Episode 5: The Hidden Benefits of Yoga Retreats that No One Talks About

Welcome back to The Aligned Yogi Podcast! In this episode, Autumn Adams, owner of Ambuja Yoga, dives deep into the profound, hidden benefits of yoga retreats that go far beyond the mat. After over a decade of leading transformative retreats, Autumn shares the unexpected magic they offer to every attendee.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Transformative Magic of Retreats
   Discover how retreats create extraordinary moments that feel orchestrated just for you, helping you rewire your perspective and reconnect with wonder.

2. The Power of Connection
   Learn how yoga retreats foster deep, authentic bonds—with others and yourself—that make you feel seen, understood, and alive.

3. Time Redefined
   Explore how retreats shift your relationship with time, allowing you to embrace ease, presence, and intention.

4. Healing Through Joy and Play
   Understand the healing power of laughter, creativity, and uninhibited joy, and how they allow you to reclaim your vibrancy.

5. Rebuilding Self-Trust
   Find out how attending a retreat cultivates self-trust, empowering you to reconnect with your intuition and resilience.

Featured Stories and Examples:
Autumn shares heartfelt stories from past retreats—from morning yoga with howler monkeys in Nicaragua to spontaneous moonlit dance sessions that rekindle a sense of childlike wonder. These experiences highlight the healing, connection, and breakthroughs attendees often experience.

Free Resource:
Curious about attending your first yoga retreat? Download Autumn’s free guide, The Perfect Yoga Retreat Checklist, to prepare for your journey. Get your guide here.

Join Us on Retreat:
Ready to transform your life? Explore Autumn’s upcoming retreats at ambujayoga.com and take the leap into a world of extraordinary moments.

Final Thought:
The magic of yoga retreats isn’t just in the destination—it’s in rediscovering the vibrant, extraordinary version of yourself. Tune in to uncover how you can bring these benefits into your life, starting today.

In this episode of The Aligned Yogi, I’m sharing the story behind Ambuja Yoga and my journey to becoming a retreat leader. From a six-month honeymoon in Southeast Asia to launching my first yoga retreat during teacher training, this is a story of bold moves, big dreams, and lessons learned. Along the way, I discovered the incredible power of yoga retreats to inspire connection, healing, and transformation—not just for attendees, but for the communities they touch.

Whether you’re a yoga practitioner dreaming of hosting retreats or someone ready to take a big leap in life, this episode will light a spark of inspiration.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How I took the leap into leading retreats fresh out of yoga teacher training.
• The growth journey of Ambuja Yoga—from a small retreat in Oregon to leading over ten retreats annually.
• The transformative impact retreats have on attendees and their communities.
• Challenges I’ve faced as a retreat leader (including scorpions on yoga mats!).
• Why empowered women create a ripple effect of confidence and growth.

Key Moments:

• "It was during this trip that I really embraced yoga as something more than just the physical poses."
• "I wanted to create spaces where people could step away from the busyness of life and reconnect with themselves in beautiful, inspiring settings."
• "Empowered women empower others—they ripple confidence, strength, and growth into their families, communities, and the world."
• "We are all capable of taking big leaps to step into our truth, and I want you to know that I see that for you."

Why This Episode is for You:

If you’ve ever dreamed of leading retreats, creating a life aligned with your passions, or simply stepping into your truth, this episode offers inspiration and actionable insights. My story shows what’s possible when you follow your calling—even when it feels unconventional or scary.

Links and Resources Mentioned:

• Join my email community for exclusive updates and retreat news: ambujayoga.com or autumnadamsyoga.com
• Stay tuned for the next episode: The Hidden Benefits of Yoga Retreats Beyond the Yoga.

What big leap are YOU going to take this year? DM me on Instagram or share your story by joining my email list. Let’s create the life you’ve envisioned!

In this episode, Autumn explores the power of making bold life choices, encouraging listeners to take courageous steps toward their authentic lives. Using personal experiences and research-backed insights, she guides her audience through the transformative potential of "going all in." Show Notes with Timestamps

[0:00] – Welcome and Introduction Autumn introduces the episode's focus on bold life choices and their role in creating alignment and authenticity.

[1:05] – Power of Bold Choices Autumn discusses how bold choices align us with our true values, challenging societal expectations and comfort zones.

[2:00] – Personal Story: Burning the Boats She shares a significant moment at one of her retreats, where she fully committed to living authentically, symbolized by "burning the boats."

[4:14] – Commitment and Self-Worth Autumn explains research on grit and commitment, showing how deeply committing to a goal enhances focus and resilience.

[5:01] – Importance of Self-Worth Drawing on the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Autumn highlights how staying aligned with our values fosters a positive self-image.

[5:57] – Growth Mindset and Facing Challenges A brief overview of Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset, encouraging listeners to see challenges as opportunities for growth.

[6:33] – Visualization Exercise Autumn leads a grounding visualization, inviting listeners to envision themselves embracing a bold choice they’ve been hesitant about.

[8:03] – Facing Fear with Mindfulness A practice for grounding oneself when fear arises, encouraging a present-moment focus to alleviate anxiety.

[10:00] – Visualization Exercise: Imagining Bold Decisions Autumn guides listeners through visualizing their boldest selves, stepping fully into their power and embracing their choices.

[12:04] – Weekly Call to Action Listeners are encouraged to take one small step toward their bold goals and to use a worksheet to help outline actionable steps. [

13:13] – Community Support and Hashtags Autumn invites listeners to share their progress on social media using #alignedyogibold and #ambujayoga to foster community.

[13:32] – Retreat Invitation and Social Engagement Autumn mentions her upcoming retreats for deeper work on alignment and announces an upcoming Instagram Live on bold choices.

[14:04] – Closing Remarks Autumn wraps up, expressing gratitude for the community and encouraging listeners to embrace bold choices for a fulfilling life.

Episode Links: Download the Bold Action Worksheet:

Follow on Instagram: @ambujayoga Upcoming Retreats: Visit Autumn’s Retreat Page