What Hosting My First Six Retreats Taught Me (And Why It Changed Everything)

When I hosted my very first retreat, I had no idea just how much work it would be… and just how deeply rewarding it would become.

I started small: co-hosting a birthday retreat for a group of five amazing women. I remember wanting everything to be perfect — the space, the food, the energy, the classes, the flow. I wanted them to feel held, supported, and celebrated. And even though it was my first time, something clicked. I realized how much I loved creating an experience where people could completely let go and simply receive.

Since then, I’ve hosted six retreats in total — two fully in Spanish for Dominican groups, three corporate retreats for a U.S. company, and that very first intimate birthday gathering that started it all.

And each one has taught me something new.

Retreat Hosting: The Work Nobody Sees

Retreats look magical from the outside — the yoga sessions, the nature, the sunsets, the deep conversations, the shared meals. But behind every moment of ease is a long list of invisible responsibilities.

For me, hosting a retreat meant being the:

• planner

• organizer

• communicator

• chef’s assistant

• driver coordinator

• room allocator

• budget manager

• problem-solver

• teacher

• emotional support anchor

• and sometimes… the emergency therapist, translator, strategist, or big-sister figure.

It's handling everything from A to Z: budgeting, shopping, transportation, itinerary creation, food menus, payment reminders, emails, room setups, cleaning checks, scheduling, timing, class preparation, meditations, and the energy-holding it takes to guide a group through a deep experience.

And I loved it. Not because it was easy — it wasn’t. But because of what I watched happen in front of me.

The Reward: Transformation You Can Feel

Every single retreat had its own personality, its own rhythm, its own emotional landscape. But there was always one thing in common:

People did not leave the way they arrived.

I’ve seen participants enter stressed, closed-off, overwhelmed, tense, or simply exhausted from their lives. And I’ve seen them leave: softer, lighter, more open, clearer, calmer, grateful, connected, transformed in subtle and profound ways.

Some cried, some laughed, some rested for the first time in years, some shared stories they’d never spoken aloud, some reconnected with their bodies, and some simply breathed again.

This… this is the part that is priceless.

No amount of money compares to watching someone leave renewed, aligned, and glowing from the inside out. This is why retreats matter.And this is why I keep hosting them.

Confidence Through Doing

I didn’t know I could manage all of this until I actually did it.

Hosting these retreats gave me a level of confidence and trust in myself that I didn’t have before. I now know that I can:

• manage logistics

• run a budget

• organize transportation

• plan meals

• teach multiple classes per day

• hold emotional space

• coordinate a house, a team, or an entire experience

• anticipate needs

• solve problems quickly

• and keep everyone feeling safe and cared for

I learned that I am capable of managing everything — and doing it with grace, presence, and intuition.

For Anyone Who Wants to Organize Their First Retreat

If you’re dreaming about hosting retreats, here’s the truth:

It will take more work than you expect. You will question yourself. You will wake up early and go to bed late. You will carry the energy of the entire group on your shoulders. You will be responsible for things that have nothing to do with yoga. You will learn quickly, adapt constantly, and grow deeply.

And… You will feel more fulfilled than you ever imagined.

Because retreats aren’t simply trips. They are containers for transformation — for the people who attend, and for the people who lead them.

Hosting retreats has been one of the most powerful chapters of my journey, and every single one has reminded me why I love this work: to help people come back to themselves, connect with nature, and feel held in a way that is rare in everyday life.

And I can’t wait to create the next experience.

Namaste,

Clem