Anna VanAgtmael
Runs retreats since 2018
Anna VanAgtmael runs Wandering Roots, which she started in 2018. A car accident and the neck surgery that followed left her in a brace for fourteen weeks and gave her, in her words, a crystal-clear perspective on every basic, boring life choice she had made. She took apart a comfortable decade and rebuilt it around taking people somewhere.
Since then she has hosted more than twenty-five retreats in several countries, from Banff to Scotland to the Smokies, and has been written up in Woman's World. She knows what breaks on day two when a dozen people are in the room.
On this site, Anna writes about retreats: how to choose one and how to host one. She sums up her job as convincing clients to get out of their own way.
Guides by Anna
- Art retreat: how to choose a creative retreatWhat an art retreat is, the kinds by medium, taught or open studio time, materials, beginners, what a day looks like and what to ask the host.
- Low-cost meditation retreats: how free and donation retreats workIs a free meditation retreat really free? How donation based and low cost retreats work, what they ask of you, and what to check before signing up.
- Solo retreat: going on a retreat aloneA solo retreat can mean joining a group retreat on your own, or a retreat for one. Here is how to tell them apart and what to ask before you book.
- Meditation retreat for beginners: what to expectThinking of a meditation retreat? What beginners can expect: a typical day, how long to go for, silence, cost and what to ask the host first.
- Retreat venues: how to choose one for your retreatHow to choose retreat venues for your own retreat: size, pricing, what to ask before you sign, the contract and when to book.
- Retreats for women over 50: what the label tells youRetreats for women over 50: what the label tells you, the kinds on offer, how to judge pace, going alone, and what to ask the host first.
- Silent retreat: what a silent week is really likeWhat a silent retreat is, what a day looks like, how silent it really is, who should think twice, how long a first one should be and what to ask.
- Retreat business: how to start oneThinking about a retreat business? The early decisions, the costs hosts carry, the paperwork to ask about, and how to test your idea first.
- Weekend retreats: how to find one you can book soonLooking for a retreat this weekend? Here is why hosts close bookings early, how to find a weekend retreat still open, and what to check first.
- Wellness retreats for women: how to choose oneWellness retreats for women compared: how they differ, how to read a schedule, how to weigh two retreats side by side and what to ask a host.
- Wellness retreat: what it is and what it costsWhat a wellness retreat is, what a day looks like, what affects the cost, what a package includes and what to ask a host before you book.
- Women's retreat: how to find the right oneWhat a women's retreat is, why people choose a women only retreat, the kinds on offer, an example day, and what to ask a host before you book.
- Yoga or meditation retreat: which fits youNot sure whether a yoga or meditation retreat suits you? How the two differ, how a yoga and meditation retreat blends them, and how to decide.
- Yoga retreat: how to choose the right oneHow to choose a yoga retreat: who they suit, what a day looks like, what affects the cost, how long to go for and what to ask the host.
Also writing here: Stacy Earl and Robert Earl. See every guide.