The Quiet Rebel Behind a
GLOBAL PEACE
MOVEMENT
T H E Q U I E T R E B E L E D I T I O N
Beyond Wellness
Retreats
Reimagined
Quiet<
Rebels
with > Venerable Burin
2025 Fall
Issue 003
Dear Reader,
There’s a quiet
revolution
unfolding.
In a world that prizes
visibility—where being
the loudest, fastest, and
most seen is often mistaken for being the
most impactful—there’s another kind of
leadership rising. One rooted in stillness,
depth, and the courage to build change
without fanfare. This issue is for the quiet
rebels: the ones whose work ripples outward
not through spectacle, but through presence.
Quiet rebels aren’t passive. They don’t shrink
from impact. They simply create it differently.
They’re the healers guiding others through
burnout by modeling rest. The teachers
who dismantle old systems with steady,
unshakable truth. The leaders who rewrite
the rules not to be noticed, but to build
something worth noticing.
In these pages, you’ll meet people who
remind us that transformation doesn’t
need to shout to shake us awake. It can
be whispered in the early morning silence.
Found in a small, conscious act of rebellion.
Or born from choosing integrity and
alignment over applause.
As you read, my hope is that you see yourself
reflected in these stories not as someone
who needs to do more, be more, or say
more, but as someone who can trust the
quiet strength that already lives within you.
Because the most powerful revolutions
aren’t always the ones that roar. Sometimes,
they begin in a whisper.
RetreatBoss Magazine curated team of experts >>>
the
Team
Fritz Colinet
Creative Director
Amy Civica | Cassandra Shuck | Catherine Kontos | Delicia Irvins
Crystal Adair-Benning | Denise Ropp | Erin B Haag | Heidi Howes
Jon Christian Jervert | Christie Bemis | Kara James | Lora Lapiz
Sarah Pirie-Nally | Tracy J Stonaker | Jennifer ‘Suki’ Otsuki |
Tressa Yonekawa | Zoa Conner, PhD
DISCLAIMER: The content in RetreatBoss Magazine is for informational purposes only. The
views expressed by contributing authors, interviewees, and advertisers are their own and do
not necessarily reflect those of RetreatBoss. We do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy
of any advice, opinions, or services mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research
before making decisions based on the content within this publication.
R Magazine is more than a publication, it’s a gateway to
transformation, cultural immersion, and holistic well-being.
Designed for retreat seekers and those drawn to travel,
self-discovery, and personal growth, R Magazine brings the
retreat experience to life through inspiring stories, expert
insights, and curated recommendations that explore the
world’s most transformative retreats, wellness practices, and
cultural experiences. It also serves as a trusted resource
for retreat leaders, facilitators, and wellness entrepreneurs,
offering industry trends, strategies, and success stories to
support those shaping the future of retreats. More than
a magazine, R is a movement—bridging the gap between
seekers and creators, fostering a global community where
well-being, exploration, and purpose thrive.
Contributing Writers
Our Mission
Crystal Adair-Benning
Editor In Chief
Retna Media
Layout Design
linkedin.com/in/catherinekontos
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Founder
Catherine Kontos
Contents
Table of
F E AT UR E
48
Finding
Inner Peace
10
Oliveto
Estate A Slow-
Breathing Italy
38
The Art of Quiet
Boundaries
24
The Quiet Ones
Move The World
16
The 7
Rebellions
of Zoa
34
Quiet Rebels
Know
Themselves First
20
Art as
Revolution
30
Life Gets
Better Here
64
Booked Out By
Brunch
69
Boards That
Bring People
Together
56
Single Mothers
Quiet Rebels,
First Leaders.
42
Beyond Wellness:
Retreats
Reimagined
62
The Stillness
That Changed
Everything
68
An Invitation
to the Unseen
Leaders
46
The Pink
Dragon
60
The Ignition
Switch
I am grateful for all blessings,
seen and unseen.
Be conscious of what you are
doing, thinking and attracting into
your life.
Consciously focus on vibrating on
the highest level possible.
T at means constantly combating
negativity and not just receiving
but sharing divine interactions.
A 100 DAYS OF GRATITUDE
10
A Slow-Breathing Italy
Oliveto
Estate
In the olive-draped hills of Le Marche, one family’s sanctuary
offers privacy, authenticity, and the luxury of time.
11
n the olive-draped hills of Le Marche, life moves in a
way that feels almost forgotten. Days are marked by
the sun’s slow arc, meals stretch into laughter-filled
evenings, and the air carries the scent of rosemary
and sea.
“It’s one of Italy’s best-kept secrets,” says the owner of
Oliveto Estate, looking across the groves that surround her
family’s restored villas. “Here, you can breathe, slow down,
and remember what matters.”
For her, this land is more than scenery. “It’s where my
mother was born,” she says. “I spent my summers here
with my Nonna, who taught me how to live in harmony
with nature, waste nothing, and find joy in the simplest
moments. Those lessons are the heartbeat of Oliveto.”
What began as a personal restoration project has grown
into a sanctuary for connection, creativity, and wellbeing.
“We wanted a home,” she says, “but we realised this
could also be a place for others to experience the real
Italy — without the crowds, and with the warmth of a
family welcome.”
A Retreat Like No Other
Oliveto Estate spans nine acres of olive groves, gardens,
and countryside. “At Oliveto, exclusivity is more than a
promise; it’s policy,” she explains. “We only ever host one
group at a time, so the entire estate is yours — from the
two private villas and pools to the tennis court, spa, and
every olive grove in between.”
At the heart of the property is its most prized feature: a
purpose-built, light-filled studio surrounded by olive trees
and open sky. “Teachers tell us it’s one of the most unique
studios in Italy, if not the world,” she says. “It’s designed for
transformation — yoga at sunrise, creative workshops, even
corporate strategy sessions where clarity is key.”
“What began as a family
restoration became a sanctuary
for connection, creativity, and
the art of slow living.”
12
Food That Tells a Story
“Our food is a reflection of this land,” she says with
a smile. “We create seasonal menus for each group,
sourcing from our gardens, century-old olive trees, and
local producers we know personally. Zero-mile dining
isn’t a marketing term here — it’s just how we live.”
The estate’s gardens yield tomatoes warm from the sun,
zucchini blossoms picked at dawn, and figs so sweet
they taste like jam. Olive oil comes from the estate’s own
trees, some over a century old.
“Long-table dinners under the olive trees, truffle pasta
paired with Verdicchio wine, afternoons learning to
make pasta with a local nonna… Food isn’t just served
here — it’s shared, and it becomes part of the memory
guests take home.”
“Zero-mile dining isn’t a trend here; it’s simply how we live.”
The Spirit of Le Marche
Le Marche is often described as “the best of Italy in one
region,” offering coastline, mountains, rolling hills, and
medieval villages — all without the tourist crowds.
Oliveto’s curated experiences immerse guests in this
richness. “One day you might cycle through the hills,
another you’re truffle hunting in the forest or painting
with a regional artist,” she explains. “We also arrange
coastal hikes, vineyard tours, and private art workshops.”
Every choice is intentional. “We work with local artisans
and farmers, so our guests get an authentic experience
while the community benefits. Sustainability isn’t just
about solar panels and rainwater collection — it’s about
ensuring our presence has a positive impact.”
Recognised by the World, Rooted in Home
While Oliveto feels like a hidden treasure, it has drawn
international attention. “We’ve been named one of Italy’s
top luxury villas by The Times and featured in Elle Decor,
Forbes, The Telegraph, and Frances Mayes’ book Always
Italy,” she says. The estate has also received the Good
Brand Award by Sublime Magazine for environmental
and social responsibility.
“Every stay begins with a single question: How do you
want to feel when you leave?”
13
Retreats That Transform
Every group’s journey begins with that single question.
“It shapes everything,” she says.
She recalls a couples retreat with very different guest
preferences. “Half wanted yoga and breath-work, the
other half preferred cycling and active exploration.
We designed mornings to suit each preference, then
brought everyone together for shared meals and
activities. Every guest left feeling seen and supported.”
Looking Ahead
Future plans include off-season retreats that embrace
the quieter months of November to March, family
programs that blend rest with learning, and eventually,
a second property. “We’re always looking for spaces with
soul,” she says. “Places where people can feel at home,
yet changed.”
The rhythm of life at Oliveto is unhurried yet full. Guests
arrive with the pace of their everyday world still clinging
to them. They leave having rediscovered the pleasure
of space, of stillness, of noticing.
“We want people to arrive curious and leave with
something they can’t quite name,” the owner says. “A
shift, a sense of lightness, a new rhythm in their soul.”
“You arrive as a guest. You leave with a new rhythm in
your soul.”
In a world that moves too fast, Oliveto offers something
rare — a place where Italy still breathes slowly, and
invites you to do the same.
Learn more about Oliveto Estate at RetreatMatch.com.
A DV E R TO R I A L
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16
Rebellion is in my nature.
With a unique name like mine (Zoa) how could I
not be different from everyone around me?
Rebellions
of Zoa
The7
y first rebellion? It was the fated
biology class when we learned
about my nemesis: Protozoa. Oh
my, that stoked the teasing fire
that kids fling at each other. I was never going
to live that one down because, yes, my name
is exactly the word used in protozoa. Zoa is
the Greek word for “life”. Protozoa is the name
given to the smallest, most basic life known on
Earth. More fodder for the kids. In my kid brain,
biology and kids were “mean”.
So I rebelled.
Rebellion #1 ~ Mean People
What would my future self do, knowing I was a
straight A student with safety pins in her ears
and the Violent Femmes on my Walkman? I
examined my teachers searching for guidance:
Chemistry ---> an old white guy wearing
glasses, a lab coat, and a pocket protector
Math ---> a parade of people who meant
well but were uninspiring
Physics ---> a tall woman with long curly
red hair and makeup worn just so speaking
animatedly about her subject and working as
a model during the summer
The choice could not have been more clear if
it was written in the sky.
I was smart. Really smart. Smart enough to know
that I needed to get out of my small town as soon
as physically possible. University applications
went out the fall of my junior year. I was 15. You
would think that I would have had the support
of my school, right? Yet, back in those days, I
received the words “barefoot and pregnant” from
my guidance counselor.
18
So I rebelled.
Rebellion #2 ~ Other People’s Limiting Beliefs
Against the guidance counselor. Against my high school.
Against everything it stood for. I quietly applied and got
accepted for Early Decision to Carnegie Mellon University
in Pennsylvania, USA. Four years later, at age 20, I had
earned myself a bachelors degree in Physics with a
4.0 GPA during my junior year and a 6-year fellowship
giving me a full ride to the graduate school of my choice
so I could earn my physics PhD. Take that high school
guidance counselor! Rebelling works!
I felt like I had it all. I had a PhD. I earned another fancy,
prestigious fellowship to continue research post PhD. I
got married. I travelled the world. I stared down the road
and all I saw was Assistant Professor, Associate Professor,
then, finally, Full Professor. At 27, the world started to
close in. So much work already done, and it would take
me another 10+ years, if I was lucky, to emerge from that
tunnel. I wanted more.
So I rebelled.
Rebellion #3 ~ Academic Career Track
I had a baby. Oh! The horror! The knife in the coffin of
my physics career right? I could hear the whispers…She
used to be so good … such a loss of momentum … tragic.
Not what a new mother wants to hear. Not what anyone
wants to hear. I needed a path that suited the new me.
So I rebelled.
Rebellion #4 ~ Societal Expectations
My choice to be a stay-at-home mother ushered in so
many wonderful opportunities to learn - gardening,
cooking, environmental science, human development,
herbal and alternative medicine, psychology, yoga, and
patience for starters. I exuded Earth Mother as I focused
on living close to nature so nature would help my family
be healthy and happy for decades to come. My son was
reading tiny books at age 4 so why would I send him to
kindergarten?
So I rebelled.
Rebellion #5 ~ The Education System
Homeschooling is an act of rebellion - no matter how
you choose to practice it. Together, my children and I
developed a life as if school did not exist. No grades. No
tests. Because, after all, my definition of learning is that
you can (a) take the information into your life and use it
and (b) explain it to your grandmother, a 4 year old, and
a professional in the field.
So I rebelled.
Rebellion #6 ~ Social Norms
What would you do if your 16 year old broke her ankle
and had such a bad experience with the Western
medical system that she never wanted to see a doctor
again? I jumped into learning everything I could to
facilitate her healing process. What changed when a
multi-year chronic illness reared its nasty head for this
same daughter? Yep, rocket fuel for my transformation
into a healer as I created a healing space, provided a
nurturing diet, immersed in body functions and needs,
identified the roadblocks in her way, and guided her
forward into 120% health.
So I rebelled.
Rebellion #7~ The Medical System
Travel was the powerhouse healing supplement we
didn’t know we needed until a trip to the mountains to
strengthen her ankle showed us how much better we
could feel.
Hiking in the mountains was about more than a mother-
daughter bonding experience. It was transformative. We
could breathe. De-stress. Move. It was a stark contrast to
our mold-filled home (surprise!), which was slowly killing
us from the inside out.
Other trips with similar goals didn’t work. Smoky air
choked our lungs. Fast food that made us want to fast
instead. The beds were so soft we slept on the floor. So
much noise and lights that we could never calm down
enough to fall asleep.
19
So I rebelled.
Will You Rebel With Me?
Now I focus on combining wellness and travel. It is
challenging and rebellious. Most of us make travel plans
considering logistics, luxury vs budget, and all the things
we want to do while simply hoping for the best. In short:
we splurge, exhaust ourselves, and come back needing a
vacation from our vacation.
Yet, it is hard to appreciate the beauty around you, or in
yourself, when you are struggling to stay alive on the inside.
Travel that supports your wellbeing provides you with great
sleep, healthy air, stress-free transit, nurturing food, built-in
exercise and movement options, safety on all levels (mold-
free bathroom anyone?), and “just right” nervous system
stimulation. Only once these basic human needs are met
can travel - or anything in life - inspire you or transform you.
This is my firm belief, so much so that I jumped with two
feet into Wellness in Motion as a concept. It’s all embodied,
and it’s deeply personal.
Who wants to rebel against sensory overload in the middle
of a vacation? Let’s insist that your next travel or retreat
experience cultivate true wellbeing.
Rebellions are built on people striving to create and keep
our independence - from nursing homes, from a lifetime
of medications, and from feeling limited because of how
our body and mind function.
So the only question is: will you keep surviving the way
things are, or will you rebel for the life and wellbeing you
deserve?
VIEW THEIR FULL PROFILE ON RETREATMATCH.COM ---------
Zoa Conner PhD is a physicist who got tired of
watching brilliant women feel like garbage for
“no reason.” Now, Zoa is a Wellbeing Lifestyle
Alchemist and Travel Strategist, Podcaster, and
Author of Wellness in Motion: Sustainable Travel
and Embodied Practices for the Midlife, Earth-Conscious
Woman. Zoa designs precision retreats that provide exactly
what’s missing from your life - even when home life is good.
Her approach: apply physicist-level analysis to create strategic
interventions that transform how you feel in your own body,
then share those insights through intensive retreats that help
high-achieving women reclaim their fire.
20
REVOLUTION
Art As
21
The Journey of a New York Artist Creating Change
Through Presence and Creativity
n the electric pulse of New York’s
punk and new wave scene, amid
the raw energy of rebellion and
artistic ferment, one young woman
found herself drawn not just to the
music, but to something deeper—art,
philosophy, and cultures far beyond her
familiar world. This was where Agni Zotis
first learned that true revolution begins
within.
Today, as an internationally recognized
artist and trauma-informed wellness
leader, Agni has spent over twenty years
transforming lives through what she calls
the ultimate masterpiece: life itself. Her
journey from the underground music
scene to becoming a globally recognized
artist and practitioner of Mindfulness,
Arts, and Yoga reveals how authentic
creativity can become the most powerful
force for change.
When Art Becomes Living Medicine
For Agni, art transcends the boundaries
of canvas and gallery walls. Each piece
she creates uses pigments made from
elemental materials—stones, gold, and
silver—that shift and shimmer with light,
reflecting the deeper transformations
she channels through her work. Her
signature piece, I Am That I Am, stands
as a testament to the divine spark within
us all, reminding viewers that intention
and attention shape our reality.
22
“My work is autobiographical, a process of the metaphysical
becoming physical, exploring individuality within Universal
Consciousness,” she explains. “I love that nature favors
uniqueness and diversity, just as every person has a
unique iris or fingerprint, and every leaf carries its own
pattern. Each piece of art is one of a kind, born from a
deep sense of knowing. To me, that is the greatest act of
resistance: to be authentic, against all odds.”
This authenticity wasn’t born
overnight. It emerged through
decades of courage to unlearn
conditioning, to heal trauma,
and to embrace imperfection
as a pathway to truth.
From Ancient Wisdom to
Global Impact
Agni’s transformative journey
began over thirty years ago
with her first retreat in India,
an unexpected immersion into
ancient practices that sparked
a lifelong dedication to growth
and healing. That pivotal
experience launched her into
a life of meaningful travel,
carrying her teachings across
continents and cultures.
Since then, she has integrated
ancient wisdom with modern
science, weaving arts, breath-
work, meditation, yoga,
nutrition, and trauma-informed coaching into a holistic
approach backed by neuroscience.
“Through my own seeking and acquired ancient
knowledge and healing, I created and developed my
foundation, MAY Kids Transform, fostering emotional
intelligence and self-awareness through Mindfulness,
Arts, and Yoga,” she shares. Her work has taken her
from the bustling schools of New York to the spiritual
centers of India and educational institutions around the
world. “I’ve spent 20 years integrating wellbeing tools to
support youth and educators in schools and educational
institutions in New York, India and beyond.”
This global journey has shaped not only her teaching
methodology but also her artistic vision, infusing
her work with the diverse wisdom traditions she has
encountered.
Through MAY Kids Transform, Agni has touched
countless lives internationally, proving that emotional
intelligence, mindfulness, and creativity can be cultivated
at any age. Her approach recognizes that healing
happens not through force, but
through presence, patience,
exploration, and the gentle
power of authentic connection.
The Revolution of Quiet
Strength
In a world that often rewards
noise and spectacle, Agni’s
revolution is different. Her
strength lies in presence,
depth, and the kind of quiet
power that transforms without
fanfare. Often underestimated
b e c a u s e o f h e r g e n t l e
nature, she has learned that
vulnerability is not weakness—
it is the foundation of authentic
strength.
Solitude, silence, and nature
fuel her creative process. Light,
in particular, is central to her
work, both as subject and
metaphor. She paints with vivid
color pigments, exploring the light and shadow of being,
understanding its power to shift perception and awaken
awareness. For her, painting and meditation intertwine
as solitary acts where inner and outer worlds meet, and
the invisible becomes visible.
“We are unique yet deeply interconnected,” her art
seems to whisper. Each piece invites reflection on the
mystery of life and the unseen energies shaping our
world. It gently insists that we are more than physical
bodies, that our energy influences everything, and that
even the smallest life holds immense value.