Slow living: an invitation to slow down for a yoga and somatics retreat in an unique in Umbria
Location
Umbria is a rural region with endless wooded hills, vast fields planted with olive trees or vines, and towns that are landmarks in Italian history: Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto… Less touristy and more humble than Tuscany, Umbria is just as charming.
In mid-September, the temperature is ideal, between 25 and 30°, for practicing yoga outdoors, exploring the surrounding area on foot, enjoying the evenings in the garden and stargazing.
Tara Nature retreat is a unique yoga retreat center in southern Umbria, located 1h45 north of Rome and 20 minutes from the pretty historical town of Todi.
Set in 7 hectares of oak-planted grounds, with incredible views and a river nearby, the property has been lovingly landscaped by Tim and Caroline, with a 110m2 wooden deck, a large swimming pool and secluded spots in the shade of trees… An old renovated farmhouse is home to the indoor shala, living areas, bedrooms and kitchen.
Concept
A retreat is a time out of time, in a place where everything is dedicated to the well-being of the guests, with practices to move, relax and connect with oneself, and healthy food made with love. It’s also an opportunity to discover a region, meet new people, exchange ideas and let the alchemy work within yourself and with other participants.
Slow living is a concept born in Italy that means celebrating quality rather than quantity, living with intention, with awareness, with more presence, placing your values at the heart of your lifestyle, devoting time to what’s most important to you, building rich relationships, living with the rhythm of the seasons…
Like Vinyasa yoga, which combines movement and breath in a continuous flow, this immersion allows you to connect with the immutable cycles of the seasons, the moon and your body. Feeling as one with everything around you: the essence of yoga.
Because it’s your vacation, you don’t have to worry about anything, and nothing is imposed on you.
Who is this retreat for?
If you need to disconnect from everyday life, reconnect with yourself and with nature, spend a week free from busy tasks, discover new practices, develop new habits, make new friends – this retreat is for you.
Most people travel solo, so don’t hesitate to join us if you are considering coming alone. You’ll probably make new like-minded friends…
No experience of yoga is needed to take part in the retreat. Yoga is accessible for everyone. Come as you are.
Program: yoga, somatics, meditation, creativity
We start each day with meditation on the deck, by the river or in the great outdoors, to set up the habit of meditation.
We continue with a Vinyasa yoga session: a rather slow, creative flow.
Late afternoon there is a session of yin/restorative yoga or somatics.
After dinner, every other day: a yoga nidra session alternated with a sound bath.
Free time
Slow living also means to slow down, to take one’s time, to contemplate. So this retreat makes room for lots of free time where you can choose to farniente (do nothing) in one of the little corners of the property, cool off in the pool or river, or explore Tara Nature’s surroundings on foot.
One day we’ll discover the small town of Todi, with its palaces, squares, narrow cobbled streets and churches…. If participants feel like it, we can also organize an outing to Assisi, a major spiritual center.
Creativity
Union of body/heart/mind enabled by the practice of yoga is an opportunity to unleash one’s creativity and express oneself through artistic activity and journaling.
Slow and nourishing food
Because meals are an integral part of the experience, a personal chef will lovingly cook 3 meals a day on site.
On the menu: vegetarian cuisine with eggs and cheese, local, seasonal and gourmet. If you’re not familiar with vegetarian cuisine, prepare yourself for a wonderful discovery!
Intolerances, allergies and special diets will be catered for so that everyone can enjoy the full culinary experience.
If you like to drink wine at dinner, there’s no problem. It’s just no included in the price of the retreat.
Facilitators
Nadine is co-founder of the Nueva Luna yoga studio. She has been practicing yoga since 2006 and teaching it since 2019. She has been taking part in retreats for a long time, and it was natural for her to start offering retreats to our community. She loves holding spaces where everyone can be completely themselves, shed layers of protection, and connect a little more to themselves and to others.
Her style of Vinyasa yoga is embodied, fluid, creative, slow, unathletic and more focused on presence and experience than on the poses.
She offers complementary relaxing practices to Vinyasa: yin yoga & restorative, as well as yoga nidra (sleep yoga) and crystal singing bowls to travel between sleep and wakefulness and reach altered states of consciousness.
Co-facilitators
Nadine invites 2 wonderful women who will be offering practices in line with the retreat theme.
Sophie Laurent is a yoga teacher and practitioner of somatic expressive arts therapy. Originally from France, she lives in the green heart of Italy. Her work seeks to reconnect us to our deepest nature and its reciprocity, to the mystery and paradox of human life.
Sophie will guide two sessions of somatics, a less formal way of moving than yoga, where we may also experience flow, let emotions flow and release tension through the body (soma).
Maise Macneice is an interdisciplinary artist and scientific illustrator whose work explores the intersection of art and ecology. Trained at the Beaux-Arts, she has been collaborating with scientists in the Peruvian Amazon and other biodiversity-rich regions for over ten years. She is dedicated to making ecological knowledge accessible through visual storytelling. She is the founder of Studio Verde, an artist residency focused on art and conservation.
Maise will be offering an artistic workshop inspired by nature, allowing each participant to express their creativity. In keeping with Maise’s philosophy of slow living, raw materials will be found in the surrounding natural environment.
Rooms
Because rest is so important on vacation, Tara Nature offers spacious rooms to be occupied individually or shared by 2 or 3 people. Shared rooms have single beds (no bunk beds). For everyone’s comfort, there are 5 bathrooms for 7 bedrooms.
The house is an old farmhouse with thick stone walls that keep cool in summer, making air conditioning unnecessary.
Rooms are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Depending on whether you are registering alone or with others, we will show you the rooms available.
Testimonials from previous retreat participants
I have incredible memories of my first yoga retreat. The group’s benevolent energy and Nadine’s gentle, inspiring guidance really helped me refocus. Even with little experience of yoga, I felt at home, guided in this enriching practice for body and mind. A rejuvenating experience that I recommend 100%. –Jeanne A.
I took part in the yoga retreat with Nadine and Sofia, and in the reflection of their generosity, heart and talents, it was absolutely exceptional. It was a very special experience for me, super enriching, a perfect vacation, with yoga classes of great depth. –Loïse D.
How fortunate I was to have the privilege of participating in Sofia and Nadine’s yoga retreat this fall! Smooth and flexible organization, great kindness and infectious enthusiasm were the keys to a week of great quality. Thank you so much! –-Jeanne B.
Weekly schedule
- Sunday: arrival, settling into the farmhouse, opening circle, dinner
- Monday to Friday: typical day (see below)
- Saturday: yoga, free time, closing circle
- Sunday: breakfast, departure
Typical day
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Breakfast
- Free time
- Lunch
- Free time / activity / visit
- Yoga / somatic practice
- Dinner
- Free time / Yoga nidra / sound bath / rituals
Price
- Double or triple bedroom with shared bathroom : SFr 1’220.- / € 1’300 approx.
- Single bedroom with shared bathroom : SFr 1’550.- / € 1’650 approx.
- Single bedroom with private bathroom : : SFr 1’660.- / € 1’760 approx.
What is included
- 7 nights
- 3 meals per day from
- 1 repas le dimanche
- 6 meditation sessions
- 12 yoga sessions
- 2 somatics session
- 1 creative session
- Visit of Todi
- Goodie bag
What is not included
- Transport to Rome
- Transfer from Rome to Todi and Tara Nature
- Expenses outside of the retreat center
- Wine
- Other visits
Travel
- Flight to Roma Fiumicino
Train to Roma Termini
- Transfer organized by bus, train or van depending arrival times in Rome
Booking and payment
- Click on the button below and contact Nadine
- A deposit of SFr 300.- is required by bank transfer on registration (€ 320 approx.)
- Balance payment is required by bank transfer by July 31, 2025
Cancellation
- Deposit is non-refundable in the event of cancellation by the customer
- Cancellation by the customer on or after August 1, 2025: no refund of the balance unless the place is sold to another person
- Cancellation by the customer in case of force majeure: the balance is refunded at 100%