13 – 18 December 2026
Threshold: Navigating Change with Grace
About the retreat
Solstice Digital Detox Retreat
There are moments in life when something ends… and something else has not yet begun. This is the threshold.
At the winter solstice—the deepest point of darkness and the quiet turning toward light—we invite you to step out of the noise and into this sacred in-between.
To unplug from the outer world and the inner commentary that keeps you busy, distracted, and disconnected.
What begins as a pause becomes a crossing: from doing into being, from control into trust.
As you unplug, you may first encounter the restless mind—the planning, the replaying, the subtle tension of trying to hold life together.
This is where the real work begins. Through meditation, conscious movement, and contemplative practices, you will learn not only to disconnect from external stimulation, but to gently release the inner voice that narrates and distorts your experience. In the space that opens, something else becomes available: a quiet, steady presence—clear, compassionate, and deeply alive.
Change is not the problem. Resistance to change is.
This retreat is a living laboratory for meeting transitions with awareness, grace, and courage. Through periods of silence, nervous system reset, nature immersion, and authentic human connection, you will explore impermanence, soften your grip on identity, and rediscover the intelligence of the body and heart. You will learn how to stand in the unknown without collapsing—how to move with life as it unfolds.
You will leave with more than rest. You will leave with a new orientation to the beauty of change itself. Equipped with practical tools to regulate your system, create healthy boundaries with technology, and return to presence in the midst of life’s demands, you step back across the threshold—clearer, steadier, and more open to possibility. This is not an escape from life. It is a training in how to live it—with grace.
What to Expect
– Daily Meditation and Dharma (Wisdom) Dialogues / Talks with Q & A.
– Guided embodiment practices – Mindful movement, somatic explorations, mindful walking & nature immersions, 3 optional yoga classes during the week.
– Inquiry, insight, dyads, healing arts & creative projects.
– Periods of social silence and digital detox.
– Personal free time to integrate what you learn
At a glance
Who is this for?
– Ideal for people struggling with burnout and year-end exhaustion.
– Those who seek to understand and heal their inner world.
– Visionaries, leaders, and cultural creatives wanting to recalibrate and fortify.
– Anyone who needs to shake up the status quo of their life.
– Spiritually overwhelmed, those who want practices easily integrated in the modern world.
– Anyone having difficulty making decisions and lacking in direction of what’s next.
INCLUDED
- Course fee
- 5 nights accommodation in Single, Twin, Double and Shared Rooms
- Full board – 3 vegetarian meals a day and snacks
- Fruit and teas
- Free use of Body Care Center facilities: sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, indoor heated swimming pool
NOT INCLUDED
- Flight to/from Milano (ideally Malpensa International airport MXP)
- Transfers to/from Mandali Retreat Center
- Massage and therapies at the Body Care Center
Teachers
Nishta Matarese
Get to Know
Evangelos Diavolitsis
Get to know
AGENDA
Arrival Day
Schedule subject to change – final program shared on the first day.
** To be fully available for the program – Please clear your working calendar before arrival.
14.00 – 17:30 Arrivals – Free Time – Enjoy your own rhythm
17:30 – 19:00 Open Session
19:00 – 20:00 Dinner
20:30 – 22.00 Evening Session
Daily Schedule
* Mid week – ½ day off – no activities
07:45 – 08:30 Session 1
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast (in Silence)
10:30 – 12:30 Session 2
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
15:00 – 17:00 Session 3
17:00 – 17:30 Tea Break
17.30 – 18.45 Yoga (optional)
19:00 – 20:00 Dinner
20:30 – 21.30 Session 4
Departure Day
07:45 – 08:30 Session 1
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast (in Silence)
By 10:00 Check Out
10:30 – 12:30 Closing Session
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch
14:00 – Departure
PEACEFUL
PRACTICE ROOMS
Experienced & Established Teachers
3 Delicious Vegetarian Meals a Day
Tea & Fruits throughout the day
Welcoming & cosy Rooms
Yoga & Meditation
PROPS
Scenic
Hiking Trails
contemplative outdoor nooks
Body Care Centre
Massages
(at an extra cost)
magical permaculture gardens
Mandali was an incredible experience in a beautiful placE
I wish I’d spent more than 3 days there and truly hope to go back in the future. The rooms were very comfortable, the teachers were lovely, the food was delicious - I have absolutely no complaints and can’t say enough good things. Mandali was well worth the trip!
Kate Lessard
also happened to have discovered Self Love
“I came to Mandali to learn to be in the present moment. In the end, not only did I find what I was looking for, but I also happened to have discovered Self Love, and found my Inner Trust.”
Vera
give oneself the sweetest gift of self-care
“I recommend this experience to anyone looking to slow down, reconnect in beautiful surroundings filled with attention to detail, and to give oneself the sweetest gift of self-care.”
Luisa
Being at Mandali allowed me to calm down
“Being at Mandali allowed me to calm down and quiet my thinking mind. The calmness allowed me to realise how grateful I am about everything in my life.”
IRIS
Mandali felt like coming home
“Mandali felt like coming home and it made me open up so much and learn more about myself and others around me. Thank you so much for opening this part of me.”
GAIKY
I learned that silence is very treasurable
“I came to Mandali to reconnect and maybe even find myself again. During my stay, I learned that silence is very treasurable, and with it, I could finally hear what my inner voice was saying.”
WV
You can let go of layers, and find such a peaceful side of yourself
“Your generosity, your kindness and your warm smiles are the cherries on the cake. Being here means living life to the fullest in every single moment. You can let go of layers, and find such a peaceful side of yourself. Go silent, sit still, let it move you and take that ride.”
