A Breathwork Retreat in Salento, Puglia: Two Nights at a Masseria with Rebirthing and Circles
Imagine two nights in which you do not have to answer to anyone. You arrive on Friday with your head full. You leave on Sunday with a lighter body. In between: the breath, the silence, the olive trees, a shared table.
Those looking for a breathwork retreat in Puglia find almost only programmes by foreign practitioners, who spend a week in a rented masseria and leave. At Masseria Montanari, in Carpignano Salentino, the breath is at home all year round. The retreat is the format in which the three doors, learn, loosen, transform, are lived over two nights. It is guided by Davide, breath coach and facilitator, who works with Masseria Montanari. The masseria is in exclusive use for the group.
How it unfolds
Friday. You arrive from 16:00. You settle into your lodging, a cup of tea in the garden. At 18:00 the opening circle in the vaulted hall: introductions, the group conversation with the questionnaire, a first gentle breath. Shared dinner, an evening under the stars.
Saturday. In the morning, functional breathing: how you really breathe, the three habits, the exercises. A long break and lunch. In the afternoon the one-to-one rebirthing sessions, in turn, in the hall or among the olive trees. Those waiting have the garden and the silence. At 19:00 a rhythmic breathing circle for the whole group, then dinner by the fire.
Sunday. A slow breath in the morning, integration in a circle, lunch together. Departure in the early afternoon, with time for a stop in Otranto.
What you can feel
On Friday evening the breath is still the usual one. On Saturday afternoon, lying in the hall, anything can happen: warmth, tears, laughter, a stillness you did not expect. On Sunday morning the body feels heavy in a different way.
There is no right feeling to have. You do not have to achieve anything. The weekend is there to give you time: the time a single session does not have.
Where you sleep
Six independent lodgings, 16 sleeping places. A group of 10-14 people has room for those who want a room of their own and for those who share. The kitchen lets you organise meals yourselves or with a local caterer. The whole masseria page describes each lodging.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
For those who have already tried a circle and want the deep passage, with the time to integrate it. For groups of friends or small communities who want a weekend with meaning. For those who organise retreats and want a breath facilitator already on site.
Safety comes before the experience. Intense practices have contraindications: pregnancy, epilepsy, cardiovascular conditions, glaucoma, psychiatric conditions under treatment, recent surgery. If you have one, you live the whole weekend through the gentle door.
Seasons and costs
The retreat works all year round. From October to April the air-conditioned hall, the wood-fired oven and the silent countryside make it more intimate, and prices are those of the low season.
The market reference for a two-night residential weekend with a programme is between 350 and 450 euros per person, accommodation included, and we stay in that range. For a private group booking the whole masseria you can also do the sums the other way round: the rental for three days divided among the participants, plus the sessions. The dates open to everyone are on the Circles page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I come on my own? Yes. Open retreats bring together people who do not know each other, and the Friday evening circle is there precisely for that.
What if I have a contraindication? You take part in the whole weekend through the gentle door: functional breathing in the morning, the circles in the light version, the garden and the table. We agree it when you sign up.
What do I bring? Comfortable clothes, a light blanket, shoes for walking among the olive trees, and whatever you would bring to a house in the countryside. Mats and cushions are provided.
Book a session
You do not have to know how it is done already. Tell me who you are and what you are looking for on the Breath page: you do not need to write much. I will reply myself, usually within a day, with the next retreat dates or a proposal for your group. If you want to try first, there is always a single session, and you can stay the night.
Breathing practices are experiences of wellbeing and awareness offered under Italian Law 4/2013: they are not a remedy for anything and do not replace medical or psychological care.