From thought to practice: my first transformational program is born
#5 Newsletter - Vanessa Bertinotti
After writing my book “Guide to Biohacking: a journey through science, nature, and awareness”, I felt that the next step was natural, almost inevitable: to transform that vision into experience, to bring it into the tangible lives of people.
That book was my way of expressing what “biohacking” means to me: not just optimization, but a return to essence. A deep alliance between body, mind, nature, and consciousness.
This program was born from that vision, with the intention of offering not just words, but practices. Concrete tools to embody a philosophy that is more present, more honest, more real.
When I began my journey, the term biohacking felt like the most fitting way to describe a new vision of the relationship with the body, health, and awareness. It was a way to speak about freedom, experimentation, and reclaiming personal power in self-care.
But over time, that word started to feel a bit limiting.
Today, biohacking is often associated with performance, extreme efficiency, and control, with invasive technologies, rigid protocols, and quick promises. While these elements may hold value, they no longer reflect the heart of my path.
My work has shifted toward something more essential: a deep listening to the body, a continuous dialogue with nature, and a daily practice of awareness. More than hacking the body, I’m interested in honoring it. Not “optimizing” life, but fully inhabiting it. That’s why I feel I’m slowly letting go of the term biohacking. Not because I reject my journey, on the contrary, I fully acknowledge its richness, but because the words we use shape how we relate to what we do. And today, I want words that carry within them a sense of connection, presence, and gentleness. Words that speak to those who feel that true well-being is not a goal to achieve, but a quality to cultivate.
This project is my way of continuing to search, to share, to walk. Beyond labels, but ever closer to the essential.
This project is the bridge between what I’ve written, what I feel, and what I want to share, with those who, like me, are ready to walk more deeply.
A Transformational Journey
I envisioned this journey for those who feel that an important moment has arrived, that moment when reading, knowing, or wanting to change is no longer enough. What’s needed is to go through it. To live it.
This is how a deep and carefully designed program was born, created to support you through authentic transformation. It’s intended for those who wish to combine inner listening, bodily movement, immersion in nature, and transformative practices.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, because age is just a number. This program is open to everyone from 18 to 99 years old.
It’s a journey personalized and experiential.
It begins with a one-on-one online session, followed by two group retreats in nature.
You can choose to join the full journey or only part of it. Spaces are limited to 12 participants. Access to the program is available exclusively through an introductory interview.
PROGRAM
1. Individual online preparation
Every transformation begins with listening. That’s why, before any retreat, there is an individual online preparation phase where I’ll work with you one-on-one through three personalized sessions (dates and times will be arranged with each participant).
During this time:
We’ll explore your needs and blocks, and together define a personalized path
I’ll provide you with two custom-selected flower essences that work deeply
I’ll guide you through a transformative online hypnosis session (only if you feel ready)
This is a protected space where we begin to move energy, because true presence starts well before the retreat.
2. Experiences in nature in Italian-speaking Switzerland
Nature is my place of truth. I’m offering two retreats—spaces of immersion, deep listening, and authentic connection. They are different experiences, yet deeply complementary:
👉 September 25–28, 2025: “QI-GONG & RESONANCE”
Arrival is scheduled for Thursday, September 25 at 5:00 PM.
The retreat will end on Sunday, September 28 at 1:00 PM.
👉 October 16–19, 2025: “BREATH, COLD IMMERSION, SAUNA & RECONNECTION”
Arrival is scheduled for Thursday, October 16 at 5:00 PM.
The retreat will end on Sunday, October 19 at 1:00 PM.
Both retreats will take place at the Ecovillage of Bordei (Centovalli), a small oasis in Ticino, about a 30-minute drive from Locarno, where everything honors the Earth and the rhythm of slowness.
Why did I choose Bordei?
Bordei is not just a location. It is a place that resonates with my vision. It is quiet, essential, and harmonious. It is an ecological village where every detail speaks of respect—for nature, for time, and for the individual.
This is where true transformation happens: when we let go of the superfluous and return to the essence.
The activities will take place immersed in nature, in a setting designed to foster authentic connection with oneself and the surrounding environment. The Ecovillage hosting us is a rejuvenating place, fully integrated into the landscape, where simplicity and respect for the Earth guide every choice.
The site features two geodesic domes: circular spaces made of wood and fabric, designed according to principles of sacred geometry that promote harmony, focus, and energetic coherence. These environments offer a welcoming and protected atmosphere, ideal for meditative practices, gatherings, and moments of deep sharing.
A river runs through the area and will be an integral part of the experience: you will be able to take revitalizing cold baths, perfect for reactivating the body and mind. Next to the river, there is also a Finnish sauna, designed to accompany moments of release and purification in complete connection with the natural elements.
A kitchen with a soul: Pietro Leemann
Food is part of the journey. It is a transformative tool. Every meal is prepared with fresh, local ingredients and cooked with care. Everything aligns with the inner work you are doing, because body, emotion, and mind are never separate.
Meals will be prepared by Osteria Giardino di Bordei, a special place in harmony with the values of this path.
At the helm is Pietro Leemann, a visionary chef and founder of the renowned Joia in Milan, the first vegetarian restaurant in Europe to receive a Michelin star.
Leemann is much more than a cook: he is a spiritual seeker, a man who brought Eastern philosophy, nature, and meditation into the kitchen.
His presence and vision make nourishment a conscious and sacred act.
A way to feed not only the body, but also the mind, energy, and transformation.
I recorded episode 161 of my podcast “Salute e Biohacking,” titled “Coltivare l'anima, nutrire la terra. Un viaggio di spiritualità e cucina” with Pietro Leemann. (Episode in Italian).
First Retreat: “QI GONG & RESONANCE”
👉 September 25–28, 2025
Arrival is scheduled for Thursday, September 25 at 5:00 PM, and the retreat will conclude on Sunday, September 28 at 1:00 PM.
Ecovillage of Bordei (Centovalli) – Italian Switzerland
with Vanessa Bertinotti, Maestro Stefano Targa, and Laurent Gheller
“Qi Gong & Resonance” is the first retreat of the transformational journey, dedicated to subtle connection: between the body and sensation, movement and intention, your energy and that of nature.
Three days of deep bodily practices, vibrational work, flower essences, and collective listening spaces where what emerges is supported, transformed, and integrated.
Second Retreat: “BREATHING, COLD IMMERSION, SAUNA & RECONNECTION”
👉 October 16–19, 2025
Arrival is scheduled for Thursday, October 16 at 5:00 PM, and the retreat will conclude on Sunday, October 19 at 1:00 PM.
Ecovillage of Bordei (Centovalli) – Italian Switzerland
with Vanessa Bertinotti, Dr. Alessandro Romagnoli, and Laurent Gheller
“Breathing, Cold Immersion, Sauna & Reconnection” is the second retreat in the series: a space dedicated to those who feel the need to regain strength, clarity, and balance.
Three days of deep breathing, transformative cold, mindful movement, flower essences, and collective listening spaces where what emerges is welcomed, supported, and transformed.
It is an experience for those who wish to fully inhabit their body, face tension, release energy, and reconnect with themselves in a simple and authentic way.
Program Creator
Vanessa Bertinotti
I guide people on journeys of awareness and transformation. I work with hypnosis, lifestyle, and the relationship between body and nature. I also use flower essences as tools for emotional and subtle support, to facilitate inner listening and harmonize the processes of change.
Over the years, I have deepened the connection between science and intuition, and I have shared this vision in my book: “Guide to Biohacking: A Journey Through Science, Nature, and Awareness.”
For me, change is never a force, it is a listening that opens when we are ready, finding space in a simpler, more authentic rhythm.
I chose to involve in this project three professionals whom I deeply respect and consider to be individuals of great value, both professionally and personally: Maestro Stefano Targa, Laurent Gheller, and Alessandro Romagnoli. With each of them, I have a privileged relationship, built over time through trust and the sharing of visions and values.
I believe it’s important to walk this path together with them, because the quality of a project also depends on the people you choose to share it with.
Stefano Targa
Maestro Stefano Targa is a leading figure in Qi Gong and martial arts. With over 35 years of teaching experience and a background that weaves together Traditional Chinese Medicine, neuroscience, and bioenergetics, he created the Beyond Biology method, an approach that integrates body, mind, and energy to awaken human potential. He is a Viet Vo Dao Master (6th Dang) and co-author of the book “The Hidden Power of Qi Gong.”
His approach combines technical precision with deep sensitivity, making the practices both accessible and transformative.
I recorded Episode 124 of my podcast “Salute e Biohacking” with Stefano Targa, titled “Scopri i segreti del Qi Gong per il Benessere e la Vitalità” (Episode in Italian).
Laurent Gheller
Laurent Gheller is an expert in quantum medicine, integrative medicine, and ancestral knowledge, with over ten years of experience guiding people toward deep well-being. He is the founder and executive director of Tatwa Integrative Medicine, a Swiss-based center that integrates ancestral and modern medicine, working directly with Indigenous communities in the Amazon to translate their millennia-old wisdom into accessible practices and natural products.
He has also developed a unique system of flower essences that blends tradition and innovation, designed to support energetic and emotional balance in a deep and natural way.
I recorded Episode 118 of my podcast “Salute and Biohacking” with Laurent Gheller, titled “Plantes Sacrées, Savoirs Ancestraux, Communautés Indigènes d’Amazonie.” (Episode in French – audio only)
Alessandro Romagnoli
Sports psychologist, psychotherapist, and breathwork instructor. He works with athletes, special forces, and high-performance professionals. He is a certified instructor of the Wim Hof Method, Oxygen Advantage, and Buteyko. Founder of OxyLab360, he combines a scientific approach with an integrated vision to promote well-being, resilience, and mental clarity.
I recorded Episode 164 of my podcast “Salute and Biohacking” with Alessandro Romagnoli, titled “Come il respiro e il freddo ti trasformano” (Episode in Italian)
Pricing
You can choose to follow the entire program or just one part. Spots are limited to 12 participants. Admission is subject to an introductory interview.
Individual online preparation CHF 360.–
First Retreat – “Qi-Gong and Resonance”:
Includes 3 nights in a double room, full board with vegetarian cuisineCHF 1,350.– per person
(Single room available with a supplement of CHF 30.– per night)Second Retreat – “Breath, Cold Baths, and Connection”:
Includes 3 nights in a double room, full board with vegetarian cuisineCHF 1,350.– per person
(Single room available with a supplement of CHF 30.– per night)
👉 The course is confirmed with a minimum of 8 participants.
👉 A 20% discount is offered to those who choose to attend the full program.
👉 For those who register for a single retreat but come as a couple, there is a 20% discount.
👉 The program will be held in Italian.
Info & Registration
If you feel this is your moment, write to me to book an introductory call:
📩 vanessa.bertinotti@gmail.com
📞 +41 79 455 03 94
I look forward to hearing from you,
Vanessa