Is the retreat right for me, even if I’m not ill?

Yes. The Restorative Journey welcomes people experiencing exhaustion, recovering from illness, navigating life transitions, or simply wishing to take a more active role in their health and well-being. No medical diagnosis is required. If, on the other hand, you’re wondering whether you might be too vulnerable to participate, we encourage you to get in touch. The personal consultation before the retreat is an opportunity to explore your individual needs and assess whether the programme is right for you.

Is it therapy or a holiday?

Neither, exactly. The Restorative Journey is not psychotherapy: there is no pressure to revisit difficult experiences or explore personal issues you’re not ready to address. Nor is it simply a relaxing holiday. You’re invited to take an active role in the treatments and practices, discovering new ways to support your health and well-being. It is a restorative health retreat, guided by a multidisciplinary team of experienced professionals.

Does the retreat include energy treatments?

Yes, in the same way as body treatments. Energy treatments are part of the programme, practised by experienced therapists and carried out in the same clinical framework as the other treatments. If you have questions about it, the preparation interview is there to talk it through.

Do I need to prepare before the retreat?

We strongly recommend it, and we’ll guide you every step of the way. As soon as you register, you’ll receive nutritional guidance to help you prepare for the retreat, ideally starting four weeks before your arrival. You’ll also have a personal consultation with one of our co-founders, by phone or video call, to discuss your needs and design a treatment programme tailored specifically to you.

Will I Have to Fast or Follow a Restrictive Diet?

Certain foods are temporarily excluded during the retreat, and sometimes during the preparation phase. But that doesn’t mean going hungry or giving up the pleasure of eating! Our participants often tell us they never felt deprived. Chef Alex Rahmatulins prepares delicious, nourishing meals that combine culinary creativity with carefully selected ingredients. The nutritional programme is designed to support the body’s natural processes of renewal and recovery, while making every meal something to look forward to.

Where Is Magnano and How Do I Get There?

Magnano is a peaceful village in Piedmont, northern Italy, approximately three hours’ drive from French-speaking Switzerland. We encourage carpooling and help coordinate shared journeys when you register, making travel easier for those who prefer not to drive or don’t have their own vehicle. For those travelling from further afield, the nearest airports are Turin (approximately 1 hour away) and Milan Malpensa (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away). Milan Linate is also an option, around 1 hour and 30 minutes away. We are happy to help you explore the best travel options and assist with arranging transfers to Magnano.

Is the Retreat Covered by Health Insurance?

The Restorative Journey is not covered by Swiss compulsory health insurance (LAMal), as it takes place in Italy and is not part of the Swiss healthcare reimbursement system.

Can I Come on My Own? How Many Participants Are There?

Absolutely! Most participants come on their own. With a maximum of eight people per retreat, the small group creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere where trust and connection can develop naturally.

What Is the Difference Between Privilège and Renewal?

Privilège is the complete Restorative Journey experience, designed for first-time participants. It includes a comprehensive programme of individual treatments, group activities and personalised nutritional support. Renewal is designed for those who have already experienced Privilège and wish to reconnect with the practices and deepen the benefits of their first retreat. Available at least six months after Privilège, it offers the same nurturing environment and group programme, with fewer individual treatments.

Are There Any Contraindications?

There are no general contraindications, but the retreat may not be suitable for everyone. The programme involves some walking, and the accommodation and treatment spaces include stairs, so a certain level of mobility is required. Any health conditions, allergies or specific needs are discussed individually before booking, allowing us to assess whether the retreat is suitable for you and how best to accommodate your needs.

By three FSP psychologists

You’ve Given So Much. Now It’s Time to Restore Yourself. The Restorative Journey: Six Days to Renew Your Vitality.

Created and led by three psychologists accredited by the Swiss Federation of Psychologists (FSP), the Restorative Journey is a six-day residential retreat in the peaceful village of Magnano, northern Italy.

Designed for those experiencing exhaustion, recovering from illness, or navigating major life transitions, it offers a unique opportunity to pause, reconnect with yourself, and take an active role in your health and well-being.

Each day combines two to three individual therapeutic sessions, restorative group practices, and nourishing cuisine designed to support your body’s natural regenerative processes.

With a maximum of eight participants, the retreat offers a deeply personalised experience in a supportive and nurturing environment.

All-inclusive price: CHF 4,600.

Get in touch See a typical day

Next retreats

17–23 October 2026 · 29 May – 4 June 2027

Bright bedroom with a made bed and a balcony opening onto a green garden

When Pushing Through Is No Longer Enough

You’ve been carrying on for so long. For your work, for your loved ones, for everything that needs your attention.

But now, weekends are no longer enough to recharge. Your body struggles to recover, sleep no longer feels restorative, and the energy and motivation you once had seem out of reach.

Or perhaps you’ve been through an illness, and while medical care has helped, you still don’t quite feel like yourself again.

The Restorative Journey is for those who recognise themselves in these experiences and feel ready to take an active role in their well-being.

What our participants share is a desire to engage in their own healing journey — not simply to receive care, but to explore, learn, and discover new ways of supporting their health.

Talk to one of the founders

Neither therapy nor a holiday

The retreat is not psychotherapy: no one will put you on the couch, no one will dig into your past. Nor is it a spa or a passive stay: you are not just coming to rest, you are coming to get your body and your energy moving again, with support at every step. It is a demanding and caring stay, where you take an active part in your own recovery.

The clinical backing behind this approach: three FSP psychologists, specialised in psychotraumatology and trained in Somatic Experiencing® (a body-based approach to trauma treatment), surrounded by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals. You are in trained hands, in a setting where no one “psychologises” you.

30.3%

of working people in Switzerland say they are emotionally exhausted.
Stopping to recover is not a whim: it is a need.

Source: Job Stress Index 2022, Health Promotion Switzerland

The SoinSanté team smiling under a brick archway in an old village

Three Co-Founders, One Multidisciplinary Team

The Restorative Journey is designed and led by three psychologists accredited by the Swiss Federation of Psychologists (FSP), specialising in psychotraumatology and the psychological impact of traumatic experiences.

Together, they bring their expertise to every aspect of the retreat, creating a carefully coordinated and deeply personalised experience.

Sabrina Alberti is also a qualified physiotherapist, bringing an understanding of the connection between body and mind that has been central to the retreat’s philosophy from the very beginning.

But they don’t work alone. The richness of the Restorative Journey lies in the complementary perspectives and expertise of a multidisciplinary team of seven to eight therapists, working together throughout each retreat.

The Seven Core Physiological Systems of Functional Medicine

Our approach draws inspiration from the seven interconnected systems described in functional medicine, notably by American physician Dr Mark Hyman:

Nutrition, digestion and the gut microbiome
Defence and repair
Energy production
Detoxification and elimination
Circulation and transport
Communication and regulation, including hormones and neurotransmitters
Structural integrity, encompassing the body’s physical framework

Each treatment and practice offered during the retreat is designed to address one or more of these areas, contributing to an integrated approach to health and well-being.

Throughout Your Stay, You’ll Experience:

Qi Gong, nature walks and meditation
CellGym® (intermittent hypoxic training)
Acupuncture and osteopathy
Somatic Experiencing® (a body-oriented approach to trauma therapy)
Energy-based therapies
Lymphatic drainage and relaxation massages
Personalised nutrition and targeted nutritional supplements

Wood fire crackling in a metal brazier against a dark background

The venue

Magnano, a Peaceful Setting to Reconnect with Yourself

Nestled in the countryside of northern Italy, approximately three hours’ drive from French-speaking Switzerland, Magnano offers the perfect setting to step away from everyday life, slow down, and reconnect with yourself.

The retreat unfolds across several welcoming houses in the village, all within a short walking distance of one another, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Carpooling is encouraged and coordinated when you register, making the journey easier for those who prefer not to drive long distances or don’t have their own vehicle.

The schedule

A Typical Day at the Retreat

Each day offers a thoughtful balance of two to three individual therapeutic sessions and group practices, with a gentle pace that allows time for rest, recovery, and integration.

The retreat begins on Saturday evening and concludes the following Friday.

Grilled aubergine salad with pomegranate, roasted squash and edible flowers

7:30
am

Morning Walk

A walk in nature, incorporating body-based self-regulation techniques inspired by Somatic Experiencing®.

8:00
am

Morning Smoothie

A nourishing start to the day.

8:30
am

Qi Gong

A traditional Chinese mind-body practice combining gentle movements, breathing and mindful awareness to cultivate balance and vitality.

9:30
am

Individual Therapeutic Sessions

Until 12:30 pm: bodywork, energy-based therapies, Somatic Experiencing® or CellGym®, according to your personalised programme.

12:45
pm

Lunch

Delicious, nourishing cuisine thoughtfully prepared by chef Alex Rahmatulins.

2:15
pm

Individual Therapeutic Sessions

Until 5:15 pm: a continuation of your personalised treatment programme.

5:30
pm

Group Workshop

An opportunity to explore, learn and deepen your understanding of health and well-being.

7:00
pm

Evening Check-In

A moment to reflect, share experiences and integrate the day’s discoveries.

7:30
pm

Dinner

A nourishing meal to enjoy together.

9:00
pm

Evening Meditation

A peaceful moment to unwind and prepare for a restful night.

Testimonials

“Transformed”: In Their Own Words

Three to four weeks after each retreat, the co-founders personally reconnect with every participant. These conversations reveal how the benefits of the experience continue to unfold in everyday life, as participants embrace new habits and take an active role in sustaining their well-being.

I was suffering from chronic pain due to an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as post-traumatic shocks and mental overload. I arrived in survival mode and I left in rebirth mode. Thanks to all the therapists, I experienced a rebirth and I am eternally grateful to them. I thank them for their kindness, gentleness and attentiveness.

Magda