Pilates Self-Care Saturday: Your Mini-Retreat at Home

A bright yellow rubber duck floats playfully in a foamy white bubble-filled bath.

As Pilates teachers, we give so much of ourselves – physically, emotionally, and energetically. The classes, the clients, the emails, the programming – it all adds up. So when Saturday rolls around, it’s the perfect time to pause, reset, and give something back to you.

You don’t need to fly off to a spa or book a full weekend retreat. Sometimes the most powerful self-care is simple and starts at home. Today, let’s create your own mini-retreat – a few hours just for yourself to nourish, unwind, and reconnect.

🌞 Start with a Morning Pilates Stretch

Begin your day without urgency. No alarms if you can help it. Allow yourself to wake naturally and move into your body with a gentle stretch.

You could do:

• Supine pelvic tilts and arm openings

• A short Pilates flow focusing on spine articulation and breath

• A few favourite mobility moves that feel good right now

This isn’t about “training” – it’s about tuning in. Notice how your body feels without needing to fix or improve anything.

🍵 Make Your Favourite Cup of Tea

Choose a mug you love and take a moment to be present while making your tea. Whether it's a classic English Breakfast, something calming like chamomile or a loose-leaf herbal blend, allow it to feel like a ritual.

This is a small act, but a meaningful one. Let the warmth settle into your hands, take it somewhere cosy, and just… be.

🧘 Take 10 Minutes for Stillness

Meditation doesn’t have to be perfect. You can sit on your sofa, a cushion, or lie down if that feels better. Focus on your breath, a word, a sound, or even a gentle body scan.

If you’re new to this, try a guided meditation app or simply set a timer for 10 minutes and allow whatever thoughts come to drift through without judgement.

🛁 Sink into a Long Bath

Fill the bath with Epsom salts, a few drops of lavender or eucalyptus oil, and let the water hold you. Light a candle if you have one. Play some music if it helps you switch off.

Let this be time where nothing is expected of you. No planning. No to-do lists. Just rest.

📝 Reflect, or Don’t

You might want to jot down a few thoughts – what came up for you, what you’re grateful for, what you want to take into next week. Or you may prefer to just feel rather than think.

Let your intuition guide you.

☁️ Why This Matters

We talk often about embodiment in Pilates, but living an embodied life also means knowing when to rest. Creating a mini-retreat reminds us that care isn’t a reward – it’s a requirement. It’s a way of filling up so we can continue to give from a place of abundance rather than depletion.

You deserve to feel good. And it starts with small, intentional acts of kindness to yourself.

Happy Self-Care Saturday.