Questions & Answers
Q. What time of year are the retreats?
A. All Anima Club wellness retreats occur during Summer Solstice. June 21 is the longest day of the year, here in the northern hemisphere. It is filled with the warmth of our life-giving sunshine and enveloped by deep blue sky above. We will embrace this warmth to find ourselves in tranquillity in our sanctuary by the swimming swimming pool or by the Mediterranean Sea.
Q. Where are the retreats located?
A. Southern Italy, and at times on Greek islands. Close to the Mare Nostrum (which is Latin for “Our Sea”, ie: the Mediterranean). I find solace and calm when listening to waves being near a body of water. Water is life, and I will make sure there is water around us, no matter the location. There will be gardens, ancient olive tree groves and meditative paths to take among ruins and the countryside. Imagine yourself hearing swallows as they fly in the sky, cicadas as they serenade in the sun, and trickling water... Our locations include the beautiful southern Italy region of Puglia, as well as the incredible islands of Sicilia, Sardegna, Ponza and Naxos (in Greece). Our sanctuary is private and away form the the rush of life, so we may gather in restful tranquillity. The homes we will call home for 8 days are simply stunning. Masserie (farm houses in Puglia) and Bagli (farm houses in Sicily) will welcome us with an opulent and relaxing swimming pool, lush gardens with native trees and plants, a gourmet kitchen, private rooms and washrooms, a communal table under pergolas on our private terraces, and a private vehicle at our disposal when we venture into the countryside for some of our adventures. Absolutely beautiful. To be inspired by our beautiful locations, visit our Locations page for detailed photographs.
Q. Tell me more about The Anima Club’s membership and non-membership options:
A. Any of our wellness retreats are available to you regardless of membership status. However, there are added benefits to becoming a member of The Anima Club, which you are welcome to consider.
Anima is by invitation only, on a first come first served basis for non-members. There are no membership fees to join us on any of our Anima Club relaxation and wellness retreats (you are welcome to be a part of our family of sisters, anytime). However, you may want to consider choosing our Membership Option for even more benefits and luxuries. The Anima Club membership commitment is $1800 for 2 years per sister. As a paying member of the exclusive Anima Club you will have access to: (1) the most opulent and upgraded private rooms, (2) a one-on-one yoga/pilates/meditation session with our yoga guru in addition to our group yoga activities (a $400 value), (3) a one-on-one photography workshop with your expert professional photographer in addition to our group art workshop activities (a $800 value), (4) a book of 8 long-distance 55-minute zoom sessions with our yoga/pilates/meditation teacher Adele to continue receiving health benefits while you are in your own home and away from the sanctuary (an $800 value), (5) a reduced rate on the next retreats of your choosing within 2 years from the first ($500 reduction per each subsequent retreat), (6) a wonderfully crafted welcome gift bag will include a guide to restful meditation, a personal journal, detailed information about our Club and the beautiful locations of our retreats, various items that will aid in beginning your journey to rest and relaxation, and much more. The goal is for you to become a frequent Anima Club sister so you may join us often, to reset your mind and soul on a regular basis, in order to affront your everyday life with much more confidence. For more information about joining the Anima Club and the benefits of doing so, visit the dedicated page here: Anima Club membership information.
Q. By invitation only?
A. We all deserve peace within ourselves and detachment from the business of the real world. At least once per year. We strive to gather like-minded women to be a part of the sanctuary, so it is important that as a participant, you suggest The Anima Club to your own circle of women. A circle of women you know are aligned with you and your sensibilities, with us and our sensibilities. You know your circle more than we do, making personal invitations to The Anima Club a key part of making sure we all are one big family. Please send personal invitations to any woman you know whom might benefit from time away from the everyday. Send these wonderful women to me here: use my contact form. I look forward to building a strong community of artful and deserving women with you! Remember, only 8 workshop sisters at any one time, for 8 glorious days, over Solstice (June 21) every year.
Q. What is the experience like?
A. For 8 glorious days, only 8 women will be in the sanctuary at any one time (not including myself and our meditation, pilates and yoga teacher Adele). The retreats are all inclusive for maximum comfort and ease of travel. As a travel advisor, I will help you find the most efficient and comfortable way to reach us at the sanctuary. Once here, you will receive your own luxurious private lodging, nutrition, yoga, meditation, pilates, drawing, photography, writing workshops, hiking, swimming, peace, and plenty of private time for you to simply… be. You will be surrounded by like-minded women who support one another. I promise I will see to your comfort by taking care of you. Simply join the us to detach from stress, even if just for 8 days at a time.
8 women, 8 days. Together we will focus on clearing our minds of worries and stresses, by concentrating on our heart and soul (Anima is Latin for Soul). We will not only take time to practice meditation and yoga, we will also activate our creativity and imagination by practicing in the art of drawing, photography and writing. Short workshops will aid us in bettering our creative side, that will in turn distract us from the every day. Along with taking time to find ourselves, we will also give back to the community in which we are hosted, by helping pick fruits and olives, make fresh cheese, and kneed fresh pastas and breads. Depending on the sanctuary's location, our community tasks will vary, but will always take up an hour or two of your time. Giving back to the world in any way, big or small, internationally or locally, is part of what helps us grow as a community.
Q. What is included in the investment?
A. Anima is an all-inclusive Club. Private transportation to our sanctuary from the closest airport or train station near our sanctuary, a luxurious private residence & nutrition courses included. Yoga, drawing, photography, writing workshops, hiking, swimming, meditation and peace of mind are also all part of the experience. Local ingredients and everyday cooking will be plentiful and included (all of our meals are included). Your flights to Italy or Greece are the only item not included. As a travel advisor, if you need assistance, I can certainly help you find the most ideal way to reach us at the sanctuary. If you are an expert traveler, simply choose your preferred airline and route to reach the closest airport or train station to our sanctuary and I will personally pick all of you up to bring you to our home. Once you arrive, you will have nothing but tranquillity to enjoy. Everything will be tailor-made for you, for 8 days of pure inspiration and relaxation. Each sanctuary sister pays $7,800 for the very first all-inclusive retreat. The optional membership to the Anima Club is $1800 for 2 years of benefits (delineated here). For non-members, each subsequent retreat (within 2 years of the first) is reduced by $300 as a thank you for returning to us. Please see our detailed page for more information regarding retreat dates, locations and pricing, and contact me (Alice) anytime if you have questions <3
Q. What about the food and wine we will enjoy?
A. Our 8 days together are about peace and wellness and art. However, we must also have meals! Our meals are all included, of course, and will begin with a nutritious variety of bites for breakfast (with coffee, tea and fruit juices, too), a light and delicious lunch prepared by Alice and our local cook using only locally sourced and in season ingredients, and a sit down dinner either in our farmhouse or out and about in the nearby villages when we have our exploration days. This retreat is meant to be a complete experience for you, one of wellness, relaxation, fun in the southern Italian sun, with art activities as well as consistent nutrition. Adele and Alice are not dietitians, we are not in Italy to have you experience a dietary “boot camp”. We are in Italy to experience mindful living and mindful eating as well. The ingredients are fresh, local and sustainably caught or picked. We support the local farms and farmers’ markets and the local fishing villages. Eating wholesome foods from the Mediterranean area will cleanse our bodies, give us a boost of energy and vitamins, and will aid in our overall health. Since we are not here to give you a restrictive diet, we will absolutely also enjoy our local wine and handcrafted summery cocktails during out stay. Imagine yourself waking up in the morning, having a bowl of fresh fruit and a cappuccino, then relaxing at our pool between yoga, art classes and meditation session (whichever you choose to participate in), then lunch is served in the veranda or in the garden. You are then welcome to take a nap under the ancient olive trees or in your cozy room, or participate in even more of our activities, but be sure to be ready for our delicious aperitivo (evening happy hour) and then dinner in the dining room or veranda! Foods will be inspired by the local cuisine of southern Italy and paired perfectly with our local wines. You’ll not only experience overall physical and mental wellness, you will also indirectly participate in Alice’s Food and Wine Culinary Experiences along the way, learning about this area’s food and wine traditions as you enjoy your meals.