Holistic Painting & Meditation
We invite you to a 6-day all-inclusive retreat that blends intuitive painting, gentle meditation, and time in nature – a space to slow down, reconnect, and create freely.
Painting in this retreat is not about producing planned or ambitious masterpieces, but about entering a deep, transformative process where layers of your inner world unfold naturally.
Together, we’ll move beyond the fear of expression and judgement, rediscovering the original source of creativity that education and daily life may have hidden.
We are all born creative – sometimes we simply forget it, living life on autopilot. Through playfulness, experimentation, celebration and self-inquiry, we’ll reawaken innocence and curiosity towards art and the art of relating.
Daily Holistic Painting sessions, combined with guided meditations, music, movement and meaningful interactions, will help you reconnect with your spontaneous expression.
Surrounded by Italy’s natural and cultural beauty, this retreat offers a deeply restorative experience to recharge body, mind and spirit – and to celebrate the simple joy of being alive and creative.
What's special about this retreat?
What makes this retreat unique is the family atmosphere. You’ll spend the week with your hosting family, sharing stories and laughter around the table, feeling at home from the very first day.
By the end of the week, you leave with new skills, but also with memories of flavors, friendships, shared meals and conversations that are hard to say goodbye to.
PROGRAM
18th-23rd April 2026
Day 1 – Arrival
Welcome to Le Marche. Settle into the country resort and enjoy your first dinner with local flavours.
Day 2 – Awaken your Inner Child
After breakfast, begin your retreat with your first Holistic Painting class (9:00–12:00), a playful journey to reconnect with your inner child and approach colour with curiosity and freedom. After lunch, visit the traditional clay workshop in Montottone and experience working with clay. Return to the resort in the evening for dinner.
Day 3 – Trust and Playfulness, Painting with the Night
Start the day with a morning Holistic Painting session (9:00–12:00) exploring creativity through connection and trust. After lunch, take some time to rest, read, or enjoy the pool before your afternoon painting class (15:30–18:30) focused on playfulness and freedom of expression. Dinner follows at the resort, and later, a special Night Session 'becoming friends with darkness' invites you to paint with black and white, discovering depth and contrast.
Day 4 – Technique Not Technique & Waterness
After breakfast, explore a “technique not technique” approach that helps you shift from control to creative flow (9:00–12:00). After lunch, discover the fascinating Roman Cisterns in Fermo and return to the resort for an afternoon Waterness session (17:00–18:30), where watercolour becomes a medium for softness, emotion, and connection. Share a homemade dinner in the evening.
Day 5 – Painting in Nature & Final Exhibition
Begin with a morning Holistic Painting session in nature (9:00–12:00), letting the landscape and its elements inspire your creative process. After lunch, take some time to unwind before the Final Exhibition (15:30–18:30), where you’ll share your journey and reflect on your artistic discoveries. Celebrate the end of the retreat with farewell dinner together.
Day 6 – Departure
Enjoy a final breakfast before departure. Arrivederci!
What's included in the experience
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Seven nights accommodation in twin or double bedrooms (with discounts available for double occupancy);
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Varied and healthy breakfasts, traditional Italian lunches and dinners at the country resort, always accompanied by fine wine and fresh water;
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Daily holistic painting sessions guided by a qualified tutor, Sahaja Chiara, designed to spark creativity, release emotions, and bring balance to mind and soul.
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Transport to villages, landscapes and cultural sites across Le Marche;
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Discover Montottone and participate in a hands-on clay workshop;
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Guided visit to the Roman Cisterns of Fermo;
Group Size
Each retreat runs with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 participants, ensuring a personal and relaxed atmosphere.
Exclusive Resort
Throughout the retreat, the charming country resort will be exclusively reserved for your group, offering privacy, comfort and a true sense of home.
Not included
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Air fares
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Airport collection and drop-off
Sahaja Chiara
Your painter instructor
I’m an artist and seeker, passionate about art and travel since childhood.
I’ve exhibited my work internationally and studied at institutions such as the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the Art Students League of New York, and the Academies of Fine Arts in Florence and Bologna.
For over sixteen years, I taught creative subjects in Tuscan high schools and worked in alternative, nature-based education. A transformative encounter with artist and art therapist Meera Hashimoto in 2011 led me to explore art as a meditative path.
I later became a certified facilitator of the Meera Art Academy and co-led creativity and painting trainings with Svagito Liebermeister, deepening my studies in Family Constellations, Zen Counselling, and Trauma Healing.
Today, I guide courses and workshops for all ages, where painting becomes a journey of self-discovery and growth. I also work as an educator supporting children with sensory disabilities and the visually impaired.
I’m the author of Roots Painting (Youcanprint, 2023), a book that merges art with family lineage to help readers reconnect with their ancestry.
The meaning of my name is my statement: Trust in spontaneity. In art, I also use the sannyasin “surname” I received during meditation in India: Kunkunate.
Culinary Experience at the Retreat
At our retreat, every meal is made with fresh, local ingredients, sourced from nearby farms and markets. You’ll enjoy authentic Italian flavours in every bite, from breakfast to dinner.
Breakfast - start your day with a very varied breakfast, designed to suit every taste. You’ll find the classic Italian coffee and cappuccino, as well as tea, yogurt, fresh fruit, homemade cakes, a selection of breads, cheeses, and cured meats.
Lunch - lunch is prepared with fresh, local ingredients, featuring a different Italian dish each day.
Dinner - evenings are dedicated to our hands-on cooking classes. Together, we’ll prepare traditional Italian recipes, then sit down to enjoy the dishes we’ve cooked. It’s a fun and relaxed way to experience Italian food and the joy of sharing a meal.
Beverages including tea, coffee and water, are available throughout the day, so you can stay refreshed and hydrated whenever you like.
