Enhance Your Life: Cultivating Joy & Meaning with Mindfulness and Savoring
8 days Learning Getaway in Istria, Croatia
27.9. - 4.10.2025.
If you’re an active person looking for more meaning & joy in life instead of rushing from one experience to another – this learning getaway is for you! Join us for 8 days of immersion in the charming nature of Istria to recharge and set the foundation for life with more presence, meaning & quality. You’ll reconnect with your inner compass & return home with renewed energy and ready-to-use tools to live your best life.
How would you like to
let go of stress and overwhelm in any area of your life, even when things get busy?
take an intentional week to reflect on how you truly want to live?
start building new habits of more mindfulness and enjoyment that will deeply impact all areas of your life?
recharge and refresh your energy while in a great company?
bring back the calm and intentionality to your everyday life?
If that sounds like something that you would love to do, don’t miss the chance to join us for this recharging an inspiring event!
Join us for this Learning Getaway – a week of exploring topics of mindfulness & savoring, immersed in stunning nature, in a company of 11 amazing co-explorers.
Dive into a rich & insightful learning program to explore how to live a more mindful life and take the time to recharge your batteries & revive your mind – all while enjoying the wholesome, balanced days in a marvellous environment.
“Enhance Your Life: Cultivating Joy & Meaning with Mindfulness and Savoring” getaway is designed for you to discover many valuable, practical, science-based tools in an immersive, engaging way – with the main focus of applying those tools to living an (even) more enjoyable and fulfilled life.
It is designed for you if you are…
…seeking to infuse your dynamic and active life with deeper joy and meaning,
… looking to cultivate richer, more fulfilling experiences amidst your busy lifestyle
… would love to live a more mindful & present life
… wish to gain practical new tools, techniques and ideas from mindfulness & savoring that will give you more joy, meaning & quality of experiences in your life.
Join us at this Learning Getaway and learn science-based tools and techniques from mindfulness and savoring that will support you in building a life filled with joy, excitement, purpose and fulfillment.
How Will You Enhance Your Life by Joining Us at the Learning Getaway?
You will leave this getaway with a better understanding of what are the sources of mindfulness for you – and feeling deeply refreshed, recharged, and motivated.
You will gain many practical ideas, tips, & tricks on how to infuse more happiness, meaning, and enjoyment into your everyday life & work.
You Will Experience Mindfulness & Savoring
The deepest insights, motivation and clarity come from experience – that is why on this learning getaway we will look to build rich and diverse experiences & examples of how mindful days & mindful life might look like for you.
You Will Gain Clarity on Role of Mindfulness in Your Life
Mindfulness is an incredibly important foundation for a fulfilled life.
Yet, it is not “one size fits all”.
Aligning your journey with your personality, lifestyle, preferences and priorities in life is the key to making the new habits sustainable & impactful.
You Will Recharge & Renew Your Energy
Our physical, mental and emotional energy is a crucial part of our wellbeing and a fulfilled life.
Through mindful experiences and light, engaging activities, you will get the chance to recharge your batteries, sharpen your thinking & spark your creativity.
Six Themes of the Getaway
In addition to the arrival and departure day, we will explore 6 topics in the 6 days of the learning program:
Day 2: Enjoying Food Deeply with Savoring
Day 3: Engaging with Your Body & Senses
Day 4: Breath as a Gateway to more Calm, Focus & Presence
Day 5: Mindfully Immersing Yourself in the Beauty of Environment
Day 6: Deepening Connections & Conversations with Mindfulness
Day 7: Building a Mindful Life – Life of Excitement and Enjoyment
How Will Your Experience Look Like?
Here is a glimpse into how it was in the previous edition:
Workshops & Learning
This course will give you a broad range of new ideas about strengthening & developing your own mindfulness.
We will have a 3h workshop in the morning of each day, which will be experiential, dynamic and engaging. During the workshop we will dive deep into the practical side of mindfulness, while mantaining a relaxed atmoshpere.
Additionally, we wiil have several smaller learning experiences and exercises sprinkled throughout the day, combining fun with the educational purposes of our getaway.
What you will get includes tools to apply in your everyday life, the opportunity to explore and see what works best for your unique style and plenty of encouragement to adapt mindfulness and savoring to your own preferences and lifestyle.
Throughout the workshop, you’ll learn how to:
- build more mindfulness in your life & how mindfulness impacts your wellbeing
- discover & practice research-based tools & techniques for mindfulness
- develop a clear understanding of pre-conditions & triggers that help you be mindful & present
- explore aspects of mindfulness in practice
- recognize traps that sabotage you and learn how to avoid them
- identify your personal style – what aspect of mindfulness is most valuable for you?
- learn “mindfulness hacks” – tricks you can implement without effort, for more mindfulness
- start building a habit of approaching moments more mindfully
- plan how to fit mindfulness in the broader picture of your life
Activities: Trips and Experiences Included
While the week will be packed with many surprises and unique experiences – and we do not want to give too many spoilers ahead of time – here are some of the main trips and experiences planned:
– Visit to Groznjan and Motovun – two of the prettiest Istrian villages that will steal your heart with their adorable small stone streets and gorgeous views
– Spending a “leisure day” in Rovinj, a beautiful seaside city (including beach time)
– Cheese tasting, with a variety of locally produced cheeses
– Visiting one of the best wineries in the area for wine tasting
– Walking in olive groves, both for tastings and the incredible nature that they offer
– Tasting truffles that the area is famous for
– Hiking the beautiful path of the 7 waterfalls
– …and much more
Location
The Istrian Peninsula: Our Home for This Getaway
Istria
Istria is the largest peninsula of the Adriatic Sea and is shared by three countries: Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy.
Istria is incredibly diverse. It offers the picturesque coastline as well as the natural beauties of the green inland. At this magical place you will find white-topped mountains, vineyards and olive groves on hillsides, plateaux, valleys, and naturally the sea.
The rich culture, a delicious high-quality cuisine and the variety of potential activities make Istria exceptional.
Tinjan
The village in which our villa is located is simply a super small village with pretty much nothing going on. Really.
While we will have a wonderful, quiet and spacious oasis of the villa to savor and enjoy, that means that out of educational program, meaningful conversations, foodie moments at the villa, pool time and enjoying beautiful setting, we will also be doing quite some short trips to enjoy diverse experiences and explore Istria.
The Villa: Our Perfect Oasis to Practice Mindfulness
The villa where we will be staying is spacious and perfectly quiet.
While the villa retains a rustic atmoshpere, it is combined with touches of luxury and artistic details.
Our oasis is situated in a small quiet village, but we will also be visiting Istrian charming hilltop villages, peaceful beaches with the most gorgeous sunsets, and immersive nature spots – all within 30-40 minutes drive.
The bedrooms all include ensuite bathrooms, and the villa itself has many beautiful spots where you can relax by yourself or with company.
Cuisine
All our meals will be home-made, nourishing and delicious.
We will have a variety of different dishes, all of which you are bound to enjoy.
Cheese Tasting
One of our days there, we will also visit a small local cheese producer to explore the flavours of their cheese.
We will taste various types of cheese, with different textures and from different ingredients.
The diversity of cheeses will allow you to examine and assess various aromas and flavors, making the entire cheese tasting experience one that you will not want to miss.
What Will the Week Look Like? Day per Day Outline
Our goal at the event is to build a strong foundation for a more mindful life.
Through daily activities, we will explore mindfulness from many perspectives – from mindful eating & body awareness, to connections with others & with yourself.
While you can find a detailed outline of the days with you here, do keep in mind that this is custom-tailored experience, and the final design of the program will be adjusted to the needs & preferences of the attendees
The general outline of our days will be:
- Breakfast around 8:30
- Workshop from 9:30 to 12:30
- Tasty lunch after we finish with that day’s workshop
- Afterwards, we will usually venture out for a trip and then come back to the villa for our dinner (except on the day when we will have our dinner outside)
Below you can find more specific information on each day’s schedule.
After arrival (at 16h), you’ll have plenty of time to settle down and explore the environment.
We will have a relaxed evening after your journey, sharing the first delicious dinner together.
You will have time to get to know the other lovely people or chill by the pool in the beautiful villa.
This day will be very light in terms of activities – we will explore a couple of easygoing mindful activities and take time to get to know the group.
To glide into the topic of mindfulness in an easy & enjoyable way, we will start by exploring mindfulness in the context of food. As the week will be rich in foodie experiences, it is also a great way of setting the foundation for enjoying all these tasty meals!
In the morning workshop we will explore different tools and practices related to eating more mindfully, consuming food more consciously, and developing more awareness & enjoyment through savoring.
Next to learning and trying out diverse exercises, you will have a chance to reflect how do you wish to put these new ideas in practice throughout this week and in your everyday life after the Getaway.
In the afternoon, we will put this new mindset into practice on cheese tasting. It will be an easy going day, allowing you some time to process the first experiences and recharge.
On our second day, we will move deeper into mindfulness practices by learning how to tune into our body & senses. Mindfulness of body helps us feel better and more free in our own body, as well as helps us enjoy experiences more, explore movement in a more aware and conscious way, notice our needs and emotions sooner, and live a healthier life.
Through simple exercises, we will learn to connect in our body in 2 ways: on one side listening to our body better, and on the other side using body as a tool to impact our mind & emotions in a positive way.
In the afternoon, we will venture out of our oasis to explore a new and gorgeous place – a quaint seaside town Rovinj. We will savor the day with mindful walk in it’s gorgeous parks, moment on the beach with picnic, and finish the day curiously wandering in it’s cobblestone streets.
On our third day, we will continue our mindfulness journey with one of the most important techniques: mindful breathing. Mindful breathing can help us deepen our focus throughout the day, empower us to manage our energy & emotions better, and support us in the face of anxiety-provoking situations.
We will explore the power of breath through practical techniques, and learn diverse practical, simple yet effective tools that you will be able to use in many situations of everyday life.
In the afternoon, we will explore breathtaking village of Groznjan with a mindful walk, exploring its adorable streets and small artistic galleries, finishing the trip with a gorgeous sunset.
We will finish the day with tasty and nourishing dinner in our villa.
On our fourth day, we will take a break from workshops and explore mindfulness by immersing ourselves in a beautiful nature of Istria. We will go for a long but easy hike on the path of 7 waterfalls, consciously appreciating our environment and deeply recharging.
Located in the beautiful Istria with its gorgeous scenery, our practice for the day will be as educating as it will be inspiring!
We will finish the day with an evening of deep meditative relaxation, for deepest sleep and recharge.
Reconnecting mindfulness with our “real life”, today we will explore bringing more mindfulness into our connections and conversations. How can we relate to others deeper and with more meaning?
We will practice mindful conversations, learn interesting tools to bring back into our relationships, and learn more about the others and ourselves in the process.
In the evening we will take a bit of mindful time to process the whole week. You will have a chance to choose your flavor of experience for the afternoon between chill by the pool, having a silent afternoon, visiting adrenaline park, or engage in an optional book discussion.
We will finish the day with dinner out in a nearby local & authentic restaurant, exploring wonders and specialties of Croatian cuisine.
On our last day, we will combine everything we learned on this getaway. All our experiences throughout this mindfulness journey will come together to shape a newfound sense of mindfulness in all life areas.
In the morning, you will leave the villa after breakfast (we will take you to the airport or bus station, depending on where you are going next). You will take a moment to say goodbye to the magnificent villa, endearing group of new friends, and this memorable experience, while also setting your intention what learning from this powerful experience do you wish to take back into your everyday life.
The insights into mindfulness and living a more enjoyable life will remain with you, for you to bring them into all other aspects of your life.
When, Where and Who?
When? 27th of September – 4th of October 2025.
Where? A beautiful villa located in the little village Tinjan in the heart of Istria, Croatia.
Who? 12 curious individuals who wish to strengthen mindfulness & enjoyment in their life, and improve the quality of their life in a relaxed and engaging way, in a gorgeous environment.
What is the Price of This Learning Getaway & What is Included?
Fee to join the Getaway:
The early bird fee applies for bookings in April & May, OR first 5 (out of 12) spots, whichever comes first.
- 1 person in a shared twin room (large beds around 120 cm – We have just one twin room available, so do book quickly!) with ensuite bathroom or double room ->
- 1980 eu regular fee
- 1880 eu for June bookings (or after the first 5 spots are booked)
- 1780 eu for early bird valid in April and May
- 1 person as single occupancy in a double room (extra-large bed) with ensuite bathroom
- 2460 eu regular fee
- 2360 eu for June bookings (or after the first 5 spots are booked)
- 2260 eu for early bird bookings in April & May
- 2 persons in a double room (extra-large bed) with ensuite bathroom (includes both persons)
- 3960 eu for regular
- 3760 for June bookings (or after the first 5 spots are booked)
- or 3560 eu for early bird available in April & May
Signups close on 1st of September, or when all spots are booked.
Fee includes pretty much everything since the moment you arrive to the location until the moment you depart:
- All Delicious Meals:
- Daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner during the program, designed according to your preferences and with focus on great food experiences (alcohol excluded) – find details under the “Cuisine” section
- Your Beautiful Room:
- Lodging for 7 nights in a beautiful villa, in double rooms (notice: extra-large double beds only, except for one room!)
- Transportation to the getaway location from the nearby bus station or airport (please get in touch individually to check about this, as it will depend on your point of arrival)
- Learning Program & Materials:
- The Happiness Academy program with daily 3h workshop and many small mindfulness exercises sprinkled through the day in a relaxed yet insightful way
- Trips, Experiences and Activities:
- Including several savoring & sporty adventures, and 3 trips (one full day and two shorter ones) to other villages and the seaside – find details under the “Activities” section (feel free to get in touch to ask what seem to be the current preferences of the group that signed up so far)
- Materials:
- All materials during the program
- your flight & travel to the villa
- travel insurance (highly recommended!)
- hiking or snorkeling equipment (although you can get in touch if you need something specific and we will seek to support you with that)
- extra personal expenses that you might have during the trip, such as extra drinks or dinner out, if you choose to go for some
- alcoholic drinks
The best way to discuss options is to get in touch via contact form or application form, and share your questions and preferences.
What Do Participants of Our Previous Getaways Say?
Here are a couple of words from our previous participants of the “Enjoy Life Fully” Istria Getaway.
Here are a couple of words from our previous participants of the “Build a Life of Flow” Lastovo lighthouse Getaway.
How Do I Join, You Wonder?
Click on the button below and let me know that you are interested in joining!
*After you sign up, you will be invited for a personal interview, as we want to make sure all participants resonate with the values and approach of Happiness Academy and fit with the rest of the group.
Once the group is defined, you will also receive a detailed questionnaire about your preferences for activities, food, and program details, as the program will be tailored to your needs and preferences.
Your Trainer - Mirna Smidt
Mirna Smidt is an interpersonal skills trainer and coach, full of positive energy and passionate about creating impactful learning experiences.
She discovered the concept of flow through Csikszentmihaly’s amazing book while sailing on Whitsundays in Australia in 2009 – and spent two days with her nose in the book. When she got back to the real world – the enchanting world of snorkeling and sailing Whitsundays – it was to start exploring flow in practice, in real life.
Being a trainer already (Mirna has been a certified trainer since 2008, an NLP Master Practitioner, and holds a range of coaching and training-related certifications), she chose to shift her focus (and her whole career) towards the training in positive psychology.
It also led her to become one of the first people in Europe to complete a Master of Applied Positive Psychology at Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge (graduating on the topic of training of flow).
She is the founder of Happiness Academy, an initiative through which she is designing and delivering a broad range of positive psychology educational events and materials. Mirna also started Trainer’s Toolbox, a project through which she develops creative tools for trainers and coaches.
Apart from training, Mirna is in love with rich experiences and adventures – she is an avid traveler, a bookworm, and in love with the sea (sailing, diving, kayaking), nature, horses, and outdoor sports.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
On the event, all the food will be included (and delicious), based on food preferences of the applicants.
It will include:
- welcome dinner on arrival
- rich breakfast for 7 days
- one big meal a day for the 6 main days of the program (a couple of meals out and further special foodie experiences)
- one simpler meal for the 6 main days
- snacks (fruit, nuts, energy bars)
Vegetarian and vegan options are possible, as well as lactose-free, but unfortunately due to limitations of the remote location, it might not be possible for us to accommodate specific allergies.
Please get in touch and ask for details.
Our venue is a magnificent villa, beautifully designed, surrounded by untouched nature and with it’s own swimming pool. It is a beautiful, spacious protected oasis perfect for full immersion into the experience.
A combination of modern industrial style and rustic elements creates a unique atmosphere.
Four modern, spacious bedrooms can accommodate up to 8 people, each with its own charm and an attached bathroom. Most of the rooms are shared rooms, with double beds.
While we will all work in the big villa, part of the group (4 participants) will be accommodated in the neighbouring villa with 2 double rooms – only a short walk away, quieter, and equally beautiful.
*Due to the setting of double beds, the emphasis will be on people joining together with a close friend or a partner.
It might be possible to book a double room for just 1 person, but this would impact both the price significantly, and the total number of participants that will be able to join.
It would be best to land to the Rijeka or Pula airport. Pickup from Pazin (which you can reach by bus or taxi from these airports) is included, and we will seek to pick you up all the way from the airport.
There are two more airports where arrival might be possible – Trieste and Zagreb – but they are a bit more distant from our location.
Please, make sure to get in touch before booking your travel to ensure that we can support you with your arrival plan.
Yes, travel insurance is mandatory. So, please, make the necessary arrangements when planning your trip.
Autumn is mild in this region but occasional rain is possible, so it is better to be prepared for some chilly days as well.
Here are some ideas of what you might need:
- sunscreen
- a hat
- sunglasses
- earplugs
- a beach towel (for seaside day)
- swimwear
- proper trail shoes (also good for slippery, muddy terrain)
- something to shield yourself from the possible rain
- some warmer clothes for the chilly nights (just in case)
- any medication you might need (including stuff like painkillers, allergy stuff etc.)
*If you can’t bring some of these, please make sure to let me know at least a week before the event, and I will see to get it for you.
Attendees all share an enthusiasm about personal growth and leading a fullfilling life.
Flourishing and self-empowerment might be objectives we will all be sharing in this getaway, but this is also a great place to meet inspiring and interesting people with different backgrounds, who can help expand your mindset even further.
During the application process, we make sure all of the attendees share similar values and have gathered for the same purpose: learning more about their own self-development and living their best lives.
We ensure that all participants fit with the group and the goal of this getaway by conducting a short 1:1 interview after they apply.
In other words, while you might arrive as a group of strangers, it is most likely you will depart as a group of friends.
If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to pair you with someone else who is also seeking a roommate. Then we can also get you in contact with your roommate, so you can get to know each other before the getaway.
In case there is no one to pair you with, your room will be considered a single, and an additional single occupancy supplement will be added to your retreat fee.
Of course not! You are always in control of your own choices and master of your own journey and are invited to follow your own energy, mood and needs.
That being said, participation in workshops (3 hours each morning) is expected as this is primarily a learning event. Other than that none of the activites are mandatory, however every aspect of this getaway has been designed in a way that is intended to offer a more fulfilling experience to you and it’s extremely likely that you will not want to miss even a step along the way.
Check in on arrival day is from 4pm onwards, and check out on departure day is until 10am.
Of course! Connection to the Internet will be available in our villa throughout the duration of the getaway.
We will need to leave the villa on Saturday by 10am, as the location must be booked weekly and the checkout time is fairly fixed.
However, if you would like to extend your trip and stay longer in beautiful Istria or somewhere else nearby (e.g. Croatian coast, Zagreb, Slovenia, and Venice are all very nearby), we will be happy to help you plan the rest of your trip.
Yes, paying in 2-3 installments is possible, as long as full amoung it paid by the beginning of September. Please get in touch about this option.
Depending on the moment in which you cancel, it will be possible to gain part of your fee back.
In case you cancel by the end of May and we (or you) manage to find a direct replacement for your spot, you will receive your full fee back.
If you cancel earlier than 1 month before the starting date of the event, you will receive 50% of your fee back.
If you cancel 1 month before the retreat (or less) and no direct replacement is found to fill your spot, a return of the fee will not be possible.
Join us for this journey!
“Enhance Your Life: Cultivating Joy & Meaning with Mindfulness and Savoring” learning getaway is an opportunity to learn in a deep, engaging, enjoyable and practical way and develop skills that are truly life-changing.
Allow the Getaway to become a foundation for your unique and authentic journey of exploring and building life rich in mindfulness, meaning and joy.
.Do not miss the chance to join us for this inspiring learning getaway – click underneath to join:
No Comments Found