Our Italian yoga retreat last spring didn't disappoint so we are going back again and I cannot wait. (I am still dreaming about the best ravioli of my life.) We'll be headed to Bolzano, which is located in northern Italy, set in a valley among hilly vineyards. The area is beautiful, and is the perfect place to either relax and restore, or go out and explore. With plenty of free afternoons, you'll be able to lounge on the patio by the pool or go out with your new yoga friends for an Italian coffee or gelato!
Bolzano is a city in the South Tyrol province of northern Italy set in a valley with windy roads, ancient castles, endless vineyards and vast orchards. There is much to see and do in the area from hiking the dolomites, taking the gondola up to Renon for lunch, swimming at Lake Garda, exploring castles, touring some of the most gorgeous vineyards or just taking in the sights and sounds of the city in a classic pizza or gelato shop in the town’s center, Walther Platz. We chose Bolzano because we have connections in the area. Connections in the area means we're able to arrange wine tastings, tours and so much more! This is going to be the trip of a lifetime and we can't wait to welcome you to Italy!
The Property:
We've booked Hotel Eberle, a luxe boutique hotel that overlooks the city and surrounding mountains. This upscale hotel is surrounded by vineyards where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Dolomite Mountains. It's a family-run hotel that offers a home-like atmosphere, spacious and modern accommodations, and gourmet cuisine. Honestly, I dream about the food here. And the coffee! So good. The hotel is only a short walk from downtown Bolzano. In a city that combines Alpine, Mediterranean and urban lifestyles, there's always something to do or explore. Past retreat participants have done wine tastings, cooking classes, hiking, and shopping.
View from the hotel
The hotel also offers an incredible Finnish sauna or the steam room, with almost 100% humidity and temperatures of up to 55°C. In the infrared sauna your body can soak up energy directly from the active heat radiation at an average temperature of 50°C, while the ice shower offers a tinglingly fresh way to cool down.
Accommodations: All rooms have modern furnishings and are equipped with a bath or shower, hair dryer, air conditioning, safe, mini-bar, satellite TV, telephone, internet access, WiFi and a desk. You can choose from single occupancy or double.
From your balcony you have a unique view of the unending expanse of the surrounding mountain landscape. The hotel’s quiet location gives guests the freedom to relax and soak up the peace of nature.
Room Amenities: Air Conditioning, Mini-Bar, TV (150 channels), Hairdryer, Room Service, Internet/WiFi, iPhone/iPad Docking station, Safe in each room
The Details
- Where: Bolzano, Italy. We'll stay at a gorgeous, family-run, boutique hotel that overlooks the quaint little town of Bolzano, Italy.
- When: April 20, 2018 - April 26, 2017
- Why: Because you deserve it.
- What's included: 10 carefully designed yoga classes and workshops, 6 night accommodation in your room of choice, airport transfer from Milan Malpensa departing at noon on April 20, 2018, airport transfer from Bolzano to Milan Malpensa departing at 8am on April 26, 2018, shuttle service to/from the train station on arrivals/departure days, daily homemade breakfast buffet, daily four course dinner (these dinners will blow your mind!), wifi, swag bag.
- What's not included: airfare, lunches, travel insurance, one to one private session with Candace (optional), optional massage, and activities like wine tastings, cooking class, tours, etc (range from 15 euros and up).
The Yoga Program
Please note that all levels and all people and all bodies are welcome. Classes will be tailored to fit your needs.
April 20, 2018
5:30pm - 6:30pm - Gentle Post-Travel Stretch and welcome circle
April 21, 2018
7:30am - 8:45am - Core focus vinyasa flow
5:30pm - 7:00pm - Hip Opening Hatha class
April 22, 2018
7:30am -9:30am - Arm balance workshop
April 23, 2018
7:30am - 8:45am - Strength building workshop
5:30pm - 7:00pm - Blindfold yoga flow
April 24, 2018
7:30am - 8:45am - Heart opening feel good yoga class
5:30pm - 7:00pm - Restorative yin
April 25, 2018
7:30am - 8:45am - Power vinyasa class
5:30pm - 7:00pm - Gratitude yoga class
Pricing and Accommodations
Please note that payment plans are available with a $100 deposit up front, followed by monthly payments until the balance is paid in full on February 20, 2018. Please email jan (at) yogabycandace dot com to get started.
Deluxe King
Deluxe King Room Description: The deluxe rooms are on the southern side of the property and offer gorgeous mountain views.
- Single Occupancy: $2,578USD
- Double Occupancy: $2,230USD per person
Superior Double Room
Superior Double Room Description: The Superior rooms are on the southern side of the property and offers gorgeous mountain views.
- Single Occupancy: $2,338USD
- Double Occupancy: $2,158USD per person
Garden Double Room
Garden Room Description: The Garden rooms are on the northern side of the property.
- Single Occupancy: $2,278USD
- Double Occupancy: $2,098USD per person
Logistics
Once you've booked your trip with us, you have a few options for flights. We will provide a shuttle from Milan Malpensa (about 3.5 hours away from our venue). It will leave at 12 noon on April 20, 2018. If you arrive earlier, there is a little waiting area just outside the arrivals in Milan Malpensa with a food court and little shops.
Another option for arriving is to come into Munich. From Munich you can easily take a train to Bolzano, and we can pick you up at the train station. Innsbruck airport or Verona airport are also good choices if you connect from London, Frankfurt or Vienna. Again, you can take the train and we can send a shuttle to pick you up at the Bolzano train station. For train information about connections to Germany, please visit the British railway website. After your arrival in Germany, the DB/ÖBB EuroCity trains will carry you conveniently and comfortably from Munich to Bolzano. Tickets may be booked online or bought at train ticket offices throughout Italy.
A word about YBC Retreats
Our retreats are laid back, good times with awesome people. There's no one to impress, nothing to prove, and everything to share. There's no expectation that you have to be at a certain place in your practice. We encourage you to honor how you feel on any given day. Bring a sense of humor and an open heart, and prepare yourself for the best time! We get a lot of questions about traveling alone. Rest assured, most people who attend our retreats come alone. By the end of day one, you will have met and connected with everyone and we're positive you'll all become fast friends with whom you can explore the city. Book your spot now!
Terms and Conditions
All sales are final. No reimbursement will be granted simply because we need to pay the hotel. We accept no liability for loss, damage, injury or illness, which may occur during the retreat or traveling to or from the retreat. All students are strongly recommended to have their own travel insurance to cover any loss or injury, including repatriation if necessary. It is advisable to take out travel insurance in the event that you have to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. We reserve the right to make any changes to our program, accommodation, courses or teachers. Alternative arrangements are offered to the best of our ability but if not taken up, we do not accept responsibility for any costs incurred, including airfare. Students who have chosen a single room will not quality for any discount regardless of whether another student happens to be alone in a 'shared' room. We take every step to ensure that students are not stretched beyond the limit of their capabilities. We ask that you speak up if you have any particular pre-existing injury or illness that is relevant. We advise that you always listen to your body, and if you are feeling any pain or illness during the class that you stop and rest. Due to the acrobatic nature of this yoga retreat, the yoga program is not safe for pregnant women.
Testimonials:
20 Likes, 10 Comments - Kristen Battistelli (@kristenbattistelli) on Instagram: "And just like that, the #spontaneous yoga retreat trip to Italy is over. One of the best weeks..."
From KB of Boston:
This was my first solo yoga retreat and while I'm not new to fitness (I switched to a Paleo-ish diet about 4 years ago and focus on Lagree and dance/barre practice), I am new to yoga and Candace. I have to say that this was one of my BEST trips ever! The whole experience was a joy right from the beginning with help from Candace's team answering any question I had, to being welcomed with a sweet hand-written note from Candace upon check-in at the hotel, to the warm, positive, and welcoming environment Candace created from the very beginning. She won me over in several ways: 1) When I first stepped into the studio room for our first class, she ran over to greet me with a huge, welcoming hug (I'm a sucker for hugs.), 2) By setting the ground rules at that first yoga class by advising that we could attend as many - or as few - of the classes the we wanted because this was OUR time; and that could even just lie down in Savasana for each class if that's what we needed at that moment (ahh - calming relief from any pressure), and, 3) By clearly preparing and thinking through in advance our sessions - there was a theme with appropriately coordinating music, quotes, stories, and even life advice! I thoroughly enjoyed each and every thoughtful detail she planned out. What a treat!
You could tell immediately that Candace has a teaching background and experience - she was (and is) an absolute professional. I had so much FUN and was surprised and pleased with what I was able to do for many of the more advanced moves. Further, the fellow retreat members were fantastic! So fun, positive, and inclusive - no arrogance or snootiness (which I have sadly personally experienced from some other yoga studios); lots of opportunities to go on excursions with others but zero judgement from anyone if you wanted to hang back at the hotel and sleep, read, or just re-energize on your own. You just sort of came and went based on whatever your desires were that day - it was so freeing, blissful, and relaxing. Further, Candace is super friendly, open, and honest - just refreshingly nice and authentic. She was generous with her time to share stories and answer all of the questions the group zinged at her at every breakfast and dinner meal. Between Candace and the group, my faith in humanity was restored and I'm motivated to add more yoga practice to my fitness mix!
It didn't hurt that we were in the middle of gorgeous Italy, in a luxury hotel, with delicious four-course meals each night and homemade pasta, gelato, and delicious cappuccinos at our disposal during the day wherever we went during our free time excursions. Honestly, it felt like we were royalty. I felt very safe during my travels to and from Italy as well as in Italy itself - if I had one complaint, it is very minor in that the Wi-Fi was a bit slow but the reality there is that you're in the middle of some pretty steep mountains and really, in the end, isn't that just another sign that Italy is the perfect place to slow down, get off the technology, and just be present and enjoy your surroundings? It was such a terrific week and I have zero regrets - if you're thinking about doing a YBC retreat, go for it!
From Lizz, from Maryland:
When I signed up for my place in the Bolzano yoga retreat, I was extremely excited. Although, a part of me was slightly anxious about traveling across the world and spending a week with complete strangers. I thought maybe I should wait and do it next year, but if I kept thinking like that I was going to continue to postpone the trip, without realizing it, and most likely never go. I took action and started making arrangements. It was easier than I thought. Strangers at the time, the group of us started sending emails to one another to discuss flights and trains, which answered my questions on transportation. I used their guidance to plan and arrive to Bolzano, Italy, the first day of the retreat.
On the first day of the retreat my nerves surfaced about meeting the group in person. Looking back, I wish my future self could have told me not to worry. Soon these strangers would become my great friends. After our first dinner I was already at ease with our group. Everyone ranged in age and zip codes, but we all shared our love towards yoga and Candace (lol). We all took our yoga classes together, ate breakfast (I still miss the cappuccinos) and ate our five course dinners together. Oh, wow, was the food delizioso!! During the day we had freedom to explore the city, and we all would either go together or in smaller groups, depending on what everyone wanted to do. Candace was so sweet to guide us where to go and even arrange our trips for us. We went hiking around the lake, explored downtown Bolzano, went up to the top of the mountain and even went to the beautiful town of Sopra Bolzano. Bolzano was a beautiful and relaxing town. The hotel was family run and the entire staff made us feel at home.
Spending time together was easy and I felt comfortable. Everyone was kind, inclusive and supportive. During our inversion workshops, I felt inspired by Candace. I have never done a handstand or forearm stand before and she walked me through it and I was able to successfully do it, even if it was only a few seconds. Candace’s yoga classes were of course, amazing. Her soothing voice made her classes calming and flow easily. She gave great and unique descriptive cues and sequences. Candace was very approachable, attentive, kind hearted, sweet and down to earth. She ate meals and took pictures with us and signed our Namasley books. I kept having to pinch myself that I was really taking a class with her in person. I was on cloud nine the entire time. I got to deepen my practice and learn new tips about many postures, especially inversions.
At the end of the trip I did not want to leave. There were tears shed, but like Dr. Suess says, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” This retreat was such an incredible decision. I am so thankful that I got to practice yoga with my yoga idol Candace, explore a beautiful and peaceful mountain city and make great memories and lifelong friends :)
Look forward to seeing you there! Book your spot now!