Yoga Beyond The Studio — Local services in Medicine Lodge

1 Star Review for Yoga Beyond the Studio

I had a disappointing experience with Yoga Beyond the Studio leaving me feeling scammed. I cannot stress enough that when booking this type of trip, you should focus on local hotels and businesses - if you are looking for a package deal I deeply caution working with this specific business. The retreat the owner scammed us all into isn't even listed on her website.

Here are the main issues I encountered:

Lack of transparency: When I requested receipts or documentation for my booking, the business owner refused to provide them. This made it impossible to verify what services I had actually purchased.

Poor communication: There was confusion about whether this was a business transaction or a personal arrangement among friends. The owner gave contradictory information, which led to misunderstandings about refund policies and communication channels. The business owner kept switching between the two depending on how the conversation was approached (e.g., when making the decision to join the friend trip versus when asking for a refund).

Pricing concerns: Based on my research, the prices charged were significantly higher than market rates for similar accommodations and services in the area. While businesses are entitled to set their own prices, I felt the markup was excessive without a clear explanation of added value. For a trip to Belize, if you book through the hotel directly: Blu Zen Caye Caulker Resort you will save yourself a 60% markup. Using a local class you'll be able to pay $250 for a class of 10 and support a local business, saving yourself $550 for a one person/room (full apartment cost = $375/day + $25 per a day for group yoga.)

Refund issues: When circumstances changed and I requested a refund, proof of purchase, receipt, or a way to transfer the booking to someone else, the owner was uncooperative and unprofessional in their response citing that I was not her customer (even though I have transacted through this business) and that I need to speak through the friend group and not directly to her (even though she said this was not a friend trip).

Lack of professionalism: Overall, I found the owner's behavior to be unprofessional, including what I perceived as emotional outbursts when discussing business matters and refusal to provide evidence of booking or a receipt.

I would caution potential customers to carefully research this company prior to transacting with them. My experience left me feeling scammed, misled, and frustrated. Happy to share proof with any...

This is my second retreat with Yoga Beyond the Studio. The first was Belize (March 2020) and the second was Greece (September 2021) and both were absolutely amazing! I chose to travel with Yoga Beyond the Studio and Shayna, the owner, because they make travel easy. Navigating the trip during the Covid pandemic is no easy feat but Yoga Beyond the Studio was incredibly thoughtful and thorough. We were sent the forms for entry into Greece, forms for the ferry, apps to help aid our travel, help with our post trip rides, and securing a doctor to administer our covid tests needed for entry back into the U.S. Yoga Beyond the Studio fosters a demographically diverse, fun, relaxed, and judgement free zone. You honestly leave having created lifelong bonds (and as someone who is incredibly introverted that's saying something 😊). We bonded during AMAZING seven course lunches and dinners, Greek dancing, excursions, and free time. And if bonding isn't your thing, Shayna makes it clear from the start, your trip is about you. You can do or not do whatever you want, and she means it! That kind of recognition allowed many participants to create an experience most aligned with their true nature. Now for the yoga, I am a beginner and will always be a beginner. Shayna and Anna (assistant yoga teacher) presented positions and their modifications. This allowed me to try different yoga positions and develop an experience that was specific to my body and I appreciate that. We also did Yoga Nidra (sleep meditation) and Kundalini Yoga (breathing exercise while holding certain positions). I enjoy experiences outside of my comfort zone because that's where growth happens. I promise you, if you decide to travel with Yoga Beyond the Studio you won't regret it. It was truly life...

This retreat was awesome! It struck an excellent balance between fun and relaxing, well-organized (with plenty of excursions) and flexible, social and introspective.

Retreat organizer, Shayna knows what she’s doing. Every partner she brought onboard to support this experience was fantastic, from the catamaran crews to the resort staff to the folks handling our transportation. She goes the extra mile and adds those nice little touches and surprises to the experience that help it exceed expectations. Her yoga classes (usually in the morning and evening and always optional) are thoughtful and accessible. Shayna herself is a bubbly and charismatic personality.

For this particular retreat, there was a physical therapy component, which was unexpectedly amazing. Dan Lang of Roots PTP held individual assessments and multiple workshops that touched on the entire body. He was personable, knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator.

Overall, this retreat delivered on everything I wanted and then some. The connections I made and the memories I made will last a long time. The question now isn’t if I will go on another retreat with Yoga Beyond The Studio, but when!

EDIT (Dec 2024): led a yoga retreat with Yoga Beyond the Studio and it was incredibly organized and well-run! Everyone came out great...