Team retreats were supposed to be a break from the daily grind.
Instead, many feel like your calendar got dressed up and went on vacation without you.
If your “retreat” includes more icebreakers than actual breaks, we’ve got a problem.
Lara Cevoli, our very own spa director here at Equinox, sees this problem all the time, and she’s doing something about it.
“People may feel more drained after a retreat due to scheduling,” she explains. “They have this activity, they have that activity. Instead of feeling free, it ends up feeling like work.”
Let’s talk about what’s broken and how we’re fixing it.
Retreats That Feel Like Meetings in Disguise
We all know the type: every minute accounted for, from “sunrise mindfulness” to “post-dinner networking.”
The result? A carefully curated form of stress.
Lara hits the nail on the head when she says, “They might feel pressured to stick to a schedule… instead of walking away with more energy.”
The whole idea of a retreat is to recharge, not run a gauntlet of activities disguised as self-care.
The irony? Many people feel more rejuvenated after a solo trip to the spa than an entire corporate retreat.
So if tight agendas, overbooked days, and constant groupthink are the norm, no wonder people return feeling like they need a vacation from their retreat.
Structure Kills Serenity
“Instead of having set times to do everything, having more free time… might affect how people walk away with more energy,” says Lara. And she’s right.
Traditional retreat planning often forgets that not everyone recharges the same way. For some, it’s a yoga class. For others, it’s doing absolutely nothing under the sun. Micromanaging how people should “relax” turns the experience into another to-do list and robs them of the actual benefits.
And don’t get us started on “team-building activities” that force introverts into awkward scavenger hunts or brainstorming sessions in a windowless room while the mountains beckon outside.
The Equinox Model Gives You Permission to Unplug
Lara and her team at Equinox have an antidote: freedom disguised as luxury. “We want people to feel very invited and welcomed here at our spa,” she says. “You can just sit outside on our patio for the day and enjoy the sun.”
Here’s how Equinox flips the script:
- No Set Pool Times: You want to float at 11 AM and nap by the hot tub at noon? Go for it.
- Optional Activities: Fitness and yoga classes, massages, facials, or… nothing at all. No pressure, just choices.
- Spa-Side Workspaces: “They can sit outside, open up their laptop, and do their meeting,” Lara shares. Turns out, brainstorming by the pool beats breakout rooms.
One standout option is a private group CBD mud mask session—an hour and a half of massage and salt exfoliation with not a single slide deck in sight.
And it’s not just the spa services—it’s the whole setting. Surrounded by Vermont’s natural beauty, groups can hike, breathe, and not be rushed.
Transformation That Lasts Longer Than the Tan
The results speak for themselves. “We’ve seen guests come in totally stressed… and after just a 50-minute service, they’re completely different,” Lara says. “Full groups of 20 people book services on a Thursday and write reviews about how amazing the experience was.”
Imagine your most tightly wound team member walking out of a facial looking like they’ve been on sabbatical. That’s the kind of transformation Equinox aims for–not just a change of scenery, but a reset that sticks.
Your Retreat Should Feel Like a Retreat
Here’s the truth: The most effective team retreats don’t feel like another workweek. They feel like a collective exhale.
If your goal is to boost morale, spark creativity, or just show your team you value their well-being, ditch the rigid schedule. Give them a hammock, a facial, and the space to just be.
As Lara puts it, “People really do enjoy coming to our spa and can unwind within just 50
It turns out the fastest way to achieve team synergy might just be in the steam room.
Ready to plan a retreat that actually feels like one?
Let’s trade icebreakers for hot stones. Reach out here and we’ll help you design the most restorative off-site your team has ever had.