Destination Yoga! New Trend In Yoga Fitness

Yoga has rapidly become the most popular self-development practice in the world. Just Google it on the Internet and you’ll find over 72 million hits! The latest trend in yoga is destination yoga. You’ve heard of destination weddings, well, now many devote yoga enthusiasts are seeking out yoga holiday spots or retreats. I found one such retreat nestled in the rolling hills of Umbria, Italy. Billed as the ultimate in luxury yoga retreats, La Preghiera Country House Estates offers an exclusive group of yoga enthusiasts the opportunity to experience yoga in the heartland of Italy, with time off for exploring the nearby medieval villages.

La Preghiera is located in the heart of the Umbrian countryside about 40 minutes from Perugia, the medieval center of Umbria and 2.5 hours north of Rome. Low cost flights from London Stansted via RyanAir fly into Perugia on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. La Preghiera ( “The Prayer” in English), originally a 12th Century monastery, has been restored to an elegant country house estate - bed and breakfast accommodation with impeccable rooms and service. Normally booked solid, La Preghiera is opening up one of its highly sought after yoga retreat (September 2nd - September 9th) to new guests who wish to experience yoga in the tranquility of the Umbrian countryside. The retreat includes 7 nights private luxury accommodation, copious breakfast buffet, light lunch on 6 days, 3-course dinner on 3 evenings at La Preghiera, and private minibus transfers on 4 evenings to a local medieval village or town. Participants can even rent the property’s Jaguar to explore the area or can choose just to relax at poolside. The 12 yoga classes (90 minutes morning classes and 60 minutes evening classes) include: Asanas (Physical Movements), Pranayama (Breathing Practices), Chakra Balancing, Meditation and Relaxation. Beauty treatments, such as a body massage, head and shoulders massage, body scrub, facial scrub, manicure or pedicure, are available at an additional cost. Private airport transfers to the property can be arranged as well.

Jan Foglia, who has international qualifications from the Sivananda Yoga Vedenta Centre and the British Wheel of Yoga, supervises and instructs. Jan started her career over 30 years ago with Iyengar yoga and later gained her qualification in Sivananda Hatha yoga. She also practices Ashtanga and Dynamic yoga forms and has a well-rounded knowledge in meditation, chakra balancing and pranayama (breathing techniques).

So what’s the hoopla all about? Dating back over 5000 years, yoga is the oldest defined practice of physical wellbeing and self- development. It is also therapeutic for many injuries and medical conditions. Yoga has proved to be helpful in reducing stress, reducing pain, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, reducing anxiety and muscle tension, increasing strength and flexibility, slowing the aging process, improving sleep, and helpful in dealing with allergies and asthma symptoms. It’s an excellent alternative form of healing that is very suited to the needs of thyroid patients, individuals suffering from bi-polar disorder, depression, chronic fatigue and osteoporosis. It improves the immune system and circulation. The art and science of yoga, is like a meditation itself, the more you practice it, the more you feel its enlightening and transforming effects. Virtually everyone can see physical benefits from yoga, and its practice can also give psychological benefits, such as a sense of wellbeing, and spiritual benefits, such as a feeling of connectedness with God or Spirit, or a feeling of transcendence.

Does a more peaceful atmosphere make a difference in your workout? I doubt it but it can't hurt. Here’s your chance to try it out and attend one of the most exclusive yoga retreats in Italy.

By: Sara Lucci

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Sara Lucci lives in Umbria with her husband and two teenage sons. She searches for the best Umbria has to offer. To find out more about La Preghiera, visit www.lapreghiera.com Email: info@lapreghiera.com