This is a brand-new wellness retreat experience in the very heart of the Val d’Orcia area of beautiful Tuscany, Italy. This will be a 10-day adventure of healthful activities, nourishment for body and mind, and fun instruction, along with some visits to the surrounding sights that are designed to regenerate your sense of well-being and joie de vivre.

From the visual panorama of rolling valley vineyards and clay hills of the Crete Senesi to the ancient thermal mineral baths of San Filippo, you will be in the ideal setting to regenerate, restore and rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit.

This workshop, led by Jenny McClendon, will get you moving in a gentle, but effective manner, based on your level of ability. You will share days with like-minded women who want to be physically fit and healthy, while eating a balanced and locally-sourced diet in our area well-known for its healthy, fresh food.

This retreat is designed to inspire you and revitalize you. What a gift to give yourself, or someone you love!

During your 10-day retreat in our UNESCO World Heritage Site villa, if you are an early riser, you’ll be able to participate in dynamic morning stretches with Jenny or possibly a meander up the lane flanked by some of the farm’s olive trees. After a buffet breakfast, Jenny will lead the group in about a hour of of classes which rotate over 4 days. These will include low-impact aerobics, chair and mat exercises and even Boxing Tabata (don’t worry, we are not hitting each other!). After your workout and/or shower, before lunch, Jenny will be offering an optional teaching session with exercises for specific issues. These may include such topics as, Low Back Pain, Osteoporosis, Posture, Core Strength, Gait and Balance, Pelvic Floor Strengthening, and Common Exercise Do’s and Don’t’s.

After a nutritious lunch prepared with fresh, local produce, we will explore the beautiful sights, surroundings and villages. We may take in a wine tasting or tour a local abbey or have a personal tour of the owner’s private cantina in our walled village along with a brief history (in English!).

There are local hot springs here and optional spa, swimming at the thermal indoor/outdoor terme, and massage offerings should you like to indulge yourself even more. There are opportunities to taste and savor the local wines, cheeses and sausages prepared in our local cheese factory and macelleria (butcher).

When we return, the fun continues…Jenny will be offering line dancing lessons, for any who love to dance. She has a series of 6 or so different dances to teach you and by the end of the retreat, you will be a line-dancing champ!

Later, we will be treated to a healthful and bountiful dinner, prepared by our dedicated chef, a woman who learned to cook from her own mother and grandmother. She is such a gentle treasure, it’s almost like having your own Italian Grandmother watching over you!

After dinner, we will relax with a nightly stretch session, or meditation or gentle yoga. The purpose, in addition to relaxation, is to promote mindfulness and getting a good night’s sleep.