“The starting point of the journey is the ending point of the journey”
Swami Lakshmanjoo
“Shala Mandala was founded by my sisters and me in May 2016 in the splendid setting of Calabria, in Southern Italy, thanks to the generous donation of our parents Elisabetta and Giuseppe, supporting my vision to promote yoga, meditation, and physical activity, in our local community.”
Simona Nucera
Passionate about classical studies and fine arts from a very young age, I have traveled since 1992 to the UK, India, Indonesia, and the USA for study purposes and consequently for work.
I have been spiritually oriented from a very young age and actively involved in different charities, projects, and orphanages in Italy and abroad. Growing up in my grandmother’s spiritual community, linked to the nuns of Mother Teresa of Kolkata, I was introduced to traditional yoga by my aunt Franca Maria Plutino when I was 20 years old.
Since I was little the main question was: what happens when we die?
In my busy 30s while working in the field of fashion between London and Milan, not satisfied with my job as a designer and life in general, I jumped and fell in love with the study of traditional yoga thanks to Manuela Toso, a student of Swami Yogeshwaranand Saraswati, founder of the Yoga Niketan Parmarth Ashram in Rishikesh.
In 2006 after years of battling with depression and anxiety, I traveled for the first time in China and Southeast Asia, consequently to South India. The experience that changed my life was at Rahaman Maharishi Ashram in Tamil Nadu attending the parikrama around the Holy mountain Arunachala.
In 2006 I traveled for the first time in China and Southeast Asia, consequently in South India. The experience that changed my life was at the Ashram of Ramana Maharishi, a Hindu philosopher and yogi whose position on monism (the identity of the individual soul and the creator of souls) and Maya (illusion)has a great contribution to the yogic philosophy and the technique of vichara (self-“pondering” inquiry).
During 3 years of exploration, I spent time in remote holy sites, received traditional education at yoga āshrams, and lived in Varanasi – one of the oldest Cities in the world – where I deepened my study of Hatha Yoga with RavindraJi, a Brahmin priest who used to teaches at the Pancharatman Mandir in Assi Ghat.
In 2012 following my teacher’s suggestion I moved back to work as a designer in London and Los Angeles, studying under the Astānga Yoga Mysore teachers Hamish Hendry and Noah Williams, both of whom have received an Advanced Teaching Certification from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
In 2016 I returned to India to study full time and since then I have been practicing under the guidance of Guru Ji Sharath Jois in Mysore and Sharmila Desai in Morjim, Goa.
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Teachers, and Mentors:
Kedar Prado Shastri/BA Banaras Hindu University; Acarya/MA Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya (Sanskrit/Tantra);
Dr. M.A. Ph.D. Jayashree(Yoga sūtras, ślokas) and Professor M.A.Narasimhan (Philosophy and Classical Yoga) Mysore, India;
Vidwan Lakshmish Bhat (Yoga sūtras, ślokas, and Sanskrit ) KPJAYI and SYC Mysore, India;
Peter Sanson Certified Teacher in Napier, New Zealand.
During my time in India, I have attended:
In 2009 an immersion course at the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Center by Sharat Arora a direct student of B. K. S. Iyengar.
In 2010, a Vipassana meditation course by Goenka, after taking refuge in Buddhism with H.H the Karmapa in Sarnath, India;
In 2011 I directly studied HIs Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. In 2022 I followed 3 days of Teaching on Nagarjuna’s Commentary of Bodhichitta at the Kalachakra Teaching Ground in Bodhgaya; His Holiness also conferred the Blessing of 21 Tara;
In 2018 I took part inMingyur Rinpoche and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche teaching in Bodhgaya, India;
In 2021 I studied an online course on “The Hindu and Tibetan rivers of Buddhism” by Prof Tenzin Robert Thurman – at Columbia University USA
Ilaria Nucera
I began working in the tourism field during my adolescence in my family business, Tourist Services Srl making important contributions to the hospitality department. After achieving a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations at the University IULM in Milan, I specialized in Event and Congress Management gaining valuable experience at Boscolo Hotels where I worked as a Sales and congress Assistant, and during the summer seasons coordinating the management of the tourist retreats run by my family.
In 2008 I left Milan, and together with my husband, Ludovico Pignatti Morano di Custoza, we devoted our time to renovating an old family farmhouse, restoring it to its ancient splendor. Surrounded by the peaceful countryside of Fano, in the beautiful region of Marche and only 2 km from the sea, Molino Monacelli is a country house with a welcoming rural environment, catering to a clientele wishing to rediscover local foods and traditions. Here is where I live today and where 2015 I began studying Astānga Yoga.
Marilu Nucera
After graduating in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan and working in the financial sector for a renowned consulting firm Ernest & Young, I joined our family business Tourist Services Group Srl, in May 2010. I live in Milan with my 3 kids, where my headquarters is located.
I started practicing Astānga Yoga in 2016, with an authorized KPJAYI level II teacher in Milan and at the Shala Mandala during the Summer.
For info please contact:
Simona Nucera for yoga and meditation classes info@shalamandala.com
Marilu Nucera for the accommodation marilu@rhegiontravel.it