I didn’t know if I could do it, but I jumped in and organised my first Women’s Pilates and Yoga Retreat, and 6 other women jumped in after me!
What began on the 31st of January 2026 as the seed of an idea became reality this October, when I hosted my first-ever 6-night ‘Movement as Medicine’ Pilates and Yoga retreat in Umbria, Italy.
Moving Through Midlife
I have been a lifelong exercise enthusiast, which led me to a rewarding career as a Physiotherapist. Exercise has been my saviour at times of struggle and challenge in my life, and this was never more true than when I was approaching menopause. I struggled massively with more symptoms than you could shake a stick at. It didn’t seem fair, and my experiences set me on a path to research and understand the effects of menopause on the body and mind, and I launched my podcast Moving Through Menopause to share information and dispel myths.
My research and conversations with health experts worldwide cemented my belief in movement as medicine for the body and mind, helping manage symptoms, promote overall health, and improve quality of life as we age. Taking a ‘daily dose’of movement really makes a difference, especially in midlife and beyond.
Movement as Medicine
The movements we choose should challenge the body with progressive resistance and variety to prevent plateaus and build strength, suppleness, and stamina. Implementing these lifestyle strategies takes time. Women are already taking the lion’s share of caring for children and ageing family members, running a home, and juggling demanding jobs. This leaves us with little room for a regular exercise routine and self-care.
Being away from home would allow more time and fewer distractions to fully engage with the activities and opportunities I advocate, while having fun and making new friends. So the idea of an immersive experience with a trusted movement specialist was born.
Women’s Pilates and Yoga Retreat
Our venue for my Women’s Pilates and Yoga Retreat was Tara Nature Retreat in Umbria, a hidden gem that resonated with my enjoyment of time spent outdoors in nature in a peaceful rural setting. I compiled a daily schedule that incorporated the varied movement facets that I champion: Clinical Pilates, Hatha Yoga, Hypopressives, Somatic movements, hiking, and guided relaxation. Alongside activity, I allowed plenty of time for rest, and our retreat chef provided incredible plant-based food. The retreat owners kept the on-site swimming pool open for us even though the autumn weather saw the unheated pool temperature drop to around 15 degrees C. I am a keen swimmer and an advocate for cold water immersion for muscle recovery, so this was the perfect place to rejuvenate after our hikes and workouts.
Guests Onboarded
My enthusiasm for this project alone would not be enough to make my plans a reality. For that, I needed a willing cohort of Women to join me. This proved to be the most challenging part of leading a solo retreat. However, with a community of weekly class members, a network of business owners, fellow movement teachers and friends, I managed to rustle up 6 enthusiastic participants and set up our retreat WhatsApp group. Travel arrangements were made, and the countdown was on.
Preparing For My Guests
I had been preparing for months, crafting the kind of experience that would appeal to a diverse range of Women with different personalities, experiences and abilities. This opportunity to share the benefit of my knowledge and experience was exciting, and I wanted to offer a few gifts aligned with the focus of our programme, Movement as Medicine for the Body and Mind in Midlife. Here is the list of small items that I believe no woman should be without, which I gifted in colourful gift bags:
- Journal and pen – For notes and reflections.
- Turmeric chai tea bag – Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties.
- A muscle rub – I always advocate using a rub if you have aches or pains.
- Toe separators – Improving toe mobility is crucial for functioning feet.
- Foot file – Foot health is crucial; hard skin and calluses can interfere with biomechanics and enjoyment of walking.
- Body brush – Stimulates lymphatic flow to boost the immune system.
- Moisturising Face mask – Pampering for a relaxing moment.
- Rubber resistance band – My favourite piece of portable exercise equipment.
- Eye Mask – for relaxation sessions or to support a good night’s sleep.
- Tongue Scraper – Used in Ayurveda for detoxification.
Everything was in place, and so I headed to Tara Nature Retreat with 24 hours remaining to prepare for the arrival of my guests.
Arrival Day
The day of the retreat dawned, with guests expected at 5.30 pm, preparations began in earnest. After meeting with the chef to review her amazing menu, I took a long walk to scope out the paths for the daily walks we would take. Walking is embedded in my own daily routine, and I really wanted to share that with my guests. The evidence is that walking, cycling, or other forms of aerobic exercise are important for our heart health and overall wellness. Better still, we would be enjoying the natural surroundings and undulating terrain on offer in Umbria.
My heart skipped a few beats when one traveller communicated a slight hitch. She had arrived at Rome airport to discover her luggage was arriving on the next flight. She was a seasoned traveller and stayed calm in the face of this disruption. I was less calm, if I am honest, however, after a couple of calls to local taxi firms, I had a new transfer plan in place.
I set up a welcoming semi-circle in the yoga Shala with mats, bolsters, blocks, cosy blankets and eye pillows and prepared the altar with candles, crystals, and incense, providing a focal point to bring mindfulness and meaning to our Yoga practice. Now I awaited the arrival of my guests with bated breath.
My Guests Arrive
After months of preparation, it was suddenly time to welcome my group of five gals arriving at 5.30 pm with a welcome drink. We allowed a little time to freshen up before we sat down to the amazing evening plant-based meal prepared by our chef Melanie. It was a sadness that we were one woman down, but we were all on hand to welcome our last member when she joined us later, with a wood fire burning in the hearth and food put aside by our accommodating chef.
With a room full of tired travellers, I felt it was necessary to adjust our order of events, moving my welcome circle to first thing the following morning. Now with everyone sleeping soundly, I turned in filled with excitement and some trepidation, ready to begin my first solo retreat.
Executing My Plans
Our 5 days and 6 nights were an incredible learning opportunity for me; my planned programme was executed with minimal real-time adjustment. We achieved everything I had hoped for, with Pilates and Yoga sessions on the large outdoor deck, relaxation in the cosy indoor Yoga shala with candles burning, lively interactive workshops, a majority enjoyed bracing swims in the pool, and we shared meals outdoors on the veranda.
A few spontaneous interactions with locals and local traditions really added to our experiences. An older gentleman in the nearby hamlet of Pesciano, whom we had met on a couple of occasions whilst out hiking, guided us to his loaded persimmon fruit tree and kindly cut fruit for us to enjoy.
Our Sunday lunch on the Veranda was interrupted by the baying of hunting dogs on the property, they were just in view and minding their own business, with a few gunshots in the distance. Our research informed us that Umbria has an active wild-boar management program, partly to control numbers and reduce risks like African swine fever. This allows locals to hunt wild boar on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 October to 31 January. An encounter with local culture, whether you agree with their traditions or not, was an interesting addition to our overall experience.
My retreat programme also incorporated outings into the local medieval town of Todi for afternoon sightseeing and an evening outing to take in the atmosphere. We were so lucky that our Sunday evening visit coincided with a Celebration of San Fortunato, Todi’s patron saint, with staged sword duels and a market in the Piazza del Popolo, which we will all remember.
Our Retreat Was Ending
Our last day came around so quickly, and it was time to hold our closing circle to reflect on our experiences and set our intentions moving forward. I was blown away by the feedback I received, and everyone expressed the opinion that key to their enjoyment was the friendliness of the women they had shared this experience with and the copious amounts of laughter. Participants shared that they enjoyed learning new movements, the setting and the teaching, and did I mention the food?!.
We were leaving feeling rested, energised, less fearful, more confident, positive and eager to implement different aspects of my teachings moving forward. These are the results I was aiming for; everyone had arrived articulating different goals and aspirations, and my programme seemed to have met each of their individual needs and aspirations.
This experience of running my first Women’s Pilates and Yoga retreat was everything I had hoped it would be, and I am looking forward to hosting future events.
If you would be interested in sharing a retreat experience with me, complete the expression of interest Google Form or drop me an email: hi@precizion.co.uk
Phillipa Butler MSc
Precizion Ltd
My Sincere thanks to everyone at Tara Nature Retreat for supporting my inaugural retreat experience.
