Dolce Vita in Italy 2025 Recap + Why Participants Return to FSW Retreats Again and Again

carolefrey
Oct 20
5 min read

Saturday night I returned from Italy, where I hosted my 31st retreat — my second time in Le Marche after an unforgettable experience in 2024. I love Le Marche because it’s off the beaten path, full of locals instead of tourists, and perfectly embodies what I want to offer in a wellness retreat: authenticity, beauty, and space for real connection.

Our retreat center went above and beyond in every way. Nestled in rolling hills and olive groves, the estate offers two stunning villas with private pools, a spa with sauna, steam room, and hot tub, two fully equipped gyms, and a dedicated indoor / outdoor yoga shala with views of the Adriatic. Every detail is thoughtfully designed for comfort, from cozy, inviting rooms to filtered sparkling water at every turn. One of the true highlights was the food: two incredible female Michelin chefs prepared seasonal meals that nourished us deeply without ever weighing us down. My taste buds (and my stomach) are already seriously missing those meals!

The experiences were just as extraordinary: vineyard tours, wine and olive oil tastings, pasta making, walking the quaint towns, a five-mile hike along the coast, and truffle hunting. Yoga classes were either once or twice a day — from Dynamic Hatha to Vinyasa — always paired with pranayama and meditation, with views of Le Marche and the Adriatic Sea that made it impossible not to feel grounded and present. Everyone also had a full day off mid-week to follow their own heart, whether relaxing onsite or exploring the local beauty.

This group of 11 women included two first-timers (already planning their next retreat!) and others joined me for their 2nd retreat this year, with some celebrating their 3rd–10th retreat with FSW overall.

But what truly sets FSW Retreats apart is why participants return, again and again: the workshops and the community.

The Workshops:

While the yoga classes are always loved, what women truly come back for are the workshops — the space to dive deeper, learn more, and take it all home. We start our days with “coffee chats,” where we explore the teachings behind the practice and how to apply them to real life. It’s where yoga becomes more than a pose — it becomes a way to walk with purpose, live with love, and show up for yourself fully every day.

Each retreat comes with a thoughtfully designed workbook — my personal favorite part. It’s a place to capture reflections, insights, and practical tools from our discussions and exercises. The participants leave with a tangible resource they can return to again and again, long after the retreat ends. It’s like taking the retreat home with them: the practices and prompts, and the clarity to implement meaningful change in their lives.

In Italy, we explored the Purusharthas — the four goals of the soul: Pleasure (Kama), Purpose (Dharma), Prosperity (Artha), and Freedom (Moksha). Watching women connect with these teachings, uncover what they truly desire, and start to take small but powerful steps toward those goals is always incredible. The workshops give them tools, space, and guidance to bring their intentions into daily life, not just for the week, but for every week after they leave.

This is what makes FSW retreats feel so different: yes, the views, classes, and food — those are amazing. But it’s the learning, reflecting, and walking away with real practices and insights that participants say transforms their experience from a beautiful getaway into lasting change.

The Community:

The connections formed at FSW Retreats go far beyond casual friendships. This is the kind of space that’s created when like-minded individuals come together — a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and celebrated for exactly who they are.

Throughout the week – in workshops, over meals, during hikes or quiet moments by the sea, these women shared pieces of themselves they don’t share just anywhere — and in return, they were met with understanding, laughter, support, and genuine love. Bonds are formed that feel timeless, a sense of belonging that lingers long after the retreat ends. Every participant leaves knowing they have a circle that not only holds them, but encourages them to step fully into their life with confidence and grace.

I witnessed women opened up about their fears, about the beliefs they were taught to accept as “normal,” yet no longer want to live by. And each time, I watched other women also open up from a place of love, offering new perspectives and gentle reminders that it doesn’t have to be that way. That they can take their power back. That they already have more strength than they realize — they just need to remember how to use it.

This particular conversation was rooted back to our women’s empowerment work from Tulum (which a majority of them have attended more than once), and it was incredible to see how deeply those lessons continue to ripple out — how one retreat continues to inform and empower the next.

I witnessed tears, as others held space with silence or encouragement, simply being there in whatever way was needed. I witnessed laughter — so much laughter — and pure connection as women found themselves relating to stories that once made them feel alone, now realizing they never were.

This community that forms is truly something special — and it doesn’t end when the retreat does. This group is already planning reunions, visits, and their next FSW adventures together. The healing, love, and friendship that blossom on retreat carry a power all their own — indescribable until you’ve felt it, and unforgettable once you do.

This is what FSW Retreats are all about

Creating a space where you can reflect, grow, and walk away with tools, practices, and friendships that last far beyond the retreat itself. The experiences, insights, and connections here have a way of staying with you — shaping the way you show up in your life, relationships, and purpose.

P.S FSW Retreats are open to everyone. This retreat happened to be attended only by women, which is why “women” is used throughout. The only women’s-only retreat we offer is our annual Tulum Retreat.

P.S.S. While we don’t have plans to return to Italy as a group retreat, Villa Oliveto Estate is the perfect place for a private retreat. Bring your own group, and I’ll help you design your Italian dream — from immersive workshops and yoga practices to incredible seasonal meals, breathtaking views, and the kind of community and connection that make an FSW retreat unforgettable. Learn More Here