I Took My Own Advice and Went on a Retreat Solo

I recently attended the Hygge retreat led by Sweetwater Floral. It was definitely a new experience, to be a guest and not the host. To say it was one of the best experiences of my life would be an understatement. But it started with some anxiety and I was really nervous to go alone. More nervous than I thought I would be. Not to the extent where I considered not going but to the extent that I needed to remind myself to take a few deep breaths. When I arrived at Camp Blodgette, I joined everyone around the fire and was relieved everyone was talking about how nervous they were to come. I was instantly more relaxed.

Now, several days later, I miss everyone so much that I'm already trying to plan a reunion. There were 11 guests total plus our host, Kalin, made 12 total and the majority of us did not know each other. But man did we all hug each other tightly goodbye at the end of the retreat. Everyone got along so well, and I'm so grateful to be a part of it.

Kalin kept saying "we are all the same," and I couldn't agree more. Before attending a this retreat, I often said we are all the same, but this time I had a different perspective.

As a host, I've always recognized that every guest shows up nervous, hoping people will like them. I think that we all want to be seen, loved, and accepted for who we are and not who we are trying to be. As a guest, I realized that still remains true, but also that we all have the same insecurities.

Most of the guests on this Hygge retreat had very different businesses, but we all struggled with not feeling like we are enough, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure. And we connected on those similarities. We could all relate to each other's vulnerability. The same thing happens when I host women from a wide age range (from 30-65) and see them have no problem connecting with one another.

It reinforced my love of retreats and how it always reminds me that we are more alike than we are different. I love connecting people, and I love connecting with people. I believe there is nothing better than community. It's really inspiring to watch women show up, be vulnerable and work hard to pursue their dreams. But it's even better to see them supporting one another.

For any of you that have wanted to join a retreat but are afraid to come alone, I can now say I totally get it. I know exactly what's going through your mind but I promise you, it's so incredibly worth it! 

We have so many incredible retreats open for this year, I hope that you feel comfortable to join us even if you don’t know anyone!

My name is Anna VanAgtmael, and I am a certified yoga instructor with a passion for yoga, travel, and connecting with others.

I believe in trying everything once. My values lie in collecting memories over things. Though we desire adventure and authentic experiences, naturally our fear holds us back.

My ambition is to inspire and encourage you to unmask your fears and jump into the unknown.

Anna VanAgtmael | Yoga Enthusiast | Travel Designer