Copacabana Beach

February 2026

Our first edition of Unique Weekend Retreat was born almost spontaneously, but sometimes the most beautiful experiences begin exactly that way — with a feeling, a vision, and the courage to say yes.

Just an hour and a half from Sydney, we arrived at Copacabana Beach for what would become the beginning of something very special. The organisation came together quite quickly, only two weeks before, as we decided to create one last meaningful experience before summer came to an end.

And then, the perfect house appeared.

It was called Funky House — a place full of personality, colour, and charm. Circular windows, walls painted in different tones, and a hammock on the balcony made it feel playful, warm, and full of life. It felt like exactly the right place for that moment.

The first car set the tone for the journey. We travelled in a big car, and Nadia took the lead with the courage and calm to drive us safely there. Music played, conversations flowed, and little games helped ease the nerves as we made our way to the coast. It was one of those drives where you can already feel the retreat beginning before you even arrive.
Well done, Nadia — and thank you for driving us safely.

The second and third cars arrived around the same time, around 7 pm, and by then the house was slowly filling with excitement, laughter, and that feeling of something beautiful about to unfold.

That first evening also held a sweet surprise — it was Martha’s birthday. We prepared the house to celebrate her, creating a moment that made the beginning of the retreat feel even more special and personal.

As everyone settled in, the first group began preparing dinner, while others sat together on the balcony, sharing quiet conversations around the table. Dinner came together beautifully. Once again, Nadia stepped in with such natural care and leadership, helping organise the team and turn the ingredients we had into something simple and wonderful — pasta, salad, and a table prepared with love.

After dinner, we gathered for our women’s circle, introducing the retreat and everything that was waiting for us the next day. It was a moment to arrive fully — not only to the house, but to ourselves, to the group, and to the intention behind the weekend.

Later, we moved into a gentle Pilates recovery session, with soft mobility, body awareness, and then partner work using tennis balls as massage tools. It was a simple but powerful way to release the body, unwind from the day, and begin connecting through touch, trust, and care.

Then, little by little, the house became quiet, and we went to sleep.

Saturday arrived with a completely different energy.

The weather had changed, and we woke up to sunshine. One team prepared breakfast while the rest of the group made their way to the beach — some walking, some driving. When we arrived, the net went up, the sun was shining, and the humidity was already strong.

And then, movement began.

Sand conditioning, training, games, and so much laughter filled the morning. The beach was full of colour, music, and good energy. The heat was intense, and every now and then it felt impossible not to run straight into the sea. There was something so alive about that morning — the rhythm of the games, the joy of learning, the fun between drills, and the feeling of everyone simply being there, together, fully present.

After the morning session, we returned to the house, where another team prepared lunch. We ate, rested, and gathered our energy before heading back to the beach again.

In the afternoon, Dani began the face painting, and one of the most special moments of the retreat slowly took shape — the Ritual Tournament.

With painted faces, playful energy, and team spirit rising, the tournament became much more than competition. It was expression, connection, courage, and celebration. As the matches went on, the weather began to shift, but luckily it held for us all the way through the final.

And our first-ever Ritual Tournament champions were Marinane and Bella — bringing beautiful energy, teamwork, and heart to the court. A special moment to celebrate in the story of our first edition.

By the end of the day, we returned to the house tired, sandy, and full of that beautiful kind of exhaustion that only comes after a day lived well.

After showers and a little rest, another team stepped into the kitchen to prepare dinner — homemade pizzas for the evening ahead. Then came our creative workshop, guided by Dany. We painted wine glasses, shared music, laughed, and once again felt the energy rise in a different way. It was creative, playful, and grounding all at once — the perfect way to close such a full day.

Eventually, we made our way to bed, ready for one final morning together.

On Sunday, a new team prepared breakfast, and then we headed back to the beach one last time. The day was beautiful. We played games, trained, swam in the ocean, and spent the whole morning enjoying the simple joy of movement, summer, and community.

There was beach volleyball, sea air, sunshine, and that bittersweet feeling that comes when something special is coming to an end.

Later, we returned to the house, packed up, and made our way back to Sydney — tired, happy, and carrying something much deeper than just the memory of a weekend away.

This first edition of Unique Weekend Retreat was the beginning of a vision. It showed us how powerful it is when women come together to move, rest, create, laugh, support one another, and share life in a meaningful way.

It was not perfect because everything was planned for months.
It was beautiful because it was real.
Because everyone brought something.
Because the energy was genuine.
Because together, we created something unique.

And that is how the first edition began. 🌊🤍✨