Retreats
Solo or With a Friend? How to Decide Who to Bring to Your First Retreat
There’s no wrong answer here, only the one that matches what you’re actually looking for.
In this article
Key takeaways
- Going solo tends to deepen self-reflection and independence; going with a friend tends to deepen shared memory and support.
- Neither choice is “more committed” to the practice, they’re just different doors into the same experience.
- A group retreat setting means you’re never really alone either way, you’re surrounded by fellow practitioners from day one.
- The right choice usually comes down to what you’re seeking right now: space, or connection.
You’ve decided you’re doing this. The only question left is who’s coming with you, if anyone. It’s a bigger decision than it looks. Who you bring (or don’t) shapes the entire texture of the week: how much you talk, how much you sit with your own thoughts, even how deeply you let your guard down.
Why this question matters more than you’d think
A retreat isn’t a sightseeing trip where company mostly changes the conversation. It’s five days of unusually quiet, unusually honest time, and who you spend that with genuinely changes what you get out of it. Neither option is objectively better. They’re just different experiences wearing the same itinerary.
What going solo actually gives you
There’s a reason so many first-time retreat-goers go alone, even people who wouldn’t call themselves “solo travelers” otherwise. Without a familiar face to lean on, you’re pushed toward the group and toward yourself in equal measure, and that combination tends to be where the real shift happens.
Solo travel is consistently associated with a distinct set of psychological benefits: independence, a sense of freedom, and space for real self-reflection, precisely because every decision and every quiet moment is yours alone to sit with. Without a companion filtering the experience through inside jokes and shared history, you also tend to open up faster to the strangers around you, which is often exactly what a retreat is designed to invite.
Quick tip: If you’re nervous about going alone, remember you won’t be alone once you arrive, you’ll be one of a small group sharing meals, practice, and downtime together within hours.
What bringing a friend actually gives you
There’s a different kind of value in going with someone who already knows you. A shared retreat becomes a shared reference point you can return to for years, a private language of “remember that morning at Dunagiri,” that solo trips simply don’t create in the same way. Having a familiar face nearby can also lower the activation energy it takes to walk into something new, especially if this is your very first retreat.
The trade-off is subtle: it’s easier to default to your usual dynamic with a friend rather than stretching into new conversations with strangers, and easier to talk through a feeling instead of just sitting with it. Neither is wrong, it’s simply a different flavour of the same week.
Solo vs. friend, side by side
| Aspect | Going Solo | Bringing a Friend |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Deep self-reflection, a full reset from routine | Shared memories, easing first-time nerves |
| Social pace | Faster bonding with new people in the group | A steady anchor, plus new friendships too |
| What it stretches | Independence and comfort with your own company | Deepening an existing relationship in a new context |
| Common worry | “Will I feel lonely?” (Rarely, in a group retreat) | “Will we just stick to ourselves?” (Worth setting an intention against) |
Either way, you’re not really alone
This is worth saying plainly: a retreat is not the same as a solo trip through an unfamiliar city. You’re joining a small group of people all showing up for the same reason, guided through shared meals, shared practice, and shared stillness from the very first morning. Whether you arrive solo or with a friend, you leave with new people who understand exactly what those five days meant, because they were there too.
“Some of our closest friendships at Rooted started between people who arrived not knowing a single soul. And some of the deepest conversations happen between old friends who’ve never had five uninterrupted days together before. Both are beautiful. Neither is the ‘right’ way to come.” — Anjali Pandey, Founder, Yogaendless
Deciding for Rooted 2.0
If you’re still torn, ask yourself one question: right now, do you want space, or do you want company? Neither answer is wrong, and either way, Rooted 2.0 is built to hold you. Five days in Dunagiri, Uttarakhand, with daily asana, meditation, pranayama, and satvic meals, guided by Anjali Pandey.
Solo, or bringing a friend, either way there’s a spot for you
Rooted 2.0 welcomes both. Early bird pricing is open until 20 August.
Explore Rooted 2.0FAQ
Will I feel out of place going to Rooted 2.0 alone?
No. Many first-time guests arrive solo, and the retreat’s structure, shared meals, group practice, and communal downtime, means you’re rarely on your own unless you choose to be.
Is it a problem if my friend and I stick together the whole time?
Not a problem, but it’s worth setting a small intention to also engage with the wider group, that’s often where some of the most meaningful moments happen.
Can I bring more than one friend?
Yes, groups are welcome. Just know that a larger familiar group can sometimes make it easier to stay in your existing dynamic rather than opening up to new people, so it’s worth being intentional about that too.
I’m anxious about traveling alone. Any tips?
Start by reminding yourself that arrival day is the only truly solo part, from there you’re part of a small group with a shared schedule. Most first-time solo retreat-goers say the nerves fade within the first shared meal.
Does room sharing depend on who I come with?
Accommodation details are covered on the Rooted 2.0 page, reach out directly if you have specific preferences about sharing or privacy.
Here’s a glimpse of what the group dynamic actually looks like:
Yogaendless is an online yoga studio led by Anjali Pandey, offering live group classes, private coaching, on-demand flows, corporate sessions, and retreats, with a physical home at Loft 52, Bandra, for anyone who wants to build strength, flexibility and calm, whatever their starting point.