We’ve thoughtfully designed each day to include time for reading, treatments, poolside relaxation and rest between scheduled activities. See a description of our retreats below.
All Retreats for 2026 are Sold Out
Pilates and Pause – A Real Retreat
Sold Out – 7–13 June 2026 · Casa Rosa, Italy · 6 nights / 5 days · 8–12 guests
Deepen your practice. Restore your rhythm. Move with intelligence.
Step into five days of purposeful movement, rest, and reconnection in the Umbrian hills. Pilates and Pause is a retreat for people who love Pilates but want to explore it more deeply with expert guidance, nourishing food, walking in the Umbrian hills, and space to simply be.
Over five days at Casa Rosa, you’ll be invited to slow down. We’ll take every opportunity to be present, during movement classes, while walking, swimming under a waterfall, and during moments of silence in the early morning, as the light shifts and the day begins.
What’s Included
- Daily movement sessions rooted in Pilates, but taken somewhere else entirely to deepen your awareness, skill and strength. A curated, progressive programme with Jo and Ange – experienced physiotherapists and skilled teachers
- Bodywork with Giulia – intuitive, powerful sessions delivered in a forest yurt, that release more than just muscle tension
- Walks with Ian, who shares his deep knowledge of local flora, fauna and geology
- A chance to visit a secluded local swimming spot – a hidden waterfall and natural pool, perfect for a dip or quiet pause in nature
- Optional group or 1:1 coaching conversations with Jo – lightly held spaces for reflection and support
- Two excursions:
Hills and Hermitage: a guided walk to Mortari sinkholes and St Francis’s hermitage above Assisi
• Town and Table: a slower day in Assisi with lunch overlooking the valley to Perugia - Accommodation in the peaceful hilltop setting of Casa Rosa
- Three nourishing meals a day, prepared by a local chef using seasonal ingredients
- Ample time to rest, reflect, journal, swim or simply do nothing at all
Who It's For
This retreat is for anyone who wants to feel more present in their body and in their life. You don’t need to be a seasoned mover – just someone open to slowing down, tuning in, and letting movement become a kind of conversation with yourself.
Movement with Meaning
This isn’t Pilates in a studio with mirrors and a clock. It’s movement in the open air, under a canopy in the garden or beneath the arbour by the pool, with Mount Subasio rising in the distance. The soundtrack is music, birdsong, wind in the trees, and sometimes just silence.
These sessions are more than technique. They’re about how movement feels, not how it looks. We’ll stretch. We’ll build strength. But we’ll listen to our bodies for what’s ready to shift. Some sessions are slow and grounding. Others are strong and uplifting. All are designed to help you feel more like yourself again.
The Walks
Walking here isn’t just about fresh air and exercise. It’s a way of entering the landscape. The Umbrian hills are layered with history – woods and pastures, cliffs and ravines, wildflowers and waterfalls. You’ll walk through shaded forests, climb to wide-open views, and pause in tiny villages or quiet valleys. Ian knows this land deeply – not just the paths, but the stories beneath them.
Some walks are gentle. Others more challenging. But always with time to take in the view. This isn’t about peak-bagging. It’s about presence. Letting the land move you, while you move within it.
The Bodywork
You don’t need to explain why your shoulders are tense. Or why your mind won’t settle. You just need to lie down and let Giulia do what she does best.
Treatments take place in a wooden yurt tucked into the edge of the forest. Giulia reads bodies like books and always seems to know what’s needed.
Whether you’re holding physical tension, emotional exhaustion, or a general sense of too much, you’ll come out feeling more whole, more yourself. You don’t need to talk. You just need to show up, lie down, and be cared for.
Sample Daily Rhythm
7:30 – Sunrise meditation
8:00 – Morning movement
9:00 – Breakfast
10:30 – Walk with Ian
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Free time / Swim at the waterfall
16:00 – Conversation circle or 1:1 coaching
17:00 – Evening movement
19:00 – Dinner
On excursion days, the schedule will flow around our adventures.
Answering your questions
We recommend the following British Airways flights. Transport to and from the airport in Italy will be arranged in line with these flights only.
Outward flight on Sunday
BA0620 – 16:05 London Heathrow – Perugia
Return flight on Saturday.
BA0621 – 11:40 Perugia – London Heathrow
Yes, you are welcome to extend your stay either at Casa Rosa, or elsewhere and arrange your own transport to and from the venue.
To fully enjoy our retreat, we recommend a moderate level of fitness. Ideally, you should be comfortable participating in a one-hour Pilates class and able to navigate sloping and uneven terrain without assistance.
We understand that everyone’s abilities differ, and we’ve designed our programme with flexibility in mind. The longer walks and waterfall swim are optional activities, so please don’t worry if you feel these might be too challenging.
To ensure we can cater to your individual needs and provide the best possible experience, we’ll send you a comprehensive health questionnaire before your arrival. This allows us to understand your capabilities and make any necessary adjustments to your programme.
Our aim is to create an inclusive and enjoyable environment for all our guests, regardless of fitness level. If you have any concerns about the physical aspects of the retreat, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help and can discuss how best to tailor the activities to suit you.
Yes, many people choose to come on our retreats as a perfect option for solo travellers. You will be able to meet new friends, enjoy communal meals and activities, but there is also plenty of time and space to enjoy your own company.
Don’t worry, we totally get this one. To be honest, we wouldn’t call ourselves group people, this is why we are so flexible with our timetable. We understand that people have vastly different needs in terms of time spent in a group, on their own or with a partner and you’ll find there is ample space and opportunity to accommodate whatever you want to do at any given time. What tends to happen is that the group gathers its own pace. There are many situations when you can make friends, share stories, and for many this is a big part of the retreat. There is also lots of time for peace and quiet and doing you own thing.
Temperatures in June and September are very pleasant, mostly in the range of 20-25 degrees Celsius, warm enough to swim and to exercise outside. If it is very warm, we will alter the timetable and make sure Pilates classes and walks are taken in the cooler mornings and late afternoon/evening. It can also occasionally rain, so we have undercover options for activities.