Our Story
Shala Mandala was founded in May 2016 in the beautiful setting of Calabria, Southern Italy.
It was born thanks to the generous support of our parents, Elisabetta and Giuseppe, who believed in the vision of bringing yoga, meditation, and conscious movement into the local community.
The intention has always been to create a space where ancient wisdom meets contemporary life, a place where people can come together to reconnect with themselves, with others, and with the sacred.
Today, Shala Mandala is run by three women and six children: three sisters united by a love for travel, nature, and sustainability. Most leadership roles within the organization are held by women, and we are proud to have welcomed guests from over 45 countries, from Sydney to San Francisco, from Buenos Aires to Queenstown, New Zealand.
The project lives within the Borgo degli Ulivi Natural Resort, a former seaside residence from the 1980s, once mainly frequented by the German market, which was taken over in 2010 and has since undergone a profound process of ecological, environmental, cultural, regeneration, with the aim of creating a model of conscious and territory-respectful hospitality.
We have been a Plastic Free organisation since 2016, actively working for the protection of the sea and of all sentient beings. Our team includes Italian and international collaborators who live with us year-round, taking care not only of the resort itself, but also of the olive harvest, the organic garden, and the rescued animals that now share this home with us.
Shala Mandala is not just a yoga school: it is a home, a living community, a place to practice, grow, and transform together.
SIMONA
I am Simona, founder of Shala Mandala.
My path has unfolded over more than twenty years of travel, study, and practice between East and West, through sacred places that have left an indelible mark on my life.
I am rooted in the traditional method of Ashtanga Yoga, supported by the teachers and lineages that have guided my journey. Through practice—together with the study of meditation, philosophy, and ancient civilizations—I have found a way to unite **discipline, devotion, and deep presence.
I began teaching almost by chance, responding to the spontaneous request of a group of travelers who had seen me practicing during my short summer visits to Calabria, when I would return to see my family. From that unexpected meeting arose the desire to share what I had received, eventually leading to the decision to open an official space dedicated to practice.
My work is a bridge between worlds: East and West, the visible and the subtle.
At Shala Mandala, I hold space with warmth, clarity, and simplicity, welcoming each student as part of a family that practices, grows, and transforms together.
ILARIA
I began working in the tourism sector during my teenage years in my family business, Tourist Services Srl, making a significant contribution to the hospitality department.
After earning a degree in Public Relations at IULM University in Milan I specialized in Event and Congress Management, gaining valuable experience at Boscolo Hotels and coordinating, during the summer seasons, the management of the tourist resorts run by my family in Tropea and Sellia Marina.
In 2008 I left Milan and, together with my husband Ludovico Pignatti Morano di Custoza, I devoted myself to restoring an old family farmhouse, bringing it back to its original splendor. Nestled in the peaceful countryside of Fano, in the beautiful region of Le Marche and just 2 km from the sea, Molino Monacelli is today a welcoming country house for those who wish to rediscover local flavors and traditions.
This is where I currently live and where, in 2015, I began studying Astānga Yoga.
MARILÚ
After earning a degree in Economics and Law at Bocconi University in Milan and gaining experience in the financial sector with the consulting firm Ernst & Young, I joined my family business, Tourist Services Srl, in May 2010.
I live in Milan with my three children, where my operational office is also based. I manage the Borgo degli Ulivi Natural Resort, home to Shala Mandala, taking care of the overall management of the property, staff coordination, and the booking office.
I began practicing Astānga Yoga in 2016 with a KPJAYI Level II authorized teacher in Milan and at Shala Mandala during the summer season.
