When it comes to hosting yoga and Pilates retreats, nothing works so well as renting a big house as your venue. First off, as a retreat organiser, you have complete autonomy and your schedule is 100% flexible. For your guests, it’s the perfect blend of shared living with private spaces, and they have access to luxury amenities and peaceful natural landscapes. Sleeps12 is a great option for retreats, with large holiday houses sleeping up to 30 that have dedicated spaces for yoga and Pilates.
When you rent a big house for yoga and Pilates retreats, you create a meaningful experience. Think of it as a blank canvas for a wellness weekend – one where you’re completely in charge of the schedule. The perfect venue makes all the difference and makes a very positive start to the experience as your guests will feel relaxed from the moment they arrive.
Think everything under one roof – luxury accommodation, spacious dining and lounge areas, dedicated spaces for activities, high end features like indoor pools, saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs, private outdoor spaces. It all makes for a calm and easy-going environment. It makes perfect sense, but let’s just dive in a bit more; let’s take a closer look at the advantages of hosting yoga and Pilates retreats at a big house.
Exclusive Privacy
The whole house, its facilities and grounds will be entirely yours from the minute you arrive. Privacy is guaranteed helping your guests to feel at ease. It’s a real disconnect from the rest of the world, there are no distractions, which is why it’s so much better than a retreat based at a hotel or spa resort. There won’t be anyone else about, you won’t be sharing any of the spaces or facilities, it’s all yours and only yours. For a few days, everything you need, everything that matters, is right here at your bespoke wellness retreat.
Complete Autonomy
It’s your retreat, so you are completely in control of the agenda, and you have inbuilt flexibility. Dining times don’t have to be set in stone, if your guests decide they’d like a lie in and a late breakfast, that can happen, if a movie night is suggested last minute, it’s not a problem. This way it’s easy to go with the flow.
A Comfortable Environment
The sheer size and cleanliness of a large holiday house will bring an instant sense of calm to your retreat; you’ll have the kind of spaces where guests will want to linger and chat. Relaxing lounges, well equipped kitchens, comfortable dining areas, restful bedrooms – and quite often, zip and link beds giving a choice of super kings or twins for people who don’t mind sharing. It all helps people to feel relaxed and safe. For those who want privacy and quiet time, think ensuite bathrooms, snugs and cosy nooks.
Bonding And Sense of Community
Renting a big house for your retreat immediately establishes a more intimate environment where it’s easy for guests to bond; because everything is under one roof or just steps from the door, it naturally encourages socialising. You don’t get this at spa resorts where there are separate buildings for dining, pampering, classes and relaxation facilities, and lots of other people milling about.
Dedicated Spaces
Some big houses have dedicated spaces for yoga, Pilates and meditation sessions, either purpose built, or in a carefully converted building just a few paces from the door. For example, Berry House in the Devon countryside has a beautifully converted Victorian barn, and The Old Rectory in Somerset has a purpose-built yoga studio adjacent to the courtyard at the back of the house.
Private Outdoor Spaces
Big houses usually have large private gardens, giving you the flexibility to hold classes and dine outdoors on warmer days. Think yoga at sunrise on the lawn, a sunset meditation, lunch on the terrace. It makes sense to pick a house in the country where you’re surrounded by nature. That way your guests can slow right down and be grounded, and you’ll have the opportunity for a gentle stroll through neighbouring meadows and woodlands.
Luxury Facilities
Large holiday houses often have other amenities that add luxury to your yoga or Pilates retreat, like a private indoor pool, a hot tub, sauna, and steam room – it’s like having a private spa alongside the main focus of the retreat. And it’s all yours, no crowds, no staff wandering in and out.
Bespoke Catering and Wellness
Here’s where you can tailor your retreat to exactly how you want it to be. Choose private chefs for bespoke catering – healthy, nutritious food made using locally sourced ingredients, adjusted to suit any dietary requirements. Book mobile therapists to give spa and beauty treatments, florists to add natural beauty and a welcoming atmosphere, and other providers to boost your yoga and Pilates retreat with meditation sessions, sound baths, or even art classes and mocktail making. Sleeps12 works with a range of professionals to have your whole retreat covered.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong when you host a yoga and Pilates retreat in a big house, it’ll be such a success. Your guests will leave feeling grounded, relaxed and rejuvenated; any stress will be forgotten, and most likely, new friendships will be formed. Now that sounds perfect. Everybody say ‘Ohm…’