Hatha Yoga Wellness Retreat – Find Your Balance Again; Health Insurance Reimbursement Available
Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany
$189 / 3 Days
3.0
Mindful Photography as a Path to Yourself.
For women in the middle of their lives, between youth and old age—with questions, with depth, with a desire to pause.
At THE QUIET EYE, you’ll experience mindful photography as a bridge to greater presence, intuition, and connection—with the moment, with your surroundings, and with yourself. Holding the camera in your hand gives you permission to finally truly pause and view the world through a different lens.
In a uniquely beautiful location in the heart of Italy, surrounded by unspoiled nature, olive groves, donkeys, Roman ruins, and gorges, you’ll experience this exclusive retreat in a small group of women in midlife who want to let go of external noise and open themselves up to inner awareness.
You don’t need any prior experience—neither in photography nor in mindfulness or mental training.
Would you like to discover photography as a key to greater mindfulness, slowing down, and self-reflection?
It doesn’t matter whether you use a digital compact, mirrorless, or DSLR camera. In this retreat, it’s not about the technology or taking perfect photos. The ability to adjust settings manually is all you need.
Does this sound like something for you, but you don’t have a camera? I can lend you equipment. Please contact me before booking.
The most important facts in a nutshell:
Mindful Photography (Theory and Practice)
Mental Training
Photo Walks
Body Scan
Breathing Techniques
Relaxation Exercises
Reflection Exercises
Guided Imaginary Journey
Autogenic Training
Progressive Muskelrelaxation
Photo-Anker
Mindfulness in Everyday Life
1:1 Coaching (optional)
Booking and payment for lodging and meals are handled directly at the agriturismo upon arrival.
For 5 nights / 6 days with all-inclusive full board at Agriturismo Le Mole sul Farfa, please calculate:
- in a double room for single occupancy with a private bathroom: €1,050* per person (3 double rooms with private bathrooms are available)
- in a double room for single occupancy with a shared bathroom: €950* per person (2 double rooms share one bathroom)
- in a friends’ double room with private bathroom: €1,550* for 2 people (1 double room with 2 single beds and a private bathroom)
As soon as I receive your booking, I’ll forward you all the relevant information from the agriturismo.
* All prices include the applicable VAT of the respective country; subject to change and errors excepted. Travel cancellation insurance is recommended.
We have exclusive use of this small agriturismo during our retreat, and Elisabeth and Stefano spoil us with wholesome vegetarian cuisine. They use mainly organic ingredients—either from their own farm or from the region. Everything is fresh and homemade.
Breakfast includes homemade bread, jams, butter, cheese, yogurt, seasonal fruit, orange juice, and cake.
Lunch consists of a vegetarian salad, bread, plenty of vegetables, legumes, cheese, and more.
Dinner is a vegetarian three-course meal, freshly prepared each day.
Throughout the day, fruit, chilled water (still and sparkling), coffee, and tea are available, as well as an afternoon snack (cake, cookies, etc.).
If you have any preferences, allergies, or intolerances, please check with me before booking to see if they can be accommodated.
What to Expect:
- Of course, plenty of mindfulness and photography practice amidst the unspoiled Italian countryside
- Combined with mental training for even greater depth and lasting impact, more presence, and less stress
- Gentle prompts to slow down, breathing techniques, and stress-relief exercises
- Creative prompts for mindful awareness and self-reflection
- Time for silence, for yourself, for sharing, for inspiration, for free-form photography, and for pure enjoyment
- A gorgeous pool with breathtaking views
- Time to truly look around and find your center during a quiet photo walk through the Farfa Gorges with ancient Roman ruins
- A photo walk to the nearby, picturesque mountain village of Mompeo at sunset, followed by dinner at a local restaurant
- Evenings of photo reflection and open discussion
- THE QUIET EYE surprise package
Sample itinerary for the first day (subject to change):
Arrival & Awareness
Theme: Turning Your Gaze Inward
Morning: Opening circle, gentle physical and breathing exercises for grounding and slowing down, body scan
Breakfast together
Morning: Mindfulness training: walking meditation, introduction to mindful photography—“Seeing without searching,” first photography exercise: perceiving rather than wanting
Light communal lunch followed by a siesta
Afternoon: Mental training: “What do I see—what do I think?” (Learning to observe thoughts), free time and journaling: Capturing initial reflections in writing
Evening: Photo reflection: Favorite photo of the day
Dinner together
Evening circle & gentle autogenic training
Traveling by plane: Fly into Rome Fiumicino, and from there take a direct train to Fara Sabina–Montelibretti. That’s the meeting point for a shuttle (if available) or the option to take an Uber or taxi to the agriturismo.
I’d be happy to help with the arrangements. Please contact me well in advance.
Terms and Conditions (T&C)
for retreats and seminars offered by “THE QUIET EYE Mindful Photography Retreats,” a
service provided by Mareen Malessa Photography
(Effective: October 2025)
§1 Scope
These General Terms and Conditions (GTC) apply to all contracts between
Mareen Malessa Photography
Krokusstr. 3
58640 Iserlohn
Germany
Value-Added Tax (VAT) Identification Number pursuant to § 27a of the German Value-Added Tax Act:
DE253530039
—hereinafter referred to as the “Organizer”—
and the participants —hereinafter referred to as the “Participant”—
regarding participation in retreats, seminars, or workshops (hereinafter: “Retreat”).
§2 Subject Matter of the Contract
(1) The Organizer offers personal development, coaching, photography, and/or
mindfulness retreats.
(2) The contract covers exclusively participation in the retreat program
(e.g., coaching, meditation, workshops).
(3) Accommodations, meals, and travel are not part of the contract and
are to be arranged and paid for by the participant independently.
(4) The organizer is not a tour operator within the meaning of §§ 651a et seq. of the German Civil Code (BGB). It is
expressly stated that no package tour is being offered.
§3 Participation Requirements
(1) Participation is open to individuals 18 years of age or older.
(2) No prior photography experience is required.
(3) A basic openness to mindfulness, meditation, and personal development is
required.
(4) The language of the retreat is German.
(5) Participation is at the participant’s own risk and requires a stable mental and
physical condition. The retreat is not a substitute for medical or
psychotherapeutic treatment.
§4 Registration and Conclusion of Contract
(1) Registration is done via email and is binding.
(2) A binding contract is formed upon receipt of the registration confirmation
from the organizer.
(3) A deposit must be paid within 7 days of booking confirmation.
The amount is based on the total cost and will be communicated individually.
(4) The balance is due no later than 60 days before the start of the retreat.
(5) For last-minute bookings (within 60 days before the start of the retreat), the
total amount is due immediately.
(6) If the participant fails to pay the deposit and/or the balance in accordance with the
agreed payment deadlines, the provider is entitled, after issuing a written reminder with
a set deadline, to withdraw from the contract and charge the participant cancellation fees in accordance with
Section 5.2.
§5 Participation Fees and Payment Terms
(1) The currently valid participation fees are listed on the website or in the offer
.
(2) The invoice amount is due within 7 days of receipt of the invoice, but no later than
[e.g., 30 days] before the start of the retreat.
(3) Prices include applicable sales tax, if any.
§6 Services
(1) The services included in the retreat price are specified in the respective
retreat description (workshops, photo excursions, meditations, ...)
(2) Not included are individual travel to and from the retreat, lodging and meals, any
additional costs that may arise, travel insurance, and individual expenses on site
(unless otherwise stated).
(3) The provider reserves the right to make minor changes to the program for valid reasons (e.g., weather,
group needs).
§7 Withdrawal / Cancellation
(1) The participant may withdraw from the contract at any time prior to the start of the trip by providing written notice
of withdrawal.
(2) If the participant withdraws from the contract or fails to commence the trip, the
provider may demand reasonable compensation. The amount of compensation
is determined based on the total price, less any expenses saved by the provider
.
The cancellation fee is as follows:
• Up to 6 months before the retreat begins: a flat-rate processing fee of
€15 is due
• 6 months to 30 days before the start of the retreat: 50% of the total amount
• 29 days to 1 day before the start of the retreat: 100% of the total amount
It is recommended that you purchase travel cancellation insurance.
Note: A replacement participant may be arranged in consultation with the organizer.
In this case, the cancellation fee will be waived.
§8 Cancellation or Change by the Organizer
(1) The organizer reserves the right to cancel or postpone the retreat for good cause (e.g., illness,
insufficient number of participants, force majeure) or to postpone it.
(2) In this case, participation fees already paid will be refunded in full.
(3) No further claims (e.g., reimbursement of travel or lodging costs)
do not apply.
§9 Liability
(1) Participation is at the participant’s own responsibility and risk.
(2) The organizer is liable only in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(3) No liability is assumed for the loss or damage of personal belongings or for injuries that
occur outside the retreat program.
(4) Each participant is responsible for ensuring adequate health and
accident insurance.
§10 Photography and Videography
8.1 During the retreat, photographs and
videos may be taken by the organizer or on its behalf. These may be used for the purposes of documentation,
public relations, and advertising (e.g., social media, website, newsletter).
• By participating, you consent to the non-commercial publication
of such recordings.
• If you do not wish to appear in photos or videos, you must submit a written
objection via email no later than 3 days before the retreat begins. In
this case, no identifiable images of you will be used.
• The organizer ensures that visual material is handled with respect.
§11 Health Status and Personal Responsibility
(1) The participant declares that she is physically and mentally capable of participating in the retreat
.
(2) The retreat is not a substitute for medical or psychotherapeutic treatment.
(3) The participant agrees to inform the organizer of any
health limitations before the retreat begins.
§12 Data Protection
(1) Personal data will be used exclusively for the purpose of contract fulfillment
and will not be disclosed to third parties.
(2) The privacy policy in accordance with the GDPR applies; it is available at [your
website/privacy].
§13 Copyright
Documents, photos, videos, or other content provided during the retreat
are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced or distributed without the organizer’s
consent.
§14 Final Provisions
(1) German law applies.
(2) The place of jurisdiction is the organizer’s registered office.
(3) Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions be or become invalid, the validity
of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.
Organizer:
THE QUIET EYE – Mindful Photography Retreats
Mareen Malessa
Krokusstr. 3
D-58640 Iserlohn
Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany
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