1. Can I pay using a payment plan?
Yes! We offer payment plans to fit your needs! Our standard payment plan is a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking, then the balance is due either 2 or 3 months prior to the retreat, depending on the retreat location and venue. If you would like to request a custom payment plan with additional installments, please contact us and we will discuss the options, based on your situation and how close to the retreat it is at that time.
2. How do I make changes to my registration personal information?
You can make changes to the answers you provided in the personal information registration form, such as dietary preferences, emergency contact, and any other personal information, by following the instructions here.
3. How do I pay my balance due?
You can pay your balance due or next installment by following the instructions here.
4. How do I sign up for a massage after I've booked the trip?
If massage sign up is offered through Body Flows (this will be included on the retreat information page), you can sign up for a massage by following the instructions here. Your massage will be scheduled on the Saturday afternoon during the free time. For retreats that have onsite therapists, you will usually call the retreat center beforehand to schedule your massage. More information regarding massage sign up and payment for each retreat is included on the specific retreat information page on our website.
5. Are yoga mats provided?
Some of our venues provide yoga mats, while other venues do not and you need to bring your own. Please review the What To Bring section on the specific retreat page for information about whether or not yoga mats are available at the retreat center.
6. Can I pay for the whole room and squeeze additional people into the room, by sharing beds?
No. We are sorry this is not permitted. All prices displayed on our website are per person, not per room. It is not possible to add additional people in a room due to max number of people permitted by the venue and permitted for meals and yoga.
7. Can I switch to a different room package (single, double, triple, quadruple etc) after I've booked?
We can switch you to a higher cost room package, subject to availability. We can only switch you to a lower cost room package if you have a friend signing up and would like to share with your friend, e.g. you originally signed up for single occupancy and now your friend wants to join you so we can switch you to double occupancy once your friend signs up and you will share with your friend. This is of course subject to availability.
8. Can I sign up for a shared double, triple or quadruple room if I'm traveling alone?
Yes. We will match you up with other traveler(s) of the same sex.
9. Are shared rooms single sex or shared male/female?
All shared rooms are female only unless you are signing up with a friend or multiple friends and filling the room.
10. Is there a minimum age to attend?
Yes. All participants must be aged 21 or over to attend our USA retreats, and aged 18 or over to attend our European retreats.
11. Can I bring pets or animals?
No. Pets are not allowed. The only animals that are allowed are certified service animals, accompanied by a person with a disability. A certificate of service must be provided.
12. Can I have friends or family visit during the retreat?
No. It is not possible to have family members or friends, who are not part of the retreat, attend for part of the retreat. They are welcome to register for the full retreat if they would like to attend.
13. Can my partner, family member or friend stay in my room but not participate in the retreat?
They are welcome to stay as long as they pay for a full retreat spot. All participants in every room must pay for the full retreat package. We do not sell rooms or meals individually as these are all part of the retreat package price per person, and it is not possible for someone to stay in your room without paying for a retreat spot.
14. Can I stay extra night(s) before or after the retreat?
Body Flows does not arrange additional nights before or after the retreat. You would need to contact the retreat center directly. That said, most of the retreat centers that we use only allow guests to stay that are part of an organized group or retreat. They are mostly not open to private guests. It's best to check with the retreat center directly.
15. Can I arrive earlier than the scheduled arrival time?
No. It is not possible to arrive before the scheduled arrival time because our retreats are typically held at private venues that have no front desk or reception, not at a hotel. The venue is still being cleaned after the previous group so we are asked not to arrive early.
16. Is a Body Flows Retreat similar to a Spa Resort?
No. Our retreats are held at comfortable yet often rustic rereat centers in nature. Most of the locations are not hotels nor spa resorts and do not have onsite spa services.
17. Is transport to and from the retreat included?
No. We do not provided transport or transport assistance to and from the retreat. We do provide driving directions to the retreat location to all attendees a few weeks prior to the retreat.
18. What insurance company do you recommend?
Travel Insurance is strongly recommended. There are a variety of plans and options with InsureMyTrip. We also recommend including the 'Cancel For Any Reason' clause so that you can cancel for any reason at all, including if you just change your mind. These policies usually need to be purchased within 21 days of the inital trip booking date.
19. Can you coordinate car pooling?
We do not coordinate car pooling. However, if you email us at least 1 week prior to the retreat, we can share your contact details with the other attendees and if they would like to help you out and car pool, they can conact you directly.
20. How do I get to the retreat?
On each retreat registration page, the nearest airports are listed, as well as the address to the retreat center location. Driving directions will be provided a few weeks prior to the retreat. For our Sonoma County retreats, you may fly into SFO, Oakland or Sacramento airports. It is recommended to rent a car at the airport and drive to the retreat center because there is no public transport that takes you directly to the retreat center. Alternatively, you could use the Groome Transportation Sonoma County Airport Express bus from SFO or Oakland airports and get off in Petaluma or at the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, then get a taxi to the retreat center. You can find the schedule for the Groome Transportation Sonoma County buses here.
21. How many people usually attend a Body Flows Retreat?
The number of participants at our retreats vary from approximately 15-45 attendees. Our Sonoma and Sedona retreats tend to be larger with approximately 25-45 participants, whilst our Oregon and Colorado retreats are usually smaller with approximately 12-25 participants.
22. I'm new to yoga. Will the retreat be suitable for me?
We provide options and modifications for varying abilities and physical limitations, so as long as you are physically healthy and somewhat active, and comfortable modifying as needed, we believe the retreat will be suitable for you. Please note that the classes are mostly vinyasa flow for all levels. If you have any questions about the yoga, please feel free to contact us.
23. Most of the photos on the website are women. Are men allowed?
Yes! Men are allowed at all our retreats. The majority of our customers tend to be women, however men and couples are always welcome.
24. Do you offer CE (continuing eduacation) for Nurses, Fitness Trainers, Yoga Teachers or any other Professions by attending a yoga retreat?
All our Body Flows Retreats are relaxing, rejvenuating experiences, not educational workshops. Due to this nature, our yoga retreats are not affiliated with any organization for CEs (contining education) such as Yoga Alliance or any Nursing or Fitness Trainer organizations. Whilst Sally Mitchell, your teacher and leader, is a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider), the only workshop she teaches that is part of the Yoga Alliance qualified CE classes is the Iron Yoga Teacher Training Class, which you can learn about and sign up for on the Iron Yoga website.
25. Can I bring gifts for the other Body Flows retreat customers and/or advertise my own business during the retreat?
No. Whilst we appreciate the kind thought, it is not permitted to bring gifts for the other Body Flows customers and it is not permitted to advertise your own business to Body Flows customers or offer free samples or discounts for your business.
26. What is the difference between a retreat and a workshop?
We like to think of a 'retreat' as being more of an experience or journey of transformation, with the goal of shifting a state of being within yourself, by taking time away from your busy day and reflecting inwards. The practices of yoga, meditation, and nature assist in enhancing this retreat experience. A 'workshop' is more of a learning or training session, where you will learn specific tools and tips and receive action-based information that will help guide you in some way. In a workshop, it's helpful to take notes and use your mind to remember and analyze information. At a retreat, we believe it's important to relax the mind, not take notes, and be open to the experience of 'being in the flow' and not in your analytical mind. Our intention at Body Flows Retreats is to help you to shift your state of being and tap into a deeper consciousness by relaxing your mind and thoughts, moving beyond the mind, to your inner space of inner peace.
For any further questions, please email us via our contact page.
