I am an Ashtangi, explorer and Italian designer, specialising in sustainability and eco-design, previously in the luxury goods sector.
My love for classical studies, photography and the arts led me to travel the world since I was a teenager, discovering over 60 countries. After years of working between London and Milan in style offices and important theatres collaborating with internationally renowned artists, stylists and designers (Donatella Versace, Luca Ronconi, Gae Aulenti), I decided to drastically change my life and dedicate myself to the knowledge and study of yoga and meditation.
In 2006 after visiting Japan, China and Southeast East Asia I felt something needed to change. I abandoned my career and city life, partnered with my family’s tourism business since then, and travelled to learn more about yoga, Sanskrit, and Eastern philosophy. From central London and Milan, I moved to Calabria in Southern Italy in 2008 and consequently to India.
Since 2009 I created and improved a meditation centre called Shala Mandala each year, in one of the facilities managed by our company Tourist Service Srl. I hosted retreats and facilitated workshops and lessons with teachers in the Goenka tradition, Ashtanga, and Kashmir Saivism, and Tibetan Buddhism. During COVID-19 I organized the first Italian Ashtanga confluence with Gabriele Severini, Elena De Martins and Susanna Finocchi, senior teachers from KPJAYI in India, supported online charity events and created workshops for women in India and children’s education.
I consider myself a full-time yoga and meditation practitioner, I feel the duty to share what I have studied in these years of research, with those who are thirsty to learn and evolve spiritually and consciously for a better lifestyle in an authentic way.
Today after 15 years of exploration around India, the USA and Southeast Asia, I have decided to use my resources, my time and my knowledge to create retreats for those who want to deepen the practice of Ashtanga yoga, meditation, chanting and non-dual philosophy in a completely authentic way and, in contact with the reality of the places and their spirituality.
I hope my vision resonates with your practice and thirst for spiritual knowledge and that you will join me on this journey of self-exploration with the great and authentic Teachers coming.
Simona