10-Day Plant-Based Yoga & Wellness Escape in Italy's Vineyard Country

This is not a typical retreat where you're told what to do every hour. It's an open invitation to be part of a yoga community for ten days — specifically, the Lakshmi Rising community, which is also running its 200-hour teacher training on the same property. As a retreat guest, you can dip into any of the training sessions: posture clinics, anatomy labs, philosophy discussions, practice teaching. Or you can skip them entirely and read a book in the garden. The only thing you must attend is the opening ceremony.

What makes this different from a standard yoga holiday is the caliber of the teaching. Dr. Liz Lindh, who founded Lakshmi Rising, has over 30 years of practice and has trained more than 1,200 yoga teachers across nearly 50 countries. She's a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and her training blends classical vinyasa yoga with insights from modern science. When she's not leading the main sessions, other master trainers run electives and workshops.

The setting is the Villa dei Cipressi, a 28-hectare heritage estate on the highest hilltop in Sona, about 20 minutes from Verona and a short drive from Lake Garda. The property has working vineyards, a winery with a tasting room, gardens, century-old cypress trees, and an outdoor pool. The vibe is historic and elegant rather than resort-like.

Meals are a highlight, prepared by the Gaia Gourmet team and served three times a day. The menu is plant-based and mostly gluten-free, inspired by Ayurveda but drawing on cuisines from around the world. Expect dishes like Moroccan quinoa couscous with coconut raita and blackened tofu, or leek and white bean cassoulet with vegan buttermilk biscuits. There's always fresh fruit, tea, and coffee available throughout the day.

Saturdays are excursion days. Recent options include wine tasting on the estate, a beach day at Lake Garda, the opera in Verona, cycling through the countryside, or booking a massage at a local spa. These are optional, and you can also just take the day for yourself if you're tired.

What's included

- 9 nights accommodation in a historic villa, manor, or farmhouse - 3 daily delicious and nutritious plant-based meals - Unlimited fruit, snacks, water, tea, and coffee - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Daily pranayama sessions - Expert-led lectures and workshops (Ayurveda, chakras, philosophy) - Opening ceremony with intention-setting - Group excursions on Saturdays - Use of on-site outdoor swimming pool - Yoga props (blocks, straps, bolsters) - Light daily housekeeping and weekly laundry - Wi-Fi in designated areas - Pre-arrival orientation materials and packing list - Personalized mentorship from master trainers - On-site support from staff and facilitators

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional activities not in the itinerary - Personal expenses - Additional spa treatments