SENSUAL SANCTUARY
A journey through the senses to experience your multidimensional self - sold out
Wednesday 20th - Monday 25th of September, Sicily
ABOUT
Sensual Sanctuary is a creative wellbeing retreat immersed in the wild, abundant land of Sicily, nestled amongst olive and almond groves, looking out to sea.
In collaboration with the School of Sensual Arts, this retreat will be a celebration of self discovery, creative expression and life's simple pleasures, with practices taught by a teacher from the Indian tradition and hosts from the island.
INTENTION
This retreat is perfect for those of you looking to disconnect from your busy schedule and reconnect to the abundance of your senses, the rhythms of nature and the true pleasures that life offers.
You can expect a week of embodiment, exploration and expression, through creative activities, authentic Eastern embodiment practices from the ancient traditions of tantra and yoga, nourishing Mediterranean meals and nature excursions.
OUR SANCTUARY
Picture days out to swim in sparkling blue lagoons and days in to explore your inner landscapes with practices amongst olive and almond groves, painting or cooking workshops and shared meals under the starry sky made by our local private chef.
Don’t worry, you’ll also have plenty of precious ‘me-time’ to simply rest, snooze under the comforting shade of olive trees and bask in the golden Sicilian sun by our private pool.
THE PROGRAM
Throughout the retreat we will explore a tantric and yogic philosophy which gives us 4 clear steps to experience our true 'bliss nature', that is translated from sanskrit as 'anandamaya'. We'll take each day of the retreat to explore this system together through both embodiment and expression.
Our intention is for you to take this knowledge to carry with you from the retreat into your life to experience more joy and sensuality not only in Sicily, but in your everyday.
SESSIONS
Henika will be guiding you through a journey of the senses to experience your multidimensional self, inviting you to peel back the layers of stress and tension in the physical, mental, emotional and energetic parts of the body to access your innate bliss and joy within.
If you’re new to tantra or yoga, fear not, as no previous experience is required and all workshops come with adaptations and options of your choice.
A TYPICAL DAY
Morning:
Enjoy a quiet moment to yourself in nature with tea, coffee and fruit
Start your day with a yoga/tantra session
Savour a Mediterranean brunch with locally-sourced ingredients
Afternoon:
Explore a nature spot with us or choose to relax at the villa
Cooking workshop or creative expression workshop
Evening:
Sunset immersion and aperitivo
Enjoy a three-course Italian dinner at the villa
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE
5 night stay in our boutique Sicilian villa
Daily tantra and yoga sessions with Henika, inviting you to peel back the layers of stress and tension in the body
An intuitive painting workshop with Kiran, to connect with the beauty of nature
A Sicilian cooking class to make arancini with Emilia, our local private chef
3 excursions to explore wild, nature spots and the nearby town with Gaetano, our host who grew up in Sicily
Daily Mediterranean brunch and three-course dinners, using locally sourced ingredients with many Sicilian delicacies
INVESTMENT
AVAILABILITY
SOLD OUT
We completely understand that it can feel scary to share a room or come alone, but many participants do find it to be unexpectedly rewarding, often leading to new friendships. After all, it is often in embracing the unknown where true magic unfolds. Shared rooms will be in a spacious single bed formation.
HOW TO BOOK (SOLD OUT)
Secure your place with a £500 deposit here
Following this, we will email you to discuss the next steps, which will include the below:
-Set up payment plan for the remaining amount
-Complete onboarding form
-Book a personal 15 minute welcome call with the team
If you have any questions at all, please contact us at zagararetreats@gmail.com
What previous guests are saying
“I booked onto the retreat because I wanted to deepen my connection with myself. I was apprehensive about feeling comfortable and 'fitting in' but on arrival I felt like I was coming home, and the whole retreat I felt a deeper sense of community than I had in years, maybe ever. I learned to appreciate myself more for who I am, that I could allow myself to be seen exactly the way I am. I left with a sense of peace, joy, and hope and an excitement to continue on my journey.”
“The teacher's knowledge and understanding is phenomenal. They have such a passion for what they do, and you can really see their enjoyment in sharing this with you. They have so much warmth and love and made the whole retreat feel like we had undertaken a huge journey together. I’ve met some incredible people who I know will always be a part of my life. I have so many things that I am taking away and filtering kindly into my life. Everyone should experience these retreats at least once in their lifetime.”
“I booked the retreat to really lean into connection, both with myself, between my mind and body, and connection with others, something that I feel like I struggle with on a deeper level. The retreat really blew my mind wide open. The sessions were carefully crafted throughout and each one was incredible in its own way. The venue was beautiful and set in stunning surroundings making it feel extra special and the food was out of this world.”
FAQs
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Catania or Comiso are the closest airports to our boutique villa. We do not recommend flying to Palermo as this is too far from us.
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We can organise a taxi for you to share with other retreat guests. The transfer will cost approx. €25 per person, each way. The villa is located 10 minutes away from Scicli (a charming Baroque town) and 10 minutes away from the beach.
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You are welcome to check-in to the villa from 4pm onwards on Wednesday the 20th of September. You will be welcomed with an abundant aperitivo from 6pm onwards. Check-out is at 11am on Monday the 25th of September. We will provide a hearty brunch for you at the villa before leaving.
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We have paid meticulous attention to detail to the retreat location. All bedrooms are spacious and designed to a luxury standard with en-suite bathroom.
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The majority of people coming on retreats do tend to come alone and meet other like-minded spirits to share the experience with. It can feel scary to share a room with someone you don’t know, but it is such a beautiful experience on retreat. Rest assured, you will have plenty of privacy even with a shared room, as the property has a lot of space for you to have ‘me-time’. Upon placing your deposit, we will arrange an onboarding call with you to get to know you better and pair you up with the person we feel would be most suitable. The beds can of course be divided in two.
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We totally understand that you may want more privacy on the retreat. We do have a limited number of spaces for single occupancy, with a double bed.
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Inclusivity is important to us, therefore this retreat is open to anyone who is curious to explore their multidimensional self and indulge in the experience of Sicily. You are welcome to come alone, with a friend, partner or family member. There will be our beautiful hosts to welcome you and make you feel at home.
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Contrary to popular belief, tantra is one of the most misunderstood paths of the ancient Indian arts. Tantra translates from Sanskrit as a ‘loom’ as it is a practice which weaves together many of the sacred ancient practices, such as yoga, pranayama, heart-expanding meditations and connection rituals. It is the sister science of yoga and ayurveda and invites us to connect to a path of deep love and respect for the self.
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We have an Italian private chef who will be cooking for us daily at the villa. We can cater to any dietary requirements and although we will be serving some meals with meat and fish, we can serve vegan or vegetarian meals, according to your dietary requirements.
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You are more than welcome to rent your own car if you feel comfortable doing so and would like to have the freedom to explore the local areas in your free time. Please email us on zagararetreats@gmail.com if you need any help with this.
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Included
Accommodation for 5 nights and 6 days, 2 embodiment/creative sessions per day, explorations to nature spots and local sites, refreshments, daily brunch and a three-course dinnerNot Included
Flights, taxi from and to the airport (approx. €25 per person, each way, can be shared and organised by us), 1 dinner out (€30-40), alcoholic beverages
Meet your Hosts
Henika Patel
Henika is a yoga and tantra practitioner and the founder of the School of Sensual Arts. She grew up in the UK with an Indian household abundant in tantra rituals and yoga and is passionate about translating ancient wisdom for modern life through unique sensory experiences.
Emilia Strazzanti
Emilia is a local professional chef and the founder of Strazzanti Experiences. Emilia is dedicated to showcasing the incredible produce, culture and spirit of the Sicilian land through her family recipes, experiences and ingredients, inviting you to immerse yourself in the heritage of Sicilian cuisine.
Kiran Tak
Born in the UK with Indian roots, Kiran’s love affair with Italy started at the age of 16. Kiran spent many years living in Italy and is now fluent in Italian. A lover of art, wellbeing and creativity, Kiran is the co-founder and curator of Zagara Retreats, as well as the founder of successful jewellery brand Āyurituals
Gaetano Terzo
Born and raised in Sicily, Gaetano is a creative storyteller, passionate about sharing the authentic side of Sicilian culture. It’s easy to fall in love with Sicily just listening to the stories he shares and the love he has for his island. Gaetano is the co-founder and curator of Zagara Retreats.