... Especially if you're not sure you're "retreat material"

So you’re thinking about going on a yoga retreat (yay!).

You’ve probably been eyeing one online, quietly imagining yourself barefoot with a journal, breathing deeply, maybe even crying under the stars (in a good way).
But then the spiral kicks in:

“Wait… do I even do enough yoga?”
“Am I gonna be the only one who doesn’t know anyone?”
“What if I’m just… too much? Or not enough? What if I don't fit in?"

If that sounds like your brain — yeah, I’ve been there too.

This is the blog post I wish someone handed me before my first retreat. The real stuff. Not the Pinterest version. Think of this as advice from your yoga retreat "big sister".

1. You actually don’t need to be good at yoga.

No one cares if you’ve never done crow pose.
You could show up with zero idea what a vinyasa is, and you’d still be wildly welcome.

You do not need:

• A fancy yoga wardrobe

• A consistent practice

• To be “spiritual”

• To be able to touch your toes

You do need:

• A heartbeat

• A willingness to show up for yourself

• Maybe a hoodie, because mornings can be chilly and it's nice to have a comfort item from home... even as a grown-up.

That’s it.

And the honest truth? Most people aren’t showing up for the yoga. They’re showing up because something inside them is saying, “I need a minute to breathe.”

2. The yoga is the side dish — not the main course.

Sure, there’s movement. But it’s not 3 classes a day with someone yelling “Feel the burn!”
You’ll move, stretch, breathe, rest… but the gold is what happens around the yoga:

• Journaling that actually cracks something open

• Enjoying your coffee in silence (bliss)

• Real conversations with women who get it

• Sitting in circle, being seen, heard and witnessed without any judgement

• Time to think a full thought, maybe for the first time in months

You’re not here to work harder. You’re here to come back to yourself.

3. Your emotions are going to show up. Let them.

When you finally slow down, the stuff you've been pushing to the side?
Yeah, it comes up.

You might cry. You might belly laugh. You might sleep 11 hours and realize how exhausted you are.
And then you’ll feel lighter. More clear. More like you.

No one’s judging. This isn’t a performance. This is the first safe space you’ve had in a while to just… be.

"If it’s in your heart, it’s part of your path."
— Rebecca Campbell

Yeah. That.

4. Also? You should probably research the teacher.

Look — not all retreats are created equal. Some are legit life-changing. Some are more like an expensive group vacation with too much kale and not enough actual care.

So before you hand over your credit card, do a vibe check on the teacher.

Here’s what to look for:

• Do they actually lead with heart? (Or is it just a “wellness influencer in the wild” situation?)

• Do they hold space well? (A good teacher knows the retreat isn’t about them — it’s about you.)

• Do they talk about the real stuff? Not just yoga, but what happens off the mat.

• Do you feel safe in their energy? (You can feel this from a podcast, their IG Stories, or a blog post like this one.)

And hey — stalk a little. Read their testimonials. See who their retreats are for. Ask questions. You’re not being “difficult” — you’re protecting your peace. You want to trust the person holding the container.

5. You’ll connect with people faster than you ever expected.

No one’s making small talk about what they do for work or where they live -- well, there might be a little bit of that, but before you know it you’ll be swapping stories under the stars, crying over shared heartbreak, and belly-laughing over breakfast with people you just met.

There’s something about being in this kind of space — without your usual roles and expectations — that makes real connection happen fast.

I've watched complete strangers turn into lifelong friends over tea and oracle cards on the second night. No joke.

6. You’re going to go home changed. And you won’t want to go back to “normal.”

Not in a dramatic, burn-your-life-down way.

But in a “Oh… I forgot I could feel this grounded, this clear, this alive” kind of way.

You’ll go home softer. Stronger. More aware of what’s working and what’s not.
And you’ll probably make some shifts — not because you “should,” but because your body now remembers what feeling good actually feels like.

Let me say this clearly:

If you’ve been craving time to breathe, space to think, and people who understand — you’re ready.

Even if your brain tells you otherwise.
Even if you’re nervous.
Even if you’ve never been on a retreat in your life.

You don’t have to be more healed, more bendy, or more perfect to say yes to this.
You just have to be willing to show up.

And if something inside you is saying “yes/please/I need this” while reading this? Honor it.

Come.

👉 Click here to check out our upcoming retreats
(I saved you a spot.)

With love,
Autumn