Profane and profound; sacred and silly: the joyous juxtaposition of a VINOYASA retreat
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that your calendar rarely clears itself. We live in a world that glorifies busyness and if you want time for you, you have to carve it out intentionally. Because your body and soul are craving something very different to the routine: LIBERATION.
What could be more freeing than saying eff it and blocking out some time for you? And now you have a reason: a female-led retreat that gives you the space to remember who you are.
Underneath all the layers, she may be a bit feral. She may want to feel her body from the inside out, instead of rushing through the motions. To stretch out, loosen up, look within and ground down. Like a cat blissed out in a pool of sunshine. Like butter melting into a warm slice of toast. Like someone remembering they’re ready for more.
There is wisdom in stepping back, softening, spiralling inward. At VINOYASA, we create playful, powerful pockets of space. We show you how to let go of everything holding you back, open up your soul and let it flourish. Ready?! Lesssssgo!!!!!
What exactly is a retreat?
Retreats come in all flavours – some are wellness focused, others feel like luxurious time-outs from the everyday. But to me, a retreat isn’t an endpoint. It’s not a reward for muscling through burnout or another badge of productivity. It’s a beautiful, intentional pause. A portal. A moment to soften and step back into your own rhythm.
In my experience, most people don’t go on a retreat to “get away” from life. Not really. They come because something inside them is stirring. They might be curious about what exactly it is about nature that is so healing, and want to learn more. Or, they could be seeking a community of like-minded fabulous folk where they can be free to be themselves. Maybe it’s the sensual delight of sipping wine slowly, noticing the way it opens you – not just your palate, but your presence. A retreat is one way to answer that call.
It’s an invitation to step into the place of YES. According to Psychology Today, saying yes boosts creativity, builds rapport with others and helps you embrace uncertainty. In VINOYASA land, saying yes translates to moving your body, feeling your power and shimmying into your sassy, grounded, gorgeous self.
And this is the best, goddamn soul-enriching part. It doesn’t change who you are; it lets you be who you are. And if that’s not a good enough reason to throw caution to the wind and get packing RIGHT NOW, then we don’t know what is. But here are some other bloody good reasons to come on a VINOYASA yoga retreat:
Push your boundaries (in the best possible way)
There’s a quiet kind of power in saying yes to something new. It might look like shaking off stress with a twerking masterclass – hips loose, joy high, energy flowing. Or maybe it’s sharing your voice in circle, or savouring a slow, soul-soothing wind-down with yoga and wine (relaxation and indulgence in perfect harmony).
You might find yourself deep in ecstatic dance, silent disco headphones wrapped around your ears, music pulsing just for you as your body moves however it damn well pleases. Or wading into the sea for an invigorating swim that hits reset on your whole system. You’ll find all of this and more at our August day retreat in Devon: BRING THE SUNSHINE
These moments – the ones you didn’t see coming – are the ones that wake something up inside you. Retreats don’t push you beyond your edges by force; they invite you beyond them with freedom. You get to meet parts of yourself you haven’t hung out with in a while. The bold one. The brave one. The one who says: “YASSSS!!!”
It can be a little intimidating – showing up solo, trying something you’ve never done, moving your body in a new way, landing in a place you’ve never been. But here’s the thing: most of the magic lives just outside what feels comfortable. That first brave step? It changes everything. Suddenly you realise: you’re more powerful than you thought.
Do what you love
What would your day look like if you designed it purely for pleasure? Would you wake slowly, stretch like a cat and sexily slink into the pool? Would you choose to move indulgently before eating breakfast with your hands, leaving croissant crumbs on your lips? Would you sip something sparkly, nap in the sunshine, dance like a glorious weirdo at dusk?
You can do all that at VINOYASA In The Loire Valley.
Think: long, lazy mornings of soul-soothing yoga in the gardens of a beautiful chateau. Afternoons melting into sun-warmed pages and swims, or wandering around. Evenings of music, laughter, candlelight and wine. It’s sensual, playful, grounding, freeing. There’s no pressure. No posturing. Just the space to be the way you actually want to be – fully, deliciously, as yourself.
Whether your bliss lives on the mat, in a glass or in the pool; whether you crave quiet or connection – this is your time to do what you love and remember what lights you up. And here’s the very special spicy sauce: doing what you love isn’t indulgent. It’s energising. Every moment of pleasure becomes a spark. So if you’ve been feeling stuck, dulled down or low on creative juice, this is your invitation to turn the tide. Start with what feels good. Watch what follows.
Be authentically you
Forget curating your life. Forget the highlight reel, the filters, the “fine, thanks.”
At a VINOYASA retreat, you get to drop the mask. This is the place to ugly cry in savasana. Cackle like a loon during dance. Float in silence. Drink allllll the wine. Spill your whole heart over lunch. Or don’t. You’ll never be asked to be anything other than yourself. And yes – it is that rare.
Because the world spends a lot of time trying to sell us the idea that we’re not quite right. That we need to be a little shinier, smoother, sassier, softer, sexier, something-er. But I’m going to let you in on a secret (not even a sneaky one): there is nothing more magnetic, more radiant, more drop-dead gorgeous than a person who is comfortable in their own skin.
I get that it’s not always easy. For most of us, it’s a journey. That’s why female-led retreats are so powerful. Because something magic happens when we gather. You realise the woman beside you, who seems so confident and luminous? She’s navigating her own stuff, too. And suddenly, there's no hierarchy. Just humanity.
Genuine connection
Many of us grew up priding ourselves on independence. We know how to hold it all – career, family, home, relationships. We’re masters of the mental load. But when I travel, I’m reminded: that’s not the only way to live. In so many places, women still gather – around fires, at kitchen tables, in courtyards and riverbanks. They cook together, raise children together, support each other. It’s not a favour – it’s a way of being. What did we lose when we stopped circling up?
The truth is, connection lives in our bones. It’s in our DNA. For generations, we gathered. We shared stories, sang songs, passed down wisdom. And while modern life may have pulled us apart, the longing for that kind of closeness hasn’t gone away.
That’s why a retreat feels like coming home. There’s something ancient and soul-soothing that happens when women come together – strangers at first, then sisters. The details of our lives may be different, but at the core, we’re all reaching for the same things: joy, ease, meaning.
Bring playfulness into life
Twerking in a garden. Skinnydipping under the stars. Drinking wine like you mean it. At VINOYASA, play isn’t an afterthought – it’s a sacred return. We take joy seriously here. We dance. We splash. We howl with laughter. We let ourselves be gloriously unfiltered and free. Play isn’t childish, it’s life-giving. It’s what reconnects us to curiosity and creativity.
Modern life can make us forget. The to-do lists grow, the days blur, and somewhere along the way, we stop doing things just because they feel good. But joy isn’t a luxury. It’s a need. I once heard someone say: if you want to remember who you really are, think back to what lit you up at age seven. What were you playing? What did you dream of? Before you were told to tone it down or fit in, that was you, in full technicolour. A retreat is where we get to meet her again.
Why I do this work (and why I’d love to retreat with you)
I’m not here to teach from a pedestal. I’m here to walk beside you, barefoot, curious, laughing at the wild, absurd beauty of being alive. VINOYASA retreats are crafted with heart and humour, designed not just to guide but to gather. I blend the sacred and the silly, the profound and the profane, the soulful and the downright irreverent. With a background in yoga, nature mentoring and building communities, I hold space with depth, warmth and a lil bit of mischief. You can read more about what VINOYASA is here.
There’s always an invitation – but never an expectation. You do you. VINOYASA retreats are sensual, soulful playgrounds for women who want to feel again. Sometimes the magic arrives in a single glimmer – sunlight dancing on a wine glass, a deep breath that settles your whole nervous system, a moment of shared silence that says more than words ever could.
Because joy is a portal. Play is medicine. And presence is powerful – whether your hands are held in prayer or on your hips, shaking your arse like there’s no tomorrow.
Whether it’s for a day or a few delicious days away, retreating isn’t about escaping from your life. It’s a way of saying: this life is worth slowing down for. I am worth slowing down for. Because sometimes, when we pause long enough to listen, we hear the best parts of ourselves calling us back. And if you hear that call – maybe it’s a howl, awoooooooooo – consider this your sign to howl right back.
Sign up for a retreat now — or hop on the list to get first dibs on future offerings (they sell fast). The wine’s chilling. The playlist’s ready. All that’s missing is you.
