Shopping in Morocco is not what you think it is. You don’t walk in, browse a rack, and tap your credit card at a register. No, no, no. Shopping in Morocco is an education and a sales pitch rolled into one — a fascinating, sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating experience that my guests and I just call “the show.” The rug show. The medicine show. The silver show. It’s always entertaining.

We were sitting on a hillside in the Atlas Mountains, my husband and I, our Amazigh guide, Omar, plus a cook (also Omar), and two muleteers — sharing a meal after a long day of hiking. The conversation had turned to weddings, and our guide was describing how Amazigh weddings in his region are three-day festivals. Entire surrounding villages come. The men do the cooking and serve the feasts — enormous spreads for enormous crowds.

I asked why the men cooked for the wedding when, on a daily basis at home, it’s usually the women cooking in Morocco.

His answer floored me.

In October 2023, my Morocco retreat group was set to arrive less than two weeks after a devastating earthquake. Friends and family were worried. A few people asked if we should cancel.

Canceling never crossed my mind—but changing our approach did.

The first thing I did was reach out to my friends in Morocco—people I’ve known for years through decades of performing and from traveling there—and ask the only question that mattered: How are you? How are your families?

New Year's resolutions: about 80% of Americans make them, but only about 8% actually achieve them. That's not because we lack willpower or commitment—it's because we're setting ourselves up for failure from the start.

After 40 years of teaching movement and working as a behavioral change specialist, I've seen this pattern play out hundreds of times.

After learning some valuable lessons from past retreats about the importance of on-ground partnerships, I believe in experiencing locations myself or working only with trusted partners I know well. For new venues or those undergoing changes, a personal site visit is essential so my guests can simply relax and enjoy. That's why I visited our Roatan retreat location personally – and I'm so glad I did!

The phrase “wellness retreat” still makes experienced travelers wince.

Five-thirty AM wake-up bells. Kale smoothies served with institutional judgment. Wine, if you even consider it, treated as a small moral failure.

After nearly a decade leading international retreats, I can confirm: that version exists. It’s just one very small corner of a very large room.

The medical longevity clinic in Singapore. The Blue Zone villa in Sardinia. The zellige workshop in Marrakech that turns out to be the most meditative morning you’ve had in years. The adventure trip with a movement specialist woven through it. These aren’t the same experience. They serve different people at different points in life.

If you're a travel advisor trying to navigate the booming wellness travel market, or a traveler wondering what type of wellness experience suits you best, you're not alone in your confusion. The wellness travel industry has exploded into so many subcategories that even industry professionals struggle to keep them straight.

Here's the truth: wellness travel in 2025 is no longer just about yoga retreats in Bali or spa weekends. The pandemic fundamentally shifted how we think about wellness

In today's fast-paced world, the concept of travel is evolving. More than ever, people are seeking experiences that not only take them to new places but also provide opportunities for personal growth and rejuvenation. Enter the world of international wellness retreats and yoga retreats - a perfect blend of travel, cultural immersion, and holistic well-being.