Tuscany retreat announced for Mental Health Month

Dr. Desi Bartlett and Ilanit Blumenfeld announced a new wellness retreat in Tuscany on May 19, tying the program to Mental Health Awareness Month. The retreat is scheduled for November 4-8, 2026, according to a PR Newswire release published by Morningstar. Organizers said the program will center on meditation, yoga nidra, breathwork and nervous-system regulation. Bartlett and Blumenfeld are listed as the retreat’s leaders. ### Who is running the retreat? Dr. Desi Bartlett is identified in the release as a wellness expert with credentials including EdD, CPT and E-RYT. Bartlett’s website says she has taught health and wellness for more than 30 years. The release says she will lead the Tuscany program alongside Ilanit Blumenfeld, identified as MPH, RDN, CDN and founder of Encore Retreat. (morningstar.com) Ilanit Blumenfeld is presented in the announcement as the co-lead for the retreat, with training in public health and nutrition. The Morningstar-hosted release names both women as the organizers and says the offering is designed as an “intimate wellness experience” in Tuscany, Italy. (morningstar.com) ### What exactly is being offered in Tuscany? The November 4-8 dates make this a five-day retreat built around guided wellness practices rather than a single event. The release says the schedule will include meditation, yoga nidra, breathwork and techniques aimed at nervous-system regulation. Organizers also described the program as a “holistic reset” that combines ancient practices with what they called modern science. (morningstar.com) Tuscany, Italy is named as the setting, and the release says the retreat will use multi-day sessions, group work and guided practices. The announcement does not detail pricing in the portion publicly visible through Morningstar, but it does position the retreat as a curated in-person experience led by the two named wellness practitioners. (morningstar.com) ### How did the organizers connect it to Mental Health Awareness Month? May 19 is the date on the release, and the announcement explicitly says the retreat is being launched “in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.” The language in the release frames self-care and mind-body practices as part of mental-health support, with Bartlett saying mental health and physical health are closely connected. (morningstar.com) Bartlett is quoted in the release describing the retreat as a place for transformation, while the broader announcement links the Italy setting and guided practices to restoration and reset. Those claims come from the organizers’ promotional language rather than an independent clinical study attached to the announcement. (morningstar.com) ### What is known about Bartlett’s broader work? Desi Bartlett’s website describes her as a fitness, yoga and wellness teacher who has worked with brands and organizations including Manduka, Equinox Santa Monica and Gaiam. Her site also shows other retreat-style and virtual wellness offerings, suggesting the Tuscany event fits into a broader body of programming rather than a one-off launch. A separate page on Bartlett’s site says she was named 2025 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year. (morningstar.com) Her site also lists prior online retreat programs, including “Radiant Renewal,” which focused on guided wellness content delivered virtually. ### What happens next for people interested in the program? The next dated milestone in the announcement is November 4, 2026, when the Tuscany retreat is scheduled to begin. The public announcement available through Morningstar identifies Bartlett and Blumenfeld as the leaders and places the event in Tuscany, Italy from November 4 through November 8. (desibartlett.com) (morningstar.com) (desibartlett.com)