My work comes from the meeting point between the practice of Yoga, meditation, and the study of contemplative traditions. A journey that began in 2008 and has developed over the years through training, intensive practice, teaching, and personal research.
A journey between training and practice
After graduating in Electronic Engineering in 2007 and spending eight years working for a multinational company, in 2008 I began practising Yoga and Zen meditation. In the following years, my research developed through study, intensive practice, retreats, and encounters with different contemplative traditions.
Within the Soto Zen tradition, I received the Bodhisattva lay precepts. My journey subsequently developed through the study and practice of different traditions of Yoga and meditation, eventually leading me to receive specific initiations and teachings within the Sri Vidya tradition.
This journey gradually led me to transform my personal research into a professional activity dedicated to teaching Yoga, meditation, and contemplative disciplines.
Training and certifications
E-RYT500 · YACEP
Yoga Alliance
Certificate IV 800hr in Purna Yoga
Byron Yoga Centre · Byron Bay, Australia
Vishoka Meditation Teacher
Himalayan Institute · USA
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Teacher
MBSR
Second-level Master’s Degree in Mindfulness: Practice, Clinical Applications and Neuroscience
Sapienza University · Rome
Massage Therapist
NSW School of Massage · Sydney
The study continues
Training does not end with the qualifications I have achieved. It continues through personal practice, study, and direct engagement with the teachings.
In recent years, my journey has deepened at the Himalayan Institute, within the tradition of Swami Rama, through intensive periods of practice and study. In this context, I have systematically studied the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, Prāṇāyāma, Mantra, and meditation, combining theoretical study with direct verification through practice.
My journey has also led me to study the Sri Vidya tradition, through progressive training, the reception of specific teachings, and initiation into the tradition.
Personal research remains an integral part of my work: continuing to study and practise means keeping alive the relationship between what is taught and what is directly experienced.
Professional experience
Over the years I have taught Yoga and meditation in Italy and internationally, working with individuals, groups, companies, and institutions in a variety of contexts.
I have led private and group classes, workshops, retreats, corporate programmes, and mindfulness-based programmes, adapting my teaching to different contexts and needs.
My professional experience includes collaborations with organisations such as Bulgari, Warner Bros. Media, Duracell, CNN Turner Broadcasting, Tecnocasa, Enel, Solenis, and the University of Verona, as well as film productions and other international projects.
I have taught in Australia, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Denmark.
My approach
For me, teaching means bringing together what is studied with what is directly experienced. For this reason, I consider personal practice, study, and teaching to be inseparable dimensions.
I work with attention to precision, gradual progression, and individual experience, seeking to create a space in which technique is not an end in itself, but becomes a tool for understanding the body, breath, and mind more deeply.
My scientific background and the contemplative practice I have developed over the years have led me to maintain an attitude of curiosity, rigour, and experiential verification, while preserving respect for the traditions from which these practices originate.
Professionalism, rigour in study, respect for diversity, and compassion are the principles that guide my teaching.
Words from those who have practised with me
Every journey is different. These are some of the experiences shared by people who have practised with me during classes, workshops, and retreats.
Andrea Ciccardini
Manager Rome
“Riccardo is a passionate and knowledgeable yoga teacher. Practising with him means embarking on a journey of self-awareness that changes both the perception of your own body on the mat and the mental attitude with which you approach everyday life. The guided meditations are also a very special experience of deep awareness and relaxation.”
Dr. Loreto Nemi
Dietitian, Specialist in Human Nutrition Sciences, Lecturer in Nutrition Education — Rome
“A practice to increase wellbeing, improve muscular flexibility, and find a greater balance with my body. I did inversions for the first time. Then I relaxed deeply during the final meditation guided by the excellent and professional Riccardo! Highly recommended!”
Andy Simpson
Manager — London
“I’ve worked with many yoga teachers but Riccardo is by far the most inspiring I’ve met. Through retreats, workshops, group and private lessons over 3 years in Italy and London I know he has a deep knowledge of the practice and philosophy of yoga and a passion to share this with others. I always feel safe with him as he has an extensive knowledge of anatomy and is an attentive teacher who will help and encourage you to explore your body and stretch your abilities.”
Josephina Ferrante
Manager — Rome
“I started practising Yoga a year ago, during one of Riccardo’s workshop classes, and I have never stopped.
I discovered an energy that surprised me. The euphoria, joy, and sense of wellbeing that you experience after a yoga class with Riccardo cannot be described. It is like a light that starts from within and suddenly radiates through the soul. Riccardo is the most skilled teacher I have ever met. His teaching method is impeccable, and he is able to put anyone, regardless of their level of practice or mobility, in a position to do truly exemplary work.
Calling it Yoga is reductive; it is an experience… and it is fantastic!”
Begin your journey
If you would like to deepen your Yoga or meditation practice, you can get in touch with me to learn more about the possibilities for practice and find the path that is most suitable for you.