As we transitioned into the last months of the year, a small group from our Shayna’s Kitchen community gathered at Villa Battisole in Umbria, Italy for our October 2024 Serene Soul Wellness Retreat. Perched on a sunlit hill in the countryside, overlooking the breathtaking Lake Trasimeno, we shared a transformative week filled with farm-fresh food, mindfulness, movement, creativity, encouragement, and inspiration.

Living Slowly & Gracefully In Autumn 

As a chef, there is nothing I love more than cooking with family and friends around the holidays. For many in the U.S., October is the time to start planning for end-of-year festivities. But the annual frenzy of shopping lists, external pressures, and heightened expectations leaves many Americans feeling stressed and worried around the holidays. The constant noise of social media can intensify feelings of loneliness and self-doubt, making it all too easy to fall into the trap of comparison. 

In a world obsessed with highlight reels, it is so important to tune out the noise, treasure the present moment, and surround yourself with real-life connections—with friends, sisters, and community. I created Shayna’s Kitchen Serene Soul Wellness Retreats for this very reason. 

Immersed in the autumn glow of green, amber, and gold in the village of Monte del Lago, like-minded souls came together for a week to disconnect from the relentless pace of everyday life and reconnect—with each other and with nature. From timeless architecture and art to soulful food and serene farmlands, the nurturing energy of Umbria helped us reset, rejuvenate, and rediscover the beauty of slowing down.

Life In The Italian Countryside In October

October is a magnificent time to experience Italy. 

It’s the beginning of the olive oil harvest, inviting us to pause and receive, not chase, and appreciate the earth’s abundance rather than worry about measuring our own. This energy grounded our retreat members, guiding us to not only witness Italian country life, but to embody and live in it.

Entering Our Sacred Space With Relaxed Intention

We welcomed our members into our luxurious hilltop villa with a detox tea and ceremony to unwind and set our intentions for the week ahead. As the sun set luminously across terracotta roofs and centuries-old olive groves, we de-stressed through a relaxing sound healing and stretching session. We continued to dive inward the next day with meditation and journaling.

Meditative Movement In Umbria’s Paradise

October is a perfect time to see the rustic golden beauty of the Umbrian countryside. The days are sunny and neither too hot nor too cold, and the air is fresh, smooth, and invigorating. Our members enjoyed mindful movement as we hiked along picturesque trails. It looked and felt as if we had stepped into a Renaissance painting. 

Embodying La Dolce Vita With Energy & Authenticity

Throughout the retreat, our members learned about la dolce vita firsthand. We did peaceful yoga and gentle, low-impact exercise, keeping our cortisol levels balanced to support our gut health. 

Our authenticity workshop explored permission to claim your life’s deepest desires, alignment of your actions with inner strength, and breakthroughs beyond fear and self-limiting beliefs. 

We embraced freedom and joy through self-expressive dance. From handcrafting ceramics to healing through soothing sound and breathwork, each activity was filled with unforgettable moments of laughter and love.

Experiencing The Harvest Of Italy’s Liquid Gold 

We experienced the magic of the olive oil harvest on a tasting tour and savored the rich freshness of authentic olive oil, right from the source. 

Known as the “green heart of Italy”, Umbria is home to my 86-acre biodynamic farm, where Frantoio, Moraiolo, and Leccino olive trees have been growing in nutrient-rich soil and thriving wildly for centuries. From October’s harvest, we cold press Shayna’s Kitchen organic extra virgin single estate olive oil from the olives that grow from these very trees. 

Honoring The Seasons With Italian Culinary Traditions

Italians not only love food—they love whole, seasonal, farm-fresh foods. The Mediterranean diet and Italian tradition of eating seasonally is all about cooking with ingredients at their ripest, juiciest, and most vibrant time of year. 

October in Italy brings an array of seasonal ingredients—pumpkins, mushrooms, kale, fennel, artichokes, leeks, beets, apples, pears, figs, and grapes—all perfect for creating comforting soups, vibrant salads, and rustic desserts that balance and nourish your gut. 

We served delicious, nutrient-dense, farm-to-table meals prepared by our private chef throughout the week. One evening, we dined at a local restaurant, and on another, we shared a silent meal rooted in mindful eating, emotional reflection, and sensory exploration. This experience of engaging with the journey of the ingredients from earth to plate encouraged a deep appreciation for food’s role in healing and for the interconnectedness between ourselves, nature, and the farmers who grew the ingredients.

Eating To Heal, Thrive, And Support Gut Health

Americans often wonder how Italians eat bread, pizza, pasta, and cheese, and don’t get fat. 

Food in Italy is not about restriction—it’s about quality, pleasure, and connection. While the Standard American Diet includes processed and ultra processed foods, seed oils, refined sugar, and out-of-season produce all year-round, Italians primarily eat seasonal, whole foods that are sourced locally and produced sustainably. Delving further into the nutritional philosophy of Italian cuisine, I guided our members through a cooking class and a gut health workshop rooted in Shayna’s Kitchen principles: food is medicine and true health begins in the gut. 

Italy has a longstanding commitment to organic farming, and since moving here, I’ve felt it in every cell of my body. My bloating disappeared, my digestion reset, and my body just knows it’s where it belongs. Even though I eat clean in L.A., my body responds so differently to food in Italy. The ancient grains, traditional preparation methods, sustainable farming, seasonal ingredients, and slower rhythm of life naturally support our bodies as nature intended. 

Create Your Dream Life With Shayna’s Kitchen

If you’ve been longing for more of what fills your cup and nurtures your soul, I invite you to step into our global community through Shayna’s Kitchen recipes, retreats, classes, matcha moments, and Serene Circle. 

Whether you join us at my biodynamic Umbrian farm or start your day with a shot of olive oil and lemon juice, Shayna’s Kitchen welcomes all who crave a lifestyle of elegance and sustainability, filled with meaning and nourishment through food, nature, and holistic daily rituals. 

We’re always dreaming up more ways to help you elevate and reconnect with your body and spirit. Let’s stay connected and grow together. 

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Join our next spiritual wellness retreat: https://shaynaskitchen.com/wellness-retreats/