Sunrise Vinyasa & Beachfront Pilates Week in Ericeira, Portugal

Days follow a rhythm. Mat or reformer Pilates around 7:30am, breakfast after, then a longer midday session — usually vinyasa flow, sometimes a mobility or breathwork class. Afternoons are free. Dinner is at the house around 7pm, and twice during the week there's an evening restorative or yin class on the terrace.

What separates this from the dozens of Portuguese yoga weeks is the reformer equipment. Most of the reformer sessions are capped at four to six people per machine rotation, and the instructor gives hands-on adjustments rather than just calling out cues from the front. If you've only ever done mat Pilates, this is a decent introduction to the equipment without the pressure of a studio class at home.

The instructor has taught full-time for over a decade, with STOTT Pilates and Yoga Alliance certifications, and the teaching is corrective rather than performative — you'll spend time on footwork, spinal articulation and breathing. It suits people who want to understand what they're doing, not just get through a class.

Ericeira itself is a working Portuguese town, not a resort strip. There are surf shops, a couple of good coffee places, the Mercado Municipal for fruit and fish, and about a dozen beaches within a 15-minute drive. Ribeira d'Ilhas, a World Surfing Reserve, is the closest proper break.

The property is a converted quinta — whitewashed walls, tiled floors, a garden with loungers, an outdoor pool that's cold until June but great in July and August. Rooms are simple and clean rather than luxurious. If you want five-star and air conditioning everywhere, this isn't that; if you want good teaching and a short walk to the ocean, it is.

Midweek there's a free day with no classes at all, and a lot of guests use it to take a taxi to Sintra, or book a surf lesson, or just read on the terrace. The retreat ends with a Saturday morning class and a long breakfast before check-out at 11am.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in shared or private rooms - Daily breakfast (fruit, eggs, bread, coffee, juices) - Dinner at the house on all full days except one - Daily reformer and mat Pilates classes - Daily vinyasa, hatha, yin and restorative yoga sessions - Mobility, stretching and breathwork classes - Use of all studio equipment, mats and props - Use of the pool, garden and common areas - Wifi throughout the property - Welcome tea on arrival day

What's not included

- Flights to and from Lisbon - Airport transfers - Travel insurance (required) - Lunches - One evening meal in Ericeira - Surf lessons, excursions and optional activities - Alcoholic drinks - Laundry service - Personal expenses and gratuities