Join David Moore, Rossella Buono and Marilyn Dean for a week of learning and rejuvenation in historic Assisi.
The Assisi retreat is open to everyone!

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.

David, Rossella and Marilyn 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.

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.

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.The cost will be approximately €450 for breakfast, lunch  and sharing the room with you.(We can provide you with the exact price closer to the start of the retreat).

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."

Marilyn Dean - a review : “I started Smart Yoga  with Marilyn six months ago and went to my first class with some apprehension as I didn’t know what to expect. I now wish I had found her and the Alexander Technique  earlier. I have done pilates for the last 25 years as well as the usual LTB and aerobic type classes BUT I have come to understand a great deal more about body awareness from Marilyn which I am able to put into practice in my other classes. Marilyn explains everything so well and whether you have done yoga for years or new to it like myself everyone can work at their own level and is accommodated in her classes.

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.

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.

We will be dividing up the group for some sessions so that Alexander teachers, and yoga teachers who have previously participated in Smart Yoga training, can focus on their own teaching of yoga and with an emphasis on hands-on guidance and adjustments within yoga classes.

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 2024. 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.

Very early-bird discount ends 31 December 2024​​​

Early-bird discount ends 1 March 2025

• Single €1,495 - Early bird €1,350 - Very early bird €1,200

• Double €1,300 - Early bird €1,200 - Very early bird €1,095

• 3 bedroom €1,155 - Early bird €1055 - Very early bird €960

Fees can be paid directly to our bank accounts in Sterling, Euros 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 €500

• 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. We collet info from our participants to coordinate the arrivals, where possible.

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."