TRAVELER TESTIMONY: Artful Adventurer (Marja, New York, NY)

Marja has made a full circle of friendship with EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats. As a long time friend of Sarah, she got to see from the outside what the excitement of an EPM yoga retreat was all about. After hearing about Sarah's experience in Italy, she signed up for a retreat of her own, a beautiful trip to Tuscany. As a stage actress, she has a lot of experience with travel and the arts, so we were excited to hear her thoughts on the retreat. Marja is a lovely woman, bringing grace, style and an infectious smile wherever she goes. We were so excited she got to experience the beauty of Italy.

Marja exploring village life in Tuscany

What drew you EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats? 

I consider myself an artist, a student of life, and a lover of exploration, travel, and simple pleasures. What drew me to Erin's retreat was the offer of a balanced, curated experience, one that incorporated relaxation, wellness, culture, and a touch of indulgence.

How did your trip compare to your expectations?

It’s important for me to have the local experience when I travel. I avoid  falling into the typical tourist itinerary of “See this! See that!" while missing the experience. Erin’s retreat nailed this balance.

YOGA amongst the artistry of Florence

What was it like to have Erin Lewis as a guide?

Erin is well traveled. She has not only acquired an understanding of many languages, but also relationships that let her provide her guests with access to artisanal crafts, food, and an insider's knowledge of the area.

What was the best part of your trip?

Staying in the Tuscan villa was relaxing and grounding, and a great sanctuary to come home to after a day of sightseeing or touring nearby Cortona or Siena.

What lasting impressions did you have? What stayed with you once you traveled home?

The best thing for me with Erin's retreat was the idea of balance. There is a lovely mix of enjoying oneself and having indulgence in doses while also being good to the body/mind.

Under the Tuscan sun, amongst the sunflowers

Thanks, Marja, for sharing your memories and your friendship. We can't wait to see you on your next retreat! 

June '11 Tuscany Retreat :: summary

Wow! Just said 'arrivederci' yesterday to all the wonderful guests at the June retreat in Tuscany. It was an amazing time with a great group of people. However fabulous a place may be, the dynamic of a group is one of the most important pieces of a retreat - and we couldn't have asked for a better one! Friendships were made, plenty of laughs shared, growth made in the yoga studio, and lots of delicious food was enjoyed.

We started the week out with an amazing dinner on the terrace overlooking the picturesque hills. Most of us were commenting that everyone knows that stereotypical Tuscan landscape in your mind...but it's still a bit surprising to see that it is actually exactly like that.

We'd missed the fields of red poppies in bloom just by a couple weeks, but were greeted by plenty of lavender and the bursts of yellow sunflowers beginning to bloom. One field we found was so abundant that we decided to do some group shots in the flowers.

Amazing dish by amazing dish was provided throughout the week by Amanda (villa owner / interior decorator / Tuscan cook extraordinaire) and each meal was met by mmmmm's and ahhhhh's around the table. I think by the last day we were all glad to have practiced daily yoga as well as walked as much as we had in order to enjoy all the dishes provided.

Thanks to Julian, Amanda's husband and who usually runs the art retreats at this location, we were entertained with lots of interesting anecdotes about the region, sites, and chauffeured around for the day trips...including stops in Arezzo, Chiusi, Florence, and the beautiful tiny hilltop town of Panicale. I think one of the favorite times of relaxation came during a trip to a thermal spa where we all lounged by the thermal pools and took in some of the warm rays.

Here's a video from the experience:

Overall it was an amazing week, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it. Today I'm writing from Florence and am heading tomorrow to Ischia to work out some details for the October retreat there...then it's back to the villa next week for the second Tuscan retreat this summer! Can't wait to meet the next group!

A Week in Florence

Well if you keep up with EAT.PRAY.MOVE you may have noticed a little bit of a drop in online chatter this week as my time on the computer (twitter, facebook, blogs) has been more sporatic... but only because I'm in ITALY preparing for the Tuscany retreat which starts this Sunday.

I took off last Friday and luckily got some sleep on the plane (as the seat next to me was empty!), and woke up just as we were flying over France and then into Italy over the Mediterranean coast.

It's been a lovely time in Florence this week - seeing friends, running errands, going to the yoga studio, and just being back on the old cobblestone streets that I consider a second home. It always takes me a few days to get over the jet-lag but the rich espresso here definitely helps me out!

Besides all the regular sites, there tends to be festivals and special events going on all the time here. This week happened to be fashion week, so the shop windows are in full regalia and the people watching is at its finest. 

All the plans are in place for the upcoming retreats, and being in Florence has made me even more excited for them as well as the day-trip during the week back to the city. It's such a lovely place close to my heart that I can't wait to share it with guests.

Besides getting ready with logistics, I've also been getting ready just to meet everyone. Plus we had 2 MORE LAST MINUTE SIGN-UPS! So now both Tuscany retreats are full, and the groups are going to be great!

If you've been thinking of joining us on a retreat - don't miss out. There's 1 more spot in Marrakesh in Septempber as well as spots in ISCHIA in October. Stay tuned on our Facebook page for pics-of-the-day during my month in Italy (including preparations in Ischia in two weeks)