Wellness retreat with a health condition: talk to us first

Many people who wonder whether they can attend a retreat have a diagnosis, take medication every day, or are recovering from something. That is a reasonable question, and we would rather you ask it before you travel than after.

Our answer is this: having a health condition does not rule you out, and it does not mean you should simply apply, either. In some situations a conversation with us first lets us plan your week safely, and sometimes decide with you that this is not the right time. This page explains which situations those are and how that conversation works.

This guide covers medical suitability only. If you are asking whether the pace, the group and the setting fit your lifestyle, see is a wellness retreat right for you?.

The retreat is a planned break, in person and in a small group, with mobility, meditation and breathwork and nutrition sessions and an assessment with a physician. It is held at a hacienda in Río Grande, Puerto Rico, for 5 days starting November 15, 2026, and the group has 10 places.

It matters here because of what it is not. It is not medical treatment for any condition, it does not replace your primary care doctor or your specialists, it is not rehab or physical therapy, and it is not mental health care. Your own doctor stays in charge of your care. What it does have is a physician on the team: Dra. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a general practitioner licensed in Puerto Rico, does an assessment and may order labs when they are clinically appropriate.

So the useful question is not "will this fix something?" (it does not promise that), but "is it safe and reasonable for me to spend these days in this program?" That is what we review with you.

It is not a formality. There are practical reasons, and we share them so you can decide with confidence.

The retreat is in person, away from home. For 5 days you are in a new place with a different routine, movement sessions and island activities. If your health situation needs close follow-up, frequent monitoring or immediate access to your usual care team, it is better to plan for that before you travel.

Your body may respond differently to a new routine. More movement, changes in schedule and food, heat and travel are changes that, for some people at some times, call for more care. That is not a reason to stay home; it is a reason to plan.

A small group lets us plan with you, but it does not replace your medical team. In a small group we can adapt the pace and the sessions, but we cannot offer continuous medical monitoring or treat your condition. Better to know that up front.

And sometimes the most sensible choice is to wait for a later group. We would rather say so plainly before you reserve than after.

The process is simple and designed so that no important conversation goes unheld.

1. You talk to us, if it applies. If you recognize yourself in any of the situations above, write or call before you apply. You do not need to have every answer first.

2. You apply online. The application includes questions about your health history: diagnoses, medications, surgeries, allergies and anything else you think we should know. Be thorough; the information is there to look after you, not to judge you.

3. Dra. Nieves reviews your history. If needed she will ask follow-up questions or ask to talk before your application is accepted. She may suggest you speak with your own doctor first.

4. If you are accepted, you reserve with a deposit. Only then is your place reserved.

A deposit reserves your place. The amount and terms are confirmed in your acceptance email.

Applications close November 5, 2026, so if you have health questions, it is best to write to us early.

You do not need a full medical file. This helps:

If you have a diagnosed condition, your doctor or specialist knows your history best. Before you apply, it is a good idea to tell them you are considering a multi-day program with movement, changes in food and travel, and ask whether they have any guidance for you.

Do not change or stop any medication on your own because you are attending a retreat. Any adjustment is for your doctor to decide, not a wellness program. If you will be traveling with medication, see traveling with medications.

To understand what the physician does at the retreat and what she does not, see medical wellness retreat and the physician visit and labs.

Some health questions come up again and again. These guides explain what the retreat looks like from those starting points, always with the same limit: it is education and habits, not treatment.