A retreat guided by Kettia Ming
Restoration
Six nights at Eremito, in the hills of Umbria
A centuries-old hermitage, fifteen guests, long quiet days, simple food from the garden, and room to come back to yourself.
Why Eremito
This is where I learned to stop white-knuckling my life.
Years ago, during one of the hardest seasons of my life, I boarded a plane to Italy for my first retreat.
I had no grand intention for the trip. I wasn't going to “find myself.” I wasn't looking for a breakthrough. I didn't even have the language to describe what I needed.
I only knew that I needed to step away.
I remember sitting on that transatlantic flight, looking out at the sunset and thinking, What the hell am I doing?
By then, I had spent much of my life learning how to handle things. I knew how to work harder, solve problems, carry responsibility, anticipate what could go wrong and figure out what to do next.
What I did not know how to do was stop.
In Run the Mile You're In, I write about that season and the realization that followed:
“I was searching for a way to stop white-knuckling my life.”
Run the Mile You're In
Eremito became part of that turning point.
In a little stone hermitage in the hills of Umbria, surrounded by silence, nature, strangers who would become treasured friends, and more space than I had allowed myself in years, something began to loosen.
I started to understand that I did not have to fight harder for every answer.
Sometimes I needed to become quiet enough to hear what was already there.
That experience followed me home. It changed how I understood faith, surrender, work, uncertainty and, eventually, myself.
I never imagined then that I would one day return to Eremito to guide a retreat of my own.
My word for 2027
But over the years, the idea kept returning.
And when my word for 2027 came to me, everything finally connected.
Restoration.
Not reinvention. Not becoming someone new.
Restoration is the return to what is still there beneath the noise.
For me, that has meant restoring a sense of self, joy, health, trust and the ability to let life support me rather than constantly bracing against it.
For you, it may mean something entirely different.
- A boundary.
- Grace.
- Creativity.
- Rest.
- Courage.
- Faith.
- A part of yourself you have not heard from in a very long time.
And you may not know yet.
I certainly didn't.
You do not need to arrive at Eremito with an answer.
Sometimes you simply know that something is calling you away from the noise and back toward yourself.
This retreat is the space for that.
The days
How a day moves
There's a rhythm, and every part of it is an invitation. Join what serves you and rest through the rest.
Movement
Yoga or meditation in the room that looks out over the valley, then breakfast.
Circle
A guided session with me and our facilitators. Conversation, reflection, and writing.
Yours
Walk the trails, nap, read on the terrace, or book time in the jacuzzi and Turkish bath.
Silence
Eremito's silent dinner by candlelight, then a bonfire under a sky full of stars.
Eremito is a place to put your phone down for a while. We'll help each other do it.
The place
A hermitage in the hills
Eremito sits halfway between Rome and Florence, inside a protected nature reserve. A centuries-old ruin was rebuilt stone by stone in the spirit of the monasteries of the region.
Each room is modeled on a monk's cell, simple and beautiful, with its own bathroom. The kitchen cooks from its own organic garden. The air is clean, the nights are deeply dark, and we'll have all of Eremito to ourselves for the week.
The details
What's included
Everything you need for the week is taken care of once you land in Rome.
- Six nights in a private room with a private bathroom
- Every meal, vegetarian and cooked from the garden
- Wine and water with meals
- Daily sessions with me and two facilitators
- Morning yoga and meditation
- The relaxation area: jacuzzi, Turkish bath, robe and slippers
- Group transfers between Rome Fiumicino and Eremito
- Retreat materials and a thoughtfully curated welcome gift
What to plan for
- Your flight to and from Rome Fiumicino
- Travel insurance, which I strongly recommend
Your investment
Fifteen places
Every guest has a private room. Your place may be reserved with a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit, or you may pay in full at the time of booking.
Paid in full at booking. Available to the first 5 guests, or through December 7, 2026, whichever comes first.
With the payment plan, through December 7, 2026.
With the payment plan, after December 7, 2026.
Your investment includesSix nights at Eremito, all meals, retreat programming, designated group airport transfers between Rome Fiumicino and Eremito, retreat materials, and a thoughtfully curated welcome gift. Airfare to and from Italy is not included.
Paying in fullIf you choose to pay in full, you will receive the rate available at the time of booking. The first $1,000 of your payment is nonrefundable.
About the depositBecause Eremito requires nonrefundable payments from us to secure the property, the $1,000 reservation deposit is nonrefundable. Additional cancellation terms will be outlined clearly before booking.
Payment planFor guests using the payment plan, the remaining balance is divided into two additional payments. Second payment: March 1, 2027. Final payment: May 1, 2027.
Your guide
Kettia Ming
Founder, author of Run the Mile You're In
I’m Kettia Ming, an author and entrepreneur whose work has always centered on building, leading, and creating space for people to grow.
I know what it feels like to spend years carrying, fixing, managing and moving forward without realizing how tightly you are holding yourself.
Over the years, I have learned that some of the most important shifts don’t come from pushing harder or finding the perfect answer. They come from creating enough space to notice what has been there all along. That’s the spirit I bring to this retreat.
Years later, after writing Run the Mile You’re In and reflecting on what that season taught me, I felt called to return to Eremito in a different way: not searching for an answer, but creating the kind of container that once made room for me to find my own.
I am not coming to tell you what needs restoring. I am here to hold the space while you discover that for yourself.
Before you book
Questions
Do I need yoga or meditation experience?
No. Every session welcomes beginners, and you're always free to sit something out.
How do I get there?
Most guests traveling from the U.S. will take an overnight flight on Saturday, September 4, arriving at Rome Fiumicino on Sunday. Group transfers to Eremito will depart from the airport at designated times throughout the day, so you may have some time between your arrival and your scheduled transfer. We’ll coordinate transfer groups once everyone’s flight information is confirmed. Return transfers to Rome Fiumicino will also be staggered on Saturday, September 11. Detailed flight guidance will be provided well before you book your flights.
What about food allergies?
All meals are vegetarian. Tell me about any allergies when you register and I'll share them with the kitchen.
What if I need to cancel?
The $1,000 reservation deposit is nonrefundable. Additional cancellation terms will be outlined clearly before booking. Travel insurance is a good way to protect yourself.
Can I share a room with a partner or friend?
Yes, you’re welcome to share a room. Pricing is per person, so each guest registers separately and pays their own rate, whether or not you share a room.
Can I talk with you first?
Yes, please. Send me a note at mingkettia@gmail.com and we'll find a time.