Retreat in Switzerland
EMBODYING KNOWLEDGE
SEPTEMBER 25-28, 2025
Novaggio, Ticino
“Without yoga, how can knowledge bring liberation, O goddess? And yoga too, without knowledge, is not sufficient...”
— Yogabīja 19 (trans. Mallinson and Singleton)
Join Daniel Simpson in the southern Swiss hills for a weekend immersion in yogic inquiry. Drawing on a range of traditional teachings – including highlights from the year-long Path of Knowledge – we will integrate their wisdom with modern priorities.
Discussions will be balanced by a range of practices, including postural yoga, breath-control and seated meditation. Our host, Michela Montalbetti, will teach daily classes, which we will supplement with further exploration.
This is a great opportunity to gather in-person with a diverse community of like-minded peers. There will also be time to relax. Come and get inspired in a beautiful setting and go home recharged!
HOME FROM HOME
Casa Corvo is an eighteenth-century palazzo in the village of Novaggio. Once upon a time, it was a convent, then later the mayor’s house. Nowadays, after careful and respectful renovation, it’s a boutique yoga and retreat centre.
Two adjacent buildings provide accommodation, with a nearby annexe for additional guests. The venue has a spacious dining room, and communal areas including a courtyard and lush gardens – plus a professional kitchen, a Finnish sauna and the yoga shala.
Novaggio is nestled in gentle pre-Alpine hills near the border with Italy. At an elevation of 650 metres, Casa Corvo is haven of tranquility, offering enchanting views of the valley, with access to woodland and riverside walks, as well as mountain trails.
* Click here for a video tour *
DELICIOUS FOOD
We will be nourished by local, seasonal, organic cuisine made from wholesome ingredients. Michela’s husband Mike is a professional chef who will provide us with brunches and dinners to keep us well-fuelled.
All food is vegetarian, with vegan options available. Please let us know of other dietary requirements to ensure they’re accommodated. Refreshments and snacks (such as fruit, nuts and dates) are available all day, along with coffee and herbal teas.
RETREAT SCHEDULE
Approximate, for guidance
ARRIVAL DAY: THURSDAY (SEP 25)
From 3:00 pm – check-in
5:00 pm – opening circle
7:00 pm – dinner
8:00 pm – evening gathering
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (SEP 26-27)
7:30 - 9:00 am – morning practice
9:30 am – brunch
10:15 - 11:45 am – inspiration and inquiry
12:00 - 3:00 pm – free time to rest and explore
3:00 - 4:30 pm – practical philosophy
5:00 - 6:30 pm – embodied integration
7:00 pm – dinner
8:00 pm – evening gathering
DEPARTURE DAY: SUNDAY (SEP 28)
7:30 - 9:00 am – morning practice
9:00 - 10:00 am – closing circle
10:00 am – brunch
By 11:30 – check-out
MEET DANIEL
Daniel Simpson makes yoga philosophy accessible and fun.
He's the author of The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga's History, Texts, Philosophy, and Practices. He also hosts the Ancient Futures podcast, which interviews thinkers about their ideas.
He holds a master’s degree in yoga studies from SOAS (University of London), and has been studying yoga in various forms since his first trip to India in the 1990s.
Daniel teaches courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, on yoga teacher trainings and via his website, truthofyoga.com. In a previous career, he was a foreign correspondent, working for Reuters and the New York Times.
His approach combines practical guidance with humour and insight.
MEET MICHELA
Michela Montalbetti teaches yoga full-time and owns Casa Corvo, where she’s been hosting retreats since 2017. She is also a surfer, a multilingual traveler and a singer.
She grew up in a family interested in eastern spirituality, and enjoyed ballet, modern dance, karate, athletics and swimming before finding yoga.
After a first trip to India in 2009, Michela started teaching to help a friend with back pain. She fell in love with yoga’s healing power and quit her job to explore it more deeply.
She has studied with teachers of multiple lineages – Iyengar, Forrest and Ashtanga among them – and students appreciate her warm-hearted, strong and compassionate style.
As a writer and translator, she seeks to share yoga’s wisdom in ways that speak clearly to modern practitioners, infused with lightness and humour.
JOIN US!
To book, choose an option below. All of the accommodation has shared bathrooms.
A £275 deposit secures your place (balance due by June 30), or pay in full to guarantee your choice.
Prices cover rooms, brunches, dinners, all-day snacks, drinks and wifi. Travel not included.
SINGLE ROOM
DOUBLE ROOM
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
Casa Corvo is located at Ra Strécia 5 & 7, 6986 Novaggio, Ticino, Switzerland. More details here.
The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa, which has trains to Lugano, connecting to a bus to Novaggio Posta. You can also fly to Zürich.
For guidance on booking tickets or on direct transfers (which could potentially be shared), please get in touch here.
QUESTIONS?
Please get in touch via the form below