AUGUST 18 – 25, 2018 | ITALIAN YOGA + WELLNESS RETREAT with JULIE MEEK + VICKI VOLLMER

Make Healthy Living a Lifestyle! Join us for 7 days and nights, surrounded as far as the eye can see, by hillside fields of flowers, olive orchards and Tuscan vineyards – just outside the medieval walled city of spectacular Lucca, Italy.

Imagine daily nurturing yoga & mindfulness practice, in addition to farm-to-table alfresco feasting with fresh local produce and immersion into the Italian “la dolce vita” with a selection of authentic cultural + gourmet excursions and activities.

Join Julie + Vicki for a  “wellness” immersion retreat with a focus on the practices that truly impact our health and well-being – moving our bodies, yoga, mindfulness and delicious food (and of course wine), all amidst the amazing history and culture of beautiful Tuscany!

Typical Daily Program

Each day with begin with a rejuvenating and relaxing yoga class followed by energy giving juices and freshly prepared breakfast. During the day and evening we will enjoy a deep, authentic immersion into Italian culture, from Lucca’s spectacular art & architecture, to the rolling hills of Tuscany & the Mediterranean sea-side charm of Cinque Terre, to volcanic hot springs; fabulous wines and gastronomia (“the art of good eating”) throughout.

What’s included?

In addition to our magical stay at an authentic Tuscan home estate with a 180-degree view of the Tuscan hills and Lucca,  salt water pool, wood burning pizza oven and Turkish steam room,  this wellness retreat includes:

  • Homemade Tuscan vegetarian food and local wine for dinner
  • Bike and walking tour of Lucca with the fabulous Federico
  • Day trip to the breathtaking Cinque Terre region to hike and visit centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline.
  • Night out in the thriving artist village of Pietrasanta
  • Daily walks (optional)

Aboveall, this retreat is designed for you to experience a lot with great ease and with plenty of wide, open spaces in the itinerary to relax and/or explore on your own or with others. Your investment practically covers everything!

Who is this retreat for?

This retreat is OPEN TO ALL LEVELS of yoga, fitness, health and life experience. We look forward to taking this amazing journey and celebrating the practice of a healthy life with you.

Yoga in Italy afternoon yoga practice up at panoramic outdoor yoga platform
Yoga in Italy afternoon yoga practice up at panoramic outdoor yoga platform Yoga shala overlooking olive groves and vineyards Indoor Yoga Room with views to the swimming pool Yoga in Italy Excursion - Guided Bike & Walking tour of Lucca Pizza Night - freshly baked foccacia with rosemary Excursion - Hiking Levanto to Monterosso Il Borghino retreat centre - twin bed or double room in the house called Il Melograno - Verde Il Borghino Retreat Centre - twin bed or double room in the house called Il Melograno - Azzurra Il Borghino retreat centre room called I Nespoli - Rosa Cooking Class - home made potato gnocchi Yoga in Italy Excursion - Wine Tasting Yoga in Italy Excursion - Hiking Levanto to Monterosso Yoga in Italy Excursion - Panorama view from Torre Guinigi tower in Lucca Yoga in Italy Retreat Centre with salt water swimming pool Borghino swmming Pool View from Gelso
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About Julie Meek

Julie Meek + Vicki Vollmer Well Being Retreat Tuscany June 2017Julie is a Performance Specialist, Dietitian and Wellness Coach. She also loves to travel – especially to Italy where together with her family, she is renovating an 800 year old apartment. Julie is passionate about creating wellness through high performance health – and this is exactly what you will experience at one of Julie’s Wellness Retreats.

You can find more information about Julie on her website www.juliemeek.com.au

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About Vicki Vollmer

Julie Meek + Vicki Vollmer Well Being Retreat Tuscany June 2017Vicki  has been practicing and teaching yoga in the Iyengar method for over 25 years. She has studied extensively with many of the finest teachers the method has to offer; Mary Dunn, Manouso Manos, Patricia Walden, Faeq Biria, Gabriella Guibillaro and Glenn Ceresoli to name a few. Vicki has traveled to India several times to study with the Iyengar family in Pune.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar Yoga is a method of yoga ideal for all bodies and ages and is recognised for its attention to alignment, balance and safe approach to the art of yoga. Every student is inspired, challenged and encouraged to cross the threshold of what is the “known”.  Vicki’s classes during the Wellness Retreat  include asana (postures),  pranyama (breath work) and (meditation).

Vicki now lives in Tuscany and is doing what she has always done and loves to do. Practice and Teach Yoga! You can find more about Vicki on her website www.vickivollmer.com

What’s Included?

  • 7 nights accommodation (including linen and towels) at Il Borghino TUSCANY villa + gastronomia + a room with a view
  • Daily yoga practice and use of yoga room, yoga mats, blocks, blankets, belts, and bolsters, plus additional yoga mats for use outdoors
  • Home made Tuscan vegetarian food created with love by the amazing Maria-Angela (3 meals/day except 1 x lunch when at Cinque Terre and 1 x dinner when at Pietrasanta Artist village) + local wine for dinner
  • Healthy juice for breakfast, unlimited fruit, water and herbal teas throughout the day
  • Last night celebratory dinner with Prosecco and pizza, fresh out of the wood-fired pizza oven at Il Borghino
  • Transfer from/to Lucca to/from the retreat centre on the day of arrival and departure (one scheduled pick-up and drop-off only). Transfers outside of the scheduled pick-up and drop off are not included.
  • Outdoor salt-water pool
  • Use of the steam room / sauna (first session free, thereafter €70 per session)
  • Pool Towels, Hair dryers  and use of laundry facilities
  • Free Wi-fi
  • Tourist tax

What’s Not Included?

  • Airfare from/to your home city
  • Travel insurance
  • Ground transportation outside the scheduled pick-up on arrival day and drop-off on departure day*
  • Two meals out during excursions to Cinque Terre + Pietrasanta
  • Optional activities other than those specified as included in the retreat price
  • Other travel-related expenses

* Transfers outside the scheduled pick-up or drop-off can be arranged for an additional fee

Included Excursions + Activities

YOGA + meditation

Through morning yoga + meditation you will experience an elevated state of creativity and physical vitality to better enjoy Italia and all of her delights.

CINQUE TERRE Mediterranean seaside charm

An excursion to one of Italia’s Mediterranean treasures, Cinque Terre, where we will take a day trip to explore the picturesque cliff-side villages or simply chill in a
seaside cove for the day. (Includes ground transportation with a driver + entry into the national park. Lunch not included).

NUTRITION + performance + well-being

Each day, Julie will share a bite sized strategy or tactic that you can weave into your life, to enhance your personal productivity, well-being and performance.

LUCCA tour with the fabulous Federico

Coming from a noble Lucchese family. Federico’s family have strong roots in the area and he is passionate about its history, culture, art, food and wine. The tour takes in the ancient walls of Lucca pointing out places of interest through the medieval streets.

PIETRASANTA Artist village

Pietrasanta is a thriving art centre full of galleries, shops and restaurants spilling onto the pavements. Best known for its marble and bronze artistic works, Pietrasanta often hosts international art exhibitions in the local Piazza’s where we will sit over aperitivo and dinner to watch the buzz unfold. (Includes ground transportation but dinner in Pietrasanta is not included)

Retreat Pricing

Your retreat investment includes almost everything and is from €2000 – €2200 depending on the accommodation type you choose (single, twin or double). Upon registration, you will be given all travel information, packing list and a full itinerary.

For details, contact Julie at  retreat@juliemeek.com.au

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Transport Options – Getting to and From Il Borghino

  • The nearest airport to Lucca is Pisa international Airport “Galileo Galileo” – 18 Miles from Lucca
  • Florence International Airport “Amerigo Vespucci” is 50 Miles from Lucca
  • If you are flying into Rome, Fiumicino Airport is 162 miles from Lucca.
  • Regular trains and buses run from both Pisa and Florence airports to Lucca and are very reasonably priced. Trains also run regularly from Rome airport but the trip is much longer and takes around 4.5 hours.

Check-in and Check-out

  • Check-in at Il Borghino is strictly 4pm on the day of arrival.
  • When booking your flights, we recommend you plan your arrival time in Lucca for around 15:30pm, to coincide with the group transfer to Il Borghino at 3:45pm.  There will be one scheduled pick-up only. Please email your arrival details to hello@yogainitaly.com as soon as they are available.  If you are unable to make the pick-up,  we can arrange for a taxi to bring you to Il Borghino.
  • Check-out at Il Borghino is strictly 09:30am on the last day. Please plan your departure flights accordingly.