Frequently Asked Question:

What should I bring to a Yoga Retreat?

It is a general packing list for all of our retreats, however under each season’s retreat there is a more specific list.

  • Appropriate clothing for the weather - on the March and December Winter Magic retreats, all Ski gear, all the others clothing for hiking and outdoor activities. Hiking shoes/boots.

  • Yoga gear – maybe a couple of sets as we offer 2 different types of daily classes - the morning ones more energetic and the afternoon ones are more relaxing/yin yoga

  • A shawl for yoga Nidra/ sound bath or just for some extra warmth in the evenings.

  • Headphones if you would like to do your own mediation or listen to your music on your phone.

  • A good book, photo camera,

  • Note Book - if you would like to make a journal or just make some notes after our classes or guided tours.

What do you do at the Aosta Valley Holistic Retreats?

We organise and run 3 - 5 night adventure-based yoga/NIA holidays in the Aosta Valley. The retreat includes various activities depending on the season from guided hikes, guided skiing, guided snowshoeing, rafting, climbing, bike riding, culture, wine&food tasting events etc. There is also enough downtime to relax, reflect and reset.

Our accommodations are always at beautiful mountain locations, stunning hotels with spa, half-board (breakfast and dinner) with home-made healthy cooking from local produce. Lunches are normally out; on organised hikes we take packed lunches or eat at a refuge. On the ski slopes you can eat at any of the chalet of your choice. We give of course recommendations based on our experience.

Everything is organised for you, so you can switch off, relax and feel safe. You will be meeting like-minded people and through yoga and our nature activities you connect with others and yourself.

Yoga and other related classes (Sound bath, meditation, NIA) is a core part of our retreat with 2 daily classes to allow you have a transformative experience and the hight benefits of the these practises. However, no activities are compulsory; on our retreats you can participate as much as little as you like. Listen to your body and follow your calling. We also welcome all fitness and yoga levels - our hikes and nature actives are suited to all. Where an activity requires a higher level of fitness, we specify that in the program, so you can decide to try to challenge yourself a little or choose another period which caters for really all levels.

If our retreat is for 4-5 nights we provide free days in the schedule for you to choose to relax or adventure out and experience something new like water rafting, rock climbing, canyoning, via ferrata, MTB/e-bike, pottery workshop, paragliding, Aosta sightseeing tour, vine tasting etc. We help you to book and organise the activities.

We would like you to go home with great memories, rejuvenated, recharged and relaxed, so you would come back next season to try something new again!

What is the accommodation like?

We offer twin/double room options en-suite, for sharing with other like-minded yogi ladies. In fact this is how you can also experience the full retreat feeling. We realise that for many people this sounds a bit intimidating, however we are confident that our guests will make long-lasting friendships at our retreats.

We also offer some single occupancy double rooms, so if you like you can have your own private space to relax and unwind. This option would cost a little more.

What is the schedule on a yoga adventure retreat?

It varies at each season, so this is a general schedule of our retreats:

  • 7.30 – 8.30am Power/Vinyasa/Hatha Flow Yoga and meditation class

  • 9.00am Breakfast/Brunch

  • 10:00- 3.30pm Activity full day: guided hike or snowshoeing with packed lunch or at a refuge OR

  • 10.00 - 12.30pm Activity half day: guided skiing, guided snowshoeing or hiking

  • 3:30-5:00pm Free time for treatments to pamper yourself or for additional activities.

  • 5:30 – 7:00pm Evening Yin/Hatha/Nidra yoga and meditation class

  • 7:15pm Dinner

  • 9.00 pm Nidra yoga/Sound bath - normally one evening only

What type of yoga do you teach at the retreats?

At our yoga retreats, we offer a variety of Yoga practices to cater to different levels and different time of the year. Generally, in the mornings, we typically offer a more energising and dynamic class that would be in the styles of Power yoga/vinyasa/hatha flow, so it is a class to warm and energise the body and mind for the day ahead. In the evenings, we typically offer a yin and/or restorative yoga class with yoga Nidra to promote deep relaxation and stress reduction.

Here are some of the specific styles of yoga that you may encounter at our retreats:

  • Vinyasa yoga: A dynamic and flowing style of yoga that links postures together in a sequence, often synchronised with the breath.

  • Yin yoga: A passive style of yoga that holds postures for several minutes at a time to target the deep connective tissues in the body.

  • Restorative yoga: A gentle style of yoga that uses props to support the body in relaxing postures for extended periods of time.

  • Hatha yoga: A general term that encompasses many different styles of yoga, hatha yoga focuses on physical postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama) to promote physical and mental well-being.

  • Nidra Yoga: Deep relaxation though vivid guided meditation

What is a NIA class?

Nia is powerful fusion of dance, martial arts, and mindfulness practices. It is a holistic movement & wellness practice addressing each aspect of your life - body, mind, and soul. NIA is using a system of 52 simple moves, each Nia workout delivers full-body conditioning leaving you energised, mentally clear, and emotionally balanced.

Nia is for EveryBody, regardless of age, health or fitness level. 

What’s the booking process?

To reserve your space we ask for a 30%  deposit at time of booking, paid by bank transfer.

Once you have booked, we send you further information regarding the program and itinerary, your invoice, additional activities that we can help you to book, ski hire & passes and information about when to make final payment to secure your place.

The final payment is due 8 weeks before any retreat. You can pay by bank transfer.

4-2 weeks before the retreat we will send you your welcome pack and we set up a WhatsApp group nearer the time so you can arrange shared taxis/transfers and get to know each. We can also arrange airport transfer on request for extra charge.

What happens if I have to cancel my retreat booking?

We hope that you will join us, but of course there is always a possibility that something unforeseen happens. Please notify us as soon as possible about your cancellation via, info@aostavalleyholistic.com. In the event of a cancellation, you will have to pay the applicable cancellation charges up to the maximum shown below:

More than 8 weeks before the first day of your retreat – deposit only; more than 5 weeks before the first day of your retreat – 60% of the total cost of your holiday; less than 5 weeks before the first day of your retreat – 100% of the total cost of your holiday. 

How do I get in touch with Aosta Valley Holistic?

We are available Monday to Friday 9am-4pm on +39 347 412 4484 or email us at anytime at info@aostavalleyholistic.com and we get back to as soon as possible.

Do I need Travel Insurance?

We require you to take out your own travel insurance when you join us on our holidays in case you have an accident whilst away with us or have to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. Whether skiing, hiking or travelling long haul, it’s best to be protected. Please make sure that your insurance covers all your activities that you would like to participate. Regarding skiing, we also recommend to take out the local insurance that the ticket office offers with the ski pass that costs 3 euro/day and covers you for all circumstances on the slopes.