Energy Weekend in Puglia: Two Nights at a Masseria with Breathwork, Reiki and Stars
Between an ordinary holiday and a ten-day retreat there is a space that in Puglia almost nobody fills: the energy weekend, two nights in a house entirely for the group, with a real programme and time to breathe. At Masseria Montanari, in Carpignano Salentino, this format grows out of the two practices of the house, Davide's breath and Valentina's energy, the facilitators the masseria works with, and out of a property that is rented only for exclusive use. Here is how it works.
The sample programme
The weekend runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday after lunch, for a group of 12-16 people. The programme changes with the season and with the group, but this is the structure.
Friday. Arrival from 16:00, settling into the lodgings, tea in the garden. At 18:00 the opening circle in the vaulted hall: introductions, intentions, a first guided breath. Shared dinner and a free evening under the stars.
Saturday. In the morning, functional breathing with Davide: short theory, exercises, measurements. Long break and lunch. In the afternoon, group reiki with Valentina and, for those who wish, short one-to-one sessions. At 18:00 the reading of the group's sky: what the natal charts of those present say, with no predictions. Dinner and, if the sky is clear, the garden in the dark.
Sunday. A slow breath in the morning, the closing circle, lunch together. Departure in the early afternoon with time for a stop in Otranto.
Who sleeps where
The masseria has six independent lodgings and 16 sleeping places: apartments with a bedroom and kitchen, studios, one larger house. The group divides them as it prefers: couples, friends sharing, those who want a room to themselves. There are no other guests: the masseria is yours from Friday to Sunday. The kitchens allow you to organise meals independently; alternatively, a local caterer or the restaurant in the village. You will find a description of each lodging on the stays page.
The right seasons
The energy weekend works all year round, but it is at its best from October to April: the vaulted hall is air-conditioned and the wood-fired oven warms the evenings, the countryside is silent, and low-season prices keep the cost down. Spring adds the garden in bloom, winter the clearest sky of the year. Summer is possible, but Salento is full, and the weekend loses part of its silence.
How much it costs
Prices will be announced with the first dates, first of all to those on the list. The reference is the Italian market for short retreats: a residential two-night weekend with a programme costs between 350 and 450 euros per person, accommodation included, and we will stay within that range. For a private group reserving the entire masseria the sum can also be done the other way round: the cost of the whole masseria for two days divided by the participants, plus the facilitators.
Who it is for
For groups of friends who want a weekend with meaning. For small yoga, meditation or personal growth communities looking for a house for their gathering. For teams that prefer a wellbeing experience to an ordinary team building day. For those who organise retreats and want to try the masseria with a short format before a long retreat. No experience is needed; intense breathing practices, where included, have a preliminary questionnaire and clear contraindications.
How to book or reserve it
On the Circles page there is the form: choose "the energy weekend" for open dates, or "a private date for my group" if you are already 8 or more. We reply within a few hours with the full programme and, for private groups, with a proposal of dates. The first open dates arrive in the coming months; those on the list receive them first.