Program
- DAY 1: On this eight-day full immersion journey we will indulge in the heart & soul of Sardinia, in comfort of course, while focusing on self discovery, re-connecting with your true self through the practices of Yoga.
Each day will be threaded with Dharma (educational) talks on the history, philosophy and benefits of Yoga. As well as Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breath-work) and Dhyana (meditation) practices. This experience in the natural, alluring beauty of Sardinia is sure to rejuvenate your whole body, mind and soul.
So, on day 1 we will greet you at the airport and whisk you away to our first venue. Our travel there is complemented by a visit to a ceremonial place dating from deep prehistory where we will share a welcome ceremony which includes an overview of the 8 Limbs of Yoga and how we will incorporate them on our 8 day spiritual path.
During our first few hours together you will have an idea of how the rest of the week will go. It will be highlighted by the beauty of nature, special places, amazing local food, in the company of adventurous, friendly, like-minded people. Our schedule is organic and fluid, go-with-the-flow if you will. Each day’s activities will be guided by the collective, so keep an open mind and embrace what unfolds. Hence like a Yogi, flexible in body and mind.
Once we conclude the opening session off we go to the very picturesque village of Santu Lussurgiu. Famous for its aria buona (good atmosphere) and acqua buona (good water). By the way, that water comes out of your shower in your comfy room!
Here we will enjoy a full local produce dinner in a typical, centuries-old mansion. The romantic glow of streetlights down winding hidden alleys makes the after-dinner walk back to our lodging extra meditative.
- DAY 2: The day begins with a Yoga practice (likely Asana and Meditation) followed by a talk on the Yamas and Niyamas, the first 2 limbs of Yoga. These are considered the DNA of Yoga and are referred to as the jewels of Yoga. When they are practiced with consistency, integrity and awareness, we become purified from within. Our thoughts, words and beliefs align, making us better able to honor the Divinity that is our true self. And better appreciate the Divinity all around us.
We continue our discussion over a freshly prepared delicious breakfast.
Then as we will each day, we will do some mild traveling toward yet other inspiring locale. Carrying our morning lessons with us along the way. Focusing our attention on how Yoga practices are intertwined in the fabric of life. And moving with the knowledge that it is the journey itself not the destination that counts.
So, in this way, trusting on our ‘communicating’ with the Universe, it doesn’t matter who we meet or what we see. But, this day we will probably visit the 7 Springs Fountains – highest purity indeed! And perhaps meet an adorable playful instrument maker, who is also the medicine man of the village.
Our noontime picnic lunch will be enjoyed under one of the many magnificent cork oaks that Sardinia boasts. It stands next to a superb prehistoric stone tower complex that is at least three millennia old. Then some rest to allow our bodies to digest as we take in the pure simplicity and harmony of this space.
Later in the evening, we will dine in a farmstead surrounded by lush green hills, in the area called Iron Hills. On a family owned ranch where the women cook only their produce and meat. The local olive oil, the seasonal products, the natural environment…. Again this is not the standard touristic restaurant. Here you will taste real freshness and proudness.
- DAY 3: Well, what is there to say after the magnificence of Days 1 and 2? All thus far is central to our experience, the scenery, the way of traveling, eating, practicing the 8 Limbs, exchanging, learning… it all contributes to this oh-so magical adventure.
First on the agenda is breakfast and Yoga practice. Our Dharma talk will dive deeper into the Yamas and Niyamas for there are 10, so each day we will touch on a few. Today our attention is on Satya-Truthfulness. This is more than not fibbing. Satya demands integrity to life to our own self. Truthfulness may not be safe, but it is good.
Around all this beautiful knowledge and consideration we will have transfered to the mountainous area that the Romans called Barbagia. (‘Those Barbarians… Wouldn’t let themselves be romanized!’) These people of course were just being TRUTHFUL to themselves! And that’s why we are going here on this day, you see how the places and stories relate to the content of our program? Nearby there is also a village that is full of tributes to Freedom Fighters internationally, painted on the walls and garage doors. Sardinians appreciate TRUTHFULNESS! And so do we, in offering honest products at our lunch picnic with a spectacular view on the lake!
Dinner will be in a family run farm that will cook specially for us, led by La Nonna, the grandmother. The road to the agriturismo (homestead) quickly took us deep Into the Sardinian Wild, where you will feel immersed in Sardinian authenticity and hospitality. We sleep in the village of Gavoi, in an agriturismo in the centre. If the famous women choir practices, we will go and hear them. Purest of voices, and very truthful to their Sardinian culture.
- DAY 4: Did you notice that we do not give exact locations of where precisely we will eat, and what, and at what time? That is because the uncertainty gives extra practice of the 8 Limbs of Yoga. By now you realize Yoga is not just about physical postures, it is a path to support us in living a joyous life.
After some Yoga practice and intention setting, inspired by the Yamas and Niyamas, we will have set off to the village of Oliena. Here we will reside in a mountain hotel with fantastic views of the valley. This is the village of the master embroiderers, of papal level, and of course we will visit their workshop. It sure is a pleasure to be there and admire their fabulous works of sheer beauty.
Tonight, dinner will be in a fabulous home restaurant serving a menu with recipes coming from the proud local famous Nobel winning author Grazia Deledda. Enjoy poem readings in between the courses, and locally made wine which is famous for not getting you drunk or hung over, surprisingly.
- DAY 5: You have the picture now, everything around us this week is meaningfully and inspiring.
We don’t need to go to any geographical place today. Today we will marinate in the internal considerations of the 8 Limbs of Yoga. Of course, we encourage going outside and finding beautiful places to walk and talk or just sit and breathe it all in.
Today, like on all days ‘on the road’, we will practice Yoga postures and Yoga breath and listen to and participate in a Dharma talk about the Yamas and Niyamas. But, we are not going to rush today. If the energy and weather are right, we may go to a luscious place that oozes constant serene determination, where a cool river flows out of the mountain. Literally a gorgeous place indeed. This day we take it easy in our mountain hotel. Relaxed, happy, and healthy.
- DAY 6: A road trip deep into the heart and soul of Sardinia takes us to our third home away from home. On our way there we will stop in a village where they found small but spectacular statuettes of ‘giants’, beings with extra forces and capacities. The agriturismo is idyllically set, and serves great local food.
And even if we don’t yet know the exact village where we will stay, all this is perfect, for today we address the 4th Yama, Brahmacharya: non-excess (self-restraint and moderation)! Brahmacharya, literally means walking with God. It invites us into an awareness of the sacredness of life. This jewel calls us to leave behind greed and excess and walk through life with awe, attending to each moment as precious.
Practice this amidst the abundance of where you are right at this moment. Be a ‘Giant’ in moderation! Dealing with that moment in time when we reach the perfect limit of what we are engaged in. It is the moment of ‘just enough’.
- DAY 7: Rise for Meditation and Asana and a delicious, nutritious meal. After which we make our way to our journey’s final destination, Cagliari. En route we will visit an impressive statue of an angel with a sword. That’s us! Us with the courage to – from now on – cut away some ‘superfluous’ aspects in our life. Because our final Yama is Aparigraha: non-possessiveness. Living simply, in non-attachment, non-clinging. What we try to possess, possesses us. Hence the importance of cutting away things. The jewel Aparigraha invites us to let go and pack lightly on our journey, all the while caring deeply and enjoying fully all we encounter along the way.
We dine in a restaurant in Cagliari’s old Fishermen’s Quarter. Full of quaint shops and local characters. An ideal place for seafood and a stroll.
- DAY 8: Today we go back to specific aspects of the program. Have we missed anything? A Limb or two? Of course we have. They will have been addressed too, perhaps before or after breakfast, or around a picnic lunch or even during a spontaneous stop. Trust us, this experience will unfold just the way it is intended.
We will wind down our retreat with a closing ceremony. Share some hugs and maybe a tear or two..
And then… we will waive you goodbye at the airport. Or if you are staying some more days, Samuele will have showed you how to navigate this island and provided tips for your continued travels.How will life be after this special Sardinia Yoga experience? Calmer, more enlightened? More focused on what truly matters?
You can be sure we will keep in touch after this, if you like, keeping alive the core principles and values of the practices of Yoga.
A LIFE INSPIRING SARDINIA ILLUSTRATION OF THE 8 LIMBS OF YOGA, A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION AND SELF EMPOWERMENT
This week’s program – see also the DAY PROGRAM – is about the 8 Limbs of Yoga, practices that stem from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras written around 200 BCE. Patanjali is considered the Father of Ashtanga Yoga. Sutra means a sacred thread or corde. The 8 Limbs of Yoga are a plan to solve a problem. Patanjali wrote 195 sutras on theory and 196 on practices, we won’t go over all of those this week! He compiled these from long existing teachings into an easy to follow and understand format to help people thrive in a joyous life.Yoga means to yoke (unite). It is a mechanism of controlling the body, mind, breath and senses to enable effective mediation for the purpose of liberation. ‘The mind is best friend for those who have conquered it, but greatest enemy to who fails to do so.’
This week is about liberation. What will your life be like when liberated from your worries, struggles, pain points? During this week we are excited to share the 8 Limbs of Yoga and how they can help you do just that! The full experience of this immersive retreat will help you to incorporate these ancient practices in your life. Guiding you to transformation and joy.
And some experience this will be! Imagine doing all this exploring on an island that – mind you – ancient Sumerian, Egyptian and Greek sources called ‘Paradise’! Sardinia is as small as the state of New Hampshire, but it ‘happens’ to be dotted with thousands of inspiring and mysterious stone sites, great places to commune with each other and nature.
We will do this in a compact group of new ‘old’ friends on a beautiful adventure. The group size is kept small to promote an organic flow, with attention on the group’s energy. You will also enjoy non-touristic high level cultural expressions that make this Island of Myths so very special.
Does this resonate with you? If so, then please do join us on this adventure with a small group of like-minded people, all with their hearts open and willing to contribute to a 5D life and world. We are delighted to have you join us!
Your co-host, Sally Bliss Hollon is a Holistic Professional here to assist you in reaching your personal health and wellness goals. Over the past thirty years she has acquired many credentials in the healing profession: a Master’s in Counseling, she is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Mindfulness Mediation Guide, and a National Board Certified Health&Wellness Coach.
Sally is now in the time of her life to integrate all that education and experience into programs that help others make lasting life changes and thrive in joy! Thus the creation of this Sardinia retreat in collaboration with Samuele, experienced Sardinia Tour operator (Keep Alive Tours), whom I met in my hometown of Fairhope, Alabama.
Sally: ‘My intention for these eight days program is to share the transformational potential of the 8 Limbs of Yoga. I cherish the philosophy and life balancing practices that the ancient art of Yoga offers. I have witnessed these practices change so many lives. I want for you to see the potential for growth and expansion they offer. We each want contentment and joy in our lives, and practicing the 8 limbs of Yoga can assist us in living in that space.’
First example of a theme addressed, by Sally: ‘Today it comes down to restraint from unethical actions, i.e. an adult relationship with the world, also known as Ahimsa-non-harming, living in unity with nature.’ And, sure, at the end of a long hot summer this water – and that of the Sardinian sea – will be still far from winter temperatures.
Second example of a daily theme: ‘Today we will address Yama #2: Satya-Truthfulness. This is more than not fibbing. Satya demands integrity to life to our own self. Truthfulness may not be safe, but it is good. It has the power to right wrongs and end sorrows. Carl Jung said: ‘A lie would make no sense unless the truth was felt to be dangerous.’ Why do we lie? Are we afraid to hurt others or that we won’t be liked? Are we trying to be nice? Nice is an illusion, it cloaks lies. It is an image of what you may think you are supposed to be. Being nice is in opposition to being Real. Real asks us to live from a place where there is nothing to defend, hide or manage. Real is trustworthy, it may not always be pleasant, but it is authentic.’
Take food for instance, food gives us energy and vitality up to a Point. When we eat past that point there is a down turn into lethargy. But, if we eat slowly, mindfully, we can realize the point of ‘just right’. This is the moment we need to recognize, the just enough moment. Past that we descend into excess. (I can’t believe I ate the whole thing… Remember that commercial…?) This is true for any activity in which we engage. Why do we go past the just enough point? Just to focus on clinging: that is wishing things were different than they are causes suffering. The Buddha’s 4 Noble Truths There is suffering, suffering is caused by clinging/grasping, there is way out of suffering, that way is the 8 fold path of Yoga. Good news, right! There is a way to not suffer through life. It is natural to want to hold on to experiences that make us feel loved and appreciated. But things change and by failing to allow that change, things begin to disappoint us and attempting to hold on. Makes us stagnant and unhappy.’
Third example of a theme: ‘Today we will move on to Yama #3: Asteya, so non-stealing. This jewel refers not only to stealing property, but more profoundly stealing from ourselves. If we live in fear or untruth, our dissatisfaction leads us to look outside of ourself and take what is not rightfully ours. We steal from others, from the Earth, we steal from the future. We steal from our opportunity to grow into the person who has a right to live a joyous life.
All meals are included in this unique tour: breakfast, lunch and dinner from farmstead restaurants to picnics. The delicious meals are prepared with locally sourced organic produce with rich mineral content. Sardinia is an ancient volcanic island, the volcanic ash and lava deposits have enriched the soil with minerals and nutrients, making it fertile for agriculture and making the produce grown nutritious. Included is also a fine double room to share, and of course couples have a version with one bed, otherwise there are two beds. (Scarce!) single rooms are at surcharge; they are double rooms occupied by 1. You will be accompanied throughout by experienced guides and you will have unlimited access to the personal coaches for 1:1 and group discussions. You are advised to purchase refundable or changeable tickets for your travels to and from Sardinia. (Unexpected things can happen, so also what you read at poiunt 5 of Terms and Conditions.) To protect you in case of cancellation due to personal life-events, your travel insurance & travel cancellation insurance are mandatory to join. |BOOKING PROCEDURE
Alligned with our focus of this week, our accommodations are places that have a certain vibration especially selected for this tour. Even seemingly rustic accommodations are warm and inviting, in addition to scoring 9 out of 10 on Booking platforms. 
LOGISTICS
START 22 October 2026 – FINISH 29 October 2026.
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