Breath & Fire
Ashtanga Retreat
Sicily, Italy
May 13th - 20th, 2026
Meet Your Inner Fire with the Etna at your side
Welcome to Breath & Fire, a week to practice with discipline, breathe with attention, and live with clarity — in a land shaped by volcano and sea.
Co‑guided by Ann Svärdfelt and Cristina Dionísio, this retreat blends traditional Ashtanga practice with breathwork, philosophy and grounded daily routines. Ann Svärdfelt, an internationally recognised Ashtanga teacher (25+ years), will teach the Mysore and Led Ashtanga sessions.
Here, Breath (Air) is your anchor for presence and Fire (Discipline) is the engine that sustains your practice. In busy lives, this is your space to unplug, reset and return steadier.
Who is this retreat for?
Yoga practitioners who want to experience or deepen Ashtanga through Mysore and Led practice (no need to be advanced).
Anyone looking for clarity, discipline and calm — both on and off the mat.
People who value nature, nourishing food and rest without pressure.
Teachers or dedicated students who want more depth in technique, breath and philosophy —inclusive of 14 hours YACEP credit via Yoga Alliance Continuing Education.
Solo travellers who enjoy real connection and an authentic group atmosphere.
Why Attend This Retreat?
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to lose touch with our essence. This retreat is designed to help you:
Reconnect with discipline without rigidity; practice that respects your body.
Refine breath, bandhas, and focus to stabilise mind and nervous system.
Learn tools you’ll use at home (practice structure, recovery, lifestyle).
Reset habits (sleep, food, screen time) and feel more present and clear.
Experience Sicily’s raw beauty: Etna views, Mediterranean air, local flavours.
Beginner or not, you’ll feel at home here.
What’s included?
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8 days / 7 nights accommodation
Access to pool, gardens and shared spaces
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Daily meals included (vegetarian, local produce)
Access to the estate’s organic kitchen garden
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Yoga & Practice
Daily Mysore-style Ashtanga practice
Guided Led Ashtanga sessions
Chanting and traditional elements
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Yoga philosophy circles
Meditation & breathwork sessions
Reflective group discussions
Typical 8-Day Program
DAY 1
4:00pm: Check in
Tea, coffee & snacks on arrival
5:30-7:30pm: Welcome Circle
8:00pm: Welcome dinner
DAY 2 TO 7
7:00-9:00am: Ashtanga Practice
9:00am: Breakfast
Free time
Lunch
Free time
4:00-6:30pm: Workshops and Practice
6:30pm: Dinner
DAY 8
7:00-9:00am: Yoga & Closing Circle
9:00am: Breakfast
10:00am: Check out
Accommodation
Rooms are spread across three restored farmhouse buildings, simple and welcoming, set among the estate’s organic orange groves. From the gardens you can enjoy views to the sea on one side and Mount Etna on the other.
Private Room
Per Person
2.100€
Shared Room
Per Person
1.700€
Grab your place today. Reconnect with your body, your breath, and your truth.
Get 200€ Early Bird Discount for booking until December 15th!!!
What are people
saying about
past Retreats
What We’ve Created Together So Far
✻ 500+ Participants
✻ 30+ Retreats and Workshops
✻ 8+ Different Destinations
Cristina Dionísio
Yoga * Embodied Transformation * Life Alchemy
I am a Yoga & Human Transformation mentor and the creator of an integrative approach that weaves conscious movement, breath, neuroplasticity, and ancient wisdom into a living practice of inner alchemy. With over two decades of international corporate experience and a profound personal journey of reinvention, my work lives at the crossroads of modern science and spiritual tradition.
My methodology guides participants to rewrite inner patterns, regulate the nervous system, and reconnect with their vital force through fluid movement, transformational breathwork, and somatic presence.
Each retreat becomes a portal into the body as a living temple, where movement, breath, stillness, and storytelling merge between bhakti and neuroscience, devotion and nervous-system regulation, grief and gratitude. This is where inner alchemy becomes lived truth.
Ann Svärdfelt
Teaching Ashtanga Yoga in Sweden and Internationally
Ann Svärdfelt has practiced yoga for almost 25 years and founded several yoga schools. She is a much-loved and experienced yoga teacher who mixes equal parts knowledge, intuition and joy in her classes. Today, she does not have her own yoga studio, but teaches as a guest teacher at yoga studios around Sweden and the world. In addition, she offers Ayurvedic health consultations. Ann is not guest. we are hosting the retreat together.
Retreat Location
Catania, Sicily - Italy
Our retreat takes place in an antique Sicilian farmhouse, surrounded by olive trees and with stunning views of both the Etna volcano and the Mediterranean Sea. Here you’ll practice in a setting that combines raw natural power with the grounding beauty of tradition.
The location is just outside Catania, on the eastern coast of Sicily. It’s the perfect base: close to the airport, yet fully immersed in nature.
How to get there
✈️ From Catania Airport (CTA): approx. 45–50 min by car. We can coordinate group transfers on arrival and departure days. Private transfers can also be arranged.
✈️ From Palermo Airport (PMO): approx. 3.5 hours by car. Private transfer or rental car recommended.
🚗 By rental car: Both airports offer rentals. Driving gives you flexibility to explore nearby towns like Taormina and the Etna foothills. Free parking available at the venue.
Upcoming Workshops & Retreats!
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Ashtanga Intensive 3 or 6-Day Workshop with Ann Svärdfelt and Cristina Dionísio
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Breath & Fire Retreat Catania, Sicily with Ann Svärdfelt and Cristina Dionísio
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Whispers of the Desert Morocco, Marakesh to The Desert
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A Journey through the Sacred Lands of Peru & the Amazon
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Salt, Stars and Sacred Silence Bolivia & Chile
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Roots of Sacred Itinerant Retreat in the North of India
Frequently Asked Questions
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Basic familiarity helps, but you don’t need to be “advanced.”
We’ll support you in Mysore-style with individual guidance.
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Comfortable practice clothes, swimwear, light layers, walking shoes/sandals with grip, sunscreen, reusable water bottle, and your journal.
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We’ll match you with another participant when possible. If no match is available, a single occupancy rate may apply (we’ll confirm before charging).
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Fly into Catania (CTA). We can coordinate group transfers or provide clear options for private transfers.
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Yes. 500€ deposit to secure your place. Remaining balance in 2–3 installments. Email hello@cristinadionisio.yoga for more information.
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Please read here full terms & conditions
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There’s no wi-fi connection. We’d like you to embrace the opportunity to connect with nature, yourself, and others.
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Flights, insurance, extra drinks, spa/optional tours, city taxes (if applicable), tips.
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If you're battling serious mental illnesses, then this retreat is perhaps not for you, as the sessions are tailored for the majority of the group.
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For questions related directly to accommodations or travel logistics please reach out to: hello@cristinadionisio.yoga
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Yes. We can help you add nights in Sicily or plan extra time elsewhere in Italy.
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