Movement Retreat: Fostering your Inner Vitality

Move and be moved.

Treat yourself to the ultimate self care with our half day retreat, where you will relax, destress and reinvigorate. Experience FAMO fascia-focused movement, Pilates Mat and yin-like postures that will nurture, support and nourish. Concluding the afternoon with restorative, melting postures and deep relaxation, while accompanied by the soothing sounds of a live cello, the instrument's kinetic power fosters vitality. Movement and music is at the core of what it means to be human, and we have crafted this retreat intentionally to bring a deeper dimension of beauty into your life. Join Paola, Sara and Rachel for this movement experience.

To cultivate this we explore the following:

• WARM UP: Paola’s focus is to unwind with a slow flow fascial release warm up to free areas of built up tension in your body and prepare you for the afternoon of movement.
• PILATES: Sara revitalises and reconnects with Pilates Mat, bringing a fluid and intentional approach that strengthens, restores, and enhances body awareness. Her guidance fosters a deep connection between breath and movement, leaving you feeling balanced, empowered, and energised.
• WORKSHOP: Paola's FAMO fascia-focused movement workshop boosts vitality and inner ease, movements become more fluid and springy, the body more adaptable and resilient. FAMO is designed to benefit life in its many facets.
• RESTORATIVE POSTURES & RELAXATION: Paola concludes the morning with long-hold restorative postures of 3-5 minutes, eventually leading to a place of deep stillness, while enveloped by the harmonious sounds of the cello, skilfully played by Rachel. The soothing musical backdrop enhances the unwinding process, with scientific studies underscoring the positive impact of music on the nervous system and brain. This harmonious integration contributes to an overall sense of tranquility and well-being, creating a serene conclusion to the morning. 

We invite you to join us. It is an opportunity for you to treat yourself.

What is included:

• All classes
• Equipment
• Snacks and cake at the end!

Who we are

Paola Raffinetti, Pilates instructor, Yoga teacher, FAMO Fascia Movement teacher and Educator, began her first Pilates training in 2001 as at it improved her performance and body awareness as a dancer. It helped her discover new ways of moving she had never had access to before. This revelation about the inter-connectedness of the mind body connection has kept her fascinated ever since. This fascination has increased exponentially with the latest research into the fascial system with FAMO Fascia Movement (previously Slings Myofascial Training) when she began this training in 2017. By incorporating FAMO in her Pilates classes, the positive overall dynamic postural affects within herself and clients have been inspiring. This continues to inform her teaching and own self practice for long term gain. Movement ease in every day life is a worthwhile endeavour.

Sara Czarnota, founder of THE MOVEMENT CORE. Sara has spent the last 10 years working in the Pilates and Fitness industry, training clients and teaching instructors, locally and internationally. She started this brand to create space to nurture, educate and support people to move in ways she genuinely believes in. Her desire is for people to move with purpose and happiness, so exercise is a welcome and rewarding part of life.

Dance, namely ballet, was an integral part of Sara’s life from a young age. The transition to Pilates, Barre and fitness in her adult life was a natural progression and felt to her like a ‘coming home’. Certified in Pilates (Pilates ITC & Tensegrity), she is passionate about teaching Pilates to everybody. She is also an accredited Barre, TRX and PunchFit trainer. Sara is especially interested in women’s health, being certified by The Center for Women’s Fitness in pre and postnatal care and diastasis recti recovery.

Rachel Pogson, originally from Orange in rural NSW, is a freelance cellist and conductor. She studied ‘cello with Susan Blake at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Anthea Scott-Mitchell at Newcastle Conservatorium. Rachel has played as principal cellist with the Christ Church Camerata, Orange Symphony Orchestra, Newcastle Conservatorium Orchestra, Lake Macquarie Philharmonic and Scots Kirk Band. For many years, Rachel performed as part of alt-rock/folk band ‘Hudson Arc’. Rachel currently conducts numerous string orchestras across Sydney’s inner-west and maintains a wonderful studio of private ‘cello students.