Southern Italy Retreat
Puglia, Italy
Saturday October 23 - Friday October 29, 2027
hosted by Cat Doyle & Anne Wanda Tessier
“The retreat was perfection. The location was beautiful with amazing food everyday. The whole experience was so thoughtful and well curated. Cat and Anne both led creative yoga classes and there was a good balance of organized and independent excursions. Thank you both for a truly memorable experience!”
Slow down and enjoy La vita bella in Italy’s beautiful south with Cat and Anne.
“Combining my first overseas yoga retreat with my partner’s first-ever yoga class was a high stakes gamble....that paid off in every possible way! Cat and Anne organized and led an idyllic week in Italy filled with great yoga, wonderful outings, beautiful surroundings, fabulous food, and a lovely group of people. Thank you both so much for everything you did to make this a perfect experience.”
Take a step back from the rush of everyday life and immerse yourself in the peaceful rhythm of Southern Italy with Anne Tessier and Cat Doyle. Join us for a week-long yoga retreat at the stunning Yogapulia Retreat Center in the picturesque region of Puglia, October 22 - 29, 2027.
This retreat offers the perfect blend of yoga, relaxation, and cultural exploration. Each day will be filled with a variety of rejuvenating yoga classes, soothing meditations, energizing pranayama and mindful workshops. Between classes, you’ll have the chance to unwind by the pool, savour local foods and explore nearby towns. Whether you’re deepening your yoga practice or simply taking time to rest and recharge, this week is designed to nourish every part of you – body, mind, and soul.
“Amazing place for a yoga retreat, possibly one of the best. The location is absolutely perfect: surrounded by olive trees, you can easily immerse in your yoga practice (the shala has wonderful views of the valley), chill by the pool or go for a walk. The food is simply delicious and the hosts are super welcoming and really make you feel like you’re there to visit friends. Highly recommended”
“This Italy retreat was exactly what I needed at this point in my life. The care that Cat and Anne put into planning and delivering the week was evident in every aspect of the program. It exceeded my expectations in every way.”
Anne Wanda Tessier (she/her/elle)
Anne is a Canadian yoga teacher and trainer who teaches various styles of yoga including hatha, yin, somatic, slow flow and restorative yoga. Her calm voice guides you through a practice that is suitable for all, offering various options throughout the class. Anne’s aim is to create a safe and welcoming environment in all her classes. She has been practicing yoga for over twenty-five years and understands the benefits of yoga to help relax the body, soothe the soul and ease the mind. Anne also loves Italy! She has been many times and know the region very well! www.annewandayoga.ca
Cat Doyle (she/her)
Cat hails from Ottawa, Canada and brings a deep love of gathering people together and creating an experience. She has been teaching yoga since 2011 and offers clear, straightforward instruction with a dose of insight and playfulness. Her background in biology and psychology means she is serious about anatomy, alignment, and functional movement. She focuses on moving in intentional, mindful ways and balances practices that feel like a good workout with practices that give you a sense of calm and release. Cat is an experienced retreat host; having facilitated over 30 yoga retreats, both locally and internationally. www.unrollthemat.ca
Puglia is known for its beautiful beaches, vast olive groves, delicious food and wine.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this yoga retreat. The yin and yang of both Cat and Anne made this experience complete. The perfect balance. I loved being around like minded people who were willing to embrace the whole yogic experience. The food was delicious and although I do not follow a plant based diet, I enjoyed it very much. The variety and creativity of the meals presented was incredible. The centre was beautiful and served us well.”
INCLUDED:
6 nights accommodation at Yogapulia
Daily brunch, and dinner featuring local, organic, plant-based food from the region
Daily fruits, snacks, cakes and teas and coffee
2 daily yoga classes (styles include slow flow, hatha, mobility, yin, restorative, yoga nidra)
Daily guided meditation and journaling
Yoga mats & props
3 day trips to nearby towns (Cisternino, Ostuni, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Locorotondo).
2 workshops with Cat & Anne
Olive oil tour and tasting in an olive grove
NOT INCLUDED:
Flights. See FAQs below for suggestions.
Airport transfers.
Optional day trips to towns not already included in the schedule, such as Matera, Grottaglie, Monopoli, Martina Franca. If you have a car rental, you can explore nearby towns during free time, or we can help make arrangements for a day car hire or driver.
Massages.
Gratuities are always appreciated by the staff.
Daily Schedule Sample
8:00am: Mediation & Yoga: Flow, Hatha, Mobility
10:30am: Brunch
11:30 – 4:30pm: Free time, group excursion or workshop
4:30pm: Yoga: Yin, Restorative or Nidra (3 afternoons)
6:30pm: Dinner
8:30pm: Yoga: Yin, Restorative or Nidra (3 evenings)
October is the perfect time to visit. With fewer tourists and more affordable flights, you'll experience the region’s authentic beauty and tranquility. The weather will be just right for yoga, leisurely strolls through local villages and refreshing swims in the pool.
Accommodations:
At YogApulia Retreat Center, you can expect a cozy and serene sleep. The beautifully restored masseria (historic farmhouse) features iconic trulli (conical roof), thoughtfully decorated rooms, which are modern, minimalist and clean. Each room has its own private bathroom. The property itself is a hidden gem in the countryside and offers nooks to nap or read, a pool to relax or swim, a separate yoga shala building, and local roads to enjoy a walk.
All rooms are double occupancy. Please let us know if you would like to be paired with someone.
Room 1 - Double bed
Room 2 - 2 single beds
Room 3 - 2 single beds
Room 4 - 2 single beds
Room 5 - 2 single beds
Room 6 - 2 single beds
Spaces are limited to 12 participants.
SIGN UP!
Reserve your spot by sending your CA$750 deposit today.
COST:
CA$2950 if you sign up by December 1, 2026. SAVE $400!
CA$3350 thereafter
“The retreat was fun, educational, nurturing and exceptional. Exceptional in the quality of the whole experience package, the quality of the care, the quality of the facility and the nutrition provided. Friendships were made. Exploring little southern Italy towns was lovely. It was hard to say goodbye.”
FAQs with Cat & Anne
Q: Is this retreat only for advanced yogis?
A: Definitely not! You will benefit from having practiced yoga before, but we are experienced yoga teachers who can adapt the practice depending on your skill level. We can also can offer suggestions and modifications if you’re dealing with an injury. This is a great opportunity to explore different styles of yoga, ask questions, and learn variations that work for your body.
Q: What if I’m coming to Italy alone?
A: That’s great! You’ll have an opportunity to connect more with the group, and yourself. We will partner you in a shared room with someone. As our accommodations are limited, there are no single rooms at this time. You will be fully supported and integrated into the group.
Q: How do I get there?
A: The closest airports to the retreat centre are Brindisi (BDS) or Bari (BRI). You may want to look at flying into Rome (FCO) or Naples (NAP). From there, you’ll take ground transportation to Casalini, either via train, driver hire or car rental. Renting a car can be an inexpensive way to get around and explore. Rides will be coordinated closer to the retreat dates so that participants can share cost for travel to the center. Expect to pay €20 – 120 depending on where you arrive in Italy and how many people are travelling with you.
Q: What does a day at this retreat look like?
A: Each day of our retreat will be unique, as we’ve curated the activities based on our experience of hosting retreats and showcasing the region. Typically, we will have two yoga practices per day (one more active and one more passive), meditation, breathing practice, meals together, free time, and an outing. Please contact us if you’d like a more detailed itinerary.
Q: What is the weather like in October?
A: Fall in Italy is glorious! We’ll hopefully catch the olive harvest during the warm days. You can expect mornings and evening to be cooler, with temperatures between 12-22°C, and lots of sun.
Q: Am I required to participate in every excursion and activity?
A: No, you can customize your retreat experience to be as relaxed or as lively as you want. Although a group itinerary with daily meditation, yoga and activities has been curated, at the end of the day you can opt in or out of anything along the way.
Q: What’s the food like?
A: Italy is renowned for it’s delicious and fresh food. Each meal is prepared on site with the highest quality ingredients. All meals at YogApulia are plant-based, and food allergies (eg. GF/DF) are easily accommodated. We will have two groups meals per day: Brunch at 10:30am and dinner at 6:30pm. Light refreshments are served in the afternoon.
Q: What is NOT included in the price?
A: You are responsible for booking and paying for flights and transportation to YogApulia. We also strongly recommend that you purchase travel and medical insurance.
Q: When does the retreat start and end?
A: Check in at YogApulia is at 4pm on Saturday October 23. Check out is at 11am on Friday October 29.
Q: Are there any specific health related issues that I should be aware of?
A: No, just general travel safety.
Q. Will there be alcohol?
A: There will be a few dinners where we will enjoy local wines from the region.
Q: What happens if I register, but I am unable to join, will I get my money back?
A: If you cancel more than 3 months prior to the retreat, we will provide you with a refund, less the deposit. The non-refundable deposit is non-refundable under any circumstance. If you cancel less than 3 months prior to the retreat, you will not be able to obtain a refund. We strongly recommend protecting your retreat investment with cancel for any reason travel insurance.
Q: What are the terms and conditions (“Fine Print”) for this retreat?
A: You can read and familiarize yourself with our Fine Print policies here. This will be agreed upon payment of your deposit.
