Join Us in Umbria, Italy!
June 1 – 7, 2024
Long Live Life to the Fullest!
Viva La Vita al Massimo
June 1 – 7, 2024
Umbria, Italy
with Christa Mastrangelo Joyce &
Jen Rolston
Experience the Fullness of Life in Umbria, Italy, often called the country’s green heart. Here you’ll be given the time and space to live life to its fullest through a return to simplicity in a backdrop of rich landscapes, history, artistic legacy, delicious local wines and organic food, and agriculture. At the eco-friendly wellness center, you’ll be able to truly retreat from the world and begin the process of revitalization. Inspired by the country that birthed the renaissance, we’ll discover together the way new-found vitality can lead to greater imagination and creativity. Immersed in Italian culture and cuisine, each day will offer the opportunity to delight in your senses and ground into your body.
The retreat schedule allows for daily yoga, breath work, and meditation; walks through the breathtaking landscape; swimming in the spring-fed pool; exploring renaissance art and architecture and exploring your own creativity; and connecting to your retreat community. Yoga practices will combine fluid movement with the grounding qualities of a Hatha practice, as well as restorative practices to fully decompress. These practices will be made accessible to all practitioners regardless of level. We encourage everyone, no matter where they are physically, to feel welcome and supported in their practice. The wisdom of Ayurveda will be included, as will a variety of meditation practices.
Shared Accommodations: $2395 (until Aug 1, 2023/ Full Price $2695)
Single Accommodations: $3095
Happy Faces from Our 2022 Greece Retreat
“My Baja Bliss (2019) retreat was perfect! The classes that Christa offered were varied and each one felt special in their own way. Her calming, patient and very spiritual demeanor, were the perfect marriage with the beautiful and tranquil surroundings.”
“Christa Mastrangelo Joyce’s yoga retreat with Jen on the island of Amorgos in Greece (October 2022) was absolutely divine. Their beautiful teaching style, stories, humor, and pearls of wisdom provided a wonderful experience on a gorgeous island. Their teaching allowed for all different yoga levels and experiences, and each class was an absolutely beautiful experience. Although I’ve been practicing yoga for more than ten years, I greatly enjoyed learning new poses and flows and methods to improve my practice. Their style is a wonderful mix of contemplative, rigorous, meditative and overall feels just wonderful for the body, mind and spirit.
Many of the participants knew each other already, but they were all exceptionally welcoming to newcomers so the group felt very integrated. Christa and Jen were very attentive to all the participants’ needs and super fun on island excursions too. I highly recommend signing up for their retreats.”
About the Retreat Center
This hidden gem is tucked amongst the rolling hills of Tuscany located in the countryside by the town of Castel Giorgio (in the province of Terni), a small village 18 kilometers from Orvieto, in Umbria. The charming farmhouse has been restored according to the principles of bio-architecture and is ideal for those interested in a change to truly retreat from the world. Get closer to nature and spend your retreat coming into harmony with the natural rhythms of life at this eco-friendly wellness center. With 17 historic rooms, a pool of vitalizing water, three stunning yoga rooms, a restaurant with wonderful vegetarian cuisine, and lots of beautiful outdoor space to enjoy this is a venue not to be missed!
The interiors of the farmhouse are in typical Umbrian style, with terracotta floors and exposed beams and bricks. The center is furnished with an original mix of classic and ethnic, which gives charm and elegance to your retreat experience. In their luscious park, surrounded by oaks trees, the swimming pool of natural waters is an amazing privilege. The pool is in the form of a natural pond, surrounded by volcanic boulders, and consists of three basins connected to each other by a system of rocky cascades. It is a place to rejuvenate and find true wellness, with a large Jacuzzi in the center.
The central location will give you the chance to discover the traditional flavors of Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany, with their genuine local products (wine, mushrooms, truffles, cheese, extra virgin olive oil, etc.). You’ll be able to visit numerous holy sites belonging to the mysterious Etruscan civilization, the majestic city of Orvieto, the crystal clear waters of Lake Bolsena, ancient Medieval villages like Civita di Bagnoregio, Sovana, Sorano, Pitigliano, and countless other close by destinations. Numerous nearby spas also await, such as the Medici’s San Casciano Bagni, or the romantic Bagno Vignoni.
More Happiness from Our 2022 Greece Retreat
“Thank you the Baja Bliss (2019) retreat! It far exceeded our expectations in every area! I am not an early bird, but for the entire retreat, I was up at 7am looking forward to what I would learn in the next class. I am thankful to Christa for sharing her wisdom, leadership and encouragement to continue and enhance our own practice.”
“In October 2022, I had the great pleasure of attending the Greece Yoga Retreat for Christa’s retreat she led with Jen. It was my first solo international trip. This was exciting, but also a bit unnerving. I had no reason to worry though. Within moments of my arrival, Christa and Jen welcomed me with true warmth and friendship, as did the entire group.
One of the best parts though was the Yoga practice itself. Christa and Jen put much thought and time into the intentions and practices. They were moving, relevant, and soul-soothing. Exactly what I was looking for when I signed up for this adventure. They helped me find the peace and joy that I was looking for. I have been grateful to continue with those feelings since our trip. I have been even more grateful to be able to call these amazing women my friends. I look forward to traveling with them again in the future – hopefully often!”
What’s Included
- 6 nights accommodations
- 3 meals per day starting with dinner on the first night and ending with breakfast on the last day
- Group ground transportation to/from Rome Airport to the Retreat Center
- Daily yoga practices
- Personal retreat time (having time to nap, explore, walk, read, and just be)
Your Hosts
CHRISTA MASTRANGELO JOYCE is E-RYT500 hour certified through Kim Manfredi. She holds more than 1000 additional hours of training through her studies with Sianna Sherman, Bernie Clark, Maria Garre, Shiva Rea, Desiree Rumbaugh, Tiffany Cruikshank, and Andrew McCaulay. Christa founded Jala Yoga in 2009. She has offered yoga training since 2012 and has led multiple yoga retreats. Christa has a wide and diverse yoga background, including training in Ashtanga, Hatha, Ayruveda, Yin Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has a strong understanding of anatomy, especially regarding the nervous system, and incorporates her knowledge of breath work, meditation, and Yoga philosophy in her teachings. She brings her love of story and mythology to the practice. Christa strives to honor the ancient tradition of the practice within a modern context of the world today. She is especially interested in understanding the barriers to accessibility in the yoga practice, and she works to create classes that support adaptability, curiosity, and engagement.
JEN ROLSTON (support team leader and guest instructor) was drawn to yoga in 2005 in a culmination of a life-long curiosity of religions and philosophies. She attended the first yoga studio in Shepherdstown, falling in love with yoga philosophy, meditation, and the asanas as taught by Shanti Saagar founders Judy Jenner & JiJi Beckett. She has maintained a self-practice ever since, and began a consistent practice with Christa Mastrangelo Joyce in 2010. In 2018, she completed Jala Yoga’s 200HR Teacher Training with Christa and has been teaching her Morning Dharma classes ever since. She continues to practice with the teachings of Yogrishi Vishvketu, Jack Kornfield, Ram Dass, and Buddhist dharma. She truly believes that yoga, meditation, and connecting with nature is the simplest path to a joyful life — not always the easiest, but definitely the simplest. Jen also owns the mission-based marketing firm, Eden Design, helping small businesses and non-profits share their services and messages with the world.