Sabai Sabai
...aanndd, breathe.
When's the last time you switched your phone off completely — and gave your family a landline number instead? That's what this week is for.
A retreat with nothing to perform
This is a wellness retreat first — yoga's part of it, but switching off completely is the real point. You don't need to be a yogi to belong here. Winter took it out of you. Spring's asking you to show up for life again before you're ready. Five nights in a pine valley above the Turkish coast, built around one rule: nothing's compulsory. Join every practice or none — nobody's keeping score, and the only thing expected of you is to actually rest.
Switch off, properly
Reception's light here, by design. Check your phone as you please — no rule against it — but don't be surprised if the lack of connection turns out to be exactly what you needed. Nobody's tracking who's online, and nobody's asking you to be anywhere.
Pool, pines and room to breathe
Our retreat home sits in a pine valley above Göcek — a pool with sun loungers, a shala, a sauna, and quiet in every direction.
Yoga's on the menu — it's not the whole meal. Come for the practice, stay for everything that isn't.
This is probably for you if
- You want five days genuinely offline, with a daily practice and plenty of me time built in alongside it
- You already practise — just without it being advanced or intense
- You're happy in a small group of up to 12, sharing meals, practice and the odd evening together
- You want some structure in the mornings and total freedom in the afternoons
- You're happy with your own company, and just as happy joining or skipping any plans as you please
Maybe give it a miss if
- You want a packed, hour-by-hour itinerary with no room to improvise
- You're after nightlife, a party atmosphere or a boozy week away
- You need a daily advanced or athletic practice — expect movement each morning, restorative evenings, with one afternoon asana clinic for anyone wanting extra support
- You'd rather be on a beach than up in the pines
- The thought of putting your phone down properly scares you — though maybe that's exactly why you should come
Slow mornings, open afternoons
Practice on the deck as the valley wakes up. Breakfast that isn't rushed. Then the day is yours — nap, journal, taxi into town, or do absolutely nothing. Everyone drifts back for dinner as the sun drops behind the pines, and whatever the evening brings.
Six days, six elements
One element a day, Earth through to Light — a real arc, not a pick-and-mix. Each ties to its chakra, and carries into a more restorative evening. One afternoon brings an asana clinic too, for anyone working with something they'd like support on.
The extras above are all optional, and exact dates and times may change for them, depending on the group and the weather.
Everything's there — nothing's expected
Every meal taken care ofFull board, farm-to-table and properly fed — extra protein available to add, at no extra cost
Airport transfers, both waysDalaman to the valley and back, shared with the group
Yoga, your wayMovement each morning, restorative evenings, one afternoon asana clinic — join what calls you
Professional mats and propsEverything you need is there — bring your own only if you'd like to
The venue, all to yourselvesPool, sauna, shala and deck, whenever you fancy
One easy hikeSurrounded by ancient pine trees and the freshest air, winding down to a small town — legs moving, head clearing
Evenings togetherWine & food tasting, a movie night and stargazing — all on the agenda if you fancy them, built around whoever's in the final group
Quiet, offline things lying aroundJournalling time, guilt-free naps, paint-by-numbers canvases, crosswords, a simple book — pick one up or don't
Structure, loosely held. The first couple of days are kept quiet — just settling in. Yoga is steady each morning, with yin three evenings and one afternoon asana clinic — all entirely optional. Afternoons can be spent together or apart. Dinners are together, but the rest of the evening programme is optional too.
Want a bit more? Just ask.
None of this is expected, and none of it needs deciding now — it's just there if a particular day calls for it.
Taxi into GöcekAround €12 each way, whenever the mood strikes — or we go as a group one day, if that suits
Private yoga, just for you1-to-1 or for two
MassageOrganised on request, paid per treatment
An extra night or two awayFethiye, or wherever takes your fancy — stay on after the retreat, arranged for you
Anything else you fancyLocal trips and activities, booked on request
Flights, arranged for youComing soon — once numbers are closer to final
Worth knowing before you book
Nothing hidden — just a few things that sit outside the retreat price.
FlightsNot included — around £150–200 return from London right now. We'll let you know when it's time to book
Your own transfer, if neededOnly if you land well outside the group's suggested flight times — otherwise it's covered, both ways
Travel insuranceStrongly recommended, not included — full detail in the terms & conditions
Turkey entry visaWorth checking your visa status for Turkey based on your passport — most are a quick e-Visa sorted online before you fly
Any add-ons you bookExtra excursions you decide to join — see above
Spending moneyHot drinks are included — just alcohol at the bar, or anything you fancy in town
Our home for the week
13,000m² of forest and olive grove above Göcek — mountains, not a beachfront, 30 minutes from Dalaman. Genuinely secluded. A shala, a pool, a sauna with a view over the trees, and space to properly disappear into.
The pool, the bar, and the table — more photos to follow soon.
The whole place is ours for the week — no other retreat running alongside us, no other guests passing through. That's what "up to 12" really buys: a kitchen cooking only for our group, farm-to-table — most of it grown right there on the grounds (you'll see the gardens — herbs and veg, right outside), and a proper wine cellar for the tasting evening. Don't drink, or just don't want to? No bother — take the food tasting instead.
More than it looks like on paper
A few of these have real, confirmed prices if you booked them on their own — here's what's quietly already covered.
A bit about Joy
I'm Joy, and I run JOOY Yoga from South London. Almost 20 years practising, and qualified to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yin, Hatha, pre/postnatal, meditation, pranayama and sound — I teach the physical, clearly and without the fluff — but it's the missing middle, the bit between knowing the poses and what to do in between, that I care about most. That's the part I find yoga finally lands with people. This retreat is the same idea, just somewhere warmer — and the first time I'm taking it abroad.
"Sabai sabai" is what we say back home in Thailand when everything's properly at ease — it's the feeling I want you to leave with.
What past students say
"We met Joy in Namibia at the Habitas Lodge, and she is an absolutely lovely and amazing yoga teacher. From the very first session, her calm presence, deep knowledge and warmth created a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of experience. She guides her classes in a mindful, grounding, yet energising way, perfectly in tune with the surroundings. We always left feeling centred, relaxed and inspired."
"Finding a yoga teacher whose style suits your own is not an easy task, but Joy's approach is perfect for me. I've been practising for two decades and Joy stands out as one of only a handful of great teachers I've had in that time. She has a perfect blend of flow and focus on technique, and an open and friendly personality."
"Joy is the real deal, not just someone who's done a short yoga course, but an expert yogini. She explains things clearly, with smooth transitions and different options for different levels. She has an amiable, gracious and elegant charm, which helps one relax and feel less self-conscious."
"Joy's beginners course was perfect for me. She's extremely knowledgeable, very good at breaking things down for newbies, and at making adaptations for different people's bodies. After her classes I feel more flexible and stronger."
"Amazing yoga — a real practice, where the session has clearly been well planned and you feel very restored, challenged and nourished all at the same time."
"Joy has such a calm and warm presence that makes every class feel welcoming and enjoyable. She's excellent at explaining each movement and offering variations so that everyone, no matter their level, feels comfortable but also encouraged to challenge themselves."
If a Deluxe twin is available, paired guests may get the option to upgrade later at the Deluxe rate.
$ and € shown for reference — everything's charged in £ at checkout, so the exact amount will shift slightly with the exchange rate on the day.
The practical bits
Full terms are in our Terms & Conditions.
£200pp depositSecures your place and locks in the early-bird price; non-refundable, as it covers our own venue deposit
Balance due 8 weeks before departurePay the rest in one go or in smaller instalments, whatever suits — just cleared in full by 1 March 2027, by bank transfer or card
If you need to cancelRefund terms depend on how far out you cancel — full schedule in our terms & conditions
If we cancelYou get everything back. We'd only ever do this for too few bookings, and we'd tell you well in advance
Travel insuranceStrongly recommended — covering cancellation and medical costs. Not included in the price
Flights not includedPlease hold off booking yours until the retreat is confirmed as going ahead
Let us know before you bookAny injuries, health conditions, allergies or dietary needs — so we can actually plan around them
Ready to book?
Twelve places, five slow days, and a little corner of the pines with your name on it. Pay your £200 deposit to lock in your price — then all that's left is the countdown to breathing out.
Not quite ready? Ask a question here instead.
Bank transfer is our preferred way to pay (UK banks only), but card is absolutely fine too. BACS opens a bank transfer link; card opens a secure Stripe page. Full terms & conditions here.
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