If you are ready to unwind, connect with old and new friends, stretch out the aches of daily life, nourish your belly as well as your soul, and live a week of la dolce vita, then this is the trip for you. This retreat was a total mind/body recharge with a gorgeous Italian backdrop. Yogi Sadie, Chefs Alice + Harriett, and Somm (and DJ!) Danilo created a magical week that was both full of everything - and nothing. Morning + evening stretch-outs, hikes and cooking lessons, plus time to let your mind rest and wander. The team dazzled us with lovingly made food and incredible wine, surpassing all expectations, with plenty of time to linger, laugh, chat, and savor during meals. An absolute treat!

Great food and location as always. I really appreciated the structure of the opening and closing circle at the beginning and end of the retreat. It's such a great way to show gratitude to the mighty crew of Sadie, Alice, Danilo and Harriet.
 Sadie’s yoga is truly amazing and often accompanied by really good-hearted laughs. If you ask me what kind of yoga it is, I’d probably just be snarky and say ‘The good kind’. I have been practicing with Sadie as much as I can for over 15 years and all jokes aside, I’d say it is the kind of yoga backed by knowledge and science. Some truly well researched movement medicine for the modern computer age where we are all sit at a screen too much. She was the first instructor I remember asking “How’s everybody feeling today? Where does it hurt?” and be able to tailor the class to the immediate needs of the attendees on the spot. Her yoga isn’t about doing the same yoga pose over and over again. Instead it’s about resolving the issues of pain and discomfort that have walked into her class that day. I still carry the knowledge she dropped in class once about fascia after completing a human anatomy course. It’s helped me figure out healthy and realistic approaches to maintaining my own body. There was also a great mix of excursions to nearby Lake Orta for shopping, a 2 in 1 day to Cappellificio Cervo & Rapa Giovani for handmade artisan hats or a variety of alcohol to choose from at irresistible prices. And then finally we had a challenging hike with our amazing guide Pietro. Even though the hike started very late, due to the drivers getting lost on the way to the trailhead, Pietro stayed with the slowest group like we had all the time in the world. I particularly liked his tip on elongated symmetrical breathing of a 1:1 or 1:2 inhale vs exhale. It helped with the strenuous uphill and altitude that I always have difficulty adjusting to. It also helps when I am feeling anxious just being out in the world.

This retreat was a magical and meaningful week for me as I celebrated my 50th birthday. My group of friends--mostly women from childhood friendships, high school, grad school , and my neighborhood mom squad--booked out a week with Sadie and Alice. It was perfect: an opportunity to unwind, connect, and reflect on all these wonderful relationships in my life. The schedule was an ideal blend of structure and flexibility. Beautiful hikes were just a step away, every meal was exquisite, the yoga sessions were playful and effective. Alice, Danilo, and Aiko curated and educated us about the fabulous meals and wines while Sadie challenged us with lunges and squats. The location allowed us to truly get off the beaten path and explore the local small villages. Guitars around the fire, insightful tarot readings, visits to the local hat factory, and a parade of hundreds of sheep and donkeys filled out the itinerary, a great blend of flawless execution and spontaneity. What an incredible way to mark a milestone birthday!