Join David Moore and Rossella Buono for a week of learning and rejuvenation in historic Assisi.
The Assisi retreat is open to everyone!
A part of this week has been specially developed for yoga instructors, Alexander Technique teachers and those who are serious, curious and open-minded about their yoga practice. The rest is focused on your use and understanding of the Alexander Technique.
Under David Moore's guidance you will find much of interest in working in a new way with familiar or unfamiliar poses. With a life time of teaching experience in the Alexander Technique and yoga, David brings fresh and practical insights into how the Alexander Technique can contribute to yoga practice. David will invite enquiry from participants and draw on his highly regarded book 'Smart Yoga' during the Retreat.

David and Rossella, take into account the wide variability in participants' ability and range of movement, and use these differences as a springboard to examine how we might deal intelligently with personal variability.

During the week-long Retreat participants can expect insight into:
Applying the Alexander Technique for safe and effective yoga practice
​Altering poses to suit a wide range of structural issues, body-types, and flexibility
Dealing with pain and injury
How Hatha Yoga, Patanjali, and Buddhist insight practices relate to the Alexander Technique
Bringing the practice into daily life
Balancing the autonomic nervous system
Mindfulness and meditation
Changing habits

For those interested, Smart Yoga: Apply the Alexander Technique to Enhance Your Practice, Prevent Injury, and Increase Body Awareness makes a great companion to yoga practice. More than an instruction manual, it is complete with visual examples and offers readers a critical approach to yoga practice. As a guide, Smart Yoga accommodates the needs of people with a diverse range of movement, in terms of injuries, structure, strength and flexibility. It offers comprehensive advice in modifying one's yoga practice.

THE RETREAT PROGRAM
The program will be structured to allow for intensive yoga and Alexander Technique work plus two private lessons for each participant over the course of the retreat. In addition it will allow for sufficient time for people to be able to visit and enjoy the surrounding towns and countryside. The program listed below is indicative and may be altered somewhat in consultation with the participants.
The course will start with an afternoon introductory group followed by an evening meal, and will end in the morning on the last day.
The daily program.

6.30 – 8.30 Yoga
8.30 – 9.00 Meditation
9.00 – 10.00 - Breakfast
10.00 – 13.00 Alexander Technique Groups
13.00– 14.00 Lunch
After 2pm - private lessons will be organised in the afternoon or evening. There will be free times for outings including a visits to Assisi and Perugia and a guided tour of the artwork at the cathedral. Depending on timing and interest we may do a late afternoon session in either yoga or Alexander Technique.

VENUE FOR THE ASSISI RETREAT
Accommodation: The historic Fontemaggio is located within the Monte Subasio Park just 15 minutes walk away from the top of Assisi, at an altitude of 550m. Fontemaggio is surrounded by hills and woodlands, offering an excellent opportunity for hiking and contemplation. The accommodation building has the benefit of standing alone but is part of a larger complex that includes a traditional restaurant, a coffee shop (they have good coffee and delectable ice cream), and a camping ground.
Meals: The menu will be vegetarian. Note that only breakfast and lunch are included in the fee. We will make our own arrangements for the evening meal, to give us the flexibility to be out for the evenings. The La Stalla restaurant is next door if you don't want to venture into town.There is also a kitchen for self-catering.

The Cost
Fees include tuition, 2 private sessions, breakfast and lunch (vegetarian) and accommodation.
All the rooms are ensuite with towels and basic toiletries provided. Yoga mats will also be provided.
These are our rates as of July 2023. If you book now we will guarantee these fees, but closer to the time we may need to raise them when it becomes clearer what our costs will be.

Full price and early bird:
Single €1,350 - Early bird €1,200
Double €1,195 Early bird €1,095
4 bedroom €1,050 Early bird €960
Early-bird discount ends 15 March 2024

Bring your partner: participants are welcome to bring a non-participating partner to the venue. There is plenty for them to do in the vicinity.
Cost €375 early bird, €475 booking after the 15th of March 2024 for breakfast, lunch and sharing the room with you.
​
Fees can be paid directly to our bank accounts in Sterling or Australian dollars at the current exchange rate on the day.
Exchange rates from Euros will be updated monthly, but once you have booked the price will remain the same as for your booking date.
Cancellation Policy
For cancellations received prior to March 1 - full refund less €75 handling fee
For cancellations received between March 1 and April 17- refund of fees paid less €400
For cancellations received after April 17 we cannot offer a refund.
We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance which will cover any losses in the case that you are forced to cancel.
Getting there:
Assisi is about 2 hours from Rome by bus or car and 15 minutes from Perugia airport.

David Moore has been teaching the Alexander  technique and yoga for over 35 years and runs training courses for Alexander teachers and yoga teachers in Melbourne, Australia. He is a registered Senior Teacher with Yoga Australia, He is the author of "Smart Yoga: Use the Alexander technique to enhance your practice, prevent injury and increase body awareness."

Rossella Buono has been teaching the technique since she graduated in 2010 and presently runs he practice from Canterbury in the UK and Perugia in Italy as well as online classes which she developed during the pandemic lockdowns. She is a skilled teacher in both private lessons and group classes. She is the co-author of "For the Love of Games: Alexander Technique Activities."