Where connections to self, each other and the environment all feed (into) one another.
Shape the Future
CALM, the Center for the Art of Life in Movement,
is an immersive wellbeing retreat with a focus on Pilates, located in the historic village of Palmela, just 30 minutes south of Lisbon. Nestled between the Arrábida Nature Park and some of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches, CALM will feature 13 guest rooms, including 9 eco-bungalows, two Pilates studios, a cafe, and spa overlooking a natural spring water pool.At CALM, we offer exclusive wellness experiences designed to rekindle connections with ourselves, with each other, and the environment through movement, nature, and regenerative tourism. We are committed to supporting local communities and protecting the environment. Join our CALMunity to find out more!
Pictures speak a 1000 words
Click below for some visuals and stories around CALM.
Want it now?
While CALM itself is not yet built, you can already get a glimpse of what a Private Pilates Holiday might look and feel like. Visit CALMinho - the 'little CALM' and book your private Reformer Pilates Retreat in Palmela, just a stone throw away from the project site of CALM.
The Story of CALM
Mareile Paley has been running Pilates & Wellbeing Retreats since 2010.
When she bought a piece of land in Portugal's Arrabida Nature Park, she did it with an ambitious vision.
Our Team
Founder
Mareile Paley
Mareile has been in the Pilates and Wellness Retreat industry since 2009 cultivating an extensive network of connections and global resources. She also has a multidisciplinary background as a digital media expert, knowledge management consultant for the UN and is founder of Life in Movement, a boutique wellness retreat company and industry leader in Pilates focused retreats.
Lead Designer Founding Architect
Thilo Obersteiner
Thilo is an architect in Munich with 20+ years practical experience and an applied knowledge of biophilic design. His architectural sensibility was a leading factor in having the design proposal accepted by the local authorities, including the Portuguese Directorate of Cultural Heritage (DGPC).
Architect
Ana Timoteo
Ana is the owner and founder of PROJECTOARTE an architecture and design studio in Portugal established in 2009. Her team brings a wealth of expertise in navigating legal frameworks and overseeing project execution. This extensive experience has been honed through the successful completion of hundreds of projects over the years, making her our ideal local partner.
Project Manager
Luis Antonio
Luis is a senior project manager at Alphalink, a Lisbon based civil construction Project Management company and CALM's partner since 2022. Projects include Time Out Market Lisbon, Ritz Hotel Lisbon, PHC Offices Tagus Park Oeiras, Vilalara Thalassa Resort and more.
Regenerative Designer
Matthieu Paley
Mattthieu started clearing and regenerating the land of CALM in 2020. Since then he has planted thousands of trees, established
irrigation systems and helped to naturally re-introduce a rich biodiversity into a formerly depleted system. Matthieu is also a well-known photographer with National Geographic and a social media influencer with over 500K followers.
Our partners & Advisors
Update — Summer 2024
What's happening at the moment?
CALMinho, Calmela, CALMunity... it's all starting to come together. While Matthieu keeps on preparing a paradise (think fresh water cold plunge and tropical fruits), we started hosting more events on the land — from breathwork to Pilates and even outdoor cinema nights. On the business front, we received our first guests at CALMinho and opened Calmela, Palmela's first co-working space. And for CALM itself...we are expecting big news in 2025!
Our community is always growing.
Join our whatsapp group, reach out or visit us in person!
Thank you to our supporters
In 2020, we started planting hundreds of trees to turn a depleated, dry land into a thriving foodforest. In July 2022 we lost most of our young forest to a terrible fire, Find out more here. Since then, the land has come back stronger and greener than ever! This video, created by our partners at RegenWaves shows the power of nature and resilience.
Are you the one?
We are actively looking for co-creators to join our team. If you are investor looking for a profit-making impact project in the regenerative tourism sector or a passionate individual with a strong background in the hospitality business, we would love to hear from you.
Other ways to become a CALMunity Partner
Fill in this quick survey and let us know how you would like to support us. VIP memberships, pre-book retreats, investing partner... we are looking forward to hearing what excites you!
Patience & persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any endeavor.
Joseph Pilates
Testimonials
"Mareile is the rare combination of an artist and a business person; she has an aesthetic eye for the body and architectural design, and has masterfully combined this vision into an interesting and important space — CALM."
Heather Thomas Shalabi
owner of Flex Studio,
Premium Fitness Gym,
Hong Kong
“If you have an opportunity to work with Mareile,
it is — honestly — a privilege.”
Rael Isacowitz
owner & founder of
BASI Pilates
watch Rael's Video Testimonial:
“I always thought I’m the best, but after working with you, now I know YOU are the best. I had such a great time working with you, you are peaceful, kind, smart and thoughtful!”
Shifu Wang Bo
Shaolin Monk
Join Us
Receive the latest updates and find out how you can be involved in the creation of CALM.
