ShareOne ReviewsWhat do real people say about wellness retreat?
17 people recorded interviews about wellness retreat across 4 organisations. improved mood, anxiety or stress was the most commonly volunteered theme, appearing in 7 interviews. The most common timeframe people described was over a year. Every figure below is a count of what people said in their recorded interview — not a clinical trial or a survey.
First-hand accounts from people who talked about wellness retreat in their recorded interview.
Changes customers chose to talk about
Based on 17 open-ended customer interviews. These are themes people mentioned without being asked to rate every possible outcome. If someone did not mention a change, that does not mean it did not happen.
- Mood & stressmentioned in 7 interviews
“And I felt a calm and a sense of more of a direction, I think.”Laura Bierwagen
- Mental claritymentioned in 3 interviews
“Like, just helped me focus on me a little bit and on my choices and where, you know, what I wanna do and where I wanna go.”Laura Bierwagen
- More energymentioned in 2 interviews
“I just didn't feel as good as I felt I should, and I really couldn't put my finger on it, and having exhausted doctors testing and stuff, I just felt like there was more.”Cinde Woodcock
- Mobilitymentioned in 1 interview
“Moving forward, I'm most excited about navigating life in this more aware way so that I can catch myself when I fall into old habits but really grounding and allowing these new neutral pathways to expand and grow and…”Marie Elizabeth Molle
- Confidencementioned in 1 interview
“I'm excited about coming back at one more and having just come through the program I feel a sense of calm, confidence, optimism, curiosity and possibility.”Hope Maltz
- Family & relationshipsmentioned in 1 interview
“I feel like with some of this stuff kind of cleared from me or lifted from me, I'm going to be a better father and husband and friend.”Colin Dentan
- Felt supportedmentioned in 1 interview
“I'm very hopeful that they will see some shifts in me that make me more available and kind of a safer, emotional place for them to go to.”Colin Dentan
- Less painmentioned in 1 interview
“And my pain has decreased, but also it's very dependent.”Becca Johnson
How long it took
- Over a year · 8
Stories in this topic
Showing 12 of 17 interviews.
WatchPediatrician Overcomes Chronic Pain and Autoimmune Arthritis Through Qigong and MindfulnessLaura Bierwagen credits Urban Monk Productions with helping her overcome ten years of chronic pain and autoimmune arthritis. After attending the retreat and committing to a 100-day Qigong 'gong,' she transitioned from using crutches to performing physical rou…Laura Bierwagen · Urban Monk Productions- 40 Years of ZenWatchOvercoming Social Anxiety and Building Lasting Confidence in Just Five DaysPetra Fuerst reports that 40 Years of Zen provided the most effective and fastest way to create lasting change for her social anxiety. After a five-day program, she transitioned from experiencing social anxieties to having absolute confidence, a result that h…Petra Fuerst · 40 Years of Zen
WatchOvercoming Perfectionism and Finding Self-Forgiveness Through Facilitated Plant Medicine JourneysAngie Heguy worked with Dr. Diva Nagula to overcome confusion and perfectionism. Through a facilitated plant medicine journey, she achieved a major breakthrough in self-forgiveness, learning to release things outside her control. Heguy credits Dr. Nagula’s ex…Angie Heguy · Dr Diva Nagula
WatchMarketing Strategist Gains Comprehensive Wellness Insights and Functional Medicine ProtocolsJen Holub Tripp, a marketing strategist and wellness practitioner, describes her experience with Modern Holistic Health as transformational and ceremonial. She gained specific insights into how functional medicine labs and protocols create comprehensive welln…Jen Holub Tripp · Modern Holistic Health
WatchImproved Sleep and Emotional Ease Through Gut Protocol and QiGong PracticeJennifer Gill achieved significant lifestyle improvements through Urban Monk Productions. After participating in the Gut Protocol and a live retreat, she reported better sleep, improved relationships, and a new ability to navigate daily obstacles with ease. S…Jennifer Gill · Urban Monk Productions- 40 Years of ZenWatchBen Calvert Achieved a Positive Outlook and Mental Reset at 40 Years of ZenBen Calvert reported a significant mental transformation after attending 40 Years of Zen. He achieved a more positive and hopeful outlook on life, specifically noting an increased ability to be present and spontaneous while worrying less. Calvert recommends t…Ben · 40 Years of Zen
Watch71-Year-Old Reclaims Health and Vitality Through Qigong and Gut Health ProgramsCinde Woodcock achieved a significant health turnaround with Urban Monk Productions after feeling she was losing her health at age 70. By completing the GUT program and attending a qigong retreat, she gained a sense of empowerment and peace, successfully init…Cinde Woodcock · Urban Monk Productions- 40 Years of ZenWatchMassive Internal Shift and Mental Freedom Achieved in Only Five DaysMarie Elizabeth Molle describes 40 Years of Zen as a comprehensive brain training program that delivers a massive internal shift in just five days. By combining direct brain training, pod sessions, and debriefing, she transitioned from being 'stuck in her hea…Marie Elizabeth Molle · 40 Years of Zen
WatchReduced Chronic Stomach Burning and Shoulder Pain Through Microbiome Testing and QigongKathy Hough reviewed Urban Monk Productions after experiencing significant relief from chronic stomach burning and shoulder pain. By utilizing microbiome testing to identify food sensitivities and attending a Qigong retreat with Dr. Pedram Shojai, Kathy repor…Kathy Hough · Urban Monk Productions- 40 Years of ZenWatchEliminating Stress and Negative Reactions Through a Week-Long Mindset ShiftAles Graf achieved a total mindset shift at 40 Years of Zen, reporting that his stress is completely gone after the one-week program. Previously unable to meditate or relax, Graf experienced a change in his inner setup that allows him to respond calmly to the…Ales Graf · 40 Years of Zen
- 40 Years of ZenWatchOvercoming Anxiety and Pessimism Through Neurofeedback to Achieve Calm and ConfidenceHope Maltz describes her experience at 40 Years of Zen as a profound shift from a state of worry and anxiety to one of calm and optimism. After one week of neurofeedback and professional support, she reported a foundational change in how she feels in her body…Hope Maltz · 40 Years of Zen
- 40 Years of ZenWatchOvercoming Decades of Emotional Burdens to Achieve Mental Clarity and FreedomColin Denton reports that 40 Years of Zen provided a profound mental shift, lifting 98-99% of the heavy emotional and mental burdens he carried from his youth. After failing to see similar results with traditional therapy, Denton described the experience as r…Colin Dentan · 40 Years of Zen
What people were sceptical about first
- “So about the year before I started working with Dr.”Angie Heguy
- “Kathy Hough found the microbiome testing to be offered at a very reasonable price. After receiving her results, she identified three specific foods she was sensitive to, and removing them from her diet led her to feel better immediately.”Kathy Hough
- “Hope Maltz acknowledged that the cost was a consideration, but she chose to view it as a manifestation of her commitment to herself and an investment in her future and everything she loves.”Hope Maltz
Frequently asked
- Is the Urban Monk retreat worth the financial investment?
- Laura Bierwagen initially needed to justify the cost, which she did by focusing on the opportunity to discuss the 'Upstream' microbiome program directly with Pedram Shojai. Ultimately, she concluded the experience is a 'gift to yourself' that provides value in ways you cannot anticipate. — Laura Bierwagen
- How did you feel before engaging with the program?
- I did feel an emotional shift. I had been struggling personally with where am I gonna go? I was on crutches for 10 years, and I had horrible autoimmune arthritis and chronic pain and just it was ... It hurt to move at all. — Laura Bierwagen
- What was your motivation for joining the Urban Monk Academy and attending the retreat?
- I wanted to be in the room with Pedram. I have been a member of the Urban Monk Academy for a long time. I know that he is science-based. If he says something, he's got evidence and he knows it. I also wanted to talk to him about Upstream, a program talking about the microbiome. — Laura Bierwagen
- Can 40 Years of Zen help with long-term depression?
- Petra Fuerst recommended the program to a friend with severe depression of over 15 years. She believes the experience can help change old brain pathways and mental blocks that prevent people from getting better or being happy. — Petra Fuerst
- How long do the results from 40 Years of Zen last?
- According to Petra Fuerst, the changes are durable. She notes that she gained absolute confidence during her five-day session and has maintained that state for two and a half years. — Petra Fuerst
- Is 40 Years of Zen effective for social anxiety?
- Yes, Petra Fuerst describes it as a fascinating experience where she arrived with social anxieties and left five days later with total confidence, recommending it as the fastest way to create lasting change. — Petra Fuerst