Italy Florence, Siena, and the Chianti Wine Region Inner and Outer Landscapes WELL-BEING THROUGH ART, FOOD, AND CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES MARCH 14-20, 2016 Allow yourself to explore a new way of travel; one that focuses on your well-being, setting a solid foundation for cultural immersion and exploration. This Tuscan tour combines daily yoga movement, contemplative practices, and a look at sustainability through the ages, starting with the artistic masterpieces. We ll examine the strong link between nature, art, architecture, and local food. This intimate boutique tour offers the opportunity to view the great museums, express your artistic side during a cooking class, and visit artisans shops, all in the spirit of contemplation, deep listening, and awareness of the senses.
Dear Vassar Alumnae/i Travelers About Italy I invite you to join me in Italy, my motherland, for a journey that will bring us to some of Italy s most renowned historical sites as well as a few of my personal favorites. I am thrilled to offer the second edition in a series of Inner and Outer Landscapes tours in partnership with the Vassar Travel Program and Pravassa; this time moving our contemplative studies to the Medieval and Renaissance centers of Florence and Siena, Italy. Since 2009, my professional research has focused on contemplative studies and Italian wisdom traditions. Hosting this tour in Italy will allow me, as a certified national guide, to personally escort you through Florence and Siena; marrying the love of my country with the love of architecture, sustainable living, and the art of contemplation. We will embark on this adventure with fellow alumnae/i and base ourselves in Florence for the duration of the tour. Daily our sessions will begin with the practice of Raja Yoga, an ancient movement tradition that is slow and steady, based on the gentle flow of breath. From a grounded space, we will share together in delicious meals, walking tours and museum visits. I will show you my favorite artisan shops in Florence, the corners of Siena I used to visit as a child, and together we will observe body language and art. Our experience together will immerse you in the art of contemplation and the contemplation of art. I hope to inspire you to see, feel, and hear the details of these places and enjoy Italy like you never have before. A presto! Professor Sangeeta Laura Biagi, Ph.D. About Pravassa Wellness Travel Pravassa travel experience is more than just a vacation. You work hard enough. It s time to let your vacation restore your best self. On the forefront of the wellness travel movement, Pravassa is about letting you experience the world from a place of wellness. Our active itineraries are created using our 5-tenet wellness philosophy : stress reduction, cultural involvement, physical activity, spiritual connection, and food education. Balanced with our personally scouted locations, your healthy journey may include outdoor yoga sessions, walking tours, hikes, art exploration, and volunteer work. You have the freedom to skip any wellness activity that does not resonate with you. Please note that our provided meals are carefully selected, prepared, and will be vegetarian. In your solo time, please feel free to explore our destinations as you like and eat what you like. Prior to departure we will provide recommendations for off-tour activities.
...focusing on your well-being setting a solid foundation for cultural immersion and exploration. Italy Tour Our Trip Begins Before We Leave In order to flow seamlessly into your wellness journey, Pravassa schedules a pre-departure wellness consultation with each client to discuss your current lifestyle and answer any questions you have about our programs. Before your departure you ll receive our exclusive travel guide with recommendations for off-tour activities, and other materials to enhance your tour experience. Welcome and Opening Celebration Our program starts in our group space with a welcome from Professor Biagi and a gentle yoga class to work out the kinks from your travel day. We ll end our welcome session with a short orientation about our tour led by Pravassa founder, Linden Schaffer, during which we will discuss our itinerary and daily themes. Dinner and Opening Celebration Local, organic, farm-to-table food is how Pravassa likes to nourish our clients from the inside out. Our welcome dinner in Italy, home of the slow food movement, is no exception. We ll get to know our travel companions while we dine together enjoying the freshest local ingredients available in true Italian style. Our Wellness Hotel Pravassa specializes in forming relationships with locally run and managed hotels that support the communities we are visiting, which helps to foster wellness as we travel. Our hotel choice in Italy is a small boutique accommodation that will enable you to experience the heart and charm of the city and the friendly nature of its people.
The Tour in Detail Welcome to Florence This small Italian city does not fall short on style or substance; you can return many times and not see all it has to offer. Our tour, led by Professor Biagi, a certified Florence tour guide, will highlight many of the city s historical sites and stories from the ancient to the contemporary. Featured will be a well-paced, yet concentrated tour of the Uffizi, the magnificent frescoes of Beato Angelico, and visits to local artisan shops, where we will meet the skilled workers and observe their craft. MARCH, 14TH THEME: UPLIFTING ABOUT OUR YOGA CLASSES Every yoga class in Italy will be taught from the Raja Yoga tradition. This slow, measured practice is based on a gentle flow of breath. Together we will learn about the power of breath and song in both Sanskrit and Latin. Our talented instructor, Sangeeta Laura Biagi, will customize her instructions for every fitness level and with consideration to the day s activities. Not to worry, beginners are always welcome. MARCH, 15TH THEME: EXPLORATION Exploring Medieval and Renaissance Italy as we visit Piazza della Repubblica, the Duomo and Baptistry, Piazza della Signoria and Piazza de Peruzzi Meet the artists and craftsman of the Oltrarno neighborhood and watch them work. March 16th - A Day in Siena A dedicated world heritage site by UNESCO, Siena is the Gothic dream. The Medieval Piazza del Campo is the city s iconic symbol as well as its beating heart. Professor Biagi will walk us through the winding hilly streets, pointing out the power and politics in the beauty of details. We ll end our day creating our own kitchen masterpieces for consumption. THEME: CREATION Siena s famed culinary school is run by chef and local resident Lella Cesari Ciampoli who shares family recipes and food history during our time together. We ll dive into this hands-on cooking class and create delicious courses full of healthy eats and then sit together to enjoy them.
The Tour in Detail MARCH, 17TH THEME: CONTEMPLATION We ll begin with a conversation on Florentine art as we make our way to San Marco Convent. Viewing the frescoed walls of by Beato Angelico, we ll discuss their historical significance and practice the sound of silence. March 18th - An Afternoon in Montespertoli Twenty minutes outside Florence, in the hills of castle. Baroness Caterina de Renzis Sonnino will introduce us to the art of wine making, sustainability, and share her family archives, a look into the Foreign Office correspondance during the First World War. Together we will taste the fruits of her family s labor and get a unique look into the history of the region. THEME: SELF REFLECTION Wine tasting, sustainability education, lunch, and a look into some of Italy s most precious historical archives. our 5-tenet wellness philosophy : stress reduction, cultural involvement, physical activity, spiritual connection, and food education. MARCH, 19TH THEME: LA DOLCE VITA With the founding of the slow food movement and an emphasis on locally produced cuisine, Italy s food history is tied to its people. Our walking tour of San Lorenzo will start with a historical look at the area and discuss women s roles in the food culture. We will then sit for a market tasting of the freshest, locally produced, in-season food. MARCH, 20TH
Italy Tour Map After Your Return Glowing from our wellness tour, we want you to continue on your wellness path. Here are some ways in which you can share your journey: For questions regarding this or any other Vassar Travel Program, please contact: Susan Quade, Associate Director of Alumnae/i Affairs
Pravassa Wellness Travel Packages ITALY 6 NIGHTS / 7 DAYS ACCOMMODATIONS AIRPORT TRANSFERS GUIDED TOURS Boutique Wellness Accommodations Uffizi Gallery, San Lorenzo Market, and Siena Museo Civico We ask you to note that this is a moderate to challenging tour. The streets of accommodate travelers with minor walking difficulties, it is important to note our active tour includes a lot of walking and standing. WELLNESS ACTIVITIES BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER ADDITIONAL INCLUSIONS and Daily Yoga/Meditation Daily All Gratuities. Pravassa Wellness Travel will be purchasing medical/travel insurance on your behalf. Each traveler will receive a Manduka Eco-Travel Yoga Mat prior to departure. ADDITIONAL COSTS PRICING PACKAGES International Airfare Meals and Expenses Outside Tour Package *Tour has limited private rooms. Previous Alumnae/i Wellness Travelers Say: Just seeing the lovely faces and open smiles of our wellness faculty gave me the confidence to step outside of my comfort zone in this tour experience. - Diana Hawes, Smith College 68 Deep gratitude to Pravassa as my trip was totally wonderful. Your attention to detail was impeccable in every way and activities were diverse and always fascinating. Bravo, kudos and thanks. Merrily Miller, Vassar College 65 What a wonderful program! I enjoyed having free time to bond with other participants, made new friends, and am looking forward to the next one.
Wellness Tour Faculty SANGEETA LAURA BIAGI, PH.D. SCHOLAR, YOGA INSTRUCTOR, LIFE COACH AND GUIDE Originally from Siena, Italy, Sangeeta Laura Biagi is a Visiting Professor in the Italian Studies Department at Vassar College. She has been guiding cultural and spiritual tours in Italy since Performance Studies, and Italian Studies. Sangeeta has been Vassar College, to bring contemplative practices to academia and is an active member of the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education. Professor Biagi earned a Ph.D. from the Department of Southern Italian ritual of tarantismo. She received a Two-Years training) and is also a certificate holder from the New York Open Center School of Music s Sound and Music Facilitator Training. Sangeeta has published a book and various articles album Chanting the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, a project directed by her yoga teacher Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Saraswati s Pearls: Dialogues on the Yoga of Sound. She is now compiling her book, Spider Healing: Contemplative Studies on Awareness, Surrender, Creativity and Resilience. For more information, visit www.sangeetayoga.org LINDEN SCHAFFEr WELLNESS TRAVEL EXPERT AND FOUNDER OF PRAVASSA Linden Schaffer has been leading travelers around the world on wellness tours since 2009. As a certified Wellness Expert and Yoga Tune Up Instructor, her presence on-site enables clients to reach their full wellness potential by facilitating individual relaxation, stress reduction, life-balancing education, and making sure each client s needs are met. When not on the road, Ms. Schaffer holds seminars, attends speaking engagements, writes for the Huffington Post and MindBodyGreen among others. She is currently working on her first Photo courtesy of Abby Rose
Pravassa Wellness Travel Our Promise offered to create a more balanced self