A conversation with Corinna, founder of Vanilla Sand

During the summer in Ericeira, Corinna was spending her mornings moving at Sol Studios — a place that quickly became part of her weekly rhythm by the ocean. In the middle of classes, conversations, and slow days between work and family life, she was interviewed about her journey, her routines, and what led her to create Vanilla Sand.

We loved the honesty of the conversation, so we wanted to share a little more of her story with our own community — a closer look at the life, movement, and small everyday moments that inspired the brand in the first place.

Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I’m originally from Germany, and today our main home is in Ericeira, Portugal. It’s where we feel most grounded, close to the ocean, and connected to our everyday rhythm, especially as a family. We regularly come back to Germany for work and family, so we’re not fully remote yet, but we’re really enjoying this flexible, in-between lifestyle that lets us move between both worlds.

When your work overlaps with your identity, how do you create separation?
I don’t actually try to separate it completely. My work and my life are quite intertwined, especially as a barre and Pilates instructor and a mother. What helps me is creating gentle boundaries around my time and energy. In the studio, I’m fully present for my students. When I’m working on my brand, especially in Ericeira, I allow myself to be more creative and inspired by my surroundings — the ocean, movement, and our slower family life. It’s less about separation and more about being fully in each role when I’m in it.

What’s your signal that you need to slow down?
When I stop being able to enjoy movement, nature, or small moments with my daughter. If everything starts to feel rushed — whether I’m teaching in Germany or working by the ocean in Portugal — that’s my sign. My body usually tells me first, and I’ve learned to listen to that instead of pushing through.

How do you decide what gets your best energy on a given day?
I really tune into where I am and what feels most meaningful that day. Sometimes my best energy goes to teaching and being there for my studio community. Other days, especially in Ericeira, it goes into developing products that reflect my lifestyle — things that support movement, comfort, and being active. And very often, my best energy simply goes to being with my daughter. I try to respect that instead of forcing myself into a fixed structure.

Is balance something you feel consistently, or something you reset over and over?
It’s definitely something I reset over and over. Living between Portugal and Germany means my rhythm is always shifting. Balance in Ericeira looks very different from balance in Germany. I’ve stopped trying to make it perfect and instead focus on feeling aligned with where I am and what I’m doing in that moment.

What surprised you most about starting a clothing brand while still instructing?
How naturally everything came together. Teaching keeps me so connected to real movement and real bodies, which directly influenced what I started creating — from grip socks for barre and reformer Pilates to high-quality mats for reformer work. What began as ocean-inspired swim and resort pieces has organically evolved toward more active, studio-friendly designs that match how I actually live and move. I didn’t expect that my role as an instructor and my life by the ocean would blend so seamlessly into what I create, but in the end, it all feels like one very honest expression of my lifestyle.

We hope you enjoyed a small glimpse into the life and rhythm behind Vanilla Sand — and the everyday moments that continue to shape what we create.