Italian Health Retreat: Daily Myoreflex Bodywork and Movement in the Umbrian Hills

The week runs on a fixed daily rhythm. Mornings begin with a 60-minute movement class described as gentle, aimed at promoting vitality and mindfulness. After that comes the individual Myoreflex session, 30-45 minutes of hands-on work with a practitioner. A third daily slot, also 30-45 minutes, covers supplementary body-mind work. Alongside these, the programme includes movement analysis, lectures, and methods such as Somatic Experiencing® and Integrative Deep Tissue Release.

What separates this from a standard yoga or fitness week is the Myoreflex work itself. It is one-to-one and daily, not a group class, and the stated aim is to uncover tense muscle structures and the corresponding body impulses and make them conscious through touch. The concept is described as multidimensional and interdisciplinary, drawing on neurophysiological and biochemical function as well as neuropsychological processes. Kerstin Kussmaul (PhD) leads the retreat with her team, and Embodied Myoreflex Practice is the cornerstone of the whole programme.

Food is treated as part of the treatment rather than an add-on. Meals are prepared on site by a cook using locally sourced ingredients, and the diet is low-inflammatory, based on the glycoplan, which is low in glucose and fructose. The stated rationale is that this way of eating positively influences muscle metabolism.

The estate itself, Tenuta di Poggiolame, is a historic building with original open beamed ceilings and terracotta tiles in several rooms. Rooms face different directions and have different features: some have private terraces, one has a 30 m² terrace with views from Monte Peglia to Monte Cetona, and the two gallery apartments look west over olive orchards towards Monte Amiata. Bathrooms are shared between pairs or groups of rooms in most cases, with a few rooms having their own.

Beyond the scheduled sessions, the week includes communal activities such as talks and movie screenings, access to the swimming pool, and silent walks in the surrounding hills. The silence of the Umbrian countryside is presented as part of the experience rather than just a backdrop. Guests are encouraged to take a digital detox, and Wi-Fi is available if needed. The September 2024 edition is closed; the next is planned for September 2025, and customized retreats can be arranged at any time.

What's included

- Daily morning movement class (60 minutes) - Daily individual Myoreflex session (30-45 minutes) - Daily supplementary body-mind session (30-45 minutes) - Accommodation in comfortable double bedrooms (single and family rooms available) - Meals prepared on site by a cook using locally sourced ingredients - Low-inflammatory diet based on the glycoplan (low-glucose and low-fructose) - Access to the swimming pool and all other amenities of Tenuta di Poggiolame - Communal activities including talks and movie screenings - Silent walks - Movement analysis and lectures - Somatic Experiencing® and Integrative Deep Tissue Release methods

What's not included

- Travel to and from the retreat - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Any treatments or services not listed as included