certified Bikram, Vinyasa, Yin Yoga and Level 2/3 Barkan Vinyasa teacher. She has completed Yin Yoga certifications with Paul Grilley and Josh Summers. She also completed Ana Forrest's Advanced Yoga training as well as Baptiste's Art of Assisting and Advanced Art of Assisting trainings. Cindy fulfilled her 500 hours with both Jimmy Barkan and Rolf Gates. For five years, Cindy assisted Jimmy Barkan at his level II/III Vinyasa teacher trainings. She currently leads 200 hour Vinyasa and Hot 26 teacher trainings and assists her teacher Raghunath in his 300 hour training in India. She practices and studies Bhakti Yoga in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee where she teaches, as well as regularly travels to lead trainings, workshops and retreats.

Instagram: nashvillebhaktiyogi

Meet Patrick

Patrick Heffernan, a former professional musical theater performer turned yoga instructor and fitness trainer, founded Journey to the Peak, an online yoga community, and Journey to You, a dynamic growth group, in 2020. With 200 hr YTT with Raghunath and Sondra Loring, 300 hr with Matt Giordano, and 50 hr Yin with Bernie Clark, Patrick is also an L1 certified Animal Flow instructor and a health and wellness coach. His latest program, The Performer’s Heart, utilizes nervous system/polyvagal theory, mindset, and shadow work to help performing artists overcome stage fright. Patrick emphasizes bhakti yoga through mantra, music, and philosophy, aiming to empower students to connect with their divine spark and make a unique contribution to the world.

Instagram: heff_patrick

Meet Tarak

Tarak is a Belgian musician, yoga and kirtan teacher living in Florence, Tuscany Italy

He is an ex-monk of the Bhakti Path in which Mantras and Sound are at the root of the practice. In his musical endeavors he strives to bring Mantras to a more broader and more modern audience through Kirtan, Sound Baths and Live DJ sets.
Besides music Tom runs a Travel Agency specialized in hosting retreats for a conscious audience, mainly working together with Yoga studios, Vegetarian/Vegan Promoters, Travel Bloggers and Influencers.

Whether through music or travel. Tom is passionate about orchestrating experiences of a lifetime that leave a positive transformative impact on people’s lives.

He will be our host during this trip, guiding us through the best of what he has found in ten years of living in Tuscany.

Instagram: tarak.mantra.music

Daily Schedule

Day 1

Arrival Day

Check-in Villa

Welcome Orientation

Dinner

Kirtan

Day 2

Local Exploration

Sadhana

Morning yoga

Brunch

2-hour Hike

Visit to Villa Vrindavana

Yoga Class in the Museum

Dinner at the Temple

Evening Kirtan

Day 3

Yoga Immersion

Sadhana

Morning Yoga

Brunch

Workshops/Seminars

Dinner
Evening Kirtan

Day 4

Day trip to Florence

Sadhana

Morning Yoga

Brunch

Florence

Yoga Class

Dinner

Evening Kirtan

Day 5

Rest/Bike Day

Sadhana

Morning Yoga

Brunch

Optional Bike Trip

Yin Class

Sound Bath

Evening Kirtan

Day 6

Yoga Immersion

Sadhana

Morning Yoga

Brunch

Rest Day/Pool Day

Workshops/Seminars

Dinner

Evening Kirtan

Day 7

Day trip to Cinque Terre

Sadhana

Morning Yoga

Day Trip to Cinque Terre

Dinner

Day 8

Departure Day

Check-out 11 a.m.

Ready for the Journey?

Retreat Price: 2350 USD

Early BIRD: 2200 USD (Till 1 April 2024)

NoN-REFUNDABLE Deposit: 500 USD

What's Included

Yoga classes, workshops, seminars & sound baths
All daily transportation including day trips and excursions (lunch bags will be provided)
Accommodation at Casa Vecchia, a beautiful 12th Century Villa surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Please note that all rooms are double occupancy rooms.
All meals: 3 Meals per day made by our own Private Italian Chef. Click HERE to see what you'll be eating
Day trip to Florence
Day trip to Cinque Terre