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From Madrid’s Vibes to Valley’s Calm:How Isabel & Jon’s Journey Transformed Arrieta’s Marterena Palace

Meta Description: Discover how Isabel Etxamendi & Jon Usandizaga swapped city life for an ancestral home in Arrieta, creating a yoga & meditation retreat in the Pyrenees.

ARRIETA, Spain – In the heart of Madrid, a comfortable life with a job and an apartment overlooking Retiro Park seemed perfect. Until Isabel Etxamendi and Jon Usandizaga decided to take a radical turn. They moved to an ancestral home in Arrieta, a small town in the Arce Valley, transforming it into a haven for yoga and meditation retreats.

A Change of Heart, A New Beginning

Isabel, born in Navarre, and Jon, a native of Bilbao, left their city jobs – Isabel as a photographer, Jon as a multinational manager – five years ago to settle in Isabel’s old family home, the historic house-palace Marterena. Despite having a good life in Madrid, they decided it was time for a change, especially after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It wasn’t easy leaving the life we had, but the coronavirus offered the perfect opportunity,” they said.

Homecoming and Transformation

Under the name “Yoga and Meditation Retreat Center in the Pyrenees,” Isabel and Jon have been offering retreats in Arrieta for a decade. In 2020, they made the decision to live there full-time, drawn by the family heritage and the surrounding nature. Their goal? To provide a serene space for people to connect with themselves.

Community Life and Values

The couple chose Arrieta not only for its tranquility but also for the sense of community. Raising their daughter in a safe, rural environment was a top priority, and they’ve embraced the “in tribe” lifestyle, valuing the support and companionship that rural life offers.

From City Life to Country Wisdom

The transition wasn’t sudden. Isabel belongs to the 15th generation of the Martarena house, and her father, until his death a few years ago, helped them appreciate the rhythms of nature and the importance of earth wisdom.

“There’s a profound wisdom here that city dwellers often miss out on,” Jon said. “You’re more connected to the world around you when you live in the field.”

Marterena’s Healing Power

Marterena, an emblematic medieval-origin house-palace, previously Cabo de Armería and possibly connected with the Order of the Templars, now serves as a place of peace and calm. Retreats range from 2 days to weeks, offering yoga, meditation, nature walks, garden-to-table food, and lodging in nine rustic-modern rooms.

“We help people stop, reflect, and find their truth,” they said. “Many arrive stressed, lost, or sick and leave feeling healed and rejuvenated. It’s incredible to be part of these transformations.”