This October, Zen Rocks Sanctuary and BASI Pilates Greece introduce a new immersive Teacher Training Retreat format within the global BASI education system. Taking place from October 11 to 16, 2026 for the MAT Teacher Training and October 17 to 27, 2026 for the Comprehensive Teacher Training, the retreat combines internationally recognised BASI Pilates certification with the experience of living and learning in nature.

‍

Created for aspiring Pilates teachers and movement professionals, the retreat allows participants to fully immerse themselves in study, practice, mentorship, and community while staying on-site at Zen Rocks Sanctuary in Mani, Greece.

‍

At the heart of this vision is Vivi Letsou, yoga educator, longtime Zen practitioner, and co-founder of Zen Rocks Sanctuary. Together with Eraj Shakib, Vivi created Zen Rocks as a place for transformation through movement, mindfulness, nature, and authentic connection.

‍

We spoke with our director Vivi Letsou about the inspiration behind the BASI Pilates Teacher Training Retreat and what makes this experience so unique.

1. What inspired you to create a Pilates Teacher Training in a Retreat format, and what gap did you feel was missing in traditional teacher education?

‍

A comprehensive Pilates education, as you may well know, is a very compact experience; It requires great attention, and copious amounts of practice and study. Being in a retreat in nature, away from destruction, surrounded by beauty and quietness where all your senses are pleased and your nervous system quiets down, your body is nourished by good food, gives you the “most ideal conditions” for focusing, learning, and enjoying the process.

‍

2. What does “authenticity” mean to you in the context of training future Pilates teachers?

‍

Authenticity is giving each person the freedom and encouragement to be themselves; knowing and understanding the Pilates process well, and feeling supported to be yourself you can become a confident teacher able to teach and to support others to be happy in their bodies.

‍

3. What makes this retreat different from other BASI Pilates teacher training programs?

‍

Pilates Teacher Training in Retreat is a brand new format which gives students and teachers the opportunity to give 100% attention to the process of learning and practicing Pilates. With all our needs being taken care of, we can focus completely on the practice and actually be able to relax more and enjoy the process more. Also, to form a new community of friends and colleagues. Some participants form strong friendships and stay in touch with their BASI classmates forever after. The BASI network is international and that means you can have a friendly studio to practice or work at in many places around the world this way.

‍

5. Why was the retreat format important to you instead of delivering this training in a regular studio setting?

‍

We do have a BASI Pilates Studio in the heart of Athens and have been offering BASI programs for 20 years now. Over the years we found out that many people would actually benefit from this focused intensive format a retreat offers. Both because otherwise their lives would not allow for a Pilates training that spans a much longer time, but also because the ideal environment of “a retreat in nature” is very helpful for practice, concentration, and assimilation.

‍

6. Can you walk us through what a typical day looks like during the retreat?

‍

We enjoy full and very pleasant days starting with an early morning walk or seated meditation, and then enjoying tea/coffee, a light breakfast gazing at the expanse of green hills and blue seas. The morning session includes theory and a lot of practice on the mat and on the Pilates equipment. A delicious vegetarian lunch awaits us midday and then a break for resting, swimming, and assimilating the material. In the afternoon the students get together to practice what they learned. After a short break for tea and treats, the afternoon session focuses more on anatomy, theory, and answering specific questions, emphasizing points of importance. Dinner at 7 is the social hour. Maybe a walk, maybe a talk close the night and we hit the bed early for a good rest. People often say they enjoy the best sleep and rest at Zen Rocks. It is the quietness or the relaxing nature vibes, or maybe the Cocomat bed comfort.

‍

7. What core competencies will teachers leave with by the end of the program, and how will they be assessed?

‍

We often use the phrase: be a well trained BASI Pilates teacher, continue with your practice and study till your exams and certification and then join the ranks for successful BASI Pilates Teachers internationally. You may have the chance to work in one of the hundreds of BASI studios around the globe.

‍

8. How is the BASI Pilates education different or more effective?

‍

BASI Pilates is a highly perfected method with great attention to the detail and mastery of each exercise. The method is supremely refined and the books are singularly clear and detailed. One can say though that the key to the beauty of BASI Pilates is: Flow! Based on the Block system that Rael Isacowitz has created, the flow of a mat or an equipment class is graceful, continuous, and very elegant. Mainly though: it gives the body a complete and well balanced work out.

‍

9. What prerequisite experience level is required, and is the program open to movement teachers from other disciplines?

‍

Familiarity with Pilates practice is recommended, but BASI Pilates lends itself well to teachers and practitioners of other modalities like dancers, movers, and athletes. However, studying the BASI Pilates teaches “everyone” a new language of movement that develops not just the body in new ways, but expands the mind as well.

‍

10. How many participants do you accept per retreat, and why have you chosen that group size?

‍

The groups are small and carefully curated. This gives us a great opportunity to ask questions and benefit from the intimate environment with the teacher.

‍

11. What role do mentorship, community, and personal reflection play throughout the experience?

‍

During this compact program you get a chance to connect with the teacher and ask questions, you share meals and extra time with the community and you are given the opportunity away from destruction to reflect and assimilate this rich practice of Pilates.

‍

12. What is included in the retreat cost, such as accommodation, meals, materials?
‍

The superb benefit of this BASI Pilates Training In Retreat is that everything is included and provided for you: accommodation in comfortable plush rooms, delicious healthy meals, books and study guides. The certification process is an extra added step and the post-training education like auditing and assisting classes can happen in the country students come from as BASI has host studios in 44 countries in the world.

‍

13. Can you share a story from a previous participant whose experience transformed both their teaching practice and personal growth?

‍

One of your past graduates is a Pilates studio owner from Zurich. She has had her own studio and was teaching for 10 years before she came to our training in retreat. Her understanding of the Pilates method elevated to a new level; she was superbly happy to learn the detail and perfection that BASI teaches and felt excited mentally as her body also became stronger and more relaxed at the same time. Going back she said her clients enthusiastically embraced the new cues and felt a difference as they witnessed “an upgrade” in their practice.

‍

14. What do you believe separates a good Pilates teacher from a truly exceptional one in today’s industry?

‍

“Exceptional training” is the key. BASI Pilates, as the name aptly verifies, offers a truly exceptional educational and training method with a scientific approach on the latest biomechanics, and that and this is why it is widely recognized as the flagship of Pilates Academies in the world today.

‍

15. Finally, for someone considering the retreat but feeling unsure about taking the leap, what is your personal message to them?

‍

Anyone with interest and curiosity should check out BASI, both the international and the Greek Academies on the web and contact us so we can walk them through the program and be able to answer their questions.

We would like to thank you wholeheartedly for supporting our efforts with your presence and warm support.

Holiday Wishes for Inner Harmony,  Peace, and Well Being!

Allow us to share a Native American story to befriend our inner voices during these times of challenge.

May we recognize the co-existence of two wolves in us:

One representing negativity and the habit of our inner harsh voice, constantly gnawing a narrative that separates us from others and alienates us from our self.

The other whispering from the depths of our psyche the truth of unity and self acceptance, murmuring the song of oneness.

Both wolves abide in us;  recognizing them we can opt to embrace both but let only one lead the sled of our life.  (Look up elkythro….)

Which one would you would you like to encourage with powerful resolve for your life in 2024?

Let us support one another to come together and move forward as a harmonious whole!

In the spirit of Oneness,

From our Teams with dedication and gratitude 🙏🏼!

‍Aspiration Prayer

‍May our practice today give beneficial results

May what we do here together give us the power to be of benefit to others

May it help us overcome difficulties and delusions

May it clear away obstacles

May it bring us love and draw us towards enlightenment

-Sally Kempton

‍

In her very last course “Karma & Transformation” Sally gave us what she obviously considered her most meaningful gift to us.  The course was essentially a call to action. The theme: understanding the way our life is structured, and recognizing the Karmic patterns that shape or bind our life, as the first step to freedom.

Let’s face it: we are all stuck in patterns of negative thinking, anger, resentment, self-doubt, remorse.  Would we not all prefer to be free of these patterns and enjoy an inner life of freedom, and happiness, had we had the choice?  We do have the choice, according to the present dharma.   Transforming our inner negative habits and becoming happy, compassionate, free human beings is within our reach in this present moment, stated our beloved teacher quite clearly. 

We are the result of our karmic history, and it is our history and our karmic habits that bind us, but there is a way to break free from all the karmic patterns that cause us pain and anxiety and zap all the juice out of our lives.  The pivot point is recognizing our patterns, the conditions that formed them and seizing our ability to act in the present moment with love and compassion.  This kind of conscious action is the only way to break the harmful patterns of binding karma, and open the space for the liberating karma of beneficial action. 

An action that originates from the desire to benefit ourselves or our family only, creates binding karma because the we do not exist as individuals. We are part of an interconnected whole.  Liberating karma comes from the recognition that we are all interconnected. To act out of love and concern for others, for the benefit of other beings, somehow liberates and frees us; the good intention behind a selfless action somehow ripples auspiciousness back to us.   

Today we can choose freedom & happiness through our actions rooted in the recognition of our inter-connectedness and the intrinsic goodness of all life. Here are some steps that Sally gave us in order to: Transform Limiting Negative Karma into a Life of Freedom & Happiness!  

‍

With 3 Steps for a Positive Inner Practice Today:

1. SET A NEW ASPIRATION: TO BE HELPFUL 

‍‍Start with a positive aspiration for our actions to be of benefit to ourselves and others.

Example: You are about to step into a discussion or a situation that triggers anxiety or difficulty, or brings up fear. Before you enter the situation set an aspiration which you can repeat inwardly to yourself. 

‍Aspiration: Whatever I do or say let it be helpful to the other person. And remove the idea that you know how to be helpful.  Let it arise. 

2. ADOPT A NEW ATTITUDE:  OFFERING OUR ACTIONS 

Create new habits. In each situation, instead of entering an exchange in order to achieve or get something from it, reverse your attitude by thinking: What can I offer here.

3. CULTIVATE NEW HABITS: TURN NEGATIVITY INTO POSITIVE THOUGHT 

What produces the highest merit internally is:

Thinking well of other people. 

Giving people the benefit of the doubt.

Interrupting your habit of judging other people 

When you know you are not a fault finder, you can trust your actions*

*Being a good person is to have the judgement to draw the limit and hold boundaries when something needs to be refused. ‍