Lago d’Orta beside the monastery where Goddess Yoga Retreats began

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Retreat Memories

Lago d’Orta · Piedmont · Italy

Beginning in 2022

This is where the story began.

Goddess Yoga Retreats were born on the shores of Lago d’Orta, the land of dragons. In a former monastery above the lake, the original Goddess Tribe began.

On Isola San Giulio, local legend tells of Saint Julius banishing a dragon before building the island church. A “dragon bone” is still kept in the basilica sacristy.

The palm-lined garden at the Lago d’Orta retreat house
Lago d’Orta reflecting the evening sky beneath the mountains

We arrived as strangers.

Vanessa and a retreat friend sharing tree pose beside the pool

We left as the original Goddess Tribe.

Morning light · bare feet · breath

We moved.

Two retreat friends moving together through a morning yoga practice
A circle of women moving through morning Goddess Yoga
An intimate evening embodiment circle
A quiet pause looking out across Lago d’Orta

And found stillness, too.

Into the blue

We went where the day took us.

A woman paddleboarding across Lago d’Orta beneath the mountains
Retreat friends walking down a stone lane toward the village
The richly painted ceiling of a lakeside chapel
Bright flowers along the sunlit lakeside at Orta San Giulio

Through stone lanes, painted chapels and flowers at the water’s edge.

We tasted everything.

Especially the joy.

An Italian aperitivo board of salumi, cheeses and fresh bread
Stuffed zucchini blossoms served during a retreat meal
A cone of Italian gelato held up in the afternoon sun
Two retreat friends celebrating together by candlelight

After dark

There was magic in the room.

Tarot decks and candlelight prepared for an evening gathering
A slow afternoon in a hammock beneath the retreat garden palms

There was time simply to be.

Four retreat friends celebrating together beside Lago d’Orta
Two retreat friends sharing gelato in the afternoon sun

Lago d’Orta

We wish you had been here, too.

The story continues

The next memory hasn’t happened yet.

Come make it with us.

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