Ashtanga yoga on Ilovik island, Croatia, summer 2027
Deepen your Ashtanga practice in the serene beauty of Ilovik (summer 2027)
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Escape to the tranquil island of Ilovik, Croatia, for a transformative yoga experience. In this serene and secluded environment, where the only sounds are those of nature, you will find the perfect setting to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Join Francesca for Mysore style Ashtanga yoga classes. Francesca has 24+ years of daily Ashtanga practice in the old-school lineage of the late Nancy Gilgoff and 16+ years of teaching experience. This is an opportunity to deepen your practice under expert guidance.
In addition to yoga, Francesca offers craniosacral therapy sessions, a gentle yet powerful treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing abilities, helping to relieve stress, chronic pain, and other ailments.
Ilovik’s car-free environment, stunning beaches, and breathtaking landscapes make it an ideal backdrop for a retreat focused on wellness and self-discovery. The Mysore classes are exclusively for those with an existing Ashtanga practice, at any level, ensuring a focused and immersive experience. With small group sizes, you will receive personalized attention to deepen your practice in a peaceful and rejuvenating setting.
PROGRAMME 2027
JUNE
MYSORE WEEK 1: June 7th to June 12th 2027 (Monday to Saturday, 6 practices)
JULY
MYSORE WEEK 2: July 12th to July 17th 2027 (Monday to Saturday, 6 practices)
AUG-SEPTEMBER
MYSORE WEEK 3: August 30th to September 4th 2027 (Monday to Saturday, 6 practices)
The Mysore weeks will start on Monday and will finish on Saturday. On top of the Mysore, Francesca will offer prāṇāyāma and seated meditation.
Outside of these dates, Francesca will offer one-on-one or two-person sessions tailored to your needs, ensuring you receive the care and attention you deserve. Your personalized practice is designed with your well-being in mind, offering you a truly transformative experience. Dates and rates to be discussed directly with Francesca [email protected]
Detailed programme for the 3 weeks:
Monday through Saturday:
8 am Silent meditation
8.15 am Prāṇāyāma, short break and then Mysore
Friday afternoon: we gather for Satsang (time for questions and answers) and chanting to close the week together.
PRICES:
Mysore weeks: 120€ (6 practices)
Drop-ins: 25€
Personalized one-to-one sessions: prices vary according to the content of the sessions, to be discussed with Francesca.
Need help planning your trip or looking for more information? Feel free to get in touch!
Accommodation on Ilovik island is limited!! If you wish to come, it is recommended to book early, in order to secure your room or appartment on the island.
Francesca is available to provide you with all the details on how to reach the island, along with helpful accommodation suggestions, so you can easily plan your trip. While Francesca is available to assist you with guidance and tips, the travel arrangements will be up to you.
Let us connect and craft the perfect healing experience for you!
Email Francesca [email protected]
TESTIMONIALS from 2026, 2025 and 2024
"Absolutely fantastic.
I spent a week in July practising with Francesca on the beautiful island of Ilovik in Croatia, and it was genuinely transformative.
I’ve practised Ashtanga for around 15 years, mainly Primary, with some Intermediate, but had become stuck and increasingly felt that there was something wrong with me. I had the strength and stamina, but certain postures — particularly the Marichyasana twists and Supta Kurmasana — were simply not accessible because I was born with a fused lumbar spine, with all of my lumbar vertebrae fused.
Francesca saw that I had the ability and that my spine, rather than a lack of strength or effort, was what was limiting me. She taught me the full Intermediate Series, which I picked up surprisingly well, and encouraged me to alternate full Primary and Intermediate in my daily practice. Learning the Intermediate Series has given me tools to work with my spine that years of predominantly forward-bending Primary practice hadn’t, and I have gone from strength to strength.
More importantly, she completely changed my relationship with the practice. Ashtanga can be very focused on “getting the posture” and achieving its full expression. Francesca taught me that a posture can be right for you without looking perfect — what matters is experiencing its energetic effect and working intelligently with your own body. She also took away so much of the pressure I had put on myself: it’s just a posture. If you can’t do it perfectly, so what? You do the next one.
For the first time, I felt completely accepted in my body. I am a bigger woman with an earthy, Kapha-type body, and I have often been made to feel ‘lesser’ in the Ashtanga world because of that. Francesca never made me feel that my Kapha body was a limitation. She simply saw me for who I am.
I genuinely feel that I have finally found my teacher. I am incredibly grateful to Francesca — words can’t really express how much her teaching and belief in me have meant.
And the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. Ilovik is stunning: no cars, very few people, empty beaches and beautiful blue water. The combination of Francesca’s teaching and the peacefulness of the island allowed me to completely surrender and immerse myself in the practice.
A wonderful teacher, an extraordinary week and a beautiful place. I couldn’t recommend it more highly and I will most definitely return every year to continue my studies. Thank you so much, god bless you Francesca."
Akanksha K., Newcastle u/Tyne, United Kingdom (July 2026)
Our second year on Ilovik with Francesca, and we loved it just as much. Deep practice, wonderful adjustments, pranayama, and a shala with such a special atmosphere. Ilovik itself is quiet and beautiful, with almost empty little beaches and plenty to explore between practices. I came again with my husband, who doesn’t practise yoga, and he enjoyed the week just as much. A very special place and a very special week.
Klara I., Czech Republic (June 2026 and then again July 2026)
'Yoga ilovik : this has probably been the best week of my year. I was eager to discover Ilovik and to spend this privileged time with my long time teacher and friend Francesca and I have been so happy to make this journey. Practicing far from the daily duties, with an open and free mind, deepening the practice every day, exchanging, learning, then just eat, rest and swim in Ilovik’s pure waters, exploring the island, enjoying the calm atmosphere of this place, I can’t imagine a better holiday. Also, the atmosphere was very quiet but energetically it felt like taking an ashtanga space shuttle and being projected towards « the next level ». Thank-you Francesca 🙏🙏🙏'
Elisa C., Belgium (July 2025)
'I just spent a week with Francesca at her Mysore program on the island of Ilovik, Croatia, and honestly—it was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. My husband came too, and even though he doesn’t do yoga, he had an amazing time just relaxing and enjoying the island.
Francesca teaches traditional Ashtanga, as she learned directly from Nancy Gilgoff, with a deeply therapeutic and intuitive approach. Her adjustments are incredible—gentle, and truly healing.
The best part is that it’s not a typical retreat. There’s no fixed schedule beyond the daily Mysore class, which gave us so much freedom—it felt like a real holiday.
And Ilovik is magical: no cars, super fresh air, crystal-clear sea, and quiet little beaches all within walking distance. Getting there was super easy—we flew directly from Prague to Zadar and took a boat straight to the island.
If you’re thinking about going—don’t hesitate. We’ll definitely be back'.
Klara I., Czech Republic (July 2025)
'This summer, I spent a most extraordinary week on Ilovik. Excited as I was for the peace and quiet of a tiny island with no cars, I couldn’t imagine the beauty I would find! The island is serene and flourishes with flowers. It’s magic to dip into the waters of the Adriatic after a long practice. Although I went to study with my dear teacher Francesca, the combination of the magic of the island along with her careful guidance provided a remarkable experience. I’ve known Francesca for many years, and always appreciated her Ashtanga expertise and style of teaching. Yet, all of that was enhanced in her beautiful new studio on the tiny island, and the careful guidance she provides. I hope to return for many years to come'.
Lucia W., United States (July 2024)
'This summer, I took individual yoga lessons and followed cranio-sacral therapy with Francesca at her beautiful island home on the island of Ilovik. Having had appointments with Francesca in Brussels before, and having followed some of her online yoga classes, I have come to appreciate her knack for giving you just the right treatment and for preparing a yoga routine that's right for you. Apart from Francesca's great sense of humour - and what better medicine for body and soul than a laugh after classes ?!? - I truly appreciate her healing hands and her guiding support during yoga. She is very attentive to specific, individual issues.
The setting is just beautiful, and worth the travel. We flew into Zadar and took the ferry to get to Ilovik, it takes 2 hours. I warmly recommend to arrive at Zadar on a day the ferry actually runs and stops at Ilovik, otherwise you will need to go via Mali Losinj and cross the island by (expensive) taxi to get to a small harbour from where you can take a taxi boat to Ilovik.'
Maren H., Germany (July 2024)
Join Francesca for Mysore style Ashtanga yoga classes. Francesca has 24+ years of daily Ashtanga practice in the old-school lineage of the late Nancy Gilgoff and 16+ years of teaching experience. This is an opportunity to deepen your practice under expert guidance.
In addition to yoga, Francesca offers craniosacral therapy sessions, a gentle yet powerful treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing abilities, helping to relieve stress, chronic pain, and other ailments.
Ilovik’s car-free environment, stunning beaches, and breathtaking landscapes make it an ideal backdrop for a retreat focused on wellness and self-discovery. The Mysore classes are exclusively for those with an existing Ashtanga practice, at any level, ensuring a focused and immersive experience. With small group sizes, you will receive personalized attention to deepen your practice in a peaceful and rejuvenating setting.
PROGRAMME 2027
JUNE
MYSORE WEEK 1: June 7th to June 12th 2027 (Monday to Saturday, 6 practices)
JULY
MYSORE WEEK 2: July 12th to July 17th 2027 (Monday to Saturday, 6 practices)
AUG-SEPTEMBER
MYSORE WEEK 3: August 30th to September 4th 2027 (Monday to Saturday, 6 practices)
The Mysore weeks will start on Monday and will finish on Saturday. On top of the Mysore, Francesca will offer prāṇāyāma and seated meditation.
Outside of these dates, Francesca will offer one-on-one or two-person sessions tailored to your needs, ensuring you receive the care and attention you deserve. Your personalized practice is designed with your well-being in mind, offering you a truly transformative experience. Dates and rates to be discussed directly with Francesca [email protected]
Detailed programme for the 3 weeks:
Monday through Saturday:
8 am Silent meditation
8.15 am Prāṇāyāma, short break and then Mysore
Friday afternoon: we gather for Satsang (time for questions and answers) and chanting to close the week together.
PRICES:
Mysore weeks: 120€ (6 practices)
Drop-ins: 25€
Personalized one-to-one sessions: prices vary according to the content of the sessions, to be discussed with Francesca.
Need help planning your trip or looking for more information? Feel free to get in touch!
Accommodation on Ilovik island is limited!! If you wish to come, it is recommended to book early, in order to secure your room or appartment on the island.
Francesca is available to provide you with all the details on how to reach the island, along with helpful accommodation suggestions, so you can easily plan your trip. While Francesca is available to assist you with guidance and tips, the travel arrangements will be up to you.
Let us connect and craft the perfect healing experience for you!
Email Francesca [email protected]
TESTIMONIALS from 2026, 2025 and 2024
"Absolutely fantastic.
I spent a week in July practising with Francesca on the beautiful island of Ilovik in Croatia, and it was genuinely transformative.
I’ve practised Ashtanga for around 15 years, mainly Primary, with some Intermediate, but had become stuck and increasingly felt that there was something wrong with me. I had the strength and stamina, but certain postures — particularly the Marichyasana twists and Supta Kurmasana — were simply not accessible because I was born with a fused lumbar spine, with all of my lumbar vertebrae fused.
Francesca saw that I had the ability and that my spine, rather than a lack of strength or effort, was what was limiting me. She taught me the full Intermediate Series, which I picked up surprisingly well, and encouraged me to alternate full Primary and Intermediate in my daily practice. Learning the Intermediate Series has given me tools to work with my spine that years of predominantly forward-bending Primary practice hadn’t, and I have gone from strength to strength.
More importantly, she completely changed my relationship with the practice. Ashtanga can be very focused on “getting the posture” and achieving its full expression. Francesca taught me that a posture can be right for you without looking perfect — what matters is experiencing its energetic effect and working intelligently with your own body. She also took away so much of the pressure I had put on myself: it’s just a posture. If you can’t do it perfectly, so what? You do the next one.
For the first time, I felt completely accepted in my body. I am a bigger woman with an earthy, Kapha-type body, and I have often been made to feel ‘lesser’ in the Ashtanga world because of that. Francesca never made me feel that my Kapha body was a limitation. She simply saw me for who I am.
I genuinely feel that I have finally found my teacher. I am incredibly grateful to Francesca — words can’t really express how much her teaching and belief in me have meant.
And the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. Ilovik is stunning: no cars, very few people, empty beaches and beautiful blue water. The combination of Francesca’s teaching and the peacefulness of the island allowed me to completely surrender and immerse myself in the practice.
A wonderful teacher, an extraordinary week and a beautiful place. I couldn’t recommend it more highly and I will most definitely return every year to continue my studies. Thank you so much, god bless you Francesca."
Akanksha K., Newcastle u/Tyne, United Kingdom (July 2026)
Our second year on Ilovik with Francesca, and we loved it just as much. Deep practice, wonderful adjustments, pranayama, and a shala with such a special atmosphere. Ilovik itself is quiet and beautiful, with almost empty little beaches and plenty to explore between practices. I came again with my husband, who doesn’t practise yoga, and he enjoyed the week just as much. A very special place and a very special week.
Klara I., Czech Republic (June 2026 and then again July 2026)
'Yoga ilovik : this has probably been the best week of my year. I was eager to discover Ilovik and to spend this privileged time with my long time teacher and friend Francesca and I have been so happy to make this journey. Practicing far from the daily duties, with an open and free mind, deepening the practice every day, exchanging, learning, then just eat, rest and swim in Ilovik’s pure waters, exploring the island, enjoying the calm atmosphere of this place, I can’t imagine a better holiday. Also, the atmosphere was very quiet but energetically it felt like taking an ashtanga space shuttle and being projected towards « the next level ». Thank-you Francesca 🙏🙏🙏'
Elisa C., Belgium (July 2025)
'I just spent a week with Francesca at her Mysore program on the island of Ilovik, Croatia, and honestly—it was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. My husband came too, and even though he doesn’t do yoga, he had an amazing time just relaxing and enjoying the island.
Francesca teaches traditional Ashtanga, as she learned directly from Nancy Gilgoff, with a deeply therapeutic and intuitive approach. Her adjustments are incredible—gentle, and truly healing.
The best part is that it’s not a typical retreat. There’s no fixed schedule beyond the daily Mysore class, which gave us so much freedom—it felt like a real holiday.
And Ilovik is magical: no cars, super fresh air, crystal-clear sea, and quiet little beaches all within walking distance. Getting there was super easy—we flew directly from Prague to Zadar and took a boat straight to the island.
If you’re thinking about going—don’t hesitate. We’ll definitely be back'.
Klara I., Czech Republic (July 2025)
'This summer, I spent a most extraordinary week on Ilovik. Excited as I was for the peace and quiet of a tiny island with no cars, I couldn’t imagine the beauty I would find! The island is serene and flourishes with flowers. It’s magic to dip into the waters of the Adriatic after a long practice. Although I went to study with my dear teacher Francesca, the combination of the magic of the island along with her careful guidance provided a remarkable experience. I’ve known Francesca for many years, and always appreciated her Ashtanga expertise and style of teaching. Yet, all of that was enhanced in her beautiful new studio on the tiny island, and the careful guidance she provides. I hope to return for many years to come'.
Lucia W., United States (July 2024)
'This summer, I took individual yoga lessons and followed cranio-sacral therapy with Francesca at her beautiful island home on the island of Ilovik. Having had appointments with Francesca in Brussels before, and having followed some of her online yoga classes, I have come to appreciate her knack for giving you just the right treatment and for preparing a yoga routine that's right for you. Apart from Francesca's great sense of humour - and what better medicine for body and soul than a laugh after classes ?!? - I truly appreciate her healing hands and her guiding support during yoga. She is very attentive to specific, individual issues.
The setting is just beautiful, and worth the travel. We flew into Zadar and took the ferry to get to Ilovik, it takes 2 hours. I warmly recommend to arrive at Zadar on a day the ferry actually runs and stops at Ilovik, otherwise you will need to go via Mali Losinj and cross the island by (expensive) taxi to get to a small harbour from where you can take a taxi boat to Ilovik.'
Maren H., Germany (July 2024)