La Bella Vita Retreat

Italian Yoga Retreat

Dates: 12th - 18th April 2026 (6 nights)
Location: Italy (Near Rome)

Meditation • Vinyasa Yoga • Yin Yoga • Yoga Nidra • Mantra • Chakra Journey • Cacao Ceremony

A Sanctuary Among the Olive Groves

Join me for a deeply nourishing retreat in the heart of the Italian countryside, just north of Rome, where rolling hills and ancient olive groves offer the perfect setting for rest, reconnection, and renewal.

Italy holds a special place in my heart, and this retreat is set in a truly sacred location—a space to soften, to be held, and to receive the healing and guidance of the Divine Mother.

Over six soul-enriching nights, we’ll move through a carefully curated blend of Vinyasa and Yin Yoga, Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Mantra and ceremonial Cacao. You’ll also be invited to set meaningful intentions and explore the energy centres of the body through a gentle chakra journey—culminating in a deeper connection to your intuition and the power of the third eye.

We’ll feast on nourishing Italian food prepared with love, and there will be space for joy, stillness and perhaps a glass of local wine under the stars.

This offering is especially close to my heart, as my sister Leah will be joining us to share her wisdom and presence throughout the week.

Come as you are. Leave feeling aligned, expanded, and supported—by nature, by practice, and by a circle of kindred spirits.

What’s Included

  • Accommodation: 6 nights in a traditional Italian Farmhouse

  • Morning mindful yoga practice, including Integrative Flow, followed by deep relaxing Yoga Nidra

  • Introduction to mantra & intention setting to deepen your practice

  • Delicious vegan food 3 times/day - brunch, afternoon snack, & dinner

  • Water, tea & coffee

  • Afternoon sessions of meditation, pranayama, mantra, restorative yoga and yoga theory

  • Sacred Cacao Ceremony

  • Cooking Class with local ingredients and traditional techniques

  • Investment from £1500 per person based on 2 sharing 1 room and £2600 for your own private room

Not Included

  • Flights to/from Italy

  • Airport transfers (£20)

  • Massages & spa treatments

  • Travel insurance (highly recommended)

  • Visit to the Vineyard with light lunch (appetizer, main course, coffee and sweets) with tasting of 3 wines 50Є per person

  • Clay Essentials workshop (£80)

  • Italian Cooking Class (£30)

    You can read the full Terms and Conditions here.

Everything You Need for a Perfect Stay

Outdoor Swimming Pool with sunbeds for soaking up the Italian sunshine

Poolside Bar for refreshing drinks between sessions

Indoor Yoga Shala

World-Renowned Outdoor Yoga Platform (150m²) with breathtaking views

Bamboo Garden for quiet contemplation

Treehouse & Hidden Relaxation Areas dotted throughout the grounds

The Accomodation

Our home for the week is a beautifully restored estate made up of two traditional farmhouses, offering 8 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. Each corner of the property has been thoughtfully designed to provide comfort, space, and a deep sense of tranquillity.

During the retreat, we'll enjoy exclusive use of the entire estate, creating a private sanctuary for rest, reflection, and connection. Nestled in the heart of the Sabina countryside, our two beautifully restored farmhouses offer warm, rustic elegance and plenty of space to unwind.

The Rooms

Capacity & Room Layout

  • Maximum capacity: 19 guests
    (including 3 triple rooms ideal for friends or solo travellers happy to share)

  • Regular capacity: 16 guests
    (2 people per room for added space and comfort)

Room Details

  • 8 bedrooms in total

  • 6 rooms feature private ensuite bathrooms

  • 2 rooms share a spacious shared bathroom

  • Each room is unique, with thoughtful touches, countryside views, and a peaceful atmosphere to support deep rest.

Whether you’re rising with the sun or curling up after a day of yoga, the rooms are designed to help you feel grounded, cosy, and cared for.

Retreat Sample Itinerary

A Typical Day on Retreat

Each day is gently structured to create spaciousness, reflection, and reconnection. While participation is encouraged, everything is optional—you’re free to honour your own rhythm.

07:00 – Tea, coffee & fresh fruit
08:00 – Morning yoga & yoga nidra
10:00 – Nourishing vegetarian breakfast

Free Time
Enjoy the day at your own pace:

  • Relax by the pool

  • Journal or read

  • Book a massage - (Optional extra)

  • Visit a local cantina & enjoy a spot of lunch (Optional extra)

  • Clay making activity (Optional extra)

  • Nature walks

  • Cacao Ceremony (Included)

  • Reflect quietly or simply do nothing at all

17:30 – Sunset yoga or restorative practice
19:30 – Soulful three-course vegetarian dinner

Arrival Day

  • Check-in from 14:00

  • 19:30 – Group dinner

  • 21:00 – Welcome circle & gentle grounding

Departure Day

  • No morning yoga

  • Breakfast from 08:30

  • Check-out by 11:30

The Food

At our Italian retreat, we believe food is more than fuel – it's a ritual of pleasure, connection, and wellbeing. Our daily menu is crafted with seasonal, nourishing ingredients, offering a balance of comfort and lightness to complement your yoga practice.

Guests are welcome to help themselves to tea, herbal infusions, and coffee throughout the day, with fresh drinking water always available.

We will have our very own Italian chef to cook for us. All meals will be vegetarian with lots of vegan options too.

Please note: Light desserts may be served after dinner, depending on the richness of the meal. We aim to keep things delicious yet balanced.

Meal Schedule

Sunday – Arrival Day

16.15 - refreshment + welcome snack

19.00 - dinner

Monday - Thursday

9:30 - breakfast

13:00 - lunch

19.00 - dinner

Friday

9:30 - breakfast

13.00 - lunch

19:30 - dinner at a local restaurant. (Meal cost to be paid directly)

Saturday

8:30 - breakfast

10:00 - check-out

Sample Menus

These are examples to offer a flavour of what to expect – menus will vary based on seasonality and local produce.

☼ Breakfast (self-serve)

  • Fresh fruits, porridge, a variety of breads, and sweet/savoury spreads

☼ Lunch & Dinner:

  • Warm dishes, changing salads, and side dishes.

The Yoga

The yoga will be a blend of mindfulness, breathwork, and gentle flow to create a deeply nourishing practice suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned yogis.

The emphasis is on presence over perfection, inviting each student to listen to their body, honour their limits, and explore movement with curiosity and compassion. The sessions will weave together dynamic sequences, restorative poses, and guided meditation to support both physical well-being and inner calm.

Through the retreat, we’ll offer a variety of sessions including flow, Yin, breathwork, and Yoga Nidra — all designed to awaken your body’s natural energy and deepen your connection to self.

Whether you seek strength, flexibility, relaxation, or emotional balance, Carla’s yoga invites you to journey inward and cultivate a lasting sense of peace and resilience.

The Sacred Cacao
Ceremony

Leah will be facilitating a Sacred Cacao Ceremony, where she will guide you on a journey to connect with Mother Cacao.

Sacred Cacao Ceremony is a heart-opening, meditative experience that uses ceremonial-grade cacao to facilitate deep connection, reflection, and healing. Rooted in ancient Mayan and Aztec traditions, cacao has long been considered a sacred plant medicine, revered for its ability to enhance emotional well-being, creativity, and spiritual awareness.

Meet Your Hosts

Sisters united by a deep love for yoga, Carla and Leah have been devoted to their practice since their early twenties. Though their individual paths have evolved over the years, their spiritual journey has only deepened, strengthening their connection to both yoga and each other.

Carla Yoga
  • Carla is a senior Yoga teacher and Yoga Nidra Facilitator with over 20 years’ experience. After awakening Kundalini Shakti (a sleeping dormant potential force situated at the root of the spinal column) three years ago, Carla’s own personal transformation helped her to realise her life’s purpose to help others realise their divine potential.

Leah Martini Yoga
  • Leah is a Social Worker specialising in adult mental health, an EMDR Therapist, Yoga Teacher, Cacao Ceremonialist, Shamanic Practitioner, Trainer, and ESOL Teacher.

    With over two decades of yoga practice, Leah has studied under renowned teachers and spent five years in India, including three years living in the Isha and Sivananda ashrams. She holds a 200-hour yoga certification from Sandstone Yoga (Yoga Alliance) and has completed Yin Yoga training with Norman Blair.

    Leah has been deeply connected to cacao since 2015 and became an apprentice in 2018. In 2023, she was initiated into cacao ceremonies by members of the Tz'utujil Tribe in Guatemala, where she studied indigenous cosmology and traditional fire techniques. Alongside her cacao work, she has trained in various Shamanic and Animist traditions, including the Medicine Wheel, plant medicine, and Core Shamanic practices.

    As an EMDR therapist, Leah qualified in 2022 and currently practices within the NHS, offering trauma-informed support for grief, anxiety, and depression. She has been a Social Worker since 2013, working with individuals experiencing complex mental health conditions such as Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis, Schizophrenia, and Personality Disorders.

    Her journey has taken her across the world, having lived and taught English in Ghana, Pakistan, Australia, and Thailand, enriching her understanding of diverse cultures and healing traditions.

You Will Be In Good Company

Want to know more?

Fancy joining us on this epic adventure?

Either fill out the form below or send Carla a WhatsApp message on 07797834482

 FAQs

  • This retreat is open to everyone irrespective of gender or experience. The only stipulation is that you are over 18. (We will be running retreats in the future for teenagers so keep a look out)

  • This question always makes us smile as yoga is a spiritual practice that has nothing to so with how flexible you are. As long as you have an open mind and want to be here then we are happy to welcome you.

  • You can travel to the retreat alone however the beauty of the retreat is that you don’t have to! If you are travelling from Jersey then Carla will guide you. If you are travelling from the UK you can meet up with Leah.

  • Yes you have to book your own flights however Carla has already researched flights and she will guide you and share the information once you have asked for more details. We recommend flying to Fiumicino with BA.

  • You are welcome to dip in and out of the sessions as much as you like. This is your special time. We only want to enhance your experience.

  • You can bring as many people as you like. Let us know in advance as we could rearrange room set ups so that you can share as that could bring the price down for you.

  • I will share all the pricing in a the follow up email however I give guidance on starting costs on the website.

  • Yes of course you can come if you are single. We will be your family and your friend for the week and forever after! It will be an amazing opportunity for you to practice self-love and discover the bliss deep within you. We offer single rooms or there is the opportunity to opt for a shared room. We will ensure you are matched appropriately.

  • Yes of course you can bring your other half. It will be an amazing experience for you both to deepen your relationship.

  • 6 of the rooms have ensuite bathroom and 3 rooms will share a bathroom. The cost for the rooms with shared bathrooms will be less than the rooms with ensuite bathrooms. There are also luxury showers and bathrooms outside near the pool.

  • Payment Options
    We offer two flexible ways to secure your place:

    Option 1:

    • 30% deposit to confirm your space

    • 20% due by 1st December 2025

    • Remaining 50% due by 1st February 2026

    Option 2 (Monthly Plan):

    • 30% deposit to confirm your space

    • Remaining balance split equally across monthly payments from the date of confirmation through to 1st February 2026.

    For example, if you confirm your space in July 2025, the remaining balance would be divided into 7 equal monthly payments.

  • Can I cancel my booking?
    Yes, but cancellation fees apply:

    If you cancel less than 120 days before the retreCancellation Policy

    • Cancellations made on or before 1st November 2025 will receive a full refund of the booking fee.

    • Cancellations made on or before 14th December 2025 will receive a 50% refund of the deposit paid.

    • Cancellations made after 14th December 2025 are non-refundable.

    However, if we are able to find someone to take your place, we will happily transfer your booking and issue a full refund, minus a £50 administration fee, regardless of the cancellation date.at, we will retain your deposit.

    If you cancel less than 30 days before the retreat, no refund will be issued.

  • There will be no refunds nor discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays or illness. For additional protection due to any unforseen circumstances, it is highly recommend that all participants purchase travel insurance at the time of booking the retreat.

  • Your booking is confirmed once we receive a deposit of £350. Until then, your place is not guaranteed. By booking, you agree to our terms and conditions.

  • Full payment must be made at least 45 days before the retreat start date. Payments are accepted via bank transfer, as detailed in your confirmation email.

  • Please inform us of any health conditions, allergies, or dietary requirements before booking. It is your responsibility to ensure you are fit to participate. If necessary, consult a doctor before attending.

  • You are responsible for listening to your body and stopping any activity if you feel discomfort. We are not liable for any injuries sustained during yoga sessions, swims, or other retreat activities.

  • Yes, if fewer than 75% of spaces are booked 30 days before the retreat, we may cancel. In this case, you will receive a full refund.

  • We reserve the right to make minor changes (e.g., a different yoga teacher or class times). If a significant change occurs, we will inform you as soon as possible.

  • Yes, you’re very welcome to take photos during the retreat to capture special moments. At the beginning of our time together, we’ll check in with the group to confirm who is comfortable appearing in photos that may be shared on social media or used for future marketing. We kindly ask that everyone honours each other's privacy and presence throughout the experience.

  • All the food will be prepared by our in-house italian chef and her team. We have requested vegetarian and vegan meals only. Meat will not be offered.

  • Wine will be available to enjoy with dinner at a cost of €10 per bottle. While we welcome the pleasure of a glass or two, we kindly ask that guests refrain from excessive drinking. This retreat is designed to cleanse, heal, and reconnect—with yourself and the world around you. A little wine can certainly be part of that, but we encourage mindful enjoyment in harmony with the intention of the experience.

    Please note that bringing your own alcohol is not permitted on the property.

  • Yes there is ample private parking for your car.

  • In April the days could be as warm as 19 degrees and low as 9 degrees.