With 2 Venues: Sandhill House, Tranquility in Donegal and Studio Be, Revitalise in Glenavy.
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08/01/2026
January can feel stressful with the return to routine, low energy and the pressure to “start strong,”
So instead of rushing into resolutions, what if we slowed down?
Here are a few facts to show why slowing down actually works. ✨
✔️When stress rises, cortisol rises, The nervous system shifts into survival mode and clear thinking naturally drops.
✔️Coherent breathing is one of the simplest ways to reset.
✔️Research from the HeartMath Institute shows that a gentle 5–5 rhythm (inhale for 5, exhale for 5) can lower cortisol by up to 40% in just five minutes.
✔️A calmer system = clearer thinking.
Try a few rounds of 5–5 breathing today and notice how your body shifts. Regulation happens in small, consistent, steady steps.✨
As your system regulates, your clarity and energy will naturally find their way back💫
06/01/2026
After a full December, let January be your reset… space to land, breathe and find your rhythm again.
No rush. No pressure. No resolutions required. 💫
Winter asks us to move slower, just like the ebb and flow of the ocean.
Clarity returns when we create space, and your energy will rise again in its own time. 🌊
This video was captured during a magical winter sunrise at Marble Hill Beach, Co. Donegal.... a reminder of how nature shows us the pace we’re meant to follow.
Take a moment to check in with your body: What do I need today?
Let that guide you more than the calendar.
And before you begin anything new this week, try a few slow breaths.....
a calm system creates a clearer path forward. 🤍
31/12/2025
Looking back on 2025… what a year. ✨
We held our signature Journey Retreats and Day Retreats at Sandhill House Donegal and Studio Be Glenavy.
We also launched two new retreats:
The Align Reformer Retreat✨ and
The Wild Adventure Donegal Retreat🌀
Two incredible branding events brought new creative energy into the year, and our Reformer Pilates schedule was launched… first at Sandhill during Easter and summer, and then at Studio Be for the Autumn/Winter season.(the Reformers came home because we loved teaching so much!).
We marked the first-ever FIADH women’s gathering at the Summer Solstice… a truly special moment, and the beginning of something very special for 2026!🔥
We welcomed incredible groups from Focus and Cancer Care and created space for some beautiful bespoke retreat experiences……hosting retreat groups from across Ireland, the USA, Europe and even Costa Rica.💫
We loved the Wild Adventure Retreat so much that we brought the sauna and cold pod home to Studio Be to create our new Winter Reset experience!🌀
2025 was a year of growth, creativity and seasonal flow, with precious time spent between Donegal and Glenavy with family.
Thank you for being part of it.
Wishing you a peaceful and nourishing start to 2026. 🤍✨
29/12/2025
Set on the wild and peaceful coastline of the Atlantic Way, Sandhill House, Donegal is a retreat space created to support your whole wellbeing ....mind, body and heart and soul.🌀
Here, movement meets stillness, nature meets nourishment, and you finally get the space to slow down and exhale and let go; to reset, reflect and reconnect✨
Whether you’re craving rest, clarity, strength or inspiration, Sandhill House holds a retreat for you.
✨ For retreat dates & bookings, visit our website.
24/12/2025
Wishing you all a healthy, happy Christmas.
May it be peaceful, joyful and exactly what you need.💫
L🤍x
📍 Me and Phoebe on a winter walk at our favourite spot, Marble Hill Beach🤍✨
22/12/2025
Lucille's Story✨
Behind Studio Be and Sandhill House is a journey rooted in lived experience, compassion and a deep understanding of how the body heals.
Lucille’s work has been shaped by decades as a physiotherapist, her own personal healing journey, and a deep belief in the body’s innate wisdom.
What began as a search for relief from pain evolved into a holistic way of supporting people;
blending movement, breath, stillness and nature to support not just the physical body, but the whole person.
Today, through Studio Be and Sandhill House, Lucille offers experiences that support holistic health and embodied wellbeing.🌀
She loves to create spaces where people can slow down, reconnect, and feel empowered to nurture their own health and resilience; strengthening body and mind through simple embodied practices on the mat and out in nature.🍃
21/12/2025
Winter Solstice ❄️✨
Today marks a still point in the year; the shortest, darkest day.🌚
It’s a gentle reminder to slow down, pause and take a breath.
Even though the festive season can feel full and busy, the Solstice shows us that stillness is also part of the rhythm.꩜
From today onwards, the light begins to return as the days very slowly begin to lengthen and brighten.✨
If you’re feeling stretched or overwhelmed, try this simple Winter Solstice pause:
✨ Take three slow, steady breaths
✨ Rest a hand on your heart or belly
✨ Gently ask yourself: What do I need more of? What can I let go of?
A few quiet moments of stillness, especially today, can shift so much and bring you back to centre💫
📍 Photo taken at Sessiagh Lake, behind Sandhill House🤍
16/12/2025
The Winter Reset at Studio Be ꩜
Mid-December is full, busy and bright .... and for many of us, it already feels clear that a reset will be needed once January arrives!🍃
The Winter Reset is your chance to plan that pause now.
A 4-hour space in the new year to unwind, restore and reconnect after the festive season.✨
A grounding, restorative experience to help you begin the year with clarity and calm.
2026 Dates:
🗓 25th January
🗓 22nd February
If you’re already craving a reset, now is the perfect time to book.🤍
Bookings available via link in bio✨
11/12/2025
Ready for the slopes? ⛷️
Our 'Get Ski Fit' Reformer Pilates classes will help you build strength, balance and endurance so you feel confident and strong on your ski holiday.
Expect a mix of core work, leg strength, hip mobility and ski-specific balance training; ideal for holiday skiers who want to enjoy every moment on the mountain!🏔
Programme Details:
• Starts: Thurs 15th January 2026
• Time: 5.30pm
• Duration: 50 minutes
• Block: 4 weeks
• Location: Studio Be Glenavy
Suitable for all levels. Limited spaces! 💫
Book now via link in comments below & get ready for Ski Season🎿
📍 Photo taken by Lucille in Avoriaz on holiday, Christmas 2024 🎄
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Welcome to Sandhill House - a specialist retreat venue in Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal
Welcome to Sandhill House, an experiential getaway focused on health and wellness. The house is situated 1km from the vibrant village of Dunfanaghy, surrounded by the glorious landscape of Co. Donegal in Ireland and located on the Wild Atlantic Way. The house has ten bedrooms and is a centre of wellness, owned by Lucille Cassidy; a Physiotherapist and Pilates, Yoga and Qoya teacher.
It is an ideal location for large group gatherings including health and wellness retreats, sport & outdoor pursuit weekends and corporate events. We aim to provide you with a sense of retreat, with an added touch of luxury and breathtaking ocean views.
Whatever the weather, you can gather around the fire in our cosy BBQ hut or relax in our hot tub with it’s glass roof to enjoy the amazing Donegal starry skies. To unwind further you can enjoy a massage in our treatment room or escape to one of the quiet spaces in the house and lose the inner chatter of a busy life and enjoy moments of silence and stillness. Our hope is that you will return home feeling nurtured, rested and restored after immersing yourself in the Sandhill Experience.
If you are interested in hearing more about the Sandhill Experience, a great starting point is our website www.sandhillhousedonegal.com
Whether you are a HR Manager planning a wellness retreat for your executive team, a yoga instructor wanting to facilitate a wellness weekend or perhaps a personal trainer wishing to hold a fitness weekend with a difference; we have the perfect space for you. No matter what reason you come here for, our hope is that you will return home feeling nurtured, rested and restored after immersing yourself in the Sandhill Experience.
