Sheila Ilz van Hofen
Reserve your place →This might be easier when secluding ourselves from the world, meditating peacefully on a mountain all day, refraining from earthly troubles.
But we believe that the practice should not make us want to retreat from life, but to dive fully into it, forging meaningful relationships with ourselves, with others and our planet. Being a yogi to us means to fully be in this human experience and enjoy the crazy wild ride.
Most of us have unlearned how to relax, play and enjoy life. We often feel guilty or unproductive when carving out time for ourselves in our busy schedules. With this retreat, we aim to collectively remind ourselves that we are allowed to rest! We want you to enjoy the sweet art of doing less, while diving deep into the practices of Yoga to transform your everyday life.
Jivamukti means liberation while living. It is the practice and possibility of recognizing enlightenment in this lifetime. Jivamukti Yoga is a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings. The method is grounded in the original meaning of the Sanskrit word asana as “seat, connection” – relationship to the earth. Earth implies all of life.
Expect dynamic and strong morning classes taught by Sheila based on the Jivamukti Yoga method, with intelligent, creative sequencing and carefully crafted playlists to lift the spirits up, along with study of yogic philosophy and how to apply it to everyday life, mantra chanting to open the hearts and lots of pranayama and meditation.
The afternoons consist of workshop-style formats where we dive deep into certain asana groups such as deep backbends or inversions, explore individual challenges in asana labs, practice Pranayama and Yin Yoga. On some evenings we gather to chant in a kirtan, there might be some dancing involved…
Yona is offering meals that are both nourishing and indulgent, pouring his well-known creativity and playfulness on each plate. He will also be offering a pasta workshop.
When you’re not practicing or eating, enjoy a stroll through the beautiful hills of Piemonte while basking in late-summer sun, discover the market and try ice cream in the small town Valenza. We make sure you have enough space for me-time, to unwind and simply enjoy our spacious villa.
Please note: This retreat is for Intermediate practitioners. Participants should have a consistent practice of Jivamukti Yoga or be familiar with Ashtanga Vinyasa or another Vinyasa style. If you are unsure about it, feel free to reach out.
There is a minimum number of participants for this retreat. If this number is not reached 40 days before the start, we reserve the right to cancel the retreat.
Sheila is an Advanced Certified 800+hrs Jivamukti Yoga teacher, teaching classes, workshops and retreats all over Europe. She is the founder of Villa Pravernara, currently dividing her time between Berlin and Italy.
Sheila always teaches from what she experiences in her own daily practice. For her, the physical asana practice is a gateway to explore the depths of being human. On the mat, we can meet our fears with kindness and look them in the eye without running away. She strongly believes the practices of yoga to be a transformative tool to cultivate awareness and compassion towards ourselves, others and our planet.
Expect a dynamic and sweaty practice, intelligent sequencing paired with a carefully selected soundtrack, combined with chanting, pranayama and meditation. Her compassionate and kind approach infuses every aspect of her teaching, from skillful, yet non-intrusive hands-on assists, beautiful chanting to individual instructions for all levels of experience.
In Sheila's classes, a steady rhythm prevails as she guides students through breath, movement, and their interconnectedness. This rhythmic harmony fosters a deeper connection between body and mind, creating an immersive experience for every practitioner in the room.
Continuing to be a dedicated student herself, Sheila passionately studies and practices all facets of yoga.
- Train or flights to Milan
- Transfer to Villa Pravernara
- Optional workshops
- Travel insurance (recommended)
Schedule might vary slightly and is subject to change.
Arrival day: Check-in from 16.00.
Departure day: Usually no yoga class;' 9.00 breakfast; Check out until 11.00
We’ll let you know again what’s good to bring a few days before your retreat.