BUILDING A STRONGER YOU - Through Gut Health February 8-13, 2026 | SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA
BUILDING A STRONGER YOU - Through Gut Health February 8-13, 2026 | SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA
February 8 – 13, 2026
Sebastian, Florida
$2900-$4100 per person, all inclusive
THE RETREAT – Day Gut Health Immersion Retreat
Immerse yourself in five transformative days dedicated to restoring your gut health, boosting immune function, and revitalizing your entire body. Nestled within a vibrant subtropical sanctuary overlooking the expansive 22,000-acre St. Sebastian River Preserve, ChoZen Eco-Retreat offers a serene escape where nature’s wonders—dolphins, manatees, turtles, hawks, and bobcats—surround you in peaceful harmony. Experience an all-inclusive journey designed to renew your vitality, balance your body, and awaken a deeper sense of well-being amidst this breathtaking natural haven.
Immerse yourself in a transformative journey that revitalizes your body and mind. Experience expert-led lectures diving deep into digestion, sleep, inflammation, and mental clarity, equipping you with essential knowledge to take charge of your health. Join hands-on cooking classes with Jan, where you'll master gut-supportive, nutrient-dense meals designed to nurture your microbiome.
Stay active and energized with daily workouts, scenic hikes, invigorating sauna sessions, refreshing swims, and optional cold plunges to boost recovery and resilience. Savor every bite of meals crafted from the highest-quality, organic, regenerative ingredients, fueling your body with pure, potent nutrition.
Why focus on Gut Health? Because over 75% of your immune system resides near your gut lining. Neglecting digestive health can lead to hidden inflammation and chronic illness. Our program empowers you to build a strong, balanced microbiome through mindful food choices and lifestyle habits, unlocking a new level of vibrant well-being. Join us and transform your health from the inside out!
You'll learn to:
Eat for your unique biology, not someone else’s trend
Identify foods that disrupt your microbiome
Read labels, source food wisely, and cook for function and flavor
Incorporate 40+ plants per week, minimize toxins, and find gratitude daily
This retreat is for you if you’re ready to:
Improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and boost energy
Connect with nature and like-minded people
Reset your health in a supportive, science-backed environment
No refunds once booked. Travel insurance is strongly encouraged.
ABOUT JOHN AND JAN
John Bagnulo and Jan Buhrman. John and Jan have been offering health and wellness retreats since 2009.
John Bagnulo has an MPH from the University of North Carolina and a Doctorate of Human Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Maine. He has worked as a researcher, an associate professor, and a clinical consultant for the past 24 years. John Bagnulo, MPH, PhD is a naturalist and nutritionist, a farmer and forager, and an assistant professor. He teaches university courses and leads programs at wellness centers throughout the US. John has helped hundreds of patients reverse chronic diseases through a diet of whole foods.
One of the foremost experts on food and health, John’s lectures and discussions place food at the center of a web that stretches from human physiology to our fields and from our ancestors to our kitchens. His talks and/or lectures are sure to enlighten and entertain even the most well-read and informed on the topic of nutrition and health. Much of his clinical practice is with athletes and those involved in physically demanding sports.
Jan Buhrman, M.S. Ed., was the founder and previous owner of the full-service farm-to-table catering company, The Kitchen Porch, on Martha's Vineyard. Jan has become a food advocate and authority on local sourcing and sustainable agriculture with her years of sourcing foods for her catering business from local fishermen and farmers. Jan has taught thousands of classes on technique and the importance of knowing where your food comes from. She has raised pigs and chickens and gardens, feeding her family while nourishing the land. In addition to cooking, preserving, and techniques, she teaches about the connections between food and health and about composting and soil regeneration.
John discusses the nutrition and science behind our philosophies, while Jan teaches the practical “how-to” of incorporating healthy recipes and lifestyles into one's life. John explores the science behind these approaches to healthy living and presents the latest research in a fun, approachable way. Jan then ties it all together by teaching how to incorporate it into one's daily life.
In our classes, you will learn about the plant-based diet and how the nutrients and fibers are vital to our gut. We explain how to incorporate animal protein into our diet by eating animals that are raised in the wild or on pasture.
It is all related; our heart, brain, and gut health are directly related to our diet and lifestyle. If it is healthy for the soil or the animals, it’s a good bet it’s healthy for us and the planet, too…. Food is medicine, and lifestyle is medicine—you get to choose every day!