Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Coleman.
Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Lauren Coleman, and I’m the founder of Casa Retreats — a collection of design-led yoga and wellness retreats that bring people back to themselves through presence, rhythm, and intention.
The creation of Casa has been a deeply personal evolution — one that mirrors my own journey of healing, growth, and rediscovery. I found yoga at sixteen after experiencing severe PTSD and chronic depression. It completely transformed my life. I left high school early to attend Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in the spring of 2012, becoming the youngest certified Bikram instructor in the world at that time.
After finishing high school and attending college, my love for both movement and design continued to grow. I later worked in the corporate world at Chanel’s New York headquarters, where I learned valuable lessons about branding, experience, and the power of visual storytelling — but I also realized that corporate life wasn’t where my soul felt most alive.
Following my time at Chanel, I returned fully to yoga — managing studios in New York before moving to Mexico after the pandemic. There, I began teaching full-time while consulting on creative direction and marketing for a luxury wellness center. That period gave me space to travel, reflect, and attend retreats around the world — and it’s where the seed for Casa Retreats was planted.
After attending a retreat that felt disconnected from what I believed wellness could be, I realized there was a missing gap in the market. Many experiences felt either too commercial or too “spiritualized,” lacking the depth, artistry, and genuine connection I was searching for. I envisioned a space where yoga, design, and conscious living could coexist beautifully — where every detail, from the setting and food to the people and practices, was intentionally chosen to create something meaningful.
I wanted to create a space where people could breathe — where wellness didn’t feel like performance, but a return to balance. If you wanted to practice, wonderful. If you wanted a glass of wine, also fine. If you needed solitude, that was honored too.
Casa was born from that philosophy — to offer retreats that inspire, restore, and hold people in environments that are beautiful, grounding, and alive.
From that vision, Casa Retreats was born — a brand rooted in wellness without the noise. Casa evolved from an idea into a reality: a thoughtful blend of yoga, design, and conscious travel crafted to create experiences that feel meaningful, nurturing, and refined.
Our retreats are grounded in yoga and mindfulness, but they’re equally about the sensory experience — the architecture, the landscape, the food, and the feeling of slowing down enough to truly reconnect with yourself. Every detail, from the rhythm of the day to the textures of the environment, is intentionally designed to help guests return to a natural state of ease and presence.
Since launching, we’ve hosted sold-out retreats in Tulum and Costa Rica, with new experiences unfolding in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Europe. Casa continues to grow organically — expanding through authenticity, creativity, and collaboration — built on the belief that true wellness isn’t about perfection, but about presence.
For me, Casa is more than a business; it’s a living reflection of how healing, design, and human connection can intertwine. It’s about creating spaces that feel as good as they look — reminding people that real wellness doesn’t need to be loud. It simply needs to be real, intentional, and alive.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
laughs No — I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road. But that’s the nature of both life and business — they mirror your own evolution.
Building Casa has been incredibly rewarding, but also deeply challenging. Taking an idea and turning it into a real, functioning business with integrity and vision is no small thing. There have been moments of doubt, imposter syndrome, financial strain, and exhaustion, especially trying to do so much on my own.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to create and grow a brand entirely from scratch — figuring out systems, marketing, operations, and creative direction simultaneously — all while staying true to Casa’s values and aesthetic. It’s also been a journey of finding the right people who align with the brand’s energy and long-term vision.
But even in the hardest moments, life has continued to bring me the right lessons and the right people at the right time. Every obstacle has helped shape Casa into what it is today — a brand built from resilience, intention, authenticity, and heart.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Casa Retreats offers intentional, luxury design-forward yoga & wellness experiences rooted in yoga, nature, design, and authenticity. We create more than just getaways — Casa is a space to slow down, reconnect, and remember what truly matters.
Each retreat is thoughtfully curated to invite rest, reflection, and renewal — without pressure, performance, or pretense. With yoga as the foundation, we weave in complementary practices such as meditation, clay workshops, ceremony, and nature-based ritual, honoring both the environment and the local communities that hold us.
What makes Casa different is the balance we create between structure and surrender. We offer daily movement, nourishing meals, and deep connection — but we also protect the importance of solitude, stillness, and freedom. There are no rigid itineraries or expectations. Guests are invited to move at their own pace — to breathe, soften, and simply be.
And unlike much of the wellness industry, we’re not here to fix you — and we don’t promise that you’ll leave “healed.” Casa exists as a gentle counterpoint to performative wellness. We value integrity, design, balance, privacy, and space — space to be, to breathe, to connect, and to feel wholly human again.
Our spaces are chosen with the same intentionality as our programming. We seek properties that feel alive — places where architecture, design, and landscape tell a story. From the jungles of Mexico to the coastlines of Costa Rica and the countryside of France, every Casa retreat is chosen for its soul as much as its setting.
We are not like every other retreat. We’re selective about who joins — not in exclusivity, but in energy. Every guest is personally vetted to ensure alignment with the experience and community we’re creating. Our facilitators and teachers each have over 15 years of experience, and our team spans Mexico, Italy, and the U.S., bringing global perspective and grounded expertise to every program.
At Casa, we believe how a space feels is just as important as what it offers. The light, the design, the textures — everything works together to create an experience that feels refined, nurturing, and deeply human.
Ultimately, Casa Retreats offers more than a retreat — it offers a return to self.
Whether you’re up early for meditation, journaling by the sea, or resting in the shade — every rhythm is welcome.
Casa is wellness without the noise. It’s not about escaping life — it’s about remembering how beautiful it can be when you slow down enough to feel it.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My biggest advice is to trust your gut and stay open to the process. Take advice from everyone, but at the end of the day, listen to what feels true for you. Along the way, you’ll meet all kinds of people — mentors, critics, collaborators, and friends — and each one will shape your journey in some way.
Be curious. Observe not just what people say, but how they move — their actions will tell you everything. You don’t have to please everyone; not everyone is meant to stay for the entire journey. Some will inspire you, some will challenge you, and some will quietly teach you lessons you won’t understand until much later.
It’s also important to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Say yes more often — even when it scares you. Go to events, show up, and put yourself in new rooms. I recently attended the Synergy Retreat Show, and it pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way. Through that experience, I met new people to collaborate with, found creative inspiration, and made connections that continue to evolve. You truly never know who will eventually become part of your path.
One of my closest friends in Mexico — a ceramic artist I met years ago — now leads our clay workshops on Casa retreats in Mexico and Costa Rica. Together we’re building Casa Home, a line of handmade pieces inspired by the retreats themselves. It’s a reminder that every connection has potential, often in ways you can’t predict.
So, stay open, but also stay discerning. Protect your brand, give things time, and let people earn your trust through consistency. Be vulnerable enough to ask for help, for advice, and to fail — because failure isn’t really failure; it’s feedback. It’s learning.
What’s worked best for me has been learning to trust my intuition, to allow space for things to unfold, and to stay curious even in uncertainty. Building something from the ground up isn’t easy — it’s uncomfortable, consuming, and requires consistent energy and faith — but it’s also where the most meaningful growth happens.
React less. Observe more. Be open, even when it’s hard. Be authentic: everything and everyone that’s meant for you will always find its way — often in the most unexpected forms.
Pricing:
- • Tulum, Mexico — March 2026 Rates from $3,400–$5,500 per person, depending on room type and occupancy. Includes 6 days / 5 nights of accommodations, daily yoga and movement, meals, and curated Casa experiences.
- • South of France — July 2026 Rates from €4,900–€8,000 per person, depending on suite category and occupancy. Includes 6 days / 5 nights of accommodations, all meals, daily yoga, excursions, and private chef dining.
- • Costa Rica — 2027 (coming soon) Estimated rates $3,800–$6,200 per person, inclusive of accommodation, movement classes, wellness workshops, and immersive cultural experiences.
- • Private and Custom Retreats Available upon request. Casa also offers bespoke retreat experiences for small groups, brands, and organizations seeking intentional, design-led wellness travel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.casaretreats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casa.retreats
Image Credits
Casa Retreats LLC
