Testimonials
Earth As Altar Retreat
“Mary’s yoga retreat at Spannocchia was an unforgettable experience. We enjoyed inspiring yoga sessions and a variety of wonderful activities: a hike to the ruins of an ancient monastery and a Roman bridge, a garden tour, a cooking class using vegetables grown on-site, and a fascinating talk about olive groves, olive oil, and wine production.”
“Exceeded expectations. The location’s capacity to hold space was profound—truly sublime. The theme, the heart nourishment, and the time for reflection were all beautifully woven together.
A thoughtfully designed schedule with meaningful choices—well planned and well led. Beautiful people, and the Tuscan sun. Deep dives, contemplation, and countless opportunities to unplug and untether from the daily habits that become prana leaks. The talks on the *Bhagavad Gita*, *Yoga Sutras*, and Chinese Medicine added so many layers for self-reflection. ”
“Expectations were exceeded in so many ways. This was an international destination, and Mary’s knowledge and support alleviated so much personal planning time and effort. The venue was exceptional—exotic in a charming and nurturing way, deeply grounding in its natural setting, with excellent food that encouraged rest and relaxation.”
“Spannocchia was a delight—just heaven. The place, the people, the food… all wonderful. Your communication throughout was excellent, and I felt you portrayed the retreat realistically and set proper expectations. The itinerary was great, and the yoga was amazing (as always). I loved, loved the cooking class. I appreciated the amount of downtime and the relaxed rhythm of each day—we could do as much or as little as we felt called to.””
Align with Joy Retreat
“The transportation was outstanding, you were prompt with all the meeting times and locations; I never felt like our time was wasted.”
“You were a well-prepared guide to a beautiful, multi-layered place. Your knowledge of the Tuscan region, your contacts there, and your comfort with the country added tremendously to the experience for me and for everyone who participated.”
“Kudos to Mary and David. The retreat reflected your heart and soul, including the special chanting booklet that I will treasure. Well done.”
“As usual, you offered a very deep experience of self-exploration. You bring in various truths and wisdom schools. You planned an excellent progression of studies from the first morning to the last morning, and I came away a better, wiser version of myself. I am incredibly pleased with your offerings as a yoga & wisdom teacher. ”
“I really liked the old villa and felt very comfortable in it. When considering the 10 centuries that Spanocchia has been in existence, one can palpably feel the sacredness … and holding presence felt significant.”
Into the Mystery Retreat
“I felt things were VERY WELL organized and it was obvious how much care, concern and TIME both you and David put into making the trip so very special.”
“I had a wonderful time! And it so met my needs for some focused work – body and spirit - -and a cultural experience – relating to people, land, food, etc… the blend was very nice!!!!”
Gift of Simplicity Retreat
“It was a TREMENDOUS value for the money.”
“Transportation—Those guys were terrific.”
One Stitch At A Time
A Jivamukti Yoga Retreat in Tuscany
September 14–21, 2026