Shala Mandala was founded in May 2016 on the Ionian coast of Calabria, Southern Italy.
The project grew from a personal vision developed over many years of travel, study, and contemplative practice between Europe and Asia. Its roots, however, lie much earlier—in a family where hospitality, culture, entrepreneurship, and spirituality were never separate aspects of life, but part of the same human experience.
I was born on the Mediterranean coast, in the lands of ancient Magna Graecia, where the philosophical legacy of Pythagoras and the Italic mystery traditions still permeate the cultural landscape.
The spiritual heart of our family was my grandmother, Maria Lucia Cassalia, a woman who dedicated much of her life to serving her spiritual community. Closely connected to the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, she devoted herself to prayer, education, charitable work, and the care of others. More than anyone else, she shaped my understanding of what spiritual practice truly means. She was not only my grandmother but my first teacher, quietly transmitting the values that continue to inspire Shala Mandala today: simplicity, devotion, generosity, and the understanding that every act of service can become a path of inner transformation.
Alongside this spiritual inheritance, I grew up travelling extensively with my parents. My father, Giuseppe Nucera, an entrepreneur in the Italian tourism industry, introduced me from an early age to the world of hospitality, intercultural exchange, and the art of welcoming people from every corner of the world. My mother, Elisabetta, who built her career at Banca Intesa, brought to our family a deep sense of responsibility, integrity, and organisation. Together, they created an environment where curiosity, education, and openness to different cultures became part of everyday life.
These early experiences nurtured a lifelong fascination with history, philosophy, and the diverse ways human beings seek meaning.
While studying at the Liceo Classico in Reggio Calabria, I developed a deep interest in literature, history, and the arts. At eighteen, I left home to study Design, beginning an international journey that would take me between Milan, London, Los Angeles, India, Southeast Asia, and eventually Venice.
Before dedicating myself entirely to yoga, I worked in fashion, textile design, and theatre. Those years refined my aesthetic sensibility, discipline, and interdisciplinary approach, qualities that continue to shape the identity and visual language of Shala Mandala today.
My contemplative path gradually unfolded through yoga, meditation, and years of study throughout India. Beyond formal education, some of the most meaningful teachings came through everyday life—living with families, participating in rituals, observing traditions, and learning from the women who welcomed me into their homes with extraordinary generosity. These encounters offered an understanding of India that could never be acquired through books alone.
When I returned to Calabria, I began sharing my practice almost unexpectedly. What started as a small group of practitioners soon became an international community, leading to the foundation of Shala Mandala in 2016.
From the very beginning, the project was supported by my family. My parents made it possible to transform a family property into a place where I can share yoga, contemplative studies. As the community continued to grow, my sisters also became an essential part of its development.
Ilaria Nucera graduated in Public Relations at IULM University in Milan before specialising in Event and Congress Management. After years of experience in hospitality and tourism, she developed her own project in sustainable hospitality through the restoration of Molino Monacelli, in the Marche region. A practitioner of Astānga Yoga, she contributes to Shala Mandala through her experience in communication, retreat organisation, and the creation of meaningful experiences for our international community.
Marilù Nucera graduated in Economics and Law at Bocconi University specialising in business management and administration. After beginning her professional career with Ernst & Young, she joined the family company, where she oversees the management of Borgo degli Ulivi Natural Resort, home of Shala Mandala in Calabria. She is also a dedicated practitioner of Astānga Yoga, bringing strategic management and organisational leadership to the project.
Today, Shala Mandala is far more than a yoga school. It is a living community where contemplative practice, education, mindful hospitality, environmental responsibility, and cultural dialogue come together through one shared vision.
In 2026, this vision expanded with the opening of Mysore Venezia, bringing the traditional Mysore method to the heart of Venice and creating a bridge between Southern Italy and one of the world’s great cultural cities. Although each location has its own character, both remain united by the same commitment: to preserve authentic contemplative traditions while creating spaces where practice, study, and community can flourish together.
