There is a version of professional development that looks like a conference room, a lanyard, and a spiral-bound workbook. And then there is this.
From November 4–8, 2026, Dr. Desi Bartlett and Ilanit Blumenfeld are hosting Nourish, an intimate five-day wellness retreat at Fonteverde Lifestyle and Thermal Retreat in Val d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy. Five days of movement, food, culture, thermal waters, and the kind of restoration that does not happen when you are still checking your phone between sessions. This is not a continuing education event with a Tuscan backdrop. It is a complete reset built around the three centers that Dr. Bartlett and Blumenfeld have spent their combined careers addressing: the gut, the heart, and the brain.
For Coach360 community members, there is a $300 discount off the total retreat investment using the code Coach360 at registration.
Who Is Leading This Experience
Thirty years ago Dr. Desi Bartlett started asking a question that most fitness programs still do not answer well: what does it actually take for a woman to feel strong from the inside out? Her doctorate in kinesiology, her 2025 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year recognition, and her BodyMind Workout methodology are all products of that question. The BodyMind Workout brings yoga, functional fitness, meditation, and breathwork into a single practice because Dr. Bartlett does not believe those things belong in separate categories.
Ilanit Blumenfeld arrived at a similar conclusion from a different direction. As a Registered Dietitian with over twenty years in nutrition and public health, she watched restriction-based approaches fail the women who followed them most faithfully. Encore Retreat and IBG Nutrition exist because she decided to build something grounded in Mediterranean diet principles and Blue Zones research, designed around longevity rather than transformation deadlines.
“We all carry wisdom in these three centers. The gut knows instinctively, the heart feels deeply, and the mind thinks clearly. This retreat is about integrating all three, creating harmony between intuition, emotion, and intellect.”
— Dr. Desi Bartlett
What the Five Days Actually Include
The retreat is hosted at Fonteverde Lifestyle and Thermal Retreat, a seventeenth-century palace built directly over natural hot springs in the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia. Seven panoramic thermal pools, an award-winning spa, and gourmet dining rooted in the Mediterranean diet provide the environment. The programming provides the transformation.
Day One begins with arrival in Rome or Florence, a lunch stop in Orvieto, a private transfer to Fonteverde, afternoon relaxation in the thermal pools, a welcome meditation, an aperitivo overlooking the Tuscan hills, and a welcome dinner.
Day Two is built around what Tuscany grows and how it is eaten. Morning yoga, breakfast at Fonteverde, then a visit to a local estate where the olive oil is pressed on-site. Blumenfeld walks the group through the Mediterranean diet philosophy in the afternoon as an explanation of why the people who live here tend to live longer. The evening includes a cooking class and dinner made from seasonal ingredients chosen that morning.
Day Three moves into wine country. Morning breathwork, then the group heads to Montalcino for a Brunello winery visit and tasting with lunch before continuing to San Casciano dei Bagni, a medieval village perched above the thermal springs. Artisan shops, cobblestone streets, and a Tuscan gastronomy dinner close the day.
Day Four is truffle hunting. A local expert and dogs lead the group through the Tuscan landscape before a light lunch featuring fresh truffles, afternoon dance therapy, optional one-on-ones with a nutritionist or fitness coach, and a closing dinner.
Day Five brings a final movement session with Dr. Bartlett, a farewell breakfast, the retreat closing, and a transfer to Rome airport.
What Is Included
Four nights accommodation at Fonteverde Lifestyle Resort. All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners as listed. One complimentary spa treatment. Unlimited access to the panoramic thermal pools. Olive oil tasting and lunch at a local estate. Truffle hunting excursion. Cooking class and chef dinner master class. Brunello winery visit, tasting, and cheesemaking. All guided movement sessions with Dr. Bartlett. Nutrition workshops with Blumenfeld. All ground transfers within the program.
Investment: $5,999 single or $5,199 double. Space is limited to ensure an intimate, personalized experience. Coach360 community members receive $300 off using the code Coach360 at registration.
Why This Matters for Coaches
The coaches who sustain long careers are not the ones who push through indefinitely. They are the ones who built recovery into the arc of their professional life with the same intentionality they bring to their clients’ programming. A retreat like Nourish is not a vacation. It is a deliberate investment in the physiological and psychological reset that enables the next phase of coaching.
“Mental health is not separate from physical health. They are intimately connected. This retreat addresses both by creating a space where we can meet each woman where she is and share tools to help optimize her health from the inside out.”
— Dr. Desi Bartlett
Blumenfeld adds: “True well-being is about more than what you eat. It is about how you live, explore, and experience the world.”
For the coach who has been giving everything to her clients and her career and has not had a week that gave something back in longer than she can remember, Tuscany in November is worth the flight. 10 CEUs are available through Yoga Alliance for attendees. Registration is open now. Spaces are limited.
Related: The Burnout Blind Spot: Why Fitness Coaches Are the Last to See It Coming
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nourish retreat in Tuscany?
Nourish is a five-day immersive wellness retreat taking place November 4 through 8, 2026 at Fonteverde Lifestyle and Thermal Retreat in Val d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy. It is hosted by Dr. Desi Bartlett, 2025 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year and creator of the BodyMind Workout, and Ilanit Blumenfeld, Registered Dietitian and founder of Encore Retreat.
Who is this retreat for?
The retreat is designed for women who want a complete physical and mental reset through movement, nutrition, cultural immersion, thermal waters, and restorative practices. Space is intentionally limited to ensure a personalized, intimate experience.
What does the Nourish Tuscany retreat include?
The retreat includes four nights accommodation at Fonteverde Lifestyle Resort, all meals as listed across the five days, one complimentary spa treatment, unlimited access to seven panoramic thermal pools, an olive oil tasting at a local estate, a truffle hunting excursion, a cooking class and chef dinner master class, a Brunello winery visit and tasting, cheesemaking, all guided movement sessions with Dr. Desi Bartlett, nutrition workshops with Ilanit Blumenfeld, and all ground transfers within the program.
What is the BodyMind Workout and what role does it play in the retreat?
The BodyMind Workout is Dr. Desi Bartlett’s signature methodology that integrates yoga, functional fitness, meditation, and breathwork into a single cohesive practice. It is built around her philosophy of strength from the inside out, which addresses physical health and mental wellbeing as interconnected rather than separate disciplines. At the Nourish retreat, Dr. Bartlett leads daily movement sessions using this methodology, adapting the practice to meet each participant where she is.
Jessica Maurer is a fitness industry writer and educator who covers coaching practice, career development, and the business of training for Coach360News.
About Jessica H. Maurer
Jessica is a recognized fitness business consultant and strategist focusing on transforming businesses from overwhelmed to organized. Her international presentations, workshops, certifications, and consultations underscore her commitment to helping fitness professionals and businesses realize their full potential. When Jessica takes the stage, she’s sharing fresh ideas and inspiration that spark positive change. Jessica’s international presentations and consultations are about growth, career transformation, overall wellness, and making fitness a joyful journey. Her expertise spans education, program and instructor development, and brand evolution, making her a key player in elevating the industry. Jessica also played a pivotal role in developing the Mental Well-being Association’s certification for Fitness Professionals., always striving to bring a holistic approach to wellness that’s as uplifting as it is effective.
Jessica has presented at prestigious events like IDEA World, Fitnessfest ACSM Health & Fitness Summit, SCW Mania, AsiaFit, and more. She has worked with brands such as FIT4MOM, SFR, BOSU, Lebert Fitness, Savvier Fitness, SCW Fitness, FitSteps, canfitpro, IDEA, and VIBES music. She also has written content for the IDEA Fitness Journal, canfitpro Magazine, Mental Well-being Association, FIT4MOM, Motherly, and more.
