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People often ask how I started leading retreats.

The truth is, it wasn’t part of my business plan. It started in heartbreak.

A few years ago, I lost my business partner unexpectedly. She was a vibrant yoga teacher, health coach, and mom, full of life, laughter, and purpose. Her passing rocked our entire community. It also cracked something open in me.

I suddenly had this gut-deep reminder that life can change, or end, in an instant.
And that realization whispered the words I couldn’t ignore:

Stop waiting.

Stop waiting to live the life you desire and deserve.
Stop waiting to feel good.
Stop waiting to create, to connect, to fill your cup, to take the trip, to do the thing that’s been sitting in the “someday” category for years.

So when a friend invited me on a yoga retreat to Guatemala with a teacher I had never met, I said yes.

I didn’t know it then, but that trip changed everything.

The retreat itself was incredible, daily movement, meditation, lake swims, local food, and deep conversation under stars that felt close enough to touch. But what made it unforgettable were the people. I met the owners of SolSeed Retreats, who believed in creating transformational travel experiences rooted in connection, nature, and growth.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Now we’re about to leave for our second international Power in Practice retreat, this time to the Azores. Last year in Panama, we laughed, we cried, we surfed, we moved, and we left feeling more alive and grounded than we’d felt in years.

And here’s what I’ve learned through it all:
When you change your scenery, you change your state.

You start to see yourself differently.
You remember that life isn’t meant to be managed, it’s meant to be experienced.
You realize that “someday” isn’t coming, but you are here now.

Last week, I wrote about possibility, and how we often build invisible fences around ourselves, deciding what’s realistic or “meant for us.”

Travel, especially retreat travel, smashes those fences wide open.

You never know what doors might open when you say yes to something new.
You never know what connection is waiting to be made, what insight is waiting to arrive, what shift in your body or mind could happen simply by stepping into a different environment with people who lift you up.

That’s the magic of intentional change, not just escaping life, but expanding it.

Sometimes, you just need to see a sunrise from somewhere new to remember who you are.

By the time you read this, I’ll be packing for the Azores, ready for new adventures, connection, and inspiration. I can already feel that spark coming back to life.

I’ll share more from the retreat in next week’s newsletter, but for now, I’ll leave you with this reminder: Life is short. The world is wide. And there’s never going to be a “perfect time.”

Stop waiting.
Start living.
And if you ever need a sign, this is it.

I’ll be sharing daily retreat moments, stories, and behind-the-scenes adventures over on Instagram, follow along @coach_christineb for all the goods.

→ Subscribe to Summit Stronger for next week’s reflections: https://summit-stronger.kit.com

With strength and curiosity,

NBC-HWC | ACSM-CPT

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Mental 🏔️ Peaks: The Science of Change (and Why You Should Stop Waiting)

There’s a reason we feel clearer, lighter, and more alive when we travel or step into a new environment, it’s not just the beach or the mountains talking.

When you change your scenery, your brain literally rewires how it processes information. Neuroscientists call this environmental enrichment, exposing yourself to new sights, smells, textures, and experiences strengthens neural connections and supports cognitive flexibility. (Kempermann et al., Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2010).

In simple terms: new surroundings wake up dormant parts of your mind.

That’s why so many people get their best ideas while hiking, driving, or showering, moments when the brain’s default mode network (DMN) switches on. The DMN is active when we’re relaxed, daydreaming, or reflecting, the mental state linked with creativity and problem-solving. (Immordino-Yang et al., Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2012).

Retreat-style experiences often trigger this same shift: lowered stress, increased mindfulness, and deeper insight. One study on meditation retreats found participants experienced measurable reductions in anxiety and improvements in emotional regulation that lasted for weeks. (Goyal et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2014).

Psychologists have also found that travel and novelty boost mood, empathy, and resilience. In one study, people who engaged in diverse daily experiences showed greater happiness and stronger functional brain connectivity. (Heller et al., Nature Neuroscience, 2020).

Another line of research links exposure to new environments with reduced cortisol (stress hormone) levels and improved creativity. (Berman et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 2012).

So if you’ve been feeling stuck or uninspired, it’s not a lack of discipline, it’s could ne a lack of novelty. Sometimes, your next breakthrough doesn’t come from pushing harder, but from stepping into something new.

Stop Waiting Practice

Before your next training session, workday, or wellness routine, pause for a moment and ask:

“What am I waiting for?”

What trip, dream, or goal have you tucked away under “someday”?

Now, take one small action toward it. Look up that class. Plan that hike. Book the time off. Tell someone your intention.

Because the science says your environment shapes your mind, and your choices shape your environment.

Momentum doesn’t start with clarity. It starts with courage.

And courage, like strength, grows every time you practice it.

Never Stop Learning:

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