Eleonora Merz, lasciare il posto fisso per seguire il proprio sogno

Simonetta Sandri · 13 October 2026

C’è un momento in cui la sicurezza smette di essere un rifugio e inizia a somigliare a una gabbia. Per decenni ci hanno insegnato che il "posto fisso" è il traguardo supremo, la conquista definitiva, la promessa di una tranquillità incrollabile. Ma cosa succede quando quel mito entra in corto circuito con la voglia di realizzarsi davvero?

We speak about this today with Eleonora Merz, who chose to embrace the challenge between job security and freedom. Eleonora is a multifaceted figure in whom various worlds intertw: entrepreneurship, holistic well-being, and fine viticulture. Her story is part of a path of conscious and courageous choice: she left a job and a structured career in a beverage company to dedicate herself to yoga and holistic well-being (and beyond). A significant leap. Because sometimes, the only way to find yourself is to have the courage to take the first step. After years spent in the traditional corporate and managerial world, last June she felt the need to break away from rigid paces to reclaim her own time and reconnect with natural rhythms. The choice to abandon corporate work was not an escape, but a realignment of values. This same philosophy is reflected today both in her yoga classes and in the Eleusi winery project, where the concept of slow time and respect for natural cycles guides wine production. Indeed, she is co-founder of the Eleusi winery alongside Mattia Binotto (Formula 1 engineer and manager) and oenologist Mattia Filippi. Here she plays the role of the operational and strategic heart, uniting vision, poetry, and organizational groundedness. Through her project Nuvoletta Olistica, she handles integrated wellness practices, yoga, and paths aimed at developing a greater awareness of the body and self. A constant search for balance emerges in her profile: on one hand, the concreteness of business and meticulous care for artisan wine; on the other, slowness, nature, and self-care through yoga and holistic disciplines. Eleonora is part of the Women in Nature (WIN) community, collaborating as a teacher and professional. We met with her.

Was there a precise moment when you said to yourself, "a permanent job is no longer for me"?

There wasn't a single breaking point, but rather a decision that matured over time. I worked for a long time as an executive assistant, but as the years went by, I felt that the role no longer represented me: I had a creative and enterprising side that didn't find much room to express itself in that environment. So I started laying the groundwork for change, brick by brick. A bit like what happens with wine, it takes years of preparation and you have to know how to wait for the right moment—it’s no coincidence that I founded the winery in 2021. I took the same approach with yoga; I’ve been practicing since 2011, when I lived in Emilia between Bologna, Modena, and Vignola. Recently I obtained my certification to teach, but for me, it was essential to deeply "live" it before starting to pass it on to others. An intensive few-week course isn't enough; here too, time is needed to let things mature. After earning a degree in anthropology, I'm currently studying psychology. Since last June, things have changed radically; the pace is different, and I end up working even more than before, but the path requires time and patience. The foundations were laid calmly, and change arrived when everything was ready.

When you leave the security of a structured job, the biggest fear is economic uncertainty or the judgment of others. How did you face these forms of resistance?

Regarding judgment, I must say that the fear turned out to be greater than reality. Often, other people's expectations hold us back, but then, when you finally take the step, things go differently. In my case, I found far more understanding and encouragement than I expected, even within my family, who usually tend to be more conservative. Perhaps it happened because my need for change and my passion were so obvious that it was impossible not to catch them, or maybe because I wasn't jumping into the dark: my project was already partially underway, the winery already existed, and I had started teaching. Many people told me, "if you don't do it now, you never will." The real resistance was giving up the stability of a fixed salary and the certainty of a regular income from employment. To overcome this block, I did a lot of mindset work; I told myself that, after all, I have years of experience and solid skills behind me. I am simply giving myself an opportunity to challenge myself, and if things don't go as I hope, I will always have time to look for a similar position as before.

What does it really mean to invent and reinvent yourself from scratch?

Reinventing yourself from scratch means, first of all, accepting a loss of balance. It means being willing to lose something—security, established routines—to step out of your comfort zone and let go of the reference points we have clung to for so long. By nature, we tend to seek stability, but the truth is that to evolve, a certain dose of destabilization is necessary, with all the difficult moments it entails. It's a bit like walking: to take another step, you inevitably have to lift one foot off the ground and lose your balance for an instant. Moving forward requires that slight vertigo, and you have to learn to accept it. Those around us aren't always able to understand this process immediately. Change is scary to observers as well, but that feeling of disorientation isn't a failure; it’s the natural consequence of choosing to set off on a journey and evolve.

In the transition from employee to entrepreneur, what were the main obstacles related to being a woman that you encountered, and with what tools did you overcome them?

Along my path, I found myself navigating two profoundly different worlds. On one side, there is the wine sector, historically heavily male-driven and where women were underrepresented for a long time. Fortunately, in recent years, a strong shift is taking place: I see increasingly prepared and competent women in this sector, as well as a vibrant desire to network, as shown by various women's associations I would love to join. The stereotype that women only appreciate "light" or rosé wines is also crumbling. We are facing a real transformation, even if there is still a long way to go. On the other side, there is the holistic sector, where female presence is the majority due to a strong predisposition to explore alternative paths and new ways of understanding health and well-being. However, the biggest obstacle was primarily cultural and internal: learning to fully believe in my capabilities and understanding that I had all the tools to succeed. To overcome this block, two elements were fundamental: training and dialogue. I invested heavily in study and preparation to build solid authority in the field. Constant dialogue and exchange with other women then provided me with virtuous examples and a lot of inspiration.

At Eleusi, you created "Animantica," a Chardonnay that requires 5 years of aging. How much of your philosophy is in this wine that knows how to wait?

There is a lot of me in this wine: my sensitivity, my vision, and my deep passion for mythology and the human being. Both in the name of the winery, Eleusi (inspired by Greek myths tied to the rhythm of the seasons and the earth), and in the name of the wine, Animantica, there is a constant call to the idea of a slow, infinite, almost eternal time—a time not to be suffered, but savored. It is a philosophy that closely intertwines with mindfulness, a practice I am deepening that centers on awareness of the present and the ability to fully enjoy every single moment. Animantica combines these two dimensions: the soul (anima) and the ancient (antico). It is a wine that requires five years of aging before reaching the glass because it reflects precisely the capacity to know how to wait, to respect the earth's natural rhythms, and to give what has value the necessary time to mature and best reveal itself.

Wine represents the earth element, grounding, and matter; yoga, on the other hand, works on breath, air, and fluidity. How do these two roles balance within you?

These are two worlds I don't see as opposites; on the contrary, for me, they are deeply connected and nourish each other. Certainly, wine represents the earth, matter, and grounding, but it is also an emotional and spiritual experience. It’s no coincidence that on our labels, the invitation is to look upward toward a starry sky—a reminder to pause, take the time to dream, and connect with something greater. Similarly, yoga works on the breath and the fluidity of air, but it cannot dispense with solid grounding. To center myself and regain balance, I always need to return to the body and contact with the earth. Matter and spirit, earth and sky do not exclude each other; they are two complementary paths to root oneself in the present and live a deep experience with oneself and one's surroundings.

How did yoga enter your life, and in what way has it transformed your approach to work routine and self-care and care for others?

Yoga entered my life because I am an emotional person. At times when emotions become intense and turn into anxiety or fear, I discovered in yoga an extraordinarily powerful tool to find balance and manage what I feel. For me, the practice functions a bit like a sound or a vibration, an inner call that immediately brings me back to my center and acts as an ally in moments of disorientation. The real transformation, however, occurred when I started taking yoga off the mat into daily life and work routines. It means learning to observe anxiety when it appears, without judging it or letting yourself be overwhelmed by it, and using breath to return to the body and the present moment. When you learn to be centered and present for yourself, you are able to offer authentic listening and care to those around you as well.

Where does the name "Nuvoletta Olistica" come from, and what is the main mission or energy you try to convey to people who follow your practices?

"Nuvoletta" (Little Cloud) was the nickname my elementary school teacher gave me because I always had my head in the clouds. I didn't understand it back then, but today it’s a name I'm fond of. The cloud represents lightness, the ability to rise, and, above all, to change and take on ever-different forms. In my life, I have never been afraid to take new paths or indulge my passions in an evolutionary key, and the cloud embodies precisely this fluidity. This is the message and energy I wish to convey: an invitation to open up to your own nuances without judgment, moving past the idea of having to remain stuck in a static, monolithic self-image. Change is a natural part of our growth journey. The adjective "holistic" (olistica), on the other hand, stems from the desire not to limit oneself to a single discipline. In my vision, there is yoga, but there is also sound, meditation, and, in the future, psychology. Each of us has our own personal challenges to face, and everyone needs their own time: my mission is to offer a space and tools to accompany this transformation with care, openness, and active listening.

With WIN, you bring the practice of listening and yoga outdoors. What added value does bringing yoga out of the studio and directly into the nature of Trentino offer?

Practicing outdoors has a truly unique energy. Of course, being outside also involves minor inconveniences like damp grass or a few insects, but the value you receive in return is priceless. Outside the studio, our senses awaken and are constantly stimulated; the connection with the earth beneath us and the sky above our heads becomes immediate, alive, and powerful. In the mountains of Trentino, this feeling is amplified thanks to incredible spaces and majestic views that grant an instant sense of peace. You find yourself immersed in the pure vitality of nature, surrounded by the sounds of streams and bird song. This immersion awakens a deep joy, reminding us that we are not mere spectators, but an integral part of everything that surrounds us.

Why be part of WIN?

Being part of it means, first and foremost, networking among female professionals and giving proper value and visibility to women's expertise. It’s an organization that creates real connections and concrete opportunities for sharing. A fundamental element is the chance to experience nature together with other people. Very often, women give up on going for a hike, practicing outdoors, or engaging in an outdoor activity simply because they don't have anyone to share it with. WIN breaks down this barrier, creating a healthy, protected, and deeply nourishing social context where practice and connection with nature become an opportunity to feel good together and support one another.

If you had to give advice to someone who feels the need to slow down or change their professional course but can't find the courage to take the first step, where should they start?

My advice is to take the first step anyway, even if it's tiny. Thinking about a drastic leap often causes a sense of vertigo and is rarely practical in real life; that's why it's important to remember that the space and time to introduce a small change are always there—you just have to know how to look for them. You don't need to hurry; you need to give yourself the time to let an alternative project mature. In my case, for example, the period dedicated to training was crucial. The important thing is to start, to move that first piece, and not remain stuck in resignation. You need "baby steps." That is how, little by little, you build courage and the path toward a new direction.

Photo by Eleonora Merz, photo Eleusi Vigna Sotto al Doss by Maurizio Gjivovich

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