PILATES RETREAT AT MONPLAISIR

with Renata Almeida and Claudia Ferreira

Come and treat yourself to an integrated experience of well-being
in a beautiful rural setting in south-west France.

Wednesday 10^th to Sunday 14^th September 2025

Come and join us for 5 days of energising classes and expert massage treatments focusing on  strength, flexibility and relaxation in a beautiful environment. Renata Almeida and Claudia Ferreira team up to provide an integrated well-being experience, complemented by delicious and healthy food in a beautiful natural setting.

Her classes are varied, focusing on spine mobility and core strength, often using small pilates props like elastic bands, free weights and balls. She believes that keeping our body moving in all directions maintains healthy, flexible joints and that strengthening exercises maintain and increase muscle tone and bone density, allowing us to lead a healthier and more fulfilled life. Classes are adapted to clients’ needs and goals, challenging them to help them to move their body to the best of their abilities while taking any injuries into account.

Claudia Ferreira is a multidisciplinary therapist with 15 years of experience practicing in London’s most reputable clinics. She now focuses on her own methodology linking Eastern and Western medical traditions. Her qualifications include:
Traditional Chinese Medicine – BSc (Hons), MBAcC
TCM Gynaecology & Obstetrics – Postgraduate
Nutritional Therapist – Diploma
Advanced Fertility Nutrition – Diploma
Sports Therapy – Diploma

Claudia sees the body as a self-regulatory system with an innate ability to self-heal. Her methodology combines complementary natural therapies including Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, natural herbal remedies and meditation to restore an internal equilibrium and improve general health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Portsmouth University, and has also completed several post graduate courses including TCM Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Advanced Fertility Nutrition. She is a member of The British Acupuncture Council.

Claudia also has experience in treating sports related injuries. Her own experience as an athlete swimming competitively at an international level led her to study and pursue a career as a Sports Therapist. She understands the importance of preventative care and is extremely experienced in anatomy and physiology.

Feed both your body and soul with delicious, healthy food prepared by trained chef Marion. The vegetarian menu is prepared using fresh local ingredients including organic fruit and veg from Marion’s kitchen garden. The menu can be adapted to cater for your needs (eg. gluten-free or vegan) and beer and wine is available to purchase. 

Schedule
A guided meditation and Pilates session is on offer every morning with Renata, and a second 45 minute session will take place in the early evenings. The retreat also includes a 50-minute massage, and you can book further treatments with Claudia on site if you wish. The rest of the time you’re free to enjoy relaxing by the pool and in the extensive gardens, or walking on the many paths in the beautiful surrounding countryside. The emphasis is on relaxation and rest, but there will be one or two trips to see some of the lovely medieval towns and villages in the region or one of the many nearby markets. Each day will be rounded off with dinner on the terrace.

Please note that transfers to and from the airport are included for the following British Airways flights:
Weds 10th September, depart London Heathrow at 2.30pm, arrive Toulouse 5.15pm 
Sunday 14th September depart Toulouse 15.40, arrive London Heathrow 16.30

However, there are regular flights with budget airlines to and from Toulouse from Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted, so please feel free to make your own travel arrangements if you prefer. If you get an alternative flight, transfer from nearby train stations can be organised. If you’d like to travel all the way by train, there are direct connections from Paris to Cahors, from where we can pick you up. Contact Marion if you’d like to discuss travel options.

We are striving to minimise the negative environmental impact of travelling to Monplaisir. The course fee therefore includes a realistic contribution towards offsetting your carbon footprint through a tree-planting scheme.

Cost per participant:
Shared twin room with en-suite bathroom: £840
Single room, bathroom shared with 1 other person: £930
Single room with en-suite bathroom: £970

The price includes 4 nights accommodation, transfers to and from local airports as specified on the booking form, breakfast, lunch and gourmet dinner, beers and soft drinks, all pilates classes, a massage treatment, and excursions to local places of interest.

Lunch and drinks at local cafés or restaurants are not included, and you can buy wine on site if you wish.

For more information or to book please contact Marion at marionmonplaisir@gmail.com or Renata at rpilates@hotmail.co.uk