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Shape and Nurture Pilates Sicilian Manor Retreat

Commenda di San Calogero, Sicily, Italy

  • Available all year round for 6 or more guests
  • 5 days

We love it for

• A Holistic Spring Reboot Wellbeing Retreat

• Personalised Pilates, Lifestyle & Nutrition Consultations

• Reclaim the Best Version of You Inside and Out

• A Privately Reserved 16th Century Sicilian Country Home with 110 Acres of Iconic Italian Gardens

 

Overview

This retreat is available for a group of 6 or more guests

*Please note, this is a sample itinerary. Contact us to design a fully-customised Private Retreat.

Recharge, energise and kick-start your wellbeing journey on the Shape and Nurture Pilates Retreat with Balance Holidays. A programme curated to bring a professional, personal and holistic approach to release stagnant energies, encourage deeper connection with the self and empower the body and mind following the cold and idle beats of winter.

Set in slow-paced Sicily, where bright rays of light evokes life into every corner it touches. This retreat is the ideal opportunity to discover the best version of the self, inside and out, and cultivate an all-encompassing balanced lifestyle personalised to individual needs. Emphasis will firstly be placed on time in nature and energising Pilates and fitness exercises, that target key muscle groups and joints and focus on the full body’s alignment to help effectively perform quality functional movements. A specially designed nutritional programme and informed lifestyle and nutrition coaching, enhanced with tailored advice, will further nourish and improve awareness of the body and mind. Promoting a lasting overall state of wellbeing. All learnings and techniques from the retreat will be provided and easily translated into simple and healthy habits at home.

RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS

Pre-Retreat Consultation and 1:1 Pilates, Lifestyle and Nutrition Coaching Sessions -

Gain tailored support, advice and guidance on individual needs and achieving personal goals with the programme’s leading expert pre-arrival and during the retreat. Specialising in working directly with her clients to personalise a roadmap to full body-mind alignment. The pre-retreat consultation will be a comprehensive evaluation of your intentions, while the one-to-one coaching session focusing on Pilates, lifestyle and nutrition will provide customised suggestions, tips and techniques to optimise your full potential and wellbeing. Paola will also be at your disposal to answer any questions across the retreat.

Professional Pilates Practice with Paola Langella -

Balance Holidays welcomes Paola Langella as the leading expert on this programme. Encapsulating Stott Pilates principles and fusing her in-depth knowledge of ballet, yoga, low cardio impact exercises and experience teaching an array of physical profiles. Tone, shape and challenge the body with a balanced combination of Standing, Dynamic and Restorative Pilates classes. A style that will improve mind-body acuity and focus largely on spine articulation to keep muscles flexible and improve the quality of movement, by sculpting, lengthening, strengthening and mobilising the entire body. Each routine will be adapted to the body’s natural movement patterns and every session will result in leaving the mat with strength, positivity and in love with the body.

*Please note, Paola is also qualified and holds experience teaching Pilates to prenatal women

Dedicated to Bringing Mind and Body Back to Full Balance -

Guided by Paola’s professional studies and experience teaching nutritional and lifestyle coaching. Themed workshops alternated with the programme’s itinerary of Pilates and fitness exercises, will concentrate on establishing harmony in all aspects of modern life. As well as, a specially designed nutritional programme inspired by the Mediterranean Diet and classes centred on balanced nutrition and mindful eating. Which will introduce the principles of Primary Foods and Secondary Foods. Where the former refers to features of life such as relationships, careers, physical activity, spirituality, and the latter to the food we eat. A consciously considered union of activities that in parallel with the personalised consultations will develop a full and complete overview to obtain and sustain wellbeing far beyond the retreat with Balance Holidays.  

THE LOCATION -

Boasting spectacular up-front views of Mount Etna, the highest peak in Italy. Commenda di San Calogero is a 16th Century former Sicilian feudal estate and will be entirely reserved for Balance Holidays’ attending guests of this retreat. Set in a valley by the San Calogero river, on the outskirts of the Iblean Plateau and in close proximity to numerous UNESCO heritage sites. The estate harmoniously forges balance between past and present, weaving textures, colours and materials together to pay homage to its heritage. Without forgetting the ideal of contemporary comforts. Landscaped gardens host organic citrus groves and olive trees, the leading characters of marmalades, orange blossom honey and the finest extra virgin olive oils.

What's included

- An Extensive 30-minute Online Pre-Retreat Consultation with Paola Langella
- A Tailored 1:1 Pilates, Lifestyle & Nutrition Coaching Session with Paola Langella
- Morning Cultural Walk and Standing Pilates
- Dynamic Flow Pilates
- Restorative Flow Pilates
- Circle of Life Workshop
- Health Coach Nutrition Workshop
- Tools to Take Home Group Session 
- Nutritious Field-to-Fork Meals Following the Traditional Mediterranean Diet Concept
- Privately Reserved Sicilian Country Estate Accommodation and Toiletries

- Transportation costs to and from the retreat
- Any extras consumed outside of this all-inclusive retreat

 

A typical day

*The activities and timings listed in this itinerary are indicative only. The final programme schedule will be emailed to you prior the beginning of this experience and may vary depending on factors such as local weather conditions. On occasion, we may swap activities around to ensure sufficient time for rest.

Food and cuisine

Privileged by the heartland of the freshest, organic and seasonal ingredients, Sicily, the Balance Holidays curated menus for this retreat will forge Paola’s informed positioning on nutrition, with the widely acclaimed lifestyle philosophy, the Mediterranean Diet. Characterised as the foundation to wellbeing and vitality, well-assured layering of distinctive Southern Italian flavours and textures will be accompanied by inventive culinary skill to deliver light but wholesome, nutritious and highly enjoyable meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. *Please notify us of any dietary restrictions, allergies and intolerances you may have. We will notify the estate’s kitchen and accommodate request(s) where possible.

The experts

  • BH-expert-paola-langella_v1
    Paola Langella

    Founder of SHAPES, a leading global Pilates and wellness studio, and an internationally recognised Stott qualified Pilates teacher, wellness coach and Reiki teacher based in London and Naples. Paola discovered Pilates at the suggestion of her doctor following a severe neck injury and felt an immediate connection with her body. Now, combining her broad experience, she has developed a creative technique binding Pilates with contemporary dance, ballet, fitness, yoga and mindfulness meditation. Earning her the title of being one of London’s most sought after Pilates instructors, she has been honoured to teach dancers and etoiles such as Yasmine Naghi from the Royal Opera Ballet, and at studios of Core Collective, Bodyism, Core Kensington and Form. She is also an author, and a certified nutrition health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She has collaborated with SoHo House, Sweaty Betty, Caudalie, Women’s Health and Seraphine Maternity and featured in Tatler, Country and Townhouse, DOSE, Sheerluxe and Stylist.

Accommodation and prices

  • Superior Room Single Occupancy

    A celebration of Sicilian tradition is reflected in the design of the Superior Rooms following. Inherited vintage antiques, intricate patterned ceramic tiles and daring use of colour brings flavour and unique character. A homage to its heritage and a continuation of indoor and outdoor, elevated through expansive glass windows. Each equipped with a Twin or Double bed, ensuite bathroom, minibar, TV and air conditioning. Eco-friendly toiletries included.

     

    Occupancy: Single occupancy
  • Superior Room Double Occupancy

    A celebration of Sicilian tradition is reflected in the design of the Superior Rooms following. Inherited vintage antiques, intricate patterned ceramic tiles and daring use of colour brings flavour and unique character. A homage to its heritage and a continuation of indoor and outdoor, elevated through expansive glass windows. Each equipped with a Twin or Double bed, ensuite bathroom, minibar, TV and air conditioning. Eco-friendly toiletries included.

     

    Occupancy: Double occupancy
  • Deluxe Room Single Occupancy

    Overlooking the estate’s lush gardens and glassy swimming pool, the Deluxe Room is a well-suited living space to disconnect and unwind. Tastefully decorated 16th Century Sicilian emblems, antiques and prints are interwoven with abundant comforts of the modern age. An elegant treatment delivering a warm and inviting atmosphere. Each equipped with a King Size bed, ensuite bathroom with a Jacuzzi, minibar, TV and air conditioning. Eco-friendly toiletries included.

     

    Occupancy: Single occupancy
  • Deluxe Room Double Occupancy

    Overlooking the estate’s lush gardens and glassy swimming pool, the Deluxe Room is a well-suited living space to disconnect and unwind. Tastefully decorated 16th Century Sicilian emblems, antiques and prints are interwoven with abundant comforts of the modern age. An elegant treatment delivering a warm and inviting atmosphere. Each equipped with a King Size bed, ensuite bathroom with a Jacuzzi, minibar, TV and air conditioning. Eco-friendly toiletries included.

     

    Occupancy: Double occupancy

Practical information

CHECK-IN AND CHECKOUT

This programme will commence at 5:00pm on the day of arrival. You will be allowed to check into your room from 2:00pm onwards. We therefore suggest booking tickets with an arrival time that allows sufficient time for travel from the airport to the estate. On the day of departure, there will be a brunch followed by checkout at 10:30am. You are welcome to depart earlier to meet the needs of your personal agenda.

GETTING THERE

The closest airport is Catania. You may book a rental car or call a taxi from outside the airport, quoting the below address to bring you directly to the estate. Total journey time if local traffic conditions permit will be approximately 30 minutes.

ADDRESS:

Commenda di San Calogero
Contrada S. Calogero,
96011
Augusta
Italy

  • Available all year round for 6 or more guests
  • 5 days
  • Available all year round for 6 or more guests

In our clients' own words

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