Sanda Retreats are ideal for anyone who wants to spend time focusing on their own fitness and health and would like to benefit from the expertise of some of the best practitioners and teachers in the world. It's tailored to you because so much of your holiday is conducted on a one to one basis. The team will meet with you at the beginning of the week to discuss all aspects of your health and fitness, to ensure maximum benefits for you. And be with you throughout the day and evening and during all mealtimes, so the team is always looking after your needs and answering any questions you might have. By the end of the week we will have developed with you everything you need to continue the good work at home!

Sanda Retreats locations are hand-picked to ensure that the weather is generally warm and dry. The evenings are generally warm too, but we recommend bringing something for the occasional cooler and wet exception. Dress is casual and informal for all meals. Whatever you feel comfortable in. There are beautiful swimming pools at some of the Sanda venues, so be sure to bring what you need. Towels are, of course, provided. For yoga, hiking and personal training sessions you will need comfortable, flexible clothing such as a T shirt and track suit bottoms or any other exercise gear you are happy with. Of course you'll also need training shoes and walking / hiking boots. We also strongly recommend a hat or cap and a small back-pack for water, cameras, personal items etc. The sun can get pretty hot at times, so most people hike in shorts and T shirts (with appropriate sun cream, of course) but you may like to bring light long sleeve shirts and light trousers if you don't want to expose too much skin. We will also give you a full check list of what to bring when you make your reservation, so you don't forget anything important!

When you arrive at any of our Sanda Retreats venues we will provide you with the group schedule as well as your personal schedule for the week, which will include all of your massages and one-to-one sessions with the team. As soon as we have received all of the health and fitness forms from the guests before each retreat, our team works together to build the perfect schedule to best suit the group of individuals on that specific week. We do not have a 'one size fits all' format that we apply to each week, but work to maximise the beauty of the grounds and surrounding area of each venue.

Many of our guests travel alone, and are looked after by our team of experts from the moment they arrive at the airport till we all say goodbye. The team is on hand to look after guests throughout the holiday and will make sure everyone feels at home and relaxed at all times. We have found that Sanda Retreats attract a like-minded fun and friendly set of people, with firm friendships built during the week.

Yoga plays an important role at Sanda Retreats and our friendly, expert teachers will provide individual attention to all our Sanda Reatreats guests. Before the holiday you will be asked to complete a health and fitness form, which includes a question regarding your level of yoga experience, this will enable our teacher to prepare a set of classes most suitable for the standards of the group that week. Classes cater for all levels - from the nervous novice discovering yoga for the first time, to the more experienced. You will find that your flexibility and strength make dramatic progress during the week, whatever your level at the beginning.

As with yoga, all levels of fitness are welcomed - from those seeing the week as a kick-start to a healthier lifestyle, to those with high fitness levels who want to up the intensity further. Completion of the health and fitness form before the retreat will enable our personal trainers to assess the fitness level of the group, and thereby build a fitness programme most suitable for the standards of the group for that week. Our trainers and hiking guides are experienced to cater for all standards, and we always have several hiking guides so that everyone can walk at their own pace during the hikes. Within the group activities our trainers expect different levels of fitness and give individual attention. Your one on one fitness session will provide you with the time to discuss your own fitness issues and goals to enable you to increase the effectiveness of your own training after the week has ended

Sanda Retreats are designed to provide maximum health and fitness benefits for all guests, so if you take part in all the classes, hikes and talks, you will get the best overall results. But you do not have to take part in everything. After all, it's your reatreat. However, there is also plenty of quiet time when you can just relax by the pool, in your room, by the beach or have a relaxing massage.

Obviously all weeks are different however; we have found that typically our groups have been mixed with a number of guests travelling on their own. Guests tend to span all age ranges. We have had guests from the UK, Europe, US and elsewhere, and we typically have a wide range of fitness levels on each week. What we have found is that all groups to date have been made up of fun, friendly, like-minded people who have quickly felt at ease with each other and made firm friendships during the week, and who all come to Sanda Retreats with a similar aim for the week - to focus on themselves and develop their own health and fitness levels, with a strong desire to learn as much as possible from the experts while they are on hand. The Sanda Retreats team constitutes a large percentage of the group and therefore can ensure that you will always feel well looked after.

The health and fitness profile form, which you'll complete before the holiday will provide you with the opportunity to tell us about any special dietary requirements that you have - be it vegetarian, vegan or other requirements/allergies. We cater for everyone. Our nutritionists work closely with our chefs to devise a menu suitable for all guests and that can be tailored to meet all needs, and in addition they work together to ensure the finest local ingredients are sourced for the fabulous tailor-made cuisine.

If weight loss is your main aim and you participate fully during the week, then weight loss and improved muscle tone will be one of the many benefits that you will notice. A wonderful amount of outdoor exercise combined with the carefully planned, nutritious detoxifying menu will inevitably lead to some weight loss, and guests who have monitored their intake and worked hard during the week have lost anything up to 5-7lbs, some even more! There are obviously guests for whom weight loss is not the main focus, and if this is the case, then our team works with them to focus on their own goals - be it elevated aerobic fitness, or improved muscle tone or flexibility. There is always plenty of fruit as well as healthy snacks available for those who aren't monitoring their intake so carefully and need a top up in-between meals so you need never go hungry!

If you are travelling on one of the recommended flights, one or more of our team will be at the airport to meet the flight, waiting in the arrivals hall with a clear Sanda Retreats sign that you can't miss, so you'll immediately feel welcomed and meet other guests. We'll then take you all to your chosen resort, where you'll be greeted by the rest of the team with a fresh juice or a cup of herbal tea. On the last day, we'll transport everyone back to the airport, allowing plenty of time for you to make your recommended flight and do any last minute shopping.

If you can't let your mind be fully immersed in your Sanda Retreat because of unavoidable pressures back home or in the office, don't worry. All Sanda Retreat resorts have reasonable mobile phone reception and some have limited Internet access. However, for your sake, we'd advise you to leave as many stresses back home as you can - this is a unique chance for a wonderfully selfish week, and we want you to spend as much of the time as you can focusing on yourself and your own wellbeing, enjoying maximum time for reflection and relaxation.

After you have booked your Sanda Retreat we will contact you with a detailed list of things to consider before your time away, such as contact details and address of the venue, recommended flights (which we can advise at time of booking), temperatures to expect while away, recommended clothing and footwear, currency details and passport/visa requirements if any. We will ask you to complete our health and fitness profile form. You can call us any time (contact page for details) if you have any unresolved questions in advance of your trip. We are always happy to help.

Please email us or call us with any other questions you might have regarding the content of the week or locations. We would be very happy to talk to you. Please click here with your query