NEW LIGHT ON YOGA

JULY 3-7, 2024

Novaggio, Switzerland

“Now the light which shines above this heaven, above all, above everything, in the highest worlds beyond which there are no higher, verily, that is the same as this light which is here within the person.”

— Chāndogya Upaniṣad 3.13.7 (trans. Radhakrishnan)

Join Daniel Simpson and Michela Montalbetti in the southern Swiss hills for a summer immersion in practice and study. Drawing on a range of transformative teachings – including those described in Daniel’s book, The Truth of Yoga – we will explore how to integrate traditional wisdom with modern priorities.

Together, we will inquire into yoga philosophy in practical ways that relate it directly to everyday life. We will also consider how yoga evolved, and what makes it authentic when so much keeps changing. Above all, we will identify themes that connect today’s methods with earlier approaches, and embody them in practice that goes beyond postures – including seated meditation and breath-control.

This is a perfect opportunity to deepen your knowledge with two experienced teachers and a diverse community. Come and get inspired in a beautiful setting and go home recharged!

PREVIEW VIDEO

HOME FROM HOME

Casa Corvo is a stunning eighteenth-century building in the village of Novaggio. Once upon a time it was a convent, then later the mayor’s house. Nowadays, after careful and respectful renovation, it’s a boutique yoga and retreat centre.

Two adjacent buildings provide accommodation for 13 guests, with room for up to five more in a nearby annexe. The venue includes a spacious dining room and communal areas, a professional kitchen, a yoga shala, a Finnish sauna, a dream-like courtyard and lush gardens.

Novaggio is nestled in gentle pre-Alpine hills near the border with Italy. At an elevation of 650 metres above sea level, Casa Corvo is haven of calm and tranquility, offering enchanting views of the valley, with access to woodland and riverside walks, as well as mountain trails.

* Click here for a video tour *

DELICIOUS FOOD

We will be nourished by local, seasonal, organic cuisine made from wholesome ingredients. Michela’s husband Mike is a professional chef and he will be providing us with brunches and dinners to refuel after practice.

All food is vegetarian (lacto-ovo), with vegan options available. Please let us know of other dietary requirements to ensure they’re accommodated.

Refreshments and snacks (such as fruit, nuts and dates) are available all day, including coffee and herbal teas.

RETREAT SCHEDULE

Approximate, for guidance

ARRIVAL DAY: WEDNESDAY (JULY 3)

From 3:00 pm – check-in
5:00 pm – opening circle – orientation with Daniel and Michela
7:00 pm – dinner
8:00 pm – evening meditation / reflection / journaling

THURSDAY TO SATURDAY (JULY 4-6)

7:30 - 9:30 am – meditation, pranayama and asana with Michela
9:30 am – brunch
10:15 - 11:45 am – inspiration and inquiry: “New Light on Yoga”
12:00 - 3:00 pm – free time to relax and explore
3:00 - 4:30 pm – practical philosophy: "Finding Our Way"
5:00 - 6:30 pm – embodied integration: practice with Daniel
7:00 pm – dinner
8:00 pm – evening meditation / reflection / journaling

DEPARTURE DAY: SUNDAY (Jul 7)

7:30 - 9:00 am – meditation, pranayama and asana with Michela
9:00 - 10:00 am – closing thoughts
10:00 am – brunch
By 11:30 – check-out

MEET DANIEL

Daniel Simpson is the author of The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga's History, Texts, Philosophy, and Practices.

He teaches courses on yoga history and philosophy at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, on yoga teacher trainings and at truthofyoga.com.

Daniel holds a master's degree in yoga studies (from SOAS at the University of London) and has been studying yoga in various forms since his first trip to India in the 1990s.

In a previous career, he was a foreign correspondent, working for Reuters and the New York Times.

His approach draws on all of these experiences, presenting practical guidance in an engaging and humorous way.

MEET MICHELA

Michela Montalbetti teaches yoga full-time and owns Casa Corvo, where she’s been hosting retreats since 2017. She is also a surfer, a multilingual traveler and a singer.

She grew up in a family interested in eastern spirituality, and enjoyed many forms of movement – including ballet, modern dance, karate, athletics and swimming – before discovering yoga.

After a first trip to India in 2009, Michela started teaching to help a friend with back pain. She fell in love with yoga’s healing power and quit her job as a translator to explore it more deeply.

She has studied with amazing teachers of multiple lineages – Iyengar, Forrest and Ashtanga among them – and students appreciate her warm-hearted, strong and compassionate style.

As a writer and translator, she seeks the right words to share yoga’s timeless wisdom in ways that speak clearly to modern practitioners, infused with lightness and a sense of humour.