Lessons I’ve Learned From Hosting Retreats

When I first started Armonia Retreats, I thought I was creating a space for others to slow down, connect, and take care of themselves. What I didn’t realize is how much I would learn along the way. Each retreat has taught me something new about people, about holding space, and about what it really means to live in harmony.

The real magic happens in the moments I could never plan for.

Like the stranger who arrived nervous and left with a whole new group of friends.
Like the silence after a morning meditation, where everyone just stayed still a little longer.
Like the laughter around the dinner table that carried on long after the plates were cleared.

Again and again, I’ve seen how the heart of a retreat lives in these simple moments.

Here are a few things that retreats have taught me, and honestly, they keep teaching me every single time:

• Slowing down sounds simple, but it’s actually hard work.
  It takes a while to shake off the noise of everyday life. At first, there’s restlessness — checking phones, worrying about what’s next. Then slowly, the pace softens. Breathing deepens. Smiles appear. Creating room to slow down is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

• Nobody cares if the program runs “perfectly.”
  Nobody will remember if the yoga mat was perfectly placed — they will remember the laughter at dinner, the talk during a walk, the tears shared in a circle. It’s about the conversations, the connections, the way they felt.

• Nature does the heavy lifting.
  The sea, the sun, the open sky — they remind us how small and how connected we are, all at once. Nature holds us in a way no program can replicate.

• Small rituals matter.
  A short journal prompt, a few minutes of breathing, a walk barefoot on the grass. These tiny things, when shared with care, have a way of staying with us long after the retreat is over and will ripple out into everyday life.

• And maybe the biggest one: my job isn’t always to lead.
  It’s to hold space. To create a safe, warm environment where everyone can relax into themselves. That’s where the magic happens.

Hosting retreats has been as much of a journey for me as it has been for the people who join. It’s a co-created journey, shaped by the people who show up, the facilitators who share their gifts, and the moments in between. Every time, I walk away with new lessons, softer edges, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of simply coming together.

Maybe that’s what Armonia is really all about — creating space for life to feel lighter, warmer, and a little more human again.

💛 Eva