Your Retreat Experience
Imagine a one-in-a-lifetime retreat experience at an exquisite villa, a sanctuary of sophistication and serenity, where every single detail is taken care of for you.
Imagine a retreat experience that will allow you to connect with your creativity, nourish your mind and body, find your voice and thrive in the company of other supportive women.
Now imagine that retreat experience takes place in glorious Italy, the land of art, passion, fine food and timeless beauty.
Your Italian escape awaits.
““The name of Italy has magic in its very syllables.””
Where you’ll stay
Villa Clara is a large 18th century manor villa with 10 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms on an expansive property with stunning views of the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. The property features a private swimming pool, small formal park, chapel, yoga studio and billiard room. It’s situated just five km from the famous walled city of Lucca, one of the most beloved places in all of Tuscany, with an abundance of medieval walls, streets, and squares that distinguish it as a must-see destination for travellers.
Where you’ll sleep
Villa Clara has 6 double bedrooms and 3 twin bedrooms available.
What previous guests say about Villa Clara
Get in touch and we’ll reach out about next steps!
Your hosts, Anne and Lee, dining al fresco in Italy.
Your retreat hosts
Your hosts, Anne Bokma, award-winning author, journalist and memoir coach. and Lee Horton-Carter, certified yoga instructor, psychotherapist and resident chef, are thrilled to be leading this week-long all-inclusive women’s writing and yoga retreat in Tuscany, the magical heart of Italy.
Find your voice with Anne Bokma
Retreat participants will meet for daily workshops to receive expert guidance on developing a true story from their lives with a series of compelling writing prompts, instruction on the fundamental elements of memoir, and plenty of encouragement every step of the way to help you bring out the truth, emotion and authenticity of your story. Our goal for the week is to select, shape and share a 1,200 word story from your life during our time together.
Note: One of the key aspects that sets this retreat apart from other writing retreats is the personal one-on-one writing coaching and direct feedback you’ll receive while you complete your story.
Anne endorses the Amherst Writing Method (AWA), which holds that every person is a writer and every writer deserves a safe environment in which to experiment, learn and develop their writing.
“Whether your purpose for writing is artistic expression, communication with friends and family, the healing of the inner life, or achieving public recognition for your art – the foundation is the same: the claiming of yourself as an artist/writer and the strengthening of your writing voice through practice, study, and helpful response from other writers.”
Feed your body & soul with Lee Horton-Carter
Lee has been a trauma psychotherapist for 30 years and brings the lens of mindfulness and radical self-compassion to the all-inclusive yoga classes she teaches.
Her gentle Hatha yoga sessions (and evening yoga Nidra sessions) are tailored to suit a variety of fitness levels, from absolute beginner to experienced practitioner. Lee has a reputation for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that is fun, body positive and offers a range of movement options for each pose.
Yoga and writing: The perfect combination
The combination of embodiment through yoga and helping participants claim their voices through writing their stories creates a simultaneously powerful and rejuvenating retreat experience.
During our week together, you will be guided in life-sustaining movement exercises and inspirational memoir teaching. You will be nurtured in beautiful soul-satisfying surroundings with delicious meals and the company of a caring community of fellow retreat participants. This is a week that will help increase your capacity for resilience, joy, movement and creativity.
Delicious food in good company
Lee will be our cook for the week, along with her assistant cook, Mary Stroh. Together they will prepare all of our delicious meals and desserts, many of which will be authentic Italian fare. (All dietary preferences will be accommodated).
Here’s what previous guests say about our retreats:
We’ve got room for 12 and hope you’ll join us!
Life is short. Give yourself this gift of spaciousness to be creative, to explore, to engage in the healing practice of yoga, to relax and to make new friends. This is a time for you and a time to be together in community.
During our week together, you will be guided in life-sustaining movement exercises and inspirational memoir teaching. You will be nurtured in beautiful soul-satisfying surroundings with delicious meals and the company of a caring community of fellow retreat participants. This is a week that will help increase your capacity for resilience, joy, movement and creativity in your life.
The best part?
We’ve done all the work for you, including finding the best return flight from Toronto, arranging for transport and planning a wonderful week of meals and activities. All you need to do is pack a bag and show up!
Prices & Details
Your retreat experience includes:
- 7 nights of accommodation at Clara Villa with pool, chapel, yoga studio, and stunning views
- Guided group transport to and from airport
- 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals as well as snacks. Menus adapted for dietary preferences
- One-hour mindful morning yoga and meditation with Lee
- Daily 2-hour memoir writing workshops with Anne
- Private coaching session with Anne
- Group self-compassion workshop led by Anne & Lee
- Evening yoga nidra with Lee (on selected evenings)
- Closing ceremony of shared stories
- Day-long group excursion to the famous walled city of Lucca for sightseeing, biking on the promenade, shopping, and dinner out (meals at own expense)
- Owner/staff on site to assist with additional excursions
- Maid service
- Onsite laundry available
- Masseuse services available (extra fee)
- Pre-retreat support for travel plans/booking flights
- Zoom meeting with all participants prior to retreat so we can get to know one another (and make plans for additional Italy excurions if desired)
- Group WhatsApp to connect with your fellow travellers and retreat leaders
- Yoga mats supplied (so you don’t have to pack them!)
The retreat fee does not include:
Airfare, alcohol (wine will be provided at dinner on the first evening)and any additional excursions.
Pricing
$3,995 CDN for a private double room with a private bath
($2,995 per person if bed is shared)
$3,595 CDN for a twin room with private bath
Book by January 15 and save $150.00!
Get in touch and we’ll reach out about next steps!
BOOKING
If you are interested in this experience, we will set up a short Zoom meeting with you to answer any questions you have and let you know about the rooms that are available. After our call we will confirm your participation.
A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 CDN is required upon confirmation of participation to reserve your spot.
The balance of your retreat fee is due by March 1, 2025. You can let us know if you need to make any additional payment installments.
Our retreats sell out quickly.
Get in touch to book your Zoom call
Interested in exploring more of Italy?
Add on an optional pre- or post-retreat experience
Consider extending your stay to experience more of Italy, whether it’s the magical renaissance culture of Florence, the colourful clifftop villages of Cinque Terre, the ruins of Rome or the lemon groves of the Amalfi Coast.
There may be others in the group who are interested in joining you on any additional excursions you’d like to plan. Note: Once the retreat is full we will schedule a Zoom gathering so everyone can meet each other and this will give you the opportunity to determine if there is interest for additional excursions with others.
Your questions answered:
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Begin your day with stunning views of the rolling countryside of Tuscany while you sip your coffee and enjoy a lovingly prepared breakfast buffet under a pergola in a gorgeous formal garden. Then gather in an intimate setting for lively interactive morning writing sessions complete with thoughtful prompts, instruction on the art of memoir and sharing the stories of our lives.
This will be followed by an hour of gentle Hatha yoga led by retreat co-leader and trauma-informed psychotherapist, Lee Horton-Carter.
After a classic alfresco Italian lunch spend your afternoons as you wish: reading, writing, one-on-one coaching time, lounging, hiking, napping, sharing the pleasures of the day with your fellow guests and exploring the Tuscan countryside.
Head to the nearby ancient walled city of Lucca, one of Tuscany’s most beloved artistic attractions, to stroll or bike the pedestrian promenade, shop, eat and, of course, and enjoy a gelato.
Each evening we’ll gather for communal handcrafted dinners that set the stage for sharing conversations and creating connections.
The retreat is structured to suit all levels of writing and yoga experience.
Typical retreat experience day:
8 a.m.: Breakfast
9-11 a.m..: Writing workshop
11:15 a.m.- 12:15 noon.: Yoga
12:30 p.m.: Lunch
2-7 p.m.: Free time to rest, read, write, explore, hike, have a one-on-one coaching session, etc.
6:30 p.m.: Group dinner -
Anne, is an experienced writing coach who works with all levels of writers, including those who have never written a word before. With her positive and approachable nature, she has successfully coached many people in crafting both short memoir style pieces as well as book-length memoirs and will guide you through the process step-by-step.
She will use a series of writing prompts, exercises and lessons on memoir that will see you create a 1,000-word true life story. At the end of the week, we will share our stories with one another.
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Not at all! Whether you’re a novice or practice yoga at an advanced level, yoga sessions will be appropriate for all levels. Lee will offer guidance on the importance of mindfulness towards your body's abilities, which may vary day to day, and how yoga can work to contribute positively towards mental health and overall enjoyment of life.
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Spring is in full bloom in Tuscany come EARLY May. Though the weather can be a little temperamental, it is more consistent with fewer bouts of rain, more hours of sunshine, and daily temperatures ranging between 54°F to 73°F (12-23°C).
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Yes, we will require that you provide proof of travel/health insurance after booking and we will also require you to you sign a liability waiver.
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Here’s what we recommend for departures out of Toronto, ONT.:DEPARTURE FOR ITALY
Depart from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on Air Canada flight #AC 840 to Pisa (PSA) International Airport on Friday, April 25 at 4:30 p.m. with arrival in Pisa at 9:50 a.m. local time. (There is a 90-minute layover at the Frankfurt airport.) The villa is located one hour from the airport.
RETURN FLIGHT TO TORONTO
Depart Pisa International Airport on Saturday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. on Lufthansa flight # 7401, arriving at Toronto Pearson Airport at 4:20 p.m. (90-minute layover in Frankfurt).
Passport requirements: Your passport must not expire within 6 months of your travel dates.
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We suggest travelling with a carry-on. This makes flight transfers and getting around much easier for everyone.
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Yes, we here to help and will do our best to find a suitable pairing. We try our very best to work with our retreat guests to support your retreat experience.
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We are unable to provide refunds on payments due to deposits that are required to reserve the villa, transportation, staffing, etc. The initial $1,000 deposit is nonrefundable. If you need to cancel after making your final payments due to emergency, we will do our best to sell your spot and issue you a refund on payments beyond the initial $1,000 deposit, but this cannot be guaranteed.
