Would You Try A Wellness Networking Retreat? I Did - And Here's What I Learned

Are you a goal-driven woman who feels guilty about ever taking a break? You need to read this. A new retreat series, The Collective, is bringing wellness networking to the fore, connecting like-minded women while they recharge…

It’s no surprise that between demanding jobs and being glued to our phones when we’re not in the office, many women are feeling burnt out. Even in our “down” time, it’s hard to switch off, especially when you’re running your own business. It’s this need for connection without pressure that sits at the heart of Claire Vero’s new retreat series, The Collective, designed to help brilliantly busy women slow down, recharge, and spark ideas in a relaxed, restorative setting.

After building the award-winning skincare brand Aurelia, Claire found herself craving the buzz of conversation and community she’d once had in business. Her retreats bring that back – through light movement, meaningful conversation, and light networking: the kind that unfolds naturally around the pool, over a glass of rosé, or after a sound bath. There are no packed schedules or regimented food plans here, just space to breathe and let ideas flow among other like-minded women.

After a busy summer of travel and deadlines, the retreat was exactly what I needed: a pause from my phone, time to reflect, and, as it turned out, a chance to reconnect not only with myself but with a network of inspiring women. Here’s how I found wellness networking for the first time…

THE LOWDOWN

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“I missed female connection after leaving my company. On a retreat, I found conversations that were inspiring, supportive, and real. That sisterhood is central to everything we do,” says The Collective founder, Claire Vero. “I’d gone from juggling a growing business with over 30 women working for me to selling that business, and finding myself in quite a different life. I was receiving lots of approaches from women for ‘coffee and a quick chat’ about their idea or business, but in reality, I rarely had the time and a snatched 30 minutes didn’t really cut it.”

Her experiences sparked the idea for The Collective, a series of retreats designed to bring women together in relaxed, restorative settings where ideas and conversation naturally flow. Each retreat blends movement, mindfulness, and meaningful discussion, with every detail carefully considered. While future editions will cater to all, several 2026 retreats will place a special focus on founders and creative women, offering space to rest, recharge, and share business ideas alongside a like-minded community.

THE WELLNESS

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The Collective works with some of the finest experts in the world of movement and holistic wellbeing. From yoga, Pilates, and fitness to sound healing, breathwork, meditation, massage, and advanced facials, each practitioner is chosen for their depth of knowledge, intuitive approach, and genuine care.

While my cohort focused on yoga, this didn’t feel like the dogmatic, intensive kind of retreat I’d once found intimidating. Instead, the wonderful Tara Lee guided our mixed-ability group through strong but accessible sessions twice a day. One of the UK’s most respected teachers, Tara’s twenty-plus years of practice showed in her ability to instantly read the room and deliver a class that felt just right. Her energy was calming and grounded, and she put even the most novice yogis (they’re welcome here, too) at ease.

Each day was themed around an element. For example, on Water day, we started our day among the vineyards with a fluid morning practice and ended with a restorative Yin session followed by a sound bath so soothing I may have briefly nodded off – to the amusement of my fellow guests.

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With her background in skincare, it was no surprise that Claire had also invited one of the best facialists in the business, Rhian Truman, to join us. Rhian works with a loyal roster of celebrity clients and has recently served as resident facialist at Soho Farmhouse, with her next residency set to begin at the Marbella Club, so we were very lucky to have her with us.

I’d been flying a lot before the retreat and was feeling puffy, dehydrated, and frankly a little blah. After an hour with Rhian, I felt like a new woman. Combining traditional facial techniques with a healthy dose of lymphatic drainage, she worked her magic until, in her words, I finally had “some colour back in my face.” Thanks to the relaxed schedule, every guest had time for at least one treatment (and many booked in for a second).

For those wanting to go a little deeper, The Collective’s Enlighten and Learn sessions invite exploration into some lesser-known practices. Our EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) workshop, led by the serene Gabrielle Anand, was a highlight. Through simple tapping sequences, we calmed the nervous system and created space to reconnect with intuition. It ended up being deeply moving – there were shared laughs, tears, and a palpable sense of release, a testament to the safe space The Collective was able to cultivate.

THE ROOMS

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Whether travelling solo or with a friend, there are room options designed for every guest, and all of Torre Vella’s interiors are rooted in a local palette of whitewashed walls, polished concrete, and pops of green. I stayed in a villa with my roommate Sarah, complete with twin beds, a private terrace and plunge pool. Generous bathrooms stocked with Aurelia skincare favourites (which I had also enjoyed in my facial), some new Absolute Beauty supplements, a goodie bag of retreat essentials from The Collective, and a chilled bottle of Torre Vella rosé all awaited our arrival. Plus, despite sharing a space, we never once felt on top of each other. In fact, for those travelling alone, it is the perfect way to connect with someone new and Sarah and I shared plenty of laughter (and a glass or two of rosé) before heading down to dinner.

THE TO-DO LIST

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Outside of the morning and evening sessions, you’re free to do as you please. I arrived at the retreat with grand plans for day trips to Mahón and hikes along Menorca’s Camí de Cavalls (which would have been easily achieved), but instead ended up flopping by the pool and chatting with my new friends. This is exactly the atmosphere Claire set out to create. Did it feel like work? Absolutely not. But I did leave with a couple of potential collaborations bubbling, a handful of new friends, and a promise to reconvene the next time we’re all together in the city – proof that the best networking often happens when you’re not trying to network at all.