Yoga & Pilates at the Life Retreat Lourensford — What to Expect

There are yoga studios, and then there are experiences. Life Retreat is the latter.

Imagine rolling out your mat surrounded by original artwork, breathing in the fresh air of a wine estate, with the Helderberg mountains framing your view. This is what awaits you at Life Retreat Yoga & Pilates Studio — now hosted at the stunning Art Curator Gallery on Lourensford Estate, Somerset West, Western Cape.

Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned practitioner, here's everything you need to know before your first class.

Where Exactly Are Classes Held?

Life Retreat classes take place at the Art Curator Gallery, nestled within the world-renowned Lourensford Estate in Somerset West, Western Cape. Lourensford is one of the oldest wine estates in the Cape Winelands, and the Art Curator Gallery is one of its most beautiful spaces — a light-filled, art-adorned venue that creates an atmosphere of calm the moment you walk in.

The gallery setting is unlike any conventional yoga studio. You practise surrounded by original South African artworks, with garden views, mountain backdrops, and the kind of natural beauty that makes it genuinely difficult to feel stressed.

Getting there:

• From Cape Town: approximately 30 minutes via the N2
• From Stellenbosch: approximately 20 minutes
• For Helderberg residents (Somerset West, Strand, Gordon's Bay): we're right on your doorstep

What Classes Are on Offer?

Life Retreat offers a full weekly schedule of yoga and Pilates classes, seven days a week, across a wide range of modalities to suit every body and every mood:

• Yin Yoga — slow, deep, restorative. Perfect for stress relief and flexibility
• ISHTA Yoga — an integrative approach blending Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda
• Vinyasa & Flow — dynamic, breath-led movement that builds strength and focus
• Hatha Yoga — classical postures with alignment focus, ideal for all levels
• Beginners Yoga — a welcoming, no-pressure introduction to yoga practice
• Power Yoga — a stronger, more athletic practice for those who want a challenge
• Pilates — core-focused, low-impact, and deeply effective for posture and strength

Both indoor and outdoor classes are available, with outdoor sessions held amidst the gardens and grounds of Lourensford Estate.

View the Full Class Schedule

Who Are the Classes For?

Everyone. Truly.

Life Retreat classes are designed to be accessible to all ages and fitness levels — from complete beginners who have never set foot on a yoga mat, to experienced practitioners looking to deepen their practice. Our teachers offer modifications for every pose, so you always work at your own pace without pressure or judgement.

Whether you're managing stress, recovering from injury, working on flexibility, building core strength, or simply looking for a meaningful way to move your body — there is a class for you here.

Meet Your Teacher: Trish Taylor

Life Retreat is led by Trish Taylor, a qualified Yoga Teacher, Herbalist, Ayurvedic Practitioner, and Wellness Coach with years of experience guiding students of all levels. Trish's approach is warm, knowledgeable, and deeply holistic — she doesn't just teach movement, she teaches you to understand your body and honour it.

Classes at Life Retreat feel less like a gym session and more like a conversation with someone who genuinely cares about your wellbeing.

Membership Options

Life Retreat offers flexible membership options to suit every lifestyle and budget:

• Drop-in Session — R120 per class. Perfect for trying it out
• 4 Class Package — R400, valid for one month
• 8 Class Package — R700, valid for two months
• 1 Month Unlimited — R550 for unlimited classes
• 3 Month Unlimited — R990 (R330 per month)
• 6 Month Unlimited — R2,700 (R450 per month)
• 12 Month Unlimited — R4,800 (R400 per month)

Every membership includes online class access — so you can practise from home or while travelling, with no sessions wasted.

View All Membership Options & Book Now

Discovery Vitality Points

Did you know you can earn 100 Discovery Vitality Points for every class you attend in person? It's one of the most rewarding ways to use your Vitality benefit — wellness that literally pays you back.

Parking at Lourensford Estate

Annual parking access at Lourensford Estate is available for just R395 per annum — unlimited entry, seven days a week. Once you've purchased your membership, simply email your vehicle registration number to studio@liferetreat.co.za to get set up.

What to Bring to Your First Class

• Comfortable, stretchy clothing
• A yoga mat (or hire one at the studio)
• A small towel and water bottle
• An open mind — and arrive 5–10 minutes early for your first session

Ready to Experience It?

There is something genuinely special about practising yoga and Pilates in a space filled with art, surrounded by the natural beauty of a Cape Winelands estate. It's not just exercise — it's a full sensory reset.

Come and see for yourself.

• Book Your Studio Membership
• Try a Drop-in Class First
• Join a Free Outdoor Yoga Session

Questions? Email us at studio@liferetreat.co.za — we'd love to welcome you.