Please note that the following excerpts from the interview have been paraphrased for clarity and brevity.

Ron: Sarah, let’s start with the name of your retreat. What was it called and what was the idea behind it?

Sarah: It was called Harmonious Body. I wanted it to be a space where people could reconnect with themselves outside of the expectations and noise of daily life. I teach a lot of yoga locally, and I’ve seen how much people carry—mentally and physically. This retreat was meant to be a reset. A coming home to yourself.

Ron: And this was your first retreat outside of the country?

Sarah: Yes! My first one was in Pennsylvania, a little weekend gathering. This was my first international retreat, and it felt like a big leap. I didn’t even visit the venue beforehand.

Ron: So how did you land on Villa Serena?

Sarah: Actually, Angelina from Villa Serena reached out to me by email. I usually ignore those kinds of messages, but something about her approach felt genuine. Not spammy. We ended up having a FaceTime call, and I was able to see the rooms, the ocean views, the yoga space… even just how she communicated made me feel at ease. I decided to go for it.

Ron: What were your first impressions when you arrived?

Sarah: It’s kind of breathtaking. You walk into the lobby and immediately see this view of the ocean, the palm trees—it just opens up in front of you. Every room has a balcony with a hammock. You don’t need a filter on your photos. It’s that beautiful.

And the energy was quiet in the best way. It didn’t feel like a hotel trying to be a retreat center—it just was one, naturally.

Ron: How many people came with you?

Sarah: Just four guests and myself. All women this time, though it was open to men. We kept it small intentionally—I wanted everyone to feel held and connected. It worked out beautifully.

Ron: What was the food like?

Sarah: Amazing. They had different dinner menus each night. Breakfast included both a buffet and a menu you could order from, which surprised me. It wasn’t just “one or the other.” Everything was fresh and flavorful. The kitchen staff was so accommodating. If someone wanted a spicier version of a dish, they’d just make it happen.

Ron: Was it easy to plan excursions and other activities?

Sarah: Super easy. Angelina helped with everything. We did a boat ride to Playa Rincón, where we explored the beach and discovered the beautiful Caño Frío. It was such a peaceful and scenic part of the trip.Next time, I’d love to include a beach day at Playita or even horseback riding—those are definitely on my list for future retreats!

Ron: Let’s talk about logistics. Getting there, getting around—how was that?

Sarah: Most of us flew into Santo Domingo. It’s about a 3 to 3.5-hour drive to Villa Serena from there. I included transportation in the retreat cost so we could all ride together in a van. It made it feel like the retreat started as soon as we landed.

Ron: Was the retreat financially successful for you?

Sarah: I made a small profit. My pricing was a bit modest because I wanted it to be accessible to people from my local community. I charged around $1,600 for shared rooms and just under $2,000 for singles.

That said, I’ve talked to other leaders who’ve hosted retreats at Villa Serena and cleared $6–8K. So there’s definitely room to scale up.

Ron: What was the most meaningful moment for you during the retreat?

Sarah: It was the last dinner. We sat together at a long table under the stars, candles lit, just reflecting on the week. There was this feeling of peace—like something had really shifted for everyone. You could see it in their faces. I remember thinking, This is what I’m meant to do.

Ron: Do you see yourself returning to Villa Serena?

Sarah: Definitely. It felt like the perfect first step into international retreats. The space holds you without trying too hard. And Angelina? She’s the reason it all worked. Her presence, her help—it made a huge difference.