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Mind, Body, Tuscany Retreat with Paula Tursi and Ed Carew
Villa Montecastello, Monteriggioni Italy
October 3-10, 2015
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 Villa Montecastello is excited to announce our upcoming Yoga and Farm to Table Cooking retreat, Mind, Body, Tuscany!
For anyone who enjoys deep relaxation and yoga in a storybook setting, clean farm to table eating, cooking with ingredients just picked from the garden, magical day trips and wonderful wines, there is no better way to spend your holiday than in the setting of the 1000 year old private estate, Villa Montecastello, a working organic farm and olive orchard. Aside from your daily yoga practice led by renowned teacher Paula Tursi, you will spend time in the kitchen learning from celebrated New York City Chef, Ed Carew. At Villa Montecastello, we' ll open the doors to local artisans and farmers lives, tour the vineyards of Tuscany and explore ancient local towns and hamlets. This week long journey will immerse you in the joys of Italian culture, introduce you to new techniques and ingredients in the kitchen, and inspire your yoga practice for years to come.
Villa Montecastello is an eleventh century restored fortress perched high atop a hillside overlooking the Elsa River Valley. The Villa has been immaculately renovated to offer its visitors an authentic luxury experience in Tuscany centered around tranquility in nature, food and wine. Located one hour south of Florence, the Villa is surrounded by olive groves, with vineyards and nature reserves at its base. Villa Montecastello is a full size working organic farm, producing the gold metal award winning Primo Olio extra virgin olive oil, as well as a unique and vast assortment of garden produce and herbs which will be used in the cooking classes throughout the week. The villa is home to an array of farm animals including the local breed of Cinta Senesi pig, donkeys, chicken and guinea fowl. The pool offers an oasis for relaxation and 180 degree views over the beautiful landscape.
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Your Hosts, Paula Tursi and Ed Carew
 Paula Tursi is the Founder and Director of Reflections Yoga and the internationally renowned Reflections Yoga Teacher Training Program. She has been working with alternative healing practices in New York City and internationally for over twenty years. Paula developed Reflections Yoga as a way to integrate what she found most inspiring in other practices with her own personal truth. After receiving a Masters Degree in Psychology from Columbia University and a Masters Degree in Education from Hunter College, Paula began her yoga training at Integral Yoga, where she studied Hatha and restorative Yoga. She went on to work with esteemed teachers such as John Friend, Rodney Yee and Angela Farmer. She has also worked extensively with Leslie Kaminoff and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen in the art of yoga, breath work, anatomy, and movement awareness practices. She is certified at the 500-hour level with the Yoga Alliance. Paula's work focuses on the alignment of mind and body, understanding that we move not only from our muscles and joints, but also from the support of our inner body. Movement or asana can start from the inner or outer body, however, movement initiated from the inner body can be an expression of the organs bringing awareness and health to the deeper systems of the body.
Ed Carew is an acclaimed chef with a long and extensive career history, having worked all over the  US from west to the east. Ed has always been passionate about Italian food, taking culinary trips around Italy whenever possible, always with an eye on returning to Villa Montecastello. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Ed's career began at 4 star restaurant Spiagga in Chicago. It was his move to New York City in 1997 that led to a 7 year stint in the city working his way through various highly esteemed kitchens. Starting at Gramercy Tavern, Ed worked up to Chef de Cuisine at Fiamma Osteria NYC, rated 3 stars from The New York Times. At Fiamma, Ed worked closely with Executive Chef Michael White and was responsible for the seasonal menu utilizing NYC's famous Green Market. In 2005, Ed made his way across the west coast where he became Executive Chef of Florio Cafe in San Francisco, executing menus influenced by French, Italian and California cuisines. It was in February 2008 that he made the huge leap of faith and became the chef/owner of his own Mediterranean restaurant called Cottage Eatery in Tiberon, focusing on Italian and French produce. Cottage Eatery was considered one of the best restaurants in Marin County, awarded 2.5 starts by the San Francisco Chronicle and similar accolades from various local publications. Finishing up his career in California at Cafe des Amis as Executive Chef, Ed returned to New York City where he became Executive Restaurant Chef of Le Caprice at The Pierre Hotel in the Upper East Side, and then moved on to become Executive Chef/Partner of Spasso in the West Village. Ed is currently working on a new and exciting restaurant project slated to open in the coming year.
Paula and Ed will welcome you to Villa Montecastello and guide you through an unforgettable experience of living a week in Tuscany to the fullest.
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Villa Montecastello
Villa Montecastello will be your private Tuscan oasis during this week long yoga and cooking adventure. We invite you to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature, eat to your heart's content, relax by the pool with a glass of Prosecco and soak in the sprawling views of the Tuscan countryside. 
Jens Schmidt, proprietor and architect of Villa Montecastello, and renowned wine expert, will personally welcome you to his home, share with you his vast knowledge of Italian and Tuscan wine varietals as well as local culture, and tour with you a leading Brunello vineyard in Montalcino.
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Itinerary
Saturday 
-Arrival: Welcome light lunch upon arrival and explore Villa Montecastello
-Guided meditation in the herb garden
-Sunset Prosecco reception
-Welcome Dinner at Villa Montecastello
Sunday
- Morning Yoga
-Late morning Cooking Class with Ed Carew & Lunch at Villa Montecastello
-Afternoon Yoga
-Farm class: Life on the farm with an education on biodynamics
-Dinner at Villa Montecastello
Monday
- Morning Yoga
-Winery tour & Brunello tasting at top boutique Montalcino vineyard
- Lunch at 'Osticcio' in Montalcino with unbeatable views of Montalcino
-Afternoon trip to Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, free time to explore
-Dinner together at top restaurant in Siena
Tuesday
-Morning Yoga
-Guided nature hike with donkey and picnic lunch
-Afternoon Yoga
-Free time to relax, rejuvinate, explore the property and soak in the views
-Dinner at favorite local Ristorante, in the nearby Hamlet of Strove
Wednesday
-Morning Yoga
-All day trip to Florence, Museum tour and free time to explore
-Lunch & Dinner on your own
Thursday
- Morning Yoga
-Early afternoon visit to the charming walled in town of San Gimignano
-Lunch at Villa Montecastello
-Afternoon Cooking Class with Ed & Dinner at Villa Montecastello
Friday
- Morning Yoga
- Day Trip to the famous thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni
- Farewell Dinner at Villa Montecastello: Pizza party, learn to make pizza at a 1000
year old outdoor pizza oven
Saturday
-Morning Yoga & Breakfast before departure for airports
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A
ccommodations
& Pricing
The week includes 7 overnight accommodations at Villa Montecastello, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners, all local transportation as described in the itinerary including airport pickup and drop off at Florence or Pisa airports only. Daily breakfast buffet includes locally baked goods and produce, coffee, tea and juice. Special items available upon request. Also included are all of the materials for cooking class, tours, wine tastings and outtings. Bottled water and house wine with meals from our expertly curated selection as well access to purchase from our cellar of over 2000 bottles of the best Italian wines dating back to the 1970's.
Villa Montecastello offers 8 room options of varying sizes. Each room is uniquely furnished with beautiful antiques and the utmost attention to detail, luxurious hand ironed linens, hand made olive oil soap, fresh cut flowers and air conditioning. Villa Montecastello has many shared sitting areas both inside and out, a library filled with books about Italy, food and wine, as well as a professional chef 's kitchen where your cooking classes will take place.
Leccino Apartment is the largest one bedroom apartment with a private living room , kitchen and extra large ensuite bathroom $5,200.00 per person for double occupancy
Frantoio Suite is a large room beautifully appointed with a canopy bed and ensuite bathroom with clawfoot tub $4,900.00 per person for double occupancy
Pendolino is a charming studio with Queen bed, private ensuite bathroom and kitchenette, $4500 per person for double occupancy
Foresteria is a large charming bedroom with option of King bed or two Twin beds and private ensuite bathroom $4,500.00 per person for double occupancy
Moraiolo Bedrooms (2) are cozy and lovely with private bathrooms in the hallway, just a few steps outside the room $4,200.00 per person for double occupancy, $4,700.00 per person single occupancy
Frantoio Bedrooms (2) are warm and charming and share an extra large bathroom just outside the rooms, with separate rooms for shower and toilet for additional privacy, one of the rooms offers a Queen bed and one offers the option of King bed or two Twin beds, $3,900.00 per person for double occupancy, $4,400.00 per person for single occupancy
Rooms available on a first come first served basis.
Not Included in Pricing: Airfare, all extra beverages, extra transportation outside of class activities or pickup locations.
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