The art of travelling well
Wellness is often associated with routine, while travel is seen as an escape from it. JAN Voyage brings these two worlds together, creating an experience where movement, exceptional food and immersive travel exist in perfect harmony. Leading the wellness component of the journey is physiotherapist and Pilates instructor Suzette van Rooyen of Core Concepts, whose approach focuses not on restriction or intensity, but on helping people reconnect with their bodies through mindful movement. We spoke to Suzette about her philosophy on wellbeing, the transformative power of movement, and why JAN Voyage offers a refreshing new perspective on what it truly means to travel well.
What first inspired your passion for movement and wellness?
Watching what happens when people stop moving. As a physiotherapist, I met bodies that had simply forgotten what they were capable of, and the moment they remembered, something lit up that had nothing to do with muscles. That spark got me hooked. Movement isn’t a hobby for me; it’s the closest thing we have to a longevity pill, and it happens to be free.
As both a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor, how has your understanding of wellbeing evolved over the years?
Early on, I thought my job was fixing things, the sore back, the dodgy knee. Now I understand I’m really in the business of building resilience. The research keeps confirming it: strength, mobility and balance aren’t just about avoiding injury; they’re predictors of how well and how long we live. So I’ve moved from “repair” to “future-proofing.” Same hands, bigger mission.
What does wellness mean to you beyond simply exercising?
Exercise is one instrument; wellness is the whole orchestra, sleep, nutrition, connection, laughter, and knowing when to do gloriously nothing. Your nervous system doesn’t only care how many squats you did. It cares whether you feel safe, nourished and seen. Real wellness is the balance between effort and ease, and most of us are far better at the effort part.
How do you encourage people who feel intimidated by movement or believe they’re “not fit enough” to begin?
I remind them there’s no entrance exam. “Not fit enough to start” is like saying you’re too dirty to take a shower, starting is the whole point. We begin exactly where the body is today, celebrate small wins, and let confidence build quietly in the background. Bodies are wonderfully forgiving; they respond to consistency, not perfection. And nobody’s watching, except me, and I’m firmly on your team.
What’s the connection between movement, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life?
It’s beautifully direct. Movement bathes the brain in endorphins, dopamine and BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), think of it as fertiliser for your neurons. It lowers cortisol, sharpens focus, and improves sleep, which then improves mood, which in turn makes you want to move again. It’s the most virtuous of circles. When people move well, they tend to think more clearly, feel steadier, and simply enjoy their days more.
JAN Voyage is unlike a traditional wellness retreat. How would you describe the experience?
It’s wellness that travels. No rigid boot camp, no green juice with a side of guilt. It’s a journey where movement, extraordinary food and genuinely beautiful places weave together into one experience. You’re not escaping your life to punish yourself into health, you’re being reminded how good it feels to live well. Think less “retreat,” more “the way life was always meant to be lived.”
How do the landscapes, slower pace of life and surroundings of JAN Voyage influence the experience of movement?
Enormously. There’s real science to “awe”, sweeping landscapes lower stress and shift us out of fight-or-flight mode. When the pace slows and the scenery opens up, the body naturally softens, the breath deepens, and movement stops feeling like a chore. Stretching beside a view does something a studio wall simply can’t. The environment does half my coaching for me.
What can guests expect from your wellness sessions during the journey?
Accessible, feel-good movement tuned to the day, gentle mobility to wake the body, Pilates-inspired strength and balance work, breathwork, and plenty of stretching to keep everyone travelling comfortably. Nothing intimidating, nothing that requires you to already be bendy. Just intelligent sessions designed to leave you looser, stronger, and quietly delighted that your body still surprises you.
There’s often a misconception that wellness means restriction. How does JAN Voyage challenge that idea?
By putting a superb meal on the table and calling that wellness too. Restriction is a poor long-term strategy, the body reads deprivation as stress. JAN Voyage flips the script: we move so we can savour, not so we can atone. Pleasure and health aren’t rivals; they’re partners. You’ll leave nourished in every sense, and not once will you be handed a celery stick as punishment.
What do you hope guests take away from your sessions beyond the physical benefits?
A friendlier relationship with their own body, and a few simple tools they’ll actually keep using. If someone goes home breathing a little deeper, standing a little taller, and believing that feeling good is their default rather than a luxury, I’ve done my job. The stretch fades in a day. The mindset, happily, tends to stick around.
ABOUT CORE CONCEPTS PILATES AND REHABILITATION
An official partner of JAN Voyage, Core Concepts Pilates is a boutique Pilates studio founded by a team of physiotherapists and biokineticists who believe movement should be purposeful, restorative and accessible to everyone. With studios across the Western Cape, as well as online classes for those with busy schedules or further afield, Core Concepts offers expert, personalised guidance in a supportive environment.