Aliveness: Return to Center Yoga Retreat

Lake Garda ⏤ Italy
with Dory Walker & Rory Viggers

Join us in this stunning lakeside location to dive into practice

23 - 30 May 2026

Take Me to Italy!

This Is Not Your Average Retreat

It’s a return to yourself. A return to center.

Aliveness dives into the heart of practice.

Through the ancient wisdom and modern science of Yoga, this retreat immersion will support you through a range of practices - asana, mediative enquiry and reflection - to realign body, mind, heart, and spirit.

And we have such an incredible place to stay and practice…

Take me to Italy!
A scenic view of a hillside resort with a swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs, lush green trees, and a lake in the distance.
View of a lake with a hillside and trees, seen through a window with lace curtains on the left.
Sun shining over a backyard with trees, pink flowers, a hammock, and a view of the ocean in the background.
Outdoor restaurant terrace with red-clothed tables, green plants, trees, and a view of the water beyond.
An aerial view of a rectangular swimming pool with a rounded end, surrounded by a tiled deck with lounge chairs and lush green landscaping.
View of a lake scene with a grassy foreground, two trees, and a black metal fence. In the background, there are white sailboats on the water and hills or mountains.
Aerial view of a coastal area showing a large blue lake or bay, surrounding green fields, trees, and scattered buildings, with boats anchored along the shoreline.
Aerial view of a yellow hotel building with a red tile roof surrounded by lush green trees, shrubs, and colorful flowers. The hotel has outdoor seating areas and a small balcony with flower boxes. Behind the hotel, there is a swimming pool, a gravel
Person relaxing in a hammock overlooking a scenic bay with trees and buildings, sunny weather, view of the water and distant hills.
Swimming pool in front of a scenic lake view with trees and a hilly landscape in the background.
A yellow house covered with white flowering vines, with red flowers on the balcony, surrounded by lush green plants and pink flowers in the garden, under a blue sky.
A scenic outdoor patio with two tables covered with red tablecloths, surrounded by chairs, overlooking a body of water and distant hills under a partly cloudy sky. There are trees and hanging lanterns on the patio.
A lush hillside with a yellow house surrounded by dense greenery and trees, with mountains in the background and a partly cloudy sky.
A scenic view of a lake or river with a hill or mountain in the distance, partly obscured by green trees and bushes in the foreground.

The Aliveness immersion will support you to:

  • Dive deeper into practice (asana, meditation, self enquiry) with expert support & guidance

  • Explore news ways to practice and deepen your toolkit

  • Leave with greater energy, focus, calm and passion for practice and life

Yes, I'm coming!
 
 

A Week That Changes Everything

This 7-night immersion blends traditional and contemporary yoga practices, curated excursions and time in nature … all within the setting of a peaceful villa on the lake.
We LOVE this lake.

Your days are thoughtfully structured to support full ALIVENESS:

  • Asana, breath-work, meditations & Energetic Practice

  • Somatic practice and MindBody Inquiry

  • Special excursions, treatments and time to just be

  • Delicious meals designed by our incredible private chef with locally sourced ingredients

You’ll be guided with precision, humour, and warmth, by two seasoned teachers and space holders who’ve walked this path for decades.

I'm all in
 
 

The Magic of Lake Garda

After the first instalment of the Aliveness Retreat in India, this next chapter calls us to Italy’s enchanted lake…

Some places in the world carry a special kind of enchantment
a frequency, a subtle power that’s hard to name.
For us, Lake Garda, in Northern Italy, is one of those places.

The sunsets - the stillness - the sunrises
We absolutely LOVE this place. And we’re SO excited to bring you here too.

We’ve returned here twice a year for the past 15 years to study with our incredible teacher, Dona Holleman… a pioneering authority on yoga, the body, embodiment, and the art of being.

Her teachings always take us deeper, beyond technique, beyond mind, into true self-experience.

Every time we return, something new opens:
Not just in our practice, but in our relationships, our work, our way of being human.

This place has shaped us.
It’s held tears, joy, insights, and a community that stretches far beyond a single week.
That’s why we’re returning… this time, with you.

We can’t wait to welcome you

Take me there!
 
 

Your Retreat Home

You’ll be staying in a beautiful villa on the edge of Lake Garda, nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps with views of the lake and surrounding countryside.

The villa is surrounded by olive trees, flowering gardens, and peaceful walking trails. It includes both shared and private rooms, a dedicated practice space, an outdoor swimming pool, and its own private beach — perfect for quiet reflection or a refreshing dip after practice.

There’s ample space to rest, journal, swim, or simply be — in sun or shade, alone or with others.

Book my room Now!
 
 

Dory Walker & Rory Viggers

With over 40 years of combined experience, we’ve been guiding transformational Yoga, movement and coaching experiences for humans ready to wake up and live from depth.

We teach from the Centered Yoga tradition of Dona Holleman — a direct transmission lineage grounded in precision, presence, and the ancient roots of yoga.

Our work is also shaped by:

  • Ontological MindBody Maturation coaching, trained by Nicky Clinch

  • Somatic practices

  • Decades of inquiry into the art of becoming fully alive

Our work is trusted by hundreds of students & teachers across the world seeking depth beyond the mat. We are partners in life, business, and practice, and it’s our deepest joy to share this work and walk beside others on the path of remembering.

 
Yes, I want in NOW
 

Words From Past Retreat Guests & Students

“Dory holds space like no one else. She doesn’t just teach from knowledge — she teaches from lived experience. Everything she shares is embodied, precise, and deeply felt. While others speak from memory, Dory speaks from truth.”
— Gale, Business Coach

"There are Yoga teachers and then there are teachers of Yoga. Rory belongs to the latter group…Rory has a wealth of knowledge of the human body that he’s most skilled in articulating and sharing for a more embodied way of being in the world”
— Retreat Participant

“Learning with Rory and Dory feels like learning with old friends... they offer challenge when you need it, but it is always a relaxing experience.”
— Rachel, Yoga Student

“Both Rory and Dory are such exceptional teachers; their knowledge, wisdom and understanding shines through.”
— Tabitha, Yoga Teacher

Outdoor terrace with red tables and chairs beneath yellow shade sails, overlooking trees and a lake in the distance.
A woman practicing yoga in a room with large windows and a view of trees.
A vintage bedroom with a green wardrobe, a wooden desk with two chairs, a window with sunlight, a brass bed with a floral bedspread, and a small wooden nightstand with a glass vase of yellow flowers.
A cozy bedroom with a metal bed frame, floral bedspread, and wooden nightstands with lamps, decorative wall art, and framed documents.
A bedroom with a wooden wardrobe, a bed with floral-patterned bedding, two bedside tables with lamps, a bedside telephone, a window with floral curtain, and a small table with a vase and a book.
Room with open balcony doors showing a scenic view of hills, water, and sky, with a bed in the foreground covered in a floral quilt, and a small table with two chairs on the left side of the room.
A bedroom with a double bed, floral bedspread, two bedside tables with lamps, a wardrobe, a floral sofa, a wooden chair, a mirror, and a ceiling fan.
Living room with white sofas, a large window overlooking a body of water and hills, and a tiled floor.
A cozy bedroom with a double bed covered in a striped bedspread, two white nightstands with lamps, a white wooden wardrobe, a bench, and warm lighting on the walls.
An outdoor patio shaded with green foliage, featuring a wooden table with chairs, a white hammock, and decorative lanterns
A yellow house covered with white flowering ivy, with balconies decorated with red flowers and green shutters. The garden in front has purple lavender, pink roses, and lush green foliage. There is a blue sky with some clouds above.

Practical Information

🗓️ Dates: 23–30 May 2026
🏞️ Location: Lake Garda, Northern Italy (nearest airports: Bergamo, Verona, Milan)
👥 Group Size: Intimate and limited to support depth

🧘‍♀️ Includes:

  • 7 nights' accommodation (shared or private)

  • 8 Day Aliveness Programme

  • Selected group excursions (including thermal spa)

  • All Daily meals (vegetarian/vegan options catered with love)

  • Use of all villa facilities (practice space, pool, private beach, gardens)


💷 Cost:

  • £2664 shared room

  • £3333 private room
    pay plan options below

✈️ Travel not included — you’ll need to arrange your own flights and transfers.
Full travel guidance provided on booking.


We believe your transformation begins before the retreat — and continues long after.
That’s why we’ve included these extras to support your full journey:

✅ Pre-retreat group session to set intentions
✅ Post-retreat integration circle

Take me there!
 
 

Ready to Step In?

Spaces are limited
We’d love to welcome you.

Book Your Place or Reach Out with Questions

 

Single Room
One payment: £3333
*2 pay: 2 x £1667
*4 pay: 4 x £834

ITALY RETREAT 2026 - SINGLE Room
ITALY RETREAT 2026 - SINGLE Room
from £834.00

Shared Room
One payment: £2664 pp
*2 pay: 2 x £1332 pp
*4 pay: 4 x £666 pp

ITALY RETREAT 2026 - SHARED Room
ITALY RETREAT 2026 - SHARED Room
from £666.00
 
 


*pay plans: Full balance due 10 weeks before retreat
*bespoke payment option: We will contact you once we receive your deposit to plan your flexible plan.

Retreat Terms & Conditions

 

Retreat FAQs

  • Weather is unpredictable and we make no guarantees, but the weather in Lake Garda at this time of year is generally warm and sunny. 

  • In addition to clothes, toiletries, and other things you would normally pack for a retreat, we recommend you bring the following: yoga mat, yoga clothes, comfortable walking shoes, water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, light jacket (please check the weather report and plan accordingly!), umbrella/rain jacket, bathing suit, flip flops (you’ll need these for the spa).

  • Description You can read the full terms and conditions here. There is a non-refundable 50% booking. In order to secure the venue and programming, Yogakutir is required to enter into binding contracts with 3rd parties that do not allow for refund or cancellation in except for limited instances where “acts of god” render the entire event impossible. For example, if the hotel must close down, then we would be able to get a refund and refund all ticket holders. Otherwise, unfortunately, we must enforce a strict cancellation policy. You may transfer your ticket under certain conditions. Also, purchasing trip insurance to protect yourself is required.

  • Depending on the payment option you choose during check out, remaining balances are required 10 weeks before the retreat starts. If you have selected a 3 part payment plan, the second payment is due by 1/12/25.

  • This is possible! On the booking form you can add who you’d like to share a room with and note any other details.

  • This retreat is suited to all levels of practice. If you are unsure, please email booking@yogakutir.com to ask any questions.