Form and Freedom
A Yoga Retreat in the South of Italy
August 15-21, 2026
The retreat I’ve always dreamt of leading.
This is my most intimate and affordable retreat ever. I asked myself, what kind of retreat would I want to attend? This is exactly that.
We’ll start each day with an extended two-hour practice in my unique blend of hatha vinyasa + katonah yoga, with plenty of time for pranayama and meditation. Brunch and dinner are plant-based harvests crafted from the retreat center’s garden and local farms. Early afternoons are yours to dip in the salt-water pool, snack on fresh fruit, walk to the nearby town, drive to the beach, nap in a hammock under the olive trees, or have a deep conversation with a friend.
In the late afternoon, we’ll have an extended yin practice or a specialized workshop topic. Following dinner, we’ll gather for evening Satsang - sacred community time. This may include journaling, discussion, mantra chanting, relaxation breathwork, yoga nidra, or stories from sacred texts.
This isn’t a vacation filled with touristic excursions. It’s a practice intensive in a beautiful setting with likeminded humans. You’ll be taken care of. You’ll be served food made with love. You’ll be offered practices and rituals created with intention. We’ll make lifelong connections.
Your only job is to show up, slow down, turn inward, and breathe out. You will deepen your practice just by being here. Yoga teachers will earn 30 CEUs and 10 hours toward a Katonah Yoga® certification.
7 days / 6 nights of countryside magic.
Sample daily schedule:
8:00am: morning practice
10:30am: brunch
free time: live your best life!
4:00pm: yin yoga or workshop
6:30pm: dinner
7:30pm: satsang (sacred community)
Pricing:
Shared 2-person room: $1350
Private solo room: $1950
Early bird discount: $100 off
What’s included:
6 nights accommodation
Daily brunch, dinner, coffee, tea, snacks
All yoga classes, workshops, mats, props
What’s not included:
flights and transport
Massages (~60 euro per hour)
Excursions or extra activities
Our Home for the Week:
YogApulia is a boutique retreat center exclusively for yoga and meditation. It’s set in 2.5 acres filled with olive and almond groves. There are 6 bedrooms each with private ensuite bathrooms. All rooms have been renovated using locally sourced materials to create a luxurious yet simple and understated feel. Your room can be set up with two twin beds or one double bed.
Inside the main house there’s a cozy living room, dining room, and tea/coffee station. A large outdoor courtyard provides the main communal eating space, and several seating areas offer a place to relax in the sun or the shade. The salt-water swimming pool is situated in the heart of the complex, surrounded by palms and olive trees. Hidden nearby is the meditation hut, a place to escape into silence and enjoy the vistas across the valley. Lastly, the sun-filled yoga shala will be home to our extended practices.
The retreat center is built around old trulli, traditional Italian stone huts with conical roofs. This style of accommodation is unique to the Apulia region in the Southern heel of Italy. Trulli are known for their great insulation, keeping things cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They’re also beautiful!
The Food Philosophy:
The center offers food that is varied, unprocessed, and nourishing. Meals are plant-based and primarily focused on local traditions and recipes. Brunch and dinner ensure the right balance of grains, greens, and proteins to promote energy and recovery. Everything is made on-site with locally-sourced and seasonal produce. The center’s vegetable garden and fruit trees also provide harvests including figs, pomegranates, salads, zucchini, herbs, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes… the list goes on!
You may be wondering … is two meals per day enough? The retreat center has never had a problem with guests going hungry, even with multiple Yoga practices each day. Meals will be highly nutritious with generous portions, and snacks including fresh fruit will be offered in the afternoons along with tea and coffee.
Getting there:
Each guest is responsible for making their way to the retreat center on August 15, but I’m happy to help! The closest airports are Brindisi (BDS) which is ~40 minutes away, and Bari (BRI) which is ~60 minutes away. Renting a car from either of these airports is relatively inexpensive, and provides you great freedom to explore the surrounding countryside, local historical towns, and beaches. For those who prefer not to rent a car, I can help coordinate shuttles, or you can book a ride using an app such as FreeNow (similar to Uber) - it shouldn’t be more than 30-40 Euro each way. You could also theoretically fly into Naples Airport (NAP) which is 3.5 hours away, and rent a car and drive from there. Contact me with any questions!
Testimonials from previous retreats:
“This was such a wonderful experience. It was my first experience doing a retreat like this and I wasn’t totally sure what to expect but it exceeded anything I could have imagined. Not only were the logistics well handled and communicated, food was amazing, and accommodations were great, but the content and activities were incredible. Each session was so well thought out and provided space to reflect. I left with a deeper practice as well as a new support system through all of the amazing people that joined.”
“This retreat was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Ben and the whole teaching team created space for so much learning and connecting that it felt like we made shifts within ourselves and our community with such safety. My heart was open from day one and continued that way through teaching, yoga, journaling, gorgeous nature, and so much laughter.”
“I wish all beings could experience what was experienced during this retreat.”
“I had an honor to attend this beautiful retreat. It was so healing and life changing experience. I wish everyone can experience this. Words can't describe the love, connection, support and healing I felt! Such a great way to see the world and spend time doing things that are good for the body, mind and soul! I can't RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH. TRULY! I look at myself differently! My heart feels so open!”
“Having never done a yoga retreat, I knew I wanted my first one to be with facilitators I trust. Since the initial announcement, Ben and Caiti were clear & helpful about all that the retreat entails. We were supported with all the info we could need - recommended travel info, packing lists, shuttles, weather - all the expectations. Communication was easy & smooth. I felt incredibly supported throughout the entire journey. Ben curates a supportive, open, sincere environment that fosters growth and connection (with self & others). This retreat was intentional & made with love. I’ve never had a better experience in my life. 🙏🏼”
“This was a life changing experience. I took away so many beautiful memories and experiences from this trip. The people, the food, the yoga was all so spectacular.”