Our incredible experience at the September/October 2026 Yoga, Pilates and Sound Healing Retreat in Sardinia

Our wonderful Yoga, Pilates and Sound Healing Retreat took place from 28 September to 4 October 2026 in Bari Sardo, in the east of Sardinia... and I can honestly say that I would not change a thing. That’s rare!

Twelve of us set off from Dublin Airport in the pouring rain (it was such good advertisement, haha!) and two more people met us at Cagliari Airport, where we arrived around 5pm. Our popular bus driver Giuseppe took us to the stunning Galanias Hotel in Bari Sardo.

From the very moment we arrived, those who hadn’t been there before were wowed by the beauty of the resort: the lit-up pools, the restaurant with sea view, the beautiful plants... the full, red moon made it even more stunning. Those of us who had been there before were overjoyed at the idea of getting another week in Heaven, and the staff were happy to see us back.

After a yummy 4-course dinner, we all went got a well deserved sleep in our comfy rooms, and a few of us inaugurated our first full day with a sunrise swim in the beautiful blue-flag beach of Torre di Barí. The sea water was warm, and a red sun rose gloriously out of the low clouds, lighting up the tower and painting the indigo sea red, while on the other side the full moon still graced the sky... such a show! We did this almost every day, and every morning it looked different. To me, this place is truly magical. I would get very worried if I didn’t see Debra, Eileen, Maria and Mary Jo appear for our morning swim, as they were as addicted as I was, but we also convinced Cynthia who describes herself as not being a morning person... I was so glad she witnessed that perfect sunrise.

We had our delicious (and huge) breakfast in the restaurant (I went around the tables about 5 times, but don’t tell anyone!) and then introduced ourselves in the purpose-built shala facing the sea. It is hard to put into words how beautiful and perfect this room is, from the wooden beams and floor to the huge windows, from the abundance of props to the warm colours... it is just perfect. After our practice, we were off exploring the place.

That night, we celebrated Lia’s birthday. She had ordered us to dress up, and of course we complied. She got drinks for everybody and was treated to a slightly out-of-tune rendition of the Happy Birthday song when an enormous cake came out of the kitchen. Happy birthday, Lia!

On day 2, we set off early on our boat trip. The Livagno, with its friendly crew from Fuorirotta Charter, took us to some of the most spectacular coves in the world – Cala dei Gabbiani, Cala Mariolu and Cala Biriola – as well as to the Fig Cave, where we got a tour. The lunch and snacks on the boat were delicious, and the sea gifted us with a calm day of navigation. We came back tired but happy, and after dinner we had our first sound bath. The bowls were very happy to sing in that beautiful room, and I was delighted to see how relaxing this was for my lovely students.

On day 3, we were off doing our own things – for me, reading and snorkelling – and then, on day 4, we were picked up by Giuseppe again for another adventure. Knowledgeable guide Giorgio Mulas took us to the village of Ulassai, the birthplace of world-famous artist Maria Lai. He explained her work to us, and I was particularly fascinated by her “Tied to the mountain” installation. She decided that a blue ribbon should unite every house in the village, but some of the people didn’t agree, because they had fallen out with their neighbours. At the artist’s insistence, they complied, and a bit of a miracle happened: peace between the families was restored; they started talking again. Two climbers then tied the end of the ribbon to a mountain – a symbol of the people’s deep connection to the territory. We went for a hike and it was such fun! Giorgio flew his drone to film us and kept saying, “We need to get on top of that rock”, scaring everyone to death as to how we would get onto said rock... I loved every moment of this wonderful walk in Nature. My favourite photo is of Deirdre coming down the mountain with some biblical sunrays beside and behind her ... very cool!

Back in the village, we had a packed lunch prepared by the hotel and then drove to the Nuraghe Serbissi, a prehistoric building that has been perfectly preserved. We climbed to the very top, from where we could see all around us, and got filmed by Giorgio’s drone. Then came the last and most magical part of our excursion: the cave! My gorgeous participants unrolled their mats on the earth and lay all around me and my crystal bowls, while Giorgio and his lovely wife Daniela prepared to film us. I had no idea how this would pan out: the bowls might break during transportation, for one... (they didn’t!), the sound might not travel well, people might not like it... there were just so many variables, and I was a bit nervous. It was also getting late, and we were due back to the hotel soon... but all of this disappeared a few minutes later.

I had started with my runners on, but almost straight away I got the urge to take them off and savour that special connection to the earth. In the centre of a beautiful circle, I started playing the bowls and they responded with no hesitation. The acoustics were so perfect that all I needed to do was brush against them for their wonderful voices to spread around the cave. It was truly special, and I am so very grateful for this opportunity.

Afterwards, Suzanne and I were interviewed by Daniela, and the video appeared on Videolina, the Sardinian TV, two days later! Suzanne pierced the screen with her beautiful blue eyes...

Day 5 was for relaxing, but I got an offer I couldn’t refuse: Giorgio kindly took me rock climbing, and honestly, it was one of the best things I experienced in my life. He made sure I was, and felt, safe before we started, so all I had to do was have fun (and hold on for dear life). Climbing a big rock is incredibly meditative, because you have to completely focus your mind on what you are doing. It is also intensely physical, and that sensation of physical effort is something I crave all the time. We had such a laugh and I will never forget that afternoon – I hope to do it again!

That evening, my friend and talented photographer Rita joined us, and we had dinner together, followed by a sound bath that Giorgio and Daniela also attended.

On the Saturday, some people went off shopping, others relaxed by the pool or by the sea. Rita and I took some kamikaze picture where I perform silly poses on rocks, but my arms were crippled by the rock climbing (as someone said, it served me right...) so I was pretty shaky!

In the evening, we took group photos (of course, you always have to put Richelle at the back because she is so tall she gives you height envy), and said our thank yous – some of them tearful, others funny, but all heartfelt. I received some beautiful presents, and a lot of life-changing words ... having grown up in a family that, though very loving, is also quite critical and poor in good comments, I felt that each one of these kind words had the effect of a balm on a wound. I will never forget. I am so thankful to my participants for bringing purpose, joy and light into my life. Being a highly sensitive person means I often retreat into myself and into solitude, and I find it very hard to let myself be vulnerable enough to really speak from my heart. I have no idea whether I conveyed to these beautiful beings what their presence meant to me. It is really more than words can express.

At a certain point, a “steering committee” was formed by Theresa, Edel and Niamh, but don’t ask me what they were steering, or towards what ... I do not know, and I am afraid to ask! Everyone got on very well, although apparently Suzanne was stealing all of Maria’s water by having a shower in the room above ;-). We loved the way Jackie used the safe in her room, not to keep her wallet and passport in, but to protect her fruit, croissants and chocolate from ants! Apparently, that was the nicest smelling safe ever.

Any time someone needed anything -- a tablet, a plaster -- the object required appeared in no time. I am in awe of how kind and considerate these remarkable people were to one another, and to me.

On this trip, I had many wonderful moments of complete presence: in the sea, as the sun spread its rays over the wavelets and the sky around the tower turned pink and filled up with birds; while teaching in the shala, when the lesson I prepared took a turn because I felt something different or more was needed; underwater while snorkelling, fish darting around me and seaweed waving like the green beard of a submerged giant; climbing a mountain where all that counted was where my hands and my feet were and what my body could do; playing the crystal bowls while these lovely people lay around me and received the vibrations ... in a time when we are always looking for the next good thing or reliving the past, it is an enormous gift to be here and now, not wanting to be anywhere else, just savouring the moment.

On the last morning, almost everyone got dragged into the sunrise swim! It was just so spectacular. No one wanted to leave... and when the hotel manager asked me if I would like the same week next year, I thought about it, and put it to the participants.

I wasn’t sure they would want to go back to the same place, and I knew I was going to miss the Galanias Hotel a lot. But lo and behold... almost all of them said they would be back!

I feel like the luckiest person on earth, and I am so, so, so grateful to have found these kind, intelligent, fun, loving people. They make all of this possible; their presence has changed my life and I feel blessed.