Reformer Pilates Wellness Week in Ericeira, Portugal — Coastal Fitness Escape

Days start early-ish but not brutally. Breakfast is at the guesthouse around 8am, then you walk to the studio for a 90-minute reformer session starting at 9:30. The classes are taught on Balanced Body reformers and follow a progressive structure across the week — the first couple of days focus on footwork, the hundred, and basic spine articulation so that everyone is working from the same foundation, then the middle of the week adds longer sequences on the box and the chair, and the last sessions put it together into fuller flows with a focus on control rather than speed.

Afternoons are free from about 1pm. Lunch isn't included most days — the point is that you go into town and eat where you like. Ericeira has everything from €5 bifanas at the market to proper sit-down seafood, and there are several vegetarian-friendly spots. On two of the afternoons there are optional activities: a guided coastal walk to Ribeira d'Ilhas, and a stretch and mobility workshop back at the studio. On the rest day, most people go to Mafra to see the palace, or take a surf lesson at one of the local schools.

What separates this from a general Pilates holiday is the equipment and the group size. These are proper studio reformers, not mats, and the group is capped low enough that the instructor adjusts you by hand and changes the repertoire for whoever is in the room. If you've done mat Pilates for years and never touched a reformer, this is a straightforward way in. If you're already experienced, the instructor will give you progressions instead of letting you coast.

The instructor is a certified STOTT Pilates instructor who has taught in Lisbon and Ericeira for around eight years, with additional training in pre- and postnatal Pilates and in rehabilitation work with a physiotherapist. She teaches in English and Portuguese, and keeps class sizes small on purpose.

The guesthouse is a restored Portuguese building with six rooms, a shared kitchen, a small garden and a rooftop terrace with sea views. It's quiet — no bar, no music after 10pm — and about 600 metres from Praia do Sul. Beds are made with proper linen, rooms have fans and some have air conditioning, and there's free wifi throughout if you need to check in with work.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation at a six-room guesthouse in Ericeira - Daily breakfast at the guesthouse - 6 reformer Pilates classes (90 minutes each) at the local studio - Use of Balanced Body reformers, Pilates chair, ladder barrel and props - Optional guided coastal walk to Ribeira d'Ilhas - Optional stretch and mobility workshop - Linen and towels, changed midweek - Free wifi throughout the guesthouse - Access to shared kitchen, garden and rooftop terrace

What's not included

- Flights to and from Lisbon - Airport or bus station transfers - Lunch and dinner (except where stated) - Travel insurance - Surf lessons and other local activities - Optional 1-on-1 Pilates sessions - Grip socks for the reformer - Personal expenses, drinks and tips