What Do You Actually Do on a Yoga Retreat? (And Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need)

Every time I tell someone I went on a yoga retreat, I get the same curious pause.

“So… what do you actually do on a yoga retreat?”

Do you just do yoga all day?
Is it intense?
Is it silent?
Do you have to be super flexible?

I used to wonder the same thing.

And then I said yes.

The First Yes: Costa Rica, 2019

In 2019, I traveled alone to Costa Rica for my first destination retreat with my teacher, Allie Van Fossen, founder of Body Mind Soul Studio.

I had been part of her online community for years — but had never met her in person.

And I had never traveled alone.
Much less to another country!

I was excited.
And very nervous.

But something in me knew I wanted the experience more than I wanted to stay comfortable.

Twenty women gathered for a week of immersive yoga, chakra work, and intention setting. We explored how to use the chakra system to support our dreams and goals. We shared stories. We held space. We laughed, cried, and witnessed each other fully!

And we played.

We zip-lined through the rainforest.
We rode horses through the jungle.
We soaked up sun at the beach like carefree kids!

It nourished not just my body and spirit — but something younger inside me.

That was seven years ago.

And I still stay connected with many of those women today.

That’s the kind of bond retreat can create!

What Actually Happens on a Retreat?

Yes, there’s yoga — usually one to two practices per day. Optional to attend, of course!

Morning flows to energize and align.
Evening sessions to soften and integrate.
Sometimes workshops. Sometimes philosophy. Always spaciousness.

But it’s not performance yoga!

There are no mirrors. No pressure. No competition.

You wake slowly.
You eat intentionally.
You move with awareness.

You begin to listen more closely — to your breath, your body, your inner voice.

And that alone is transformative!

The Second Yes: Vieques, Puerto Rico

Fast forward to this past week.

I found myself traveling — again alone — to Vieques, Puerto Rico for a retreat at the stunning Finca Victoria, hosted by Jessica Boll with Wanderlush Travels.

Full transparency?

I almost didn’t go.

I briefly forgot I had signed up amidst the grief from just saying goodbye to our 13.5 yr old gentle giant fur baby, Duke.
And after remembering… I nearly talked myself out of it twice.

I don’t travel often. The last time I had been on a plane was for that Costa Rica retreat in 2019. The idea of flying again felt daunting.

But I felt pulled.

And sometimes growth whispers before it shouts!

So I went.

Getting there was smoother than I imagined. And once I arrived, everything felt aligned.

The retreat center was breathtaking — built on land that feels intentional and magical! The staff cared for us beautifully.

And once again, twenty women gathered.

And once again, something extraordinary unfolded.

Synchronicity Is Real

Throughout the week we practiced embodied yoga, explored strength workshops, and dove into conversations around energy and frequencies and more!

But what amazed me most?

Every single woman was somehow connected to someone else in the group.

We said “small world!” more times than I can count.

The synchronicities were undeniable!

We played on the beaches of Vieques.
We paddled through the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay under a sky bursting with stars — watching the water glow with every movement.
We walked along the ocean with horses at sunset.
We laughed deeply and connected honestly.

The energy between the women and that land felt electric!

And I left with new friendships, unexpected opportunities, and beautiful connections already unfolding — all because I chose courage over comfort.

Again.

So… What Do You Actually Do?

You practice yoga.

You rest.

You nourish your body.

You explore.

You connect — without masks, without pressure.

You create space.

And in that space, you remember who you are beneath the noise.

A yoga retreat isn’t about escaping your life.

It’s about stepping away long enough to return to it more aligned!

And You Don’t Have to Go Far

While tropical destination retreats are incredible, you don’t need a passport to experience this kind of gathering.

There are beautiful retreats and wellness events right here in Wisconsin, throughout the Midwest and over the US!

My dear friend Carla — whom I reconnected with on this Puerto Rico retreat — owns Kingfisher Yoga in Lodi, Wisconsin. She hosts a yoga festival each September that offers a powerful taste of intentional community and retreat energy closer to home. Definitely check that out if any of this sounds intriguing to you!

Retreat isn’t about location.

It’s about intention.
It’s about space.
It’s about saying yes to yourself!

If any part of this feels like something your body, heart, or soul has been craving… trust that nudge.

Sometimes the most aligned thing we can do is choose the experience that stretches us — and trust we’ll meet exactly who we’re meant to meet along the way.