Celebrate 15 years of collaboration and transformation with internationally renowned certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher, Laruga Glaser (with assistant Francesca Maniglio), according to the traditional lineage, at Yoga nel Salento. This unique retreat marks a decade and a half of dedication, practice, and growth that Laruga has brought to our center for students from all over the world. Join us for this special event, where you will be guided on a one-week journey tailored to meet your individual needs, whether you are just starting your Ashtanga practice or have been practicing for many years. Everyone will be welcomed where they are and receive what they need, based on their level of experience.
A Celebration of Practice & Mastery
For the past 15 years, Laruga has shared her expertise and passion for Ashtanga Yoga with our community. Now, she invites you to be part of this special retreat, focused on deepening your practice while celebrating the transformative power of yoga and how it brings people together. Francesca Maniglio, the founder of Yoga in Salento, will assist throughout the retreat, ensuring that every participant receives personalized guidance and support needed to thrive.
The Program
Dive into the heart and soul of the Ashtanga yoga practice under the inspiring guidance of Laruga Glaser. The retreat will be a complete and comprehensive program offering foundational grounding as well as progressive techniques to mature in the practice. The goal is for all participants to benefit from the retreat, as well as after the retreat, ultimately guiding each practitioner into the heart of their potential, and planting seeds that will continue to grow.
Each morning will be devoted to Mysore practice, except for Led class on designated days. New beginner students will be thoroughly monitored, especially in the early stages of the retreat, to garner greater confidence to self practice with confidence. For experienced students, all will receive full support in developing strength, while deepening their existing practice working through challenging aspects of the sequences.
The majority of afternoon workshops will be focused on the core elements of the Ashtanga methodology – learning to harmonize what appears to be opposing forces, and making deeper connections inwardly through the outer manifestation of the asanas. We will balance both the practical and theoretical, taking time to discuss the philosophical insights that arise in our experience, understanding what it means to live, and more importantly, embody yoga daily.
As an added bonus there were be a few free giveaways in celebration of 15 years of collaboration with Laruga and Yoga in Salento. Liforme has been so kind to donate 4 premium quality yoga mats to giveaway along with a few other items along with other prizes.
Workshop Descriptions
Ashtanga: The Path & The Journey
Through consistent practice our time on the mat can develop into a work of art, creating stillness in motion. Reaching a flow state comes from uniting all internal elements to then rest in awareness within our physical being. In this workshop, we will explore how to create depth in the practice creating art in motion, while developing conscious attention and strength throughout the body- mind. We will first start by cutting away excess energy draining movements as well as connecting to the downward and upward flow, known as prana and upana, to then sit in a space of simplicity and concentration. This will be an inspiring workshop, giving space to explore and express the beauty of yoga in every movement and every breath.
Gateway Postures
All postures in the sequences of Ashtanga yoga are important. However, in this workshop, we will take a closer look at the core postures in both Primary and Intermediate series integral to opening and strengthening the body mind setting the stage to more intelligently grow and evolve in the practice.
Backbends: Liberate the Spine
The paradox of backbending is that we must be firm and soft at the same time, uniting the energy of strength and surrender. Learn the basic components of backbending with integrity to the natural flow of the body. In addition, learn to understand the concept of active release. When actively releasing, we experience use of grounding mechanisms to establish the downward flow of energy, while fully utilizing the breath, to expand and immerse fully into the posture. In this workshop, learn the foundational techniques that allow the body to find its depth and strength, while at the same time, letting go. For all levels.
Inversions and Spatial Awareness
Inversions can be both restorative, exhilarating as well as challenging. In this workshop you will be progressively lead through techniques and good practices starting from the most basic inversions working up toward more demanding inverted poses. This will be a valuable workshop in understanding how to establish good technique from the start to help guide you though greater areas of challenge as one builds more strength and awareness upside down.