We went on a yoga retreat to Bali with Alisha and Mindful Balance Retreats in November 2016.  We…read morehad a fantastic time and met many new friends.  Alisha is very knowledgeable about yoga and international travel.  We were in a group of about twenty people and we were amazed at the ease with which Alisha was able to integrate her concept of mindful balance into our group of different personalities.  Alisha was such a gracious host and by the second day, there was such a great vibe within our group.  The morning yoga was extraordinary and Alisha made sure that each person felt comfortable in the class regardless of their yoga experience.  The personal touch that she demonstrates toward every individual is truly inspiring and by the end of the week I could see many people in the group advancing in their yoga practice.  Alisha is also a great travel planner and guide.  Bali is an exotic location that is truly a unique experience.  Alisha had daily plans available for anybody who wished to participate and she had obviously done her homework on the best places to eat, drink, shop, relax, and enjoy the beautiful beaches and temples.  We highly recommend Alisha because of her commitment to the practice of yoga, her peaceful energy, and her energetic personality.

Greg B. I had a great trip with Alisha's Mindful Balance…read moreRetreat to Costa Rica in November 2016 that was a life changer for me personally. She is such an adventurer and excellent yoga instructor that she took me out of my comfort zone and allowed to expand and challenge myself in new ways, which shifted my prospective of what I could achieve as a lifestyle. All the travel arrangements were excellent and the food at the resort was healthy and delicious. Plus she also plans a lot of extra fun events to enjoy. So by all means become an adventurer and hit the road with Alisha!

We had an amazing staycation weekend Twelve Senses Retreat! We thoroughly enjoyed our comfortable…read moreand clean room and all its thoughtful amenities. Tasty homemade breakfast each morning, and their gracious team. Celebrating our daughter's birthday there with family and friends was the highlight of our stay. With the most relaxing surroundings and delicious custom menu, we couldn't have had a better time anywhere else. Looking forward to staying again very soon.

This was a wonderful quaint, inviting, and pleasant experience. We were greeted with a couple of…read moreindividual bottles of bubbly and snacks in our room. Our room was a studio layout with a large soaking tub in the corner of the room. The tub had a bath salt soaking bag and tea lights to set a relaxing ambiance for my wife. Husbands, nothing better than your wife getting into and taking a bath right in front of you am I right ! Not a bath fan myself so the outside shower was fun to use. Privacy comes at a premium so don't be shy . As a bed and breakfast I ultimately rate Twelve Senses on the food. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Just take a look at my photos and try not to drool . Go and enjoy the service, amenities, and food.

I work in tech, and after a long stretch of projects and deadlines, I was feeling pretty burnt out…read moreand needed to get away from the screen. Initially, I was looking at Esalen, but I'm based in Southern California and the drive was a bit much. I looked for alternatives, and found a Quiet Mind Retreat in Julian. I decided to splurge on the 3-day Rest & Recovery package. My goal was simple, show up and not make a single decision once I arrived. I needed someone else to take care of everything because I just didn't have the bandwidth to plan. A few days after booking, Sarah reached out and asked thoughtful questions about why I booked, what I like to eat, and what I hoped to get out of my stay. She then planned the entire experience. Every detail. After a beautiful drive to Julian, I arrived and was welcomed with one of the best therapeutic massages I've ever had. I deal with chronic neck pain and get massages regularly, but Anita's intuition and healing hands were truly exceptional. She found areas I didn't even realize were holding tension. Within minutes, I was in a deep state of relaxation, and the pain relief I felt was incredible. Next, the food. Amazing. Everything was fresh, homemade, and nourishing. Instead of glutton fest leaving me feeling overly full, every meal properly proportioned and left me feeling balanced, energized, and genuinely cared for. Lastly, the staff, especially Sarah. She went above and beyond to make sure I had a wonderful experience. She thoughtfully coordinated my meals, massages, reiki, and yoga sessions with genuine care and compassion. This isn't a corporate, cookie-cutter retreat. You can feel that the people here truly care about the work they do and the experience they create for every guest. If you're feeling burnt out or you've been staring at a screen for far too long, I highly recommend spending a few days at Quiet Mind Retreat.

I love it here. This is my second time coming and both times I left feeling more grounded and able…read moreto handle life better. Highly recommend getting services while you are here. I always get a massage and do the sauna and hot tub. You dont have to pre order food ahead of time but makes it convenient if you plan to be at location for meals. Loved our room facing the lake. Highly recommend staying here.

Truly, the aura when you walk in is something else. You immediately feel calm and almost at home…read more Thank you, Dara, for making us feel so welcomed from the moment we arrived! Also, if you're thinking you could never do the ice bath... you absolutely can. Dara's guidance beforehand made all the difference. Coming from someone who struggles jumping into the ocean even on a hot day... I genuinely loved the ice bath She made the whole experience feel empowering instead of intimidating. She even cut up delicious fruit for us to snack on throughout the experience, which was such a thoughtful touch. I also want to give a big shoutout to Kyra!! Her sound bath was mesmerizing. It was exactly what I needed. We went with a very relaxing yoga flow that was perfect for what we were looking for, and I loved that there were options so you could choose what felt most comfortable for you. Such a beautiful, welcoming, and rejuvenating experience. I can't wait to come back!

Dara is truly one of a kind, intuitive and quick to connect with. The space is quiet and…read morerestorative making for a perfect self-care sanctuary. Perfect for a detox, I can't wait to come for my next visit.

OHI is an education that everyone should receive. I truly believe that if everyone went to a place…read morelike this for this education it would change the world. After years of encouragement from my wife, I finally relented and went on a retreat with her. When we got there I decided that my mantra was "I am here" and committed to it fully. Going to every class I could, following the strict diet, doing the exercises, and on and on. Detoxing from coffee was tough and I experienced massive hunger pains. When that was over I found myself a changed person. Every little nagging health issue I had was gone by Thursday of the first week and I dropped 15lbs. Even things I forgot about. Whether that stays is now up to me. The education they give, combined with immediate lived experience is undeniable and unforgettable. You cannot unsee it. I am not speaking in hyperbole when I say it was one of the most profound weeks of my life. You can go to a hospital to treat individual issues, keep slamming cheeseburgers, treat the symptoms or you can learn how the human body is designed to live and watch it heal itself. If you're looking at this review thinking about it, you owe it to yourself to go. Yes, it looks a bit like grandma's house in a neighborhood in Lemon Grove. Get over it. You're not here to watch TV or laze around in a pool. You're here to do work, so come and do the work and be rewarded. It is an incredibly special place. Also - I went with my wife and I would recommend that couples go together. If one person learns all of this and you return home to someone who didn't learn and experience the same stuff, it's impossible to convey this information with the same impact. You'll probably go back to the old ways when one of you wants to eat sprouts and the other chinese food. It was also a wonderful bonding experience for both of us.

I am thankful this institute exists! I am over 80 years old and I feel that the cleansing and…read morerejuvenation I experience at Optimum allow me to live my life to the fullest.

Nicole is an incredible yoga and wellness instructor. I initially took her classes in a group…read moresetting at a large fitness club and because of her extensive knowledge and warm spirit, it felt like I was taking a class in a small studio environment. I always looked forward to the little spritz of her Jubilee peppermint mist that was such a refreshing and relaxing way to end each class - a little treat! I have since taken some individual yoga classes from Nicole and she did a really great job catering the flow to meet what I needed, both when I was feeling physically strong and also when I was emotionally drained. I always look forward to a session with her.

Nicole is a wonderful yoga instructor, in tune to the needs of her students. My wife and I took a…read moreyoga class with Nicole and both us were struggling with significant limitations. My wife was pregnant and I had plantar fasciitis that prevented me from standing for very long, which obviously is a problem in yoga. She worked with us to help us mobilize and use the movements that were available to us. I really appreciated the hands on care and both us felt better after the class. I highly recommend Nicole as a caring, experience, and in tune yoga instructor!

***I WILL NOT BE RETUNING***…read more Let me start by saying my first visit to Golden Door in January 2024 was one of the most magical, transformative, spiritual and relaxing experience I have ever had. From the food, to the choice of classes, the tranquil property and all inclusive amenities really stood out from anything else I have experienced. I have worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years and this was a very special and memorable place. I had such a wonderful experience the first time I decided to use my savings to return in 2025. The past 5 years has been filled with trauma and major life changes and I felt I deserved to treat myself even though I really couldn't afford to do so. I arrived Sunday, January 19, 2025 and until Tuesday afternoon my experience was exactly as I had remembered. I was so thrilled to be there. Tuesday, January 21, my massage therapist came to my room to give me a massage. The therapist was pretty firm with their pressure, but I assumed this would be good since I normally get soft pressure and my muscles were a bit tense. We discussed their type of massages and they explained they are prone to give deep tissue massages. The massage was ok, although slightly painful. During the last couple minutes of the massage, the therapist focused on my shoulders and neck area. They turned my neck to one side and pressed firm with their knuckles, then flipped my head over to the other side and continued firmly pressing my neck. At one point, for a couple seconds, I thought I may pass out, but soon recovered. I got up from the table and walked to the bathroom and at that moment I felt the room spinning. I told the massage therapist I felt dizzy and they directed me to sit down and drink some water as I could be dehydrated. Then they talked about common dizziness after massages and proceeded to tell me about a time when they gave someone a massage and when the client left, they got in a car accident. I was disturbed by the story but continued to focus on drinking fluids. The massage therapist left 15 minutes later. About 45 minutes later, I called the kitchen to send some coconut water, a banana and some cheese. I thought it was possible my blood sugar was low. Around 8 pm I went to bed, hoping that it was just a minor episode of dehydration and low glucose although the spinning continued after eating and drinking. In the morning I woke up and as I rolled out of bed, again felt the room spinning and became nauseous. At that time I called the front desk to ask about a car to Urgent Care. I spent 2 hours at Urgent Care to be told by the doctor I could have a "cerebral stroke" and I needed to head straight to the Emergency Room for a CT Scan. I spent 6 hours in the Emergency Room to thankfully be told I did not have a cerebral stroke and diagnosed with peripheral vertigo. I want to give you the facts of the story in case there are any future incidences, it could be a liability. I spent Tuesday evening in my room, all day Wednesday in the hospital, through my departure on Sunday mostly in my room trying to limit my movement due to the vertigo. My trip was more than ruined. I was extremely disappointed and disheartened Golden Door only offered to cover an acupuncture session while on property. I sent a letter to the Manager following my return home and they offered to take $2,000 off $12,000 on my next visit. I don't make six figures and don't have a lot of savings. I spent all year looking forward to this return. I had planned to return again next year if my finances allowed, but I will not be returning.

I signed up for my second visit. Several months before this date I was diagnosed with a fracture in…read moremy back. Called to cancel two months before reservation. Later they claimed they had no records oh my call and refused to refund my $4000 deposit. Offered to give me a six month extension. Out of desperation I said ok. I'm still under a doctors care for my back. My doctor offered to write a letter. They refused to accept that and refused to refund my deposit. No point going if I can do anything physical. No yoga no hikes no fitness exercises. Also a lot of walking between activities. So be sure not to get a medical problem or they will screw you over.