Birth Preparation Retreat
Trust, Transformation, Support
On the enchanting island of Corfu, this Birth Preparation Retreat offers a transformative space to reconnect with your body’s innate wisdom and trust in its natural strength. In this journey, you’ll deepen your intuition, enabling you to make confident choices that honor your unique birth journey. Embracing the sacred science of birth and early parenting, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of this sacred transition. Through somatic practices, gentle movement, midwifery wisdom and partner collaboration, the retreat fosters a strong bond with your baby and partner, creating a foundation of support for the changes ahead. While pregnancy and birth can be both overwhelming and mysterious, this retreat helps you prepare with intention and presence. Together, we’ll navigate this rite of passage, finding balance and grace as you step into parenthood.
The Core Principles
Rediscover Your Body's Wisdom
Cultivate a deep connection with your body's innate knowledge, embracing its power and wisdom.
Honoring Your Intuition
Tap into your inner guidance, trusting your instincts as you navigate this transformative journey.
Embrace the Biological Magic of Birth & Early Parenting
Explore the profound, natural processes of birth and the early stages of parenting with awe and understanding.
Strengthen Your Bond with Your Partner
Foster a deep connection with your partner, establishing a foundation of trust and support that will sustain you both through this life-changing experience.
Gentle Movement and Restorative Practices
Engage in soothing, mindful movement and restorative exercises to nurture your body and mind.
Expand Yourself with Knowledge & Tools
Learn practical tools to make informed, empowered choices that honor your unique birth journey, and navigate the maternity system with confidence.
Understand Birth as a Rite of Passage
Embrace birth as a sacred transition and discover how to support yourself and your baby through this sacred process.
Reflect with Grace on Past Rites of Passage
Gently reflect on your previous life transitions, recognizing how they have shaped your journey as a parent and deepened your wisdom.
Gentle Movement and Restorative Practices
Engage in soothing, mindful movement and restorative exercises to nurture your body and mind.
Join us in this warm, supportive environment, where you can relax, reflect, and prepare for the incredible adventure of parenthood, that honours both the challenges and the beauty of this transformative time.
Pregnancy, birth, and motherhood often bring both overwhelming moments and a sense of elusive mystery. Everyone offers their stories, but birth cannot be defined by words alone; it is one of the two greatest mysteries, alongside death. These rites of passage cannot truly be understood until experienced, but we can certainly prepare for them with focus, ritual and grounding.
This retreat is designed to help you align with your own intuition. Together, we will reawaken the ancient wisdom that resides within us, honouring the mind, body, and spirit.
Prepare for the Unpreparable
JULY 25th-31st, 2025
DAY 1: Welcome Day
Welcome to Arillas!
Take the day to settle into your accommodation, explore the peaceful surroundings, take a swim in the sea, and prepare for the transformative week ahead. 14:00 - 16:30: Opening Session We’ll begin with a warm welcome in the shala. This first session will include introductions, gentle movement practice, and an overview of the week. It’s a time for you to set your
intentions and connect with the other participants in a supportive, relaxing environment.
DAY 2 - DAY 6, 14:00 - 17:00: Birth Preparation Days
Each of these afternoons will begin with one hour dedicated to just the pregnant women, creating a space to share personal stories and experiences. Through movement, sound, journaling, and sharing circles, we’ll dive deep into the themes that have shaped us and brought us to this powerful moment in our lives.
In the last two hours, we’ll invite partners and support people to join us. Together, we’ll engage in games, creative activities, movement, partner exercises, and deep rest. These practices will help us integrate and expand the knowledge and tools we’ll need to support us through birth and early postpartum.
Optional Evening Sessions with ‘The Yoga of Motherhood’
Retreat, 17:30 - 19:30
10 EUR per person/per session
These gatherings will blend mantra chanting, yoga nidra, gentle yoga, and meditation to help you unwind and restore your energy. The sessions offer a chance to deepen your connection with yourself and others, as well as tools to rebalance your nervous system, replenish your energy, and access moments of joy and inner peace.
Day 7: 14:00 - 16:00: Closing Celebration
On our final day, we’ll come together one last time for a heartfelt closing circle to integrate the week with gratitude and celebration. Reflect on your journey, share your insights, and honor the special connections you’ve made. This session will help seal the experience and set clear intentions for using all that you’ve learned and explored throughout The Birthing Wisdom, Birth Preparation Retreat.
More About The Retreat
Why Arillas?
Nestled in the northwest of Corfu, Greece; Arillas is a vibrant coastal haven that beautifully combines the timeless charm of Greek village life with a welcoming, international spirit. This lush, green paradise draws visitors from around the world, offering:
Breath-taking Beaches – Pristine sandy shores and crystal-clear waters that invite relaxation and rejuvenation.
A Sanctuary for Well-being – Renowned for its spiritual gatherings, retreats, and holistic healing, Arillas is a peaceful retreat for those seeking personal growth and deeper connection.
Cultural Richness – Enjoy lively festivals, delicious local tavernas serving fresh Greek cuisine, and events that blend Greek and international traditions in a harmonious celebration.
Enchanting Sunsets – Experience magical sunsets as the sun sinks into the sea, offering spectacular views of Corfu’s northwest coastline.
THIS RETREAT MAY BE A GOOD FIT FOR YOU IF...
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You want to birth physiologically.
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You want a birth preparation program that is rich in practical tools and midwifery knowledge.
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That honours birth as a rite of passage and cultivates your own intuition and body wisdom.
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You believe that birth is an emotional and spiritual journey as well as a physical one.
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You and your partner wish to journey together with deep connection and intimacy.
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You love getting to understand the incredible biology of birth and how best to support it.
THIS RETREAT MAY NOT BE A GOOD FIT FOR YOU IF...
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You wish to have a birth with many interventions and medications.
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You see birth as a purely physical process.
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You only want practical, cerebral information about birth and parenting aspects of your rites of passage.
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You are not open to self-reflection or exploring the emotional, spiritual, and transformative setting. Connecting with others in a circle You are uncomfortable participating in group discussions, sharing personal experiences, or
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You are seeking a luxury or all-inclusive experience; this retreat is centred on simplicity, connection, and nature.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
PRICE
The price for the Birthing Wisdom, ‘Birth Preparation Retreat’ is £345 per couple and entitles you to all sessions of our retreat, plus a unique printed journal that accompanies the retreat. Please email sophiaderosaortiz@gmail.com for payment details and to secure your spot. Evening sessions of the ‘Yoga of Motherhood Retreat’ – which will be held in the same venue on the same dates – are optional and cost 10 EUR per person, per session. These sessions will include a blend of mantra chanting, yoga nidra, gentle yoga, and meditation to help you wind down and restore your energy. More information can be found at:
https://www.motherscircle.co.uk/mamaretreat
The price does not include travel, accommodation or food.
LOCATION & VENUE
Our retreat will take place in our sweet yoga shala at YOGA IN MOTION - Arillas, here is the location on google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/R7cqGLn1EZpKejkr8 And we may also do some sessions on the beach if it is not too hot!
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE CHILDREN AND ARE TRAVELING WITH THEM
Babes in arms (from birth to around 6 months- perhaps a little older depending upon your baby's temperament) are welcome to join you for all the retreat sessions. Older babies, toddlers and older children are not able to be hosted in the sessions as they will find them too grown up and boring!- see next section for options :)
Please tell Sophia if you wish to bring your young baby with you so that she can give you extra info relevant for mamas and babies and find out any info about you to help make your retreat more comfortable.
This retreat is designed for couples or pregnant women and their main support person. If you are travelling with children too young to be left alone you may want to consider childcare options, either by travelling with other friends or family members or with local babysitting/childcare options.
There are a few local babysitting options, with different prices and options available for different aged babies and children. If you would need babysitting to attend this retreat, then please email me directly at sophiaderosaortiz@gmail.com and I will happily share some options with you. Price may range from 5-15EUR per hour per child and is not included.
Notice: Sophia cannot take any responsibility for the care your child receives while you are on this retreat but can simply present you with choices to feel into for yourself.
Arillas is a child friendly resort, and there are nice local activities for children from boat rides, to stand up paddle boarding, horse riding, farm tours to mermaiding that can all be added activities for families to do in the local area.
LOCAL ACCOMMODATION
Check on Airbnb, or Booking.com. (prices from around EUR 60- 120 per night depending upon what you and your family would like - I would advise you choose somewhere a short walk from Yoga in Motion and the beach- but you can also hire a scoter or car and choose one of the lovely places 10 mins or so outside Arillas if you feel like something a bit different.
Many accommodations have spare beds for children.
AIRPORT TRANSFER
You will need a transfer from the airport in Corfu Town aprox 1 hour away
LOCAL BUS - see the green bus schedule and take a bus to Arillas from about EUR 4 each way.
SHUTTLE this will cost between EUR 13-60pp for shuttle (you can arrange with Arillas Travel)
TAXI - You can hire a taxi for 50 EUR each way for a local driver (ask me by email if you want to know more about this) up to 80 for a fancy town car just for you and your family. ALFA. Make sure you ask them for a car seat if needed!
FOOD
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner are not included. -You can self-cater at your apartment or explore the variety of local cafes and restaurants in Arillas and nearby villages. Shops and restaurants are all a short walk from our Shala.
GETTING AROUND
Walking is the easiest way to get around -Our shala is a short, flat walk to the beach (around 2 mins walk), there are also shops, tavernas and other lovely things only minutes away as we are right in the heart of the village- so as long as your accommodation is close a car is not essential. If you do want to hire a car or scooter to see more of the local area this is an optional extra- you can hire a car or scooter from a number of local places-you might want to try Arillas cars or Arillas Travel.
EXTRA EVENTS
Arillas is a thriving alternative community, there are many local community events such as Ecstatic dance, Meditation, contact improvisation, kung fu, cacao ceremonies and much more, you will be given all the info you need to join any of the community events offered during your stay. These are not included in the retreat price and usually range from donations to 15-20EUR
THE WEATHER IN CORFU IN JULY
July in Corfu offers warm and sunny days, with average temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F). Expect minimal rain and plenty of sunshine, making it perfect for beach days and outdoor activities. Evenings are comfortably cool, with gentle breezes from the sea.
