Tuscany Arts and Healing co-ordinate and facilitate workshops, events and courses focussing on personal growth, healing and creativity in stunning venues within the breathtaking landscapes around Tuscany.


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The Wonderful Way of Tai Chi

The Wonderful Way of Tai Chi 2025: A 5-day 4-night Residential Retreat of Practice and Principles with Timothy Spratt in a stunningly beautiful and tranquil location in the hills near Lucca, Northern Tuscany.
5-9 April 2025

"The most fabulous and rewarding retreat I have ever been to" (FG, Tai Chi Retreat, April 2024)
Improve and strengthen your wellbeing through the ways of TAI CHI, the ancient Chinese tradition that combines movement with meditation and natural breathing patterns, under the expert guidance of inspirational TAI CHI and MEDITATION teacher, Timothy Spratt.

"The most fabulous and rewarding retreat I have ever been to" (FG, Tai Chi Retreat, April 2024)
Improve and strengthen your wellbeing through the ways of TAI CHI, the ancient Chinese tradition that combines movement with meditation and natural breathing patterns, under the expert guidance of inspirational TAI CHI and MEDITATION teacher, Timothy Spratt.


WHAT IS TAI CHI?

TAI CHI is a physical movement Art of balance and energy. Its roots being in systems of self-defence, its continuity into the present era reaches us from the past of a long-ago China.

As such, it forms an integral part of Taoist philosophy taking its inspiration from the world of natural phenomena - of seasons and landscapes, of cycles of change, of stillness and movement - guiding us and instilling in us down-to-earth ways of everyday common sense, of healing and wellbeing.


For The Wonderful Way of TAI CHI 2025, Tim will be teaching principles of Tai Chi Form, with a focus on circularity, centre, and turning. This will include circle-walking and an exploration of the familiar YIN YANG symbol – (more properly called the TAI CHI TU) - in a fully physical sense.

The repeated nature of this practice, crossing the border into Tai Chi's sister art of BAGUA, makes it particularly meditative. Not only an exploration in the body, therefore, but into the being-time of our Mind and Spirit also. By its practice, we promote self-healing, nurturing a self-stability as we age, recovering and cultivating a sustained and centred wellbeing.



Our aim is to present a retreat suitable for complete beginners alongside those who already practise Tai Chi, wishing to continue or refresh their study. 

The group attending will learn a short, cyclical, flowing sequence of elements, grounded in natural principles and embodying vital energy postures.

These are take-home skills to deepen into our lives, to restore health not only in ourselves but in our wider society also.

AS THIS IS FOR YOU, THIS IS FOR US ALL.


And as time allows, Tim will be on hand to guide you privately, in practicalities of meditation or aspects of the overall practice more generally, as well as offering to the group an introduction to the Chinese Way of Tea - this preparation and tasting of some fine examples having become something of a favourite on our past retreats!

Tim has been teaching TAI CHI, Chi Kung and Meditation in the UK since the mid-1990s. Based in London, and now also in Wales, he runs a private studio offering regular classes to small groups and one-to-one tuition.



He is also an experienced organiser and has led Retreat Weeks and Workshops both in the UK and Italy in recent years, drawing participants from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. In the UK, in addition to the on-going classes, he also leads Study Weekends and urban Mini-retreat Meditation Days during the year.


Tim began his study of Tai Chi and Chi Kung in the early 1980s, training with a direct student of the Yang family tradition at the Kensington and Chelsea College in London. He then taught these same classes himself over a period of 7 years, before setting up his own studio in 2001. Altogether, his study, training and teaching extend to over 35 years of immersive commitment. For more information on Tim, his work and his writings, you can visit his website which is https://www.timstudio.co.uk

Tim Spratt

Between tuition periods, you will be able to explore the beautiful grounds of the Villa Boccella estate with walks through the olive groves, or book a massage, Indian Head massage or session of reflexology with our in-house therapist (at an additional price).

Travel to the venue is not included but we can arrange airport transfers as well as pick up in Lucca. Travel insurance is mandatory for those who come from abroad.

The retreat is open to EVERYONE including beginners, with the teaching being given in English.

The Retreat includes:
- 4 nights accommodation at the Dependance on the Villa Boccella estate (twin-bedded en suite rooms; a limited
number of en suite single/double rooms available too)
- all tuition with our tutor, Timothy Spratt, as well as optional one-to-one sessions
- all meals and refreshments
- delicious freshly-prepared meals with locally sourced ingredients with wine or non-alcoholic drinks served at
the evening meal
- unlimited supply of teas, coffee, herbal and fruit teas, and fresh fruit
- Tourist Tax

Cost of the Retreat inclusive of all the above:-

En suite twin-bedded room: €1,140
En suite single room: €1,370

If you would like to reserve a place on this special Retreat, please email tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com and specify which accommodation option you would prefer and send me a deposit for €100 via bank transfer to my Wise euro account (details upon receipt of an email).

For those of you from the UK, you can also pay in pounds sterling (at the equivalent exchange rate). The exchange rate is particularly attractive at the moment.

The deposit is non-refundable. It is a condition of booking that you read and understand the Terms and Conditions before you make the booking which I will send out to you. The prices are per person.

SECURE YOUR SPOT WITH ONLY €100 DEPOSIT!!

For more details of this and any special offers we are running, please email tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com. I am always happy to help!

  • 4pm 5 April - 12pm 9 April 2025
  • From €1,140 per person
  • 12 places
  • 5-9 April 2025

Call: +39 345 3140844
Email: tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com

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Location

Villa Boccella is an immaculately restored 17c Tuscan estate with extensive grounds set amongst the rolling hills of N Tuscany. It is very well situated only 10km from the historic, walled city of Lucca and an hour's drive from Pisa with its international airport.

Our Retreat takes place in the Dependance of the Villa and we will be using the adjacent, light and airy Studio for our Tai Chi sessions. The acccommodation is top quality throughout and all bedrooms are spacious, tastefully furnished and en suite. There will be ample opportunity to explore the fine landscaped gardens with rare specimens of trees and shrubs and views over the surrounding countryside. It is a truly magical place.

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Booking & Information

For bookings and further information, please contact: Jane Parkinson, Co-ordinator and Facilitator
Email: tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com

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Yoga Day Retreat

Revitalise your energy with our Yoga Retreat Day in a stunningly beautiful and tranquil location near Lucca in Northern Tuscany
10 March 2024

We are delighted to be able to host this restorative and relaxing Yoga Retreat Day with highly-recommended yoga instructor Joann Connington at the incomparable Villa Boccella near Lucca in Northern Tuscany.

We are delighted to be able to host this restorative and relaxing Yoga Retreat Day with highly-recommended yoga instructor Joann Connington at the incomparable Villa Boccella near Lucca in Northern Tuscany.


Take a day out for yourself and enjoy all the benefits of personalised yoga instruction with an inspirational teacher in a stunning location, easily accessible by car and public transport from Lucca. We are limiting our retreat day to a maximum of 8 students to allow for maximum social distancing.

Our Yoga Retreat Day, which will be conducted in English, will offer a gentle flow of postures (asanas) with consistent attention to the breath. The Workshop is suitable for all levels.

The emphasis in the morning will be on more dynamic postures that provide a strong foundation for the day. In the afternoon, we will focus on restful and restorative poses that will relax the body and still the mind.

Joann has taught for over 30 years in Aspen in Colorado and has led Yoga Retreats in Mexico, the United States and Italy. She offers instruction influenced by the teachings of BKS Iyengar as well as many other Hatha Yoga instructors over decades of study. She now lives in Lucca where she has built up a strong following amongst her students both in classes and on retreats here.

The Yoga will take place in the airy and light-filled Studio with its underfloor heating at Villa Boccella, near Lucca. Lunch and all refreshments will be served in the adjacent Dependance with its lovely dining room, log fire and attractive conservatory.

The cost for the day is €75, inclusive of yoga instruction, mats and yoga props, and freshly-prepared vegetarian lunch and all refreshments.

All mats and props will have been sanitised before the retreat day but please bring your own mat or a towel to place on top of the mat as well as your own blanket.

€25 deposit will secure your place payable either in cash for local students or via Tuscany Arts and Healing's Paypal account. Please email me for details of how to pay. We are offering refundable deposits in case of illness due to the current situation. The balance is to be paid in cash on the day or via our Paypal account prior to the course.

We take the health and safety of our yoga students and venue very seriously and have been planning measures to safeguard your health and wellbeing whilst on our retreat day and to ensure that you will be able to relax knowing that we are following COVID-19 guidelines. Please email tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com for details of the measures we have put in place for our retreat day at Villa Boccella.


  • 10am - 5pm
  • From €75 per person
  • 8 places
  • Spring 2024. Date to be confirmed.

Call: +39 345 3140844
Email: tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com

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Location

.


Villa Boccella is an immaculately restored 17c Tuscan estate with extensive grounds set amongst the rolling hills of N Tuscany. It is very well situated only 10km from the historic, walled city of Lucca and an hour's drive from Pisa with its international airport.

Our Retreat takes place in the Dependance of the Villa and we will be using the adjacent. light and airy Studio with its underfloor heating for our yoga sessions. There will be ample opportunity to explore the fine landscaped gardens with rare specimens of trees and shrubs and views over the surrounding countryside. It is a truly magical place.

Course image
Booking & Information

For bookings and further information, please contact: Jane Parkinson, Co-ordinator and Facilitator
Email: tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com

Contact us

call: +39 345 3140844
email: tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com

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© 2024 Tuscany Arts & Healing

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Call: +39 345 3140844 -or- +44 (0)77 02 712986
Email: tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com