By Putu Maryam, Founder of Floating Leaf Eco Retreat, Bali
What I’m about to share is something most retreat leaders don’t say out loud—but many have felt deep inside. I know I have.
You put everything into creating your retreat. You carefully design the experience. You imagine your guests arriving—open-hearted, ready for healing. You visualize the sacred moments, the deep conversations, the transformations. You know the power of what you’ve created. You can feel it in your bones.
And then… no one signs up.
You open your email hoping to see a booking, and there’s nothing. You post on Instagram, and it barely reaches anyone. The doubt creeps in. The quiet is deafening.
You start asking yourself:
- Did I price it wrong?
- Maybe I’m just not good enough to lead this kind of work.
- What am I missing that others seem to understand?
If this feels familiar, I want you to know: you are not alone. And more importantly—this is not a sign that you’re doing it wrong.
It’s Not About Hustling Harder
There’s a lot of pressure in this space to push. To market more. To offer discounts. To stay visible. And yes, strategy matters—but only if it’s rooted in alignment.
Over the past 12+ years at Floating Leaf, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many retreat leaders from all over the world. The ones who lead the most powerful, memorable, and successful retreats are not always the ones with the biggest audiences or fanciest launch plans. They’re the ones who lead from a place of truth.
They’ve done their own inner work. They’re clear on who they are and why they’re here. And that energy? It’s magnetic.
You Don’t Need to Convince People. You Just Need to Be Fully You.
When your retreat is anchored in your own alignment—when you’re offering something that reflects your essence, your values, and your soul—people feel that. You don’t have to chase them. You don’t have to convince them. They feel the resonance. And they come.
This kind of leadership doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from slowing down and reconnecting to your truth.
I like to call it an energetic initiation. It’s the moment when you stop trying to fit yourself into what you think a “successful” retreat should look like, and instead allow yourself to lead from your wholeness.
That shift changes everything.
Bali Has a Way of Bringing You Back to Yourself
There’s something about this island—something ancient, gentle, and deeply honest. The sacred energy here reflects back to you the parts of yourself you may have forgotten.
Many leaders come to Bali thinking they’re just hosting a retreat. But often, they end up receiving just as much as they give—clarity, confidence, remembrance.
This is the deeper work:
- Clearing the old stories and doubts that keep you playing small
- Reconnecting with the vision that lights you up
- Embodying your presence as a guide and teacher
- Remembering your magic in sacred land that supports transformation
You don’t need to fix yourself. You just need to remember who you really are. And when you lead from that place, your retreat fills with ease. With flow. With the right people—people who are waiting for exactly what only you can offer.
You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone
I created Floating Leaf not just as a beautiful place to host retreats, but as a space where leaders can feel truly supported—logistically, spiritually, and energetically. And now with our sister properties—The Bodhi Leaf Wellness and The Bodhi Farm—we’re able to hold even more kinds of experiences, from private deep-healing journeys to large community retreats in nature.
So if you’re holding the vision of your next retreat, but secretly worried it might not fill… know that it’s okay to feel that. And also know, it doesn’t have to stay that way.
There’s a new way of leading available to you—one that’s rooted in who you truly are, not who you think you need to be.
And we’re here to support you in that.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re feeling the call to co-create something aligned, intentional, and deeply nourishing here in Bali—I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at putu@bali-floatingleaf.com learn more at www.bali-floatingleaf.com
Because your people are already looking for you. All you have to do is show up as you.
With warmth from Bali,
