Lose Yourself in Italy. Find Yourself Again.
Discover the perfect balance of movement, mindfulness, and Mediterranean magic in an unforgettable Italian retreat. Join us July 5–12 for a weeklong event.
Pilates | Meditation | Longevity
Book a free 15-minute call with Karen to explore if this retreat is the right fit for your journey.
Reconnect. Recenter. Rise.
Do you ever feel like life is rushing past you—like you’re surviving more than truly living? Now, imagine a sanctuary where the weight lifts, the noise fades, and your vibrant, radiant self rises to the surface. Set against the breathtaking beauty of Italy’s timeless countryside, this is your invitation to pause, to breathe, and to remember who you truly are.
Where Stillness Sparks a Renaissance
Envision a journey where the noise quiets, and clarity rises. Where you release the thoughts that have weighed you down and awaken the deep wisdom already living in your body. Guided by renowned wellness expert Karen LaFond, you’ll explore powerful longevity rituals while breathing in the soul-soothing beauty of Italy’s untouched landscapes. This is more than a retreat—it’s a reclamation. A rebirth of energy, purpose, and possibility. Welcome to your personal renaissance.
Wellness Rooted in Nature, Guided by Intention
Imagine waking to the soft whisper of olive trees, the golden light of morning spilling over the rolling hills of Le Marche. Here, in the heart of Italy’s untouched countryside, your days are woven with purpose and presence—nourished by vibrant, locally harvested meals and guided through soul-awakening practices that realign you with your truest self. In the company of kindred spirits, you’ll embark on a journey that moves beyond the ordinary—into a space of renewal, clarity, and deep, lasting transformation.
Return to Your Power, Reclaim Your Peace
This retreat is more than a pause—it’s a homecoming. A gentle, powerful return to the woman you were always meant to be. For those who feel the weight of the world pressing in, who crave space to breathe, to feel, to simply be—this is your sanctuary. A place to quiet the noise, awaken your inner light, and rediscover the wisdom woven into your very being. Here, you’ll be held, renewed, and reminded of your strength. The journey back to you begins now.
Awaken What’s Already Within
This retreat is a sacred reset—a place to rise from the noise and return to yourself. For the woman who feels burned out by the demands of modern life, who longs to breathe deeply, live fully, and reconnect with her truest essence—this is your invitation. A call to step away from the chaos and step into clarity. To nourish your body, mind, and soul. To remember the power, peace, and purpose that have always been within you. It’s time to choose yourself.
Book a free 15-minute call with Karen to explore if this retreat is the right fit for your journey.
The Respiro Reset: A Simple Checklist to Reduce Stress + Reclaim Your Calm
Feeling overwhelmed, overextended, or simply out of sync?
This free stress-reducing checklist is your gentle invitation to pause, recenter, and breathe again. Inspired by the core practices of Respiro Wellness, this guide offers simple, soul-nourishing actions you can take today to regulate your nervous system, clear mental fog, and reconnect with your calm.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Breathwork practices to shift from stress to stillness
- Mindful movement rituals that support strength + release
- Nourishment tips rooted in anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly living
- Mindset prompts for grounding, gratitude, and clarity
This isn’t just a checklist—it’s a glimpse into what’s possible when you begin to prioritize you.
Download the Respiro Wellness Checklist and take your first breath toward balance, vitality, and lasting renewal.
Meet Karen LaFond
Founder, Respiro Italia Health & Wellness Expert | Integrative Coach | Master Connector
Karen LaFond is the visionary founder of Respiro Italia, a luxury wellness and longevity retreat designed to help you live longer, happier, and healthier—with vitality at the center of it all. A certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (IIN) with over a decade of experience, Karen takes a holistic, no-fluff approach to mind-body transformation, blending modern wellness strategies with time-tested traditional healing.
Her mission? To help you stop doing business against your body—and start partnering with it. Karen is passionate about helping others reshape their subconscious mindset around all things “life.” With her signature blend of tough love and soulful strategy, she’ll challenge you to ask yourself, “What is your future self going to thank you for?” Her work focuses on aligning your lifespan with your healthspan, designing a future that reflects the unique blueprint of your body and your potential.
Expect to level up, take ownership, and redefine what’s truly optional in your life. Aging, according to Karen, is “the aggressive pursuit of comfort”—and she lives this motto every day. She’s a sunrise-chasing, cold plunge-loving, Pilates-and-barre devotee who left corporate America to follow her passion for wellness, community, and human connection. A master communicator and people connector, Karen’s superpowers lie within, helping others discover their own.
She’s traveled the globe—from Korea to Australia, Paris to Amsterdam—but it’s Italy that calls to her soul. With deep respect for Italy’s untouched beauty and lifestyle that has honored wellness for generations, Karen is thrilled to merge her love of international travel with her life’s purpose. At Respiro Italia, she invites you to refresh, recharge, and renew—in a place where time slows down, the food heals, and you remember who you were always meant to be.
Meet Stefanie Floramo
Pilates + Restorative Movement Instructor
With over a decade of experience teaching Pilates, Stefanie Floramo brings her deep expertise and vibrant energy to Respiro Italia’s wellness and longevity retreats. As a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor, Stefanie’s approach blends athleticism with mindful movement, ensuring each session is both restorative and invigorating. Passionate about helping clients feel their strongest, Stefanie creates a supportive environment while adding just the right amount of spice to her classes. Her sessions at Respiro Italia will guide participants through intentional movement designed to restore balance, build strength, and enhance overall well-being. Stefanie’s love for movement is matched only by her love for family. The proud daughter of Italian parents, she has deep roots in Italian culture and cherishes the traditions, warmth, and connection that come with it. Family—both immediate and extended—plays a central role in her life, and she finds joy in gathering around the table, sharing meals, and celebrating her heritage. Beyond the studio, Stefanie is a devoted mother to her two sons, Anthony and Richie. She loves spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, and getting lost in a good book. At Respiro Italia, she looks forward to sharing her passion for movement and helping guests reconnect with their bodies in a way that supports longevity and vitality—all in the heart of the country that feels like home.
Meet Melisa Thorne
Yoga Instructor, Wellness Guide, Strength Advocate
Melisa Thorne brings heart and holistic strength to the Respiro Italia retreat experience. A Certified Yoga RYT 200 Instructor, Yoga Sculpt Intensive Instructor, NASM Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, and Nutrition Coach, Melisa is a dynamic force in wellness—rooted in movement, mindfulness, and a deep love for la dolce vita.
Melisa’s journey into wellness began long before her certifications. A lifelong mover and self-taught fitness enthusiast, she has explored everything from running and boxing to barre and weightlifting. But it was injury that led her inward—ushering her into the healing embrace of yoga in 2018. What began as a physical outlet soon revealed itself as a sanctuary for the soul.
Now, Melisa weaves strength and softness into every session. Her classes at Respiro Italia are deeply intentional, infused with mindful movement, precise alignment, and her signature warmth and positivity. Whether guiding guests through a challenging flow or a gentle release, Melisa holds space for transformation—inviting each woman to reconnect with her body, awaken inner strength, and move through life with grace and vitality.
Melisa’s approach is rooted in the belief that wellness is never one-size-fits-all. She draws from a robust toolbox of modalities to support each guest’s unique path—always honoring the body’s wisdom and the power of personal agency. She’s especially passionate about helping women build confidence and rediscover trust in their physicality, often working one-on-one to personalize strength training practices that are sustainable and empowering.
With Italian heritage that runs deep and many soul-nourishing trips to Italy behind her, Melisa feels at home amidst the rolling hills, sun-drenched days, and timeless rhythms of the Italian countryside. Her connection to Italy is not only cultural, but spiritual—each visit a return to something essential. Bringing this love to Respiro Italia, she embodies the spirit of living fully, slowly, and well.
When she’s not on the yoga mat, Melisa is a full-time Lead Assurance Advisor, a devoted wife of 25 years to her husband Chris, and a proud mother to daughters Marisa and Christina. And yes—she still finds joy in getting dressed each morning with intention and style, another daily ritual that reflects her vitality and zest for life.
At Respiro Italia, Melisa is here to guide, inspire, and move with you—toward greater presence, possibility, and a life lived well.
Luxury Wellness Rooted in Tradition
At Respiro Italia, every detail is thoughtfully curated to support your renewal—body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in timeless Italian traditions and inspired by the power of the breath (respiro), this retreat is a sanctuary for women ready to slow down, reconnect, and rise.
Set within the serene beauty of Le Marche at the private, 5-star Oliveto Estate, Respiro Italia invites you to step away from the noise and return to the vibrant woman you were always meant to be. Here, you’ll move with purpose through daily Pilates, mindful walking, and restorative sunset yoga to release stress and restore inner calm.
Savor anti-inflammatory Italian cuisine prepared with fresh, local ingredients, and engage in transformative workshops on longevity, mindset, and self-care—all designed to nourish your nervous system, energize your body, and awaken your inner vitality.
As you wander olive groves, swim in the Adriatic Sea, or gather under starlit skies with an intimate group of just twelve women, you’ll experience more than rest—you’ll experience renewal.
A Vision of Your Future Self
Picture yourself at 80—strong, radiant, and free. You move with ease, travel independently, and live a life rooted not in prescriptions, but in vitality. That future isn’t a fantasy. It’s the result of the choices you begin making now.
What you eat. How you move. The thoughts you nurture. The joy you seek. It all adds up. Respiro Italia is your invitation to begin living in alignment with that vision—gracefully, intentionally, and wholeheartedly.
Our Promise
Respiro Italia isn’t just a retreat—it’s a sacred return to yourself. A transformational experience designed for women ready to rise, to breathe with purpose, and to awaken the vibrant, powerful essence that’s always been within. This is your invitation to step fully into your radiance—and never look back.
Just Breathe. Just Connect. Just Be.
Available Packages
Private En Suite Retreat Package:
- $5700 (single occupancy / per guest)
- 1 guest per room
- Private en suite bathroom
7 nights at the private 5-star Oliveto Estate in Le Marche, Italy
Boutique private rooms with stunning views and en-suite baths
Daily Pilates, meditation, and movement practices
Future Self + Longevity workshops
Curated meals by a private chef using fresh, local ingredients
Access to private pool, sauna, fitness studio & wellness amenities
Ample time for rest, exploration, and connection
Sunrise walks, starlit fire pit evenings, and soul-deep joy
Shared En Suite Retreat Package:
- $4700 (double occupancy / per guest)
- 2 guests per room
- Private en suite bathroom
7 nights at the private 5-star Oliveto Estate in Le Marche, Italy
Boutique shared rooms with stunning views and en-suite baths
Daily Pilates, meditation, and movement practices
Future Self + Longevity workshops
Curated meals by a private chef using fresh, local ingredients
Access to private pool, sauna, fitness studio & wellness amenities
Ample time for rest, exploration, and connection
Sunrise walks, starlit fire pit evenings, and soul-deep joy
Let’s take a breath—together.
Book a free 15-minute call with Karen to explore if this retreat is the right fit for your journey.
Let’s Connect
Curious about the retreat and wondering if it’s the right fit for you?
Book a free 30-minute Zoom call with Karen to get your questions answered, learn more about the experience, and explore if this journey aligns with where you are—and where you’re ready to go.
This isn’t a sales call—it’s a heartfelt conversation. A space to feel seen, supported, and informed as you consider saying yes to yourself.
Click below to schedule your call.
A Sanctuary Awaits in the Heart of Italy
Be among the first to reserve your place at Respiro Italia, an exclusive wellness retreat happening November 15–22 — where curated breathwork, movement, and stillness meet timeless Italian elegance.
Early Access Now Open
Secure your spot at our guaranteed retreat rate before June 1st — after that, rates may shift with the European market.
Your journey to renewal begins here.
We’d Love to Hear from You
Whether you’re feeling the pull to join us in Italy, have questions about the retreat experience, or just want to connect—we’re here.
This journey is personal, and we’re honored to walk beside you. Reach out with anything that’s on your mind. We’ll respond with care and clarity.
Fill out the contact form and we’ll be in touch soon.
Your next chapter could begin with a simple hello.