Hṛdaya हृदय The Heart of Being
Yoga & Meditation Retreat
in the Green Heart of Tuscany
May 24 - 29
Step away from the rush & return to yourself amidst the golden hills and quiet beauty of Tuscany.
Hṛdaya — one of the Sanskrit words for ‘heart’ — points not just to emotion, but to the deep centre of our being. A place of stillness, presence, and quiet knowing; our inner home, remembering and returning to which is the goal of yoga.
Il Risveglio (Italian for The Awakening) is a meditation centre set on 40 hectares of peaceful land, looking out over the green hills of Tuscany’s Maremma region. It’s a place of quiet, space, and natural beauty — with olive trees, cypress-lined paths, wildflowers in spring, and typically Tuscan golden light.
I chose this place, first and foremost, because of the stunning area of Maremma — and also because it was created as a meditation centre, which for me often signals a deeper sense of purpose and integrity in the space itself.
It’s surrounded by nature and stillness, which suits the rhythm of our days — quiet mornings, a silent day mid-week and a meditative practice. There’s a waterfall nearby, a swimming pool for cooling off and open fields that are usually full of wild flowers in Spring — a perfect place for walking, resting, and letting things settle.
The light is golden, the air quiet, the view vast — it’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down and breathe a little more deeply.
✧ A Typical Day
(subject to change)
Each day follows a simple, steady rhythm — enough structure to support you, with plenty of space to rest or wander:
Morning silence
Morning meditation + yoga
Brunch
Free time — walk, read, rest, swim
Afternoon workshop / gentle movement / reflection
Dinner
Evening meditation or rest
Mid-week, we have one full day in silence — a rare and quietly powerful experience that allows things to settle more deeply.
✧ The Practice
The yoga I teach is slow, grounding, and breath-focused. It’s about returning to ourselves, rather than performing postures. Expect a blend of mindful movement, meditation, breathwork and plenty of rest.
This retreat is open to anyone looking to slow down, reconnect, and explore a deeper layer of yoga. You don’t need to be advanced or flexible — just open to turning inward.
Our teachings centre around waking up from unsatisfying autopilot mode and the usual busy-ness and distraction of daily life to land more fully in the richness of the here and now, returning to the heart. In this sense, the retreat centre name Il Risveglio couldn’t be more fitting.
Through a rhythm of meditation, movement, silence and rest, we’ll explore what it means to really land in ourselves again.
✧ The Setting
There’s a natural waterfall nearby, a swimming pool, and wide open fields that are usually filled with wildflowers in spring — ideal for walking meditations or quiet time alone.
Accommodation is in simple, comfortable twin rooms, so you’ll have a balance of privacy and shared space. Bathrooms are shared between a few rooms.
Food is vegetarian and locally sourced, prepared freshly each day.
✧ Timing
I planned this retreat around the Pfingstmontag public holiday (Feiertag) on May 25th so you can take fewer days’ holiday from work. You’ll have 9 free days with only 4 days’ off from work, meaning you have extra breathing space around the retreat for travel and rest. You might like to stay longer or arrive earlier in this beautiful area.
✧ Free Afternoon & Optional Trip
One afternoon is kept completely free — for rest, journaling, or exploring. On this day there will be an optional group trip to the sea, just an hour away.
✧ Accessibility & Simplicity
I try to keep retreats as financially accessible as possible, choosing places that prioritise simplicity and authenticity over luxury.
✧ Surroundings
The area nearby is stunning - with natural hot springs, rolling hills and a beautiful coastline. The retreat is timed so that you have some weekend time before and after the retreat if you’d like to extend your trip.
✧ Practical Info
Dates: May 24 - 29, 2026
Location: Il Risveglio Meditation Centre, near Grosseto, Tuscany
Retreat fee (course fee plus retreat centre fee):
(i.) Course (yoga & organisation):
400 Early Bird (book before Jan 20)
450 Regular
(ii.) Accommodation & Food: 475
includes 5 nights’ accommodation in a twin room and full board food
Not included: Travel to and from the venue, optional trip to the sea (a shared taxi ride), insurances
✧ Travel
Detailed travel information here.
🚂 Several train options are available, including night train routes from across central Europe.
✈️ If choosing to fly, it is possible to Pisa, Rome or Florence. Irene and David recommend Pisa airport as the easiest (with a shuttle to the main train station, a direct train to Grosetto, then a taxi from Grosetto). If several people take the same flight it’s possible to book a minibus together directly from the airport. Vans are 8-seaters.
Once I have an idea of the group’s travel plans I can book a shared taxi from Grosetto to the retreat centre on our first day and/or put people together in a taxi from an airport if several people take the same flight. Let me know your travel ideas and we’ll go from there.
🚗 Check-in from 4pm. Check-out is before 3pm.
I’m here for your questions!
Looking forward to this nourishing week with you
With love, Anya