Mobilates CIC Accessible Retreat – Paddock Wood, Kent | 31 October 2026
What an incredible day! Our Move, Rest and Connect Accessible Retreat brought people together for an afternoon and evening of movement, relaxation, laughter, conversation and connection.
Thanks to funding from Involve Kent, we were able to offer this accessible retreat free of charge, removing another potential barrier to participation. By making the event financially accessible, we could create opportunities for more people to experience movement, relaxation and connection in a welcoming and supportive environment.
There was a wonderful mixture of emotions as people arrived – nervousness, anxiety, excitement and curiosity about what the day might bring. By the end, those feelings had developed into something rather special.
A Warm Welcome and a Wonderful Team
The day began with our Mobilates team arriving alongside our wonderful volunteer supporters, Della, Sheila, Emilio and Carol, who generously gave their time to help make the retreat possible. They were joined by our volunteer buddies – Mandi, Christine, Vicki and Emily – existing Mobilates members who had offered their time to welcome and support newcomers.
From the very beginning, everyone worked seamlessly together. We set up the room, checked the final details, agreed roles, prepared food, organised individual support and made sure everything was ready to welcome our guests.
We also created a welcoming quiet room, with soft blankets, cushions, fidget toys and breathing cards, offering a peaceful space where anyone could take some time out, relax or simply have a moment to themselves.
Everyone found ways to help, often without needing to be asked, and there was a real sense of teamwork. So much thought and care went into both the big arrangements and the little details that helped make the day accessible and welcoming.
We also had a very special four-legged member of the team! Siena, Callie’s beautiful dog, joined us to provide emotional support and quickly became a firm favourite. And Siena has her own lived experience too! Having undergone knee replacements and now receiving treatment for a brain illness, she certainly knows something about living with health challenges. She brought plenty of smiles and a little extra comfort to the retreat.
As our guests arrived, it was clear that some had taken a huge step simply by coming along. There were nerves, anxiety and uncertainty, but also plenty of curiosity about what Mobilates could offer.
Our buddies were fantastic, offering friendly faces, reassurance and the chance to hear about Mobilates from people who already attended classes. This freed up our teachers to deliver sessions, facilitate conversations and move around supporting everyone.
Our buddies took their roles incredibly seriously! At one point, I had three of them checking with me about the different activities and opportunities we wanted to promote beyond our usual timetable, just to make absolutely sure they hadn’t forgotten anything. It was such a lovely example of how much they cared about helping newcomers discover everything Mobilates has to offer.
Wonderful conversations began almost immediately. People shared their concerns, the barriers they faced and what had encouraged them to come along.
The day was special for our buddies too. Alongside supporting others, they could participate in the activities, reconnect with fellow members and spend time with the teachers they usually see online.
And for us teachers, getting together in person is something we always LOVE! It’s a chance to catch up, share experiences and enjoy the friendships that make Mobilates so special.
Finding Your Flow
I led our first session, Foundation and Flow Pilates, exploring different ways to experience movement.
We began with a standing flow before moving onto the mat to explore Pilates fundamentals and simple movement sequences. We finished seated with a short Move and Restore relaxation.
The responses were wonderful! Some participants were amazed by how much they had worked through seemingly simple, flowing movements. Others said the session was just right for them and different from the movement experiences they were used to.
Some were so relaxed at the end that they didn’t want to move!
And then there was the laughter! I don’t think I’ve ever had someone giggling their way through Foundation and Flow quite like this before. It was magical to see such genuine happiness, and one of our wonderful supporters captured the moment in a beautiful photograph.
It was a lovely reminder that movement doesn’t have to look or feel the same for everyone. Sometimes it’s about finding calm, sometimes it’s about discovering what your body can do, and sometimes it’s simply about enjoying the experience.
Breaking Down Barriers Together
Next, Leanne led our interactive Barriers to Movement Buster session.
Using nine real-life scenarios based on the experiences of Mobilates members, we divided into three smaller groups, each supported by a teacher and a buddy.
Together, we explored the barriers people were facing when trying to access and participate in physical activity and discussed practical ways to overcome them. We considered what individuals could do, how teachers could adapt their approach and the support that Mobilates offers.
Each group then shared its ideas with everyone else, meaning that by the end, we had all explored the nine scenarios.
It was fascinating to hear the different perspectives and experiences. People were increasingly finding their voices, asking questions, sharing ideas and contributing to the discussions.
It reinforced something we believe strongly at Mobilates: barriers to movement are different for everyone, and so are the solutions. Listening, understanding and working together can make an enormous difference.
Food, Friendship and a Seated Disco!
After all that movement and discussion, it was time to refuel!
We enjoyed a delicious jacket potato bar with plenty of toppings and salads, alongside warming soup and rolls. There were even some sweet treats to enjoy afterwards!
A special thank you to Carol, the Community Centre Director, who generously gave up her day to help in the kitchen, alongside Della, who was an absolute star in keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Their hard work helped ensure everyone could enjoy a lovely meal together.
But the food was only part of it. It was another opportunity to sit together, chat, share stories and build connections.
As the day progressed, it was lovely to see people becoming increasingly comfortable with one another. Conversations flowed, laughter filled the room and some of those who had arrived feeling uncertain were becoming much more confident about joining in.
Then, with very full tummies, it was time for Seated Disco with Sophie!
Sophie had joined us later in the day after attending a training course, and it was lovely to have most of our teaching team together.
With some fantastic tunes playing, we were soon dancing away, laughing and testing our coordination. It was great fun, although definitely hard work towards the end of such a busy day!
Sophie already teaches Mobilates classes in Paddock Wood, so it was particularly lovely for new participants to meet her and discover opportunities to continue moving with Mobilates locally.
Calm, Connection and Plenty of Laughter
Our final movement session was Chair Yoga with Callie, who brought such a calm, reassuring presence to the room.
We explored gentle postures, spinal movements and relaxation techniques, but relaxation certainly didn’t mean there was no laughter!
One particularly memorable moment came when a movement reminded us of I’m a Little Teapot, and before long, we were all singing the nursery rhyme!
Then our Cat-Cow movement became Kitten-Calf, complete with animal noises, discussions about cow udders and some hilarious demonstrations of cat stretches!
Callie also shared some wonderfully practical adaptations, including a clever way of using a blanket or jumper around the neck and under the arms to provide additional support during relaxation, helping prevent the head from dropping backwards and the neck from becoming strained.
We finished with Savasana, a period of deep relaxation and stillness. After all the movement, conversations, music and laughter of the day, it was a beautiful opportunity to rest, settle and reconnect with ourselves.
And it provided the perfect transition into our final activity.
From Curiosity to Connection
Following our relaxation, we invited everyone to share a word or sentence describing how they felt compared with the beginning of the day.
The responses were wonderful: contented, chilled, relaxed, happy, sleepy but elated, and joy.
One participant shared that they felt they had “checked back in with themselves.”
That really stayed with me.
Throughout the day, we had watched people gradually find their voices. Some who arrived nervous or uncertain were now chatting, laughing, sharing experiences and expressing themselves more freely.
New friendships had begun, existing members had reconnected, and our teachers and buddies had enjoyed spending time together.
It wasn’t just our new participants who felt that sense of connection. Our volunteer buddies were an important part of the day too, and it was lovely to hear how much the experience meant to them.
Christine, one of our wonderful volunteer buddies, shared these words afterwards:
“What can I say but a huge thank you for yesterday. You and the team worked so hard. I feel privileged to be part of the Mobilates family. The whole retreat was a success. Well done!”
Hearing that from someone who had generously given their own time to support others made the experience even more special.
For me, the overwhelming feeling was happiness, alongside an enormous sense of pride. I was so pleased that more people had experienced the Mobilates community and become part of our family.
It was also a moment to appreciate what we had achieved together. Everyone had played their part, from the smallest practical details to the teaching, conversations, individual support and encouragement that helped the day run so smoothly.
The Journey Doesn’t End Here
As everyone prepared to leave, they took home more than just memories of a wonderful day.
Each person received one of our printed Mobilates movement guides, alongside information about our classes and business cards to help them explore what might come next.
And for our new participants, the journey is only just beginning! We’ve gifted everyone who joined us for the first time a month of Mobilates classes, either online or in person, giving them the opportunity to build on their experiences, try different activities and continue connecting with our community.
But it wasn’t only our newcomers who discovered something new! Some of our wonderful buddies were inspired to explore different activities too, and I’ve already got a new face joining my Foundation and Flow class this week!
It’s a lovely reminder that there’s always something new to discover, even when you’re already part of the Mobilates family.
Move, Rest and Connect was never just about one day. It was about opening doors, creating opportunities and helping people take the next step on their movement journey.
A Huge Thank You!
A day like this doesn’t happen without an incredible team effort.
First, a very special thank you to Leanne, who worked tirelessly to bring this retreat to life. From securing the funding to organising the event and thinking through all the little details that made such a difference, her hard work, dedication and care were at the heart of its success.
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful volunteer supporters, Della, Sheila, Emillio and Carol, for everything you did to help the day run so smoothly. From setting up and preparing food to offering individual support and helping behind the scenes, your contributions were invaluable.
To our amazing volunteer buddies, Mandi, Christine, Vicki and Emily, thank you for giving your time, sharing your experiences, welcoming newcomers and helping everyone feel part of the Mobilates family. Your enthusiasm, kindness and commitment shone through throughout the day.
And to our teaching team – Leanne, Suzanne, Sophie and Callie – what a wonderful experience to share together!
A huge thank you to Involve Kent for funding our Move, Rest and Connect Accessible Retreat and helping us turn this wonderful idea into reality. Your support made it possible to bring people together, remove financial barriers to participation and create an experience that we hope will have a lasting impact beyond the day itself.
And, of course, thank you to everyone who joined us, particularly those who had to overcome their own worries and barriers just to be there. Your curiosity, openness, laughter and willingness to share made the day truly special.
And Finally… A Little Time for Us!
Once the retreat had finished and everything was packed away, our teachers and their amazing supporters headed back to the hotel, accompanied by the beautiful Siena, for some much-needed downtime together.
It was lovely to have the opportunity to relax, reflect on the day, share our favourite moments, debrief and catch up properly. So much of our teaching and teamwork happens online that these opportunities to spend time together in person are incredibly special.
There was a wonderful sense of happiness and achievement, knowing what we’d all helped to create.
Then, after a very full and wonderful day, it was finally time to collapse into bed!
Move, Rest and Connect wasn’t simply the name of our retreat. It was exactly what we achieved together.
And that’s what the Mobilates community is all about.
Your body, your choice.
