Many people ask – “why Positano for your wellbeing retreats? Where is Positano?”

My answer is simple –

Positano to me, since my very first encounter, where every aspect of my experience was an indulgence of my senses, that made me feel totally alive and well, joyful and grateful, represents all the elements of wellbeing.

Positano and its people exude a chilled and relaxed yet vibrant personality with a zest for life and all that is on offer in the way of history, culture, cuisine, outdoor lifestyle and excursions, that is infectious and inspires total immersion, appreciation and passion for life.

Since my first short visit to Positano of only 4 days in July 2007, I was taken by its charm and made a promise to myself that I would return, next time for longer! And so I did, for one week in October 2010 and again Positano did not let me down, although the weather during this trip wasn’t quite as perfect as I had remembered it everything else was as amazingly the same, the people, the food, the steps, the shops, the activities, and more steps, the beach, the sea, and more steps! So at the end of this second visit, I again made a promise to myself that for my special birthday (50th!) in 2015 I would spend 3 months in Positano and really immerse myself in the culture, the community and so I did!

In 2015, for the European summer months of June, July and August, I hired a villa located nicely mid-way up the cliff-side of Positano (~440 steps up from the beach and ~440 steps down from the “Benevenuto” sign at entry at the top of town) and again Positano exceeded all my expectations. In no time at all, I felt like a local – though obviously not a busy working local! I have never before felt so well and vital and more importantly no stress, as during this 3 months.

With sunrise at 5.30am and sunset at 8.30pm and the wellbeing that comes from sunshine and blue skies, the opportunity to embrace the local community, fresh food, outdoors activity, swimming, kayaking, hiking – not to mention the walking up and down the steps to/from the beach and the town centre! I made many friends and developed great relationships with the locals.

Together with a handful of them, Alberto Fusco from Kayak in Positano and Angelica Bounacore from Villa Gianlica and my beautiful friend and fellow yoga lover Sonia Zari, I created my vision to bring yoga to the beach in Positano the following year. The idea being to share with locals and tourists alike the wellbeing that comes from a daily yoga practice – even during the busy-ness of peak tourist season for the locals, and for tourists while on a short holiday to provide restoration from all the steps!!!

My idea to also bring yoga and wellbeing retreats to Positano, where we package into 7 days, all the activities and indulgences that from my own prior experience provided me with the greatest feeling of joy, gratitude and well-being, stemmed also from my desire to share this feeling, this experience, this opportunity with others to immerse themselves into the sheer delight, with every tiny detail taken care of for the ultimate experience in the stunning location and environment of Positano!

Upon my return to Perth, my home town in Australia in September 2015, I set about making the plans and taking the actions required that saw me 9 months later return to Positano, for the same 3 months of the beautiful European summer months of June, July and August in 2016! Together with my team of friendly locals we successfully presented morning yoga classes on the beach at La Scogliera, located on a small section of the main beach, during the month of July, and hosted our inaugural retreat at Villa Gianlica in August for our 6 retreat guests, all busy working women, juggling family and career.

In 2017 and 2018 I returned with an amazing bunch of women, where we spent the week meditating, eating and exploring our way through this beautiful part of the world.

In 2019 I am happy to announce that Myall Wellbeing’s Positano Retreats are back again! Check out the itinerary and register your interest here.

I hope to see you on the sunny Positano where we’ll be enjoying la bella vita!

Emma Pugsley
Myall Wellbeing + Retreats
Founder

About Positano

Positano is a village and commune on the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana), in the province of Salerno and region of Campania, Italy, mainly in an enclave in the hills leading down to the coast.

It has a long and proud history and all the businesses and services are family owned and run and have been passed down the generations. The township offers largely local content – meaning grown on the land and/or made by the locals! What I love most about Positano is that there are no international brand stores and certainly no fast food chains. In other words, no sign of McDonald’s golden arches and restaurants offering cuisines other than traditional Campanian are the exception to the rule!

The population of only ~4,000 swells to 20,000 during the busy season and the locals work hard during the 6 month tourist season from April to September keeping everyone happy and well!
According to Wikipedia, Positano was a relatively poor fishing village during the first half of the twentieth century. It began to attract large numbers of tourists in the 1950s, especially after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in Harper’s Bazaar in May, 1953:

“Positano bites deep”, Steinbeck wrote. “It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.”
Read the full article here.

I must say, I have to agree – Positano has totally captured my heart!
For that reason, I am so looking forward to our cultural and wellbeing adventure together.