Women's Wellness Retreat: Chinese Medicine & Breathwork in the Italian Dolomites

The retreat is built around Marina Prohens Costa's integrative approach to health. She holds formal qualifications in Traditional Chinese Medicine (from the European Foundation's partnership with Peking and Yunnan universities), a postgraduate specialization in pain management, and has completed clinical practice in China under specialists in traumatology, internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and acupuncture. She's also a certified breathwork instructor and trained in Ayurveda under Dr. Sibi George in India. Her signature treatments combine techniques from both traditions — you might have acupuncture on the front and back of your body followed by cupping and moxibustion, or an Abhyanga Ayurvedic massage integrated with deep tissue work and reflexology.

Each day starts with pranayama and breathwork. After breakfast, you'll have your scheduled treatments or workshops. The afternoon might be a guided hike — the hotel sits at the base of the Plose, so you're walking into the Dolomites proper, not just around a garden — or free time to use the spa. One day includes a trip to the Bressanone vineyards with Alexander, a local alpine guide, for a wine tour and tasting.

The hotel, Santre, is adults-only with a focus on quiet. There's a natural swimming lake, heated indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and Turkish bath, and a private Mediterranean-style garden. Rooms are the San Light Suites: spacious, with a walk-in closet, panoramic balcony, lounge bed by the window, coffee and tea facilities, and a yoga mat provided.

What makes this retreat different from a generic spa week is the depth of the TCM work. Marina does a full Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis — tongue, pulse, health history — and builds your treatment plan from there. If you're dealing with hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, stress, or chronic pain, the sessions are designed to address those specifically, not just provide general relaxation. Past guests have noted improvements in skin issues, energy levels, and hormonal regulation after just a couple of sessions.

The retreat is also genuinely small. This isn't a wellness resort where you happen to be one of many guests; the program is designed for a limited group, so you'll get significant one-on-one time with Marina and form actual connections with the other women attending.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation in a San Light Suite (5-star luxury hotel) - Full gourmet breakfast daily (07:30-11:00) - 5-course evening menu daily - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Daily pranayama classes - Daily breathwork sessions with Marina - Traditional Chinese Medicine consultation - One 110-minute bespoke treatment/program OR two 60-minute acupuncture/TCM sessions - Two curated workshops with Marina - 3 exclusive guided group hikes with Alexander (alpine guide) - Bressanone vineyards wine tour and tasting - Unlimited use of spa relaxation oasis (heated indoor/outdoor pools, sauna, Turkish bath, natural lake, gym) - Bespoke wellbeing gifts - Pre and post retreat support - Transfers from Bressanone train station (arrival and departure) - Transportation during the retreat - Free parking - Luggage storage - WiFi

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Afternoon snacks from the lunch menu (12:30-17:00, extra charge) - Additional treatments beyond the included package - Additional activities not in the itinerary - Alcoholic drinks - Airport pickup (available for €160 per person return from Bolzano)