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Balance meets Inner Strength: TaiJi QiGong and NeiGong Retreat

WITH TEAM JIO UWE AND ANTONIO

Starts
Europe/Rome
Ends
Europe/Rome
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THE JOURNEY

 STARTS WITH YOU


Take a Breath 


Antonio Team JIO


A breath not just for your lungs, but one for the soul, one for the spirit.

EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT WAY


This retreat is your invitation to pause, reset, and return to the simple, powerful presence of being.



Reconnect with what has always been there

In a world full of noise, pressure, and constant doing, it’s easy to forget who we truly are.  Here, we step away from responsibilities, roles, and expectations — and turn inward.

Uwe and Antonio from Team JIO invite you on a 4 day retreat that will nourish your body, mind, and spirit through ancient, simple practices that create deep transformation. 

The retreat takes place in a serene location in Sicily, Italy, close to the sea and the picturesque Etna volcano.

Sicily is a land of radiant light and extraordinary natural contrasts, where the wild soul of the Mediterranean reveals itself in every landscape. From majestic volcanic peaks and ancient mountain forests to crystal-clear coves and sun-drenched salt pans, the island invites you to slow down, breathe deeply and connect with nature in its purest form.

Explore the subtle nature of Qi (energy) within yourself and others by developing a deep awareness of Qi flow and learning how to open your meridian system and energy centers (NeiGong).


Step into the Qi state of mind
Song Gong

Cultivate the art of letting go and releasing blockages.

NeiGong

Feel the transformative power of opening your energy centers and meridians (microcosmic orbit).

Partner Practice

Develop compassion and mutual support through shared exercises.

Talks, Q&A & Group Sharing

Receive personal guidance and learn how to apply these tools in your daily life.

Bonus Activities

Join creative group practices, evening circles, and spontaneous joy.  


TEACHING

The WuMa TaiJi lineage carries a rich tradition passed down through generations, descending from Master Ma Jiangbao and transmitted through his close personal disciple (Tudi), Sifu Jürgen Meyer. Rooted in the Wu-style family tradition from Shanghai, this lineage emphasizes precise body alignment, effortlessness, and the internal cultivation of Qi through core principles. 

Under the guidance of Shifu Zuan and Team JIO, the Journey Into Oneself teachings offer a direct and structured path—from foundational forms to advanced internal practice—connecting modern practitioners to the deep wisdom and living heritage of the ancestors.

Antonio Gramegna and Uwe Reichenbach are Team JIO instructors, under the guidance of Shifu Zuan.

What You Will Experience


Discover how to build up inner strength, reset your nervous system, and integrate these qualities into your daily life.

The days begin with opening exercises and practices to re-align and strengthen your system, followed by a long lunch break, where you can connect with nature by exploring the surrounding areas. Afternoons are reserved for guided practices, partner and group exercises. We will close the day with bonus activities like meditation and group talks.

Each day includes hands-on practice, partner applications, and personal guidance to deepen your experience. There is space to ask questions, to reflect upon and to integrate what is being taught.


DAY 1 TIME TO ARRIVE

Transitioning to a new rhythm.

The first day is about arriving — not only in Sicily, but also in your own body. We begin to slow down and turn our awareness inwards. We start noticing. What is there: maybe some tension, tiredness or constant thinking. By welcoming the serenity of nature, we are opening ourselves to restore and rejuvenate. 

DAY 2 MERGING WITH TRANQUILITY

Finding peace within.

The day starts with a meditative session- cultivating stillness and inner clarity. In the course of the day, we will reflect upon what holds us back and prevents us from coming into our true power. Letting go of old patterns, receiving new, fresh energy. We open ourselves up for new ideas and perspectives - getting inspired by nature, the practice and the people around.

DAY 3 FINDING BALANCE

Allowing the energy flow.

The third day, we start feeling the connection to the ground and to heaven more deeply. We remember, who we truly are, recognizing our true inner being. Things begin to flow - recreation is happening. Our inner cycles of energy are being activated, becoming more tangible. Energy is flowing. 

DAY 4 FEELING ALIVE

Being in the present moment.

The nervous system has calmed down, energy is flowing, vitality is returning. Life is a gift. We realize, that taking care of ourselves is no selfishness. By taking care of ourselves, we are actually taking care of others - and the other way round.

DAY 5  INTEGRATE AND TRANSFORM

Setting clear intentions.

Allowing everything to sink in and contemplating on how to integrate the essence of this practice in our daily life. Setting clear intentions to act is the key of making changes and transforming our life.

Who is this Retreat for?


This retreat is open to anyone wishing to reconnect with themselves and their inner strength through TaiJi QiGong and NeiGong. 

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, you will be met at your level and supported in deepening your ability to listen and release.

This retreat is for you if you wish to:

  • Cultivate softness and gentleness.

  • Connect to oneself through ancient traditions and their wisdom.

  • Enhance your physical, mental, and energetic awareness.

What the Space Offers


Private Resort

Enjoy a natural environment, the powerful energy of the Etna volcano, spaces to practice, hike, enjoy solitude or come together.

Shared Accommodation

Share a spacious room with another practitioner, create lifelong friendships.

Healthy Vegetarian Cuisine for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Nourish your body with delicious, wholesome Italian meals

Swimming Pool

Cool down and enjoy the summer days at the swimming pool.

Healing Sessions

Optional healing sessions are offered by the instructors to help strengthen your process (options, details and prices will be given in the introduction).


Price

Shared Accommodation of 2

650 Euro

Shared Accommodation of 4

750 Euro

Included in the price: shared accommodation, 3 vegetarian meals a day, training and personal guidance.


Location and how to get there


FEMMINAMORTA

Provinciale per Riposto, 188 - Strada 4, Contrada Femminamorta

95018 - Carruba di Riposto (CT)  

Etna, Sicily

Transfers from the Carruba train station to Femminamorta 

Free transfer offered by retreat centre.



Private transfer from Catania Airport to Femminamorta

60 Euro during day time (9AM - 8PM) 
70 Euro during night time (9PM - 9AM)

Buses and trains are running regularly from the airport to Carrruba.


Guidance

Uwe


Uwe Team JIO


Uwe Reichenbach has been practicing Zen meditation since 2013, most recently under the guidance of Zen Master Nakagawa Roshi at Zen Monastery Eisenbuch. He has practiced QiGong since 2014 and, since 2021, has been training in TaiJi Chuan (Wu-Ma style) and NeiGong with Headmaster Shifu Zuan (Shaolin Temple Europe, Kaiserslautern) and Shifu Jürgen Meyer (Dao Zentrum Völklingen, a master student of Master Ma Jiangbao).

He offers regular courses, workshops, and retreats, as well as EMDR (trauma therapy) sessions.

Uwe has cultivated a compassionate heart and guides his students from a place of deep listening, understanding, and respect for each individual’s process. With lightness and care, he accompanies his students on transformative journeys.


Antonio


Antonio Team JIO


Antonio Gramegna is our Italian instructor. He has practiced TaiJi Chuan (Wu-Ma style) under the guidance of Shifu Zuan, completed the Instructor training, and is currently undertaking the intensive Teacher Training under the guidance of Shifu Jürgen Meyer.

In 2019, the Teaching found him in Thailand, where he lived for over 10 years. For him, Tai Chi is not just a practice, but a way of living in accordance with the laws of Nature. He focuses on the health side of this beautiful discipline, which, combined with a healthy diet, can greatly improve one’s life. 

One of the aspects that Antonio loves the most about Tai Chi is its depth. Going deeper within oneself, discovering the nature of who we truly are. He pays particular attention to details; when the body is aligned, the muscles relax, the joints open, and the Qi can flow more freely, creating harmony and balance from within.

He hopes that any practitioner can experience the freedom that naturally comes by practicing Tai Chi.

Team JIO


Team JIO


Team JIO are a handful of students who have spent six years or longer in a dedicated practice with Shifu Zuan and have been accepted as his Inner Students. They have been part of an “Assistant Program” for two years and have completed their Instructors Training.

They are building up their own teaching and are invited to take care of private classes, online classes, Team Workshops and Team Retreats in the name of JIO. They take different roles in the organisation and are asked to fulfill tasks based on their skills.

They cultivate the virtues of this teaching and support the ones that join this journey with care and compassion. Guiding by example, from outside in, they are the heart of this teaching.