REAL stories from REAL people

I've traveled all over the world, but this experience is easily in my top 5 favorite trips. Cape Town was incredible, but it was infinitely better because of the thorough planning and seamless execution of every event Grown Strong Retreats put together. Remarkable excursions, delicious food, and new friends-for-life. I will forever cherish the memories from this retreat! I promise, you will not regret joining one for yourself.

All the Grown Strong retreats I have been on are INCREDIBLE! They keep getting better and better! If you love to have busy travel days full of adventure, amazing food, great workouts, making friends, taking pictures and living life to the fullest, this is for you! You will become addicted and never want to stop! Cannot speak highly enough about these great experiences! I love how we have different accommodations and choices for the workouts bc I am a master scaler so it's great for me to get 1% better. Thank you!

Cape Town was nothing short of exceptional. This was my first Retreat and I enjoyed it so much I booked another as soon as I got back home! Lauren and Ras are truly invested in this venture and will go out of their way to make sure everyone has a great time. Everything is thought out, organized, planned and the group on the tour were amazing. Our guest coach Baylee, was equally fantastic and a credit to the Grown Strong team! I highly recommend joining a Retreat and am already looking forward to my next one!

Amazing experience. Everything was thoughtfully planned. Even if plan A had to be scrapped or was tentative, a beat wasn't missed and plan B was equally planned. Lauren and Ras put so much attention to detail and are very personable. The others on the trip as well. Everyone's very encouraging and fun to be around. This trip was just what I needed. I am excited to see what other trips I will go on with them.

I have currently been on 3 trips with Lauren and Ras and every time I am blown away how they made the experience better than the last. Lauren and Ras have built a great community with great people who make the whole trip amazing.

If you are lucky enough to book a retreat please make the most out of every event and day. It is absolutely amazing how fast the week goes by and at the end I always find myself wishing it lasted longer.

If you want to live a colorful life, just say yes! I've been on 5 different continents with Lauren and my son Ras, and those experiences have added so much color to my life. The itineraries on each retreat have been jam packed with a variety of experiences to really take advantage of the unique locations and leave you truly fulfilled. I have like 37 posts on my instagram of my experiences from all these retreats and probably like only 2 from my wedding (which Ras came to because family).

I love the idea of flying to a unique location and just having the GrownStrong team take care of the rest. Food is never an issue unless you hate abundance and delicious things. I've jumped off cliffs in Portugal, attempted to feed lions hard boiled eggs, danced the night away in Bali‚ and all with friends that I can't wait to see on future retreats. Lauren and Ras really have a passion for travel and I am so lucky to see it first hand. I can't stress it enough how varied the activities are in addition to there being time to let you flex in the gym. I have hit 2 PRs during these retreats and my muscles are expanding as fast as my traveling experiences with this crew. I really wish I could write more but Chelsea is really pressuring me to unpack from this Cape Town retreat and I'm not trying to make her upset. She is so beautiful. I'll probably write more after the next retreat.

Last GS retreat PR: 308 back squat

Cape Town truly has it all! Incredible natural beauty, rich history, diverse culture, and amazing food (a food lovers dream 🤩) Grown Strong you really did it well! 👏🏼 We hiked Lion’s Head to watch the sunrise, went on a Safari 🦁, saw some stunning beaches (including Boulders Beach where all the cute penguins were) there truly was no shortage of memorable experiences 🌄. Lauren and Ras welcome you with open arms. You’ll definitely leave this retreat with cherished memories and a desire to return to see all the new friends you’ve made. If you're looking for an adventure that combines relaxation, culture, and breathtaking scenery, ☀️ Cape Town should be at the top of your list! But if you want an unforgettable experience…Grown Strong Retreats is the only way to go! 💪🏼🩵

Thailand was amazing! And I'm glad I got to experience it with Grown Strong Retreats! have been on 6 retreats and there's a reason I keep coming back. All the the details are taken care of- from the moment you land up until the moment you start your journey back home. You just have to show up. :) You meet a great group of people and share unforgettable adventures, yummy food, fun workouts, and all the laughs in one jam packed week. Sign up! You won't regret it!

Grown Strong Retreats has truly been a life changing experience. I have travelled to some of the most beautiful places in this world and have met the most genuine and greatest of friends. Lauren and Ras put so much thought and care into every retreat and their passion for fitness and fun makes the experience so bright. Every experience is so unique in its own way. The fitness coaching is next level care and scalable for any fitness level. The views and food are amazing and I look forward to future travels with Grown Strong! I am grateful for these experiences

Attending the GrownStrong Retreat in Thailand was a life-changing experience! As someone who loves fitness and seeks adventure, this retreat was a dream come true. The combination of daily workouts in stunning locations and the opportunity to unwind and explore Thailand was simply perfect.

Rasmus and Lauren are the ultimate hosts. Their authenticity and overall awesomeness make every moment special. They create an environment where everyone feels welcomed and motivated.

The food was out of this world, with the team ensuring we were well-fed and hydrated throughout the retreat. Each meal was a delightful experience, adding to the overall enjoyment.

One of the highlights was the local tour guides. Their knowledge and helpfulness enhanced our excursions, making them educational and enjoyable. They truly made us feel connected to the culture and beauty of Thailand.

I've met incredible people on these retreats, forging friendships with fellow fitness enthusiasts. It's the sense of community and shared passion that keeps me coming back for more. Highly recommend!

An unforgettable trip! You really should experience a Grown Strong retreat for yourself! From the workouts, to the dinners, to the amazing views and people, there's no way you won't get the most of all it has to offer. Come with an open heart and enjoy the journey getting to meet people & build lifelong friendships! You won't regret it.

If you're unsure about booking, just book it and trust me you won't regret it! Bali was one of the best weeks ever and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I met so many amazing and likeminded people, built friendships with people from opposite sides of the world that will continue beyond the trip and couldn't have had a more enjoyable time. Lauren & Ras created an unforgettable 8 days for Bali and I could not recommend it highly enough.

Grown Strong Retreats are some of the best trips I have ever been on, but even more, I have met some of my most dear friends on these trips. From Portugal, Barcelona, Bali, Nicaragua, and Denmark, no stone is ever left uncovered during these adventures. The food is amazing, the sites are glorious, and, of course, the workouts are exhilarating (and accessible to everyone)! I plan to go on many more of these retreats with my friends, and to meet even more interesting and inspiring people from all over the world!

Best retreat ever! This was my first retreat and certainly not my last! I was beyond impressed how well everything we was organized and planned. Everything from airport pick up/drop off, lodging, meals, activities, and transportation was taken care of. It really made the trip so easy to enjoy. Best of all were the people, such an amazing group of people to eat, explore and do fitness together. Loved everything about this trip!

Hands down one of the best experiences of my life! I have traveled alone to many different places in the world, but your retreat by far exceeded anything else! I would have to say friendships I made so quickly made my trip! Oh the fitness, food, adventure and biking Copenhagen was awesome too! I feel Ras taking us to his hometown, his brother and family making us dinner on the beach, then opening up their home to us was amazing and special. Thank you for these core memories! Mahalo Lauren and Ras

Denmark was my first retreat and first time travelling alone. Firstly the organisation of the airport collections was great. Always communicated, checking in throughout the day for any delays. For someone unsure of solo travel these retreats would be a great way to start.

Each activity was planned and delivered so well and the variety was brilliant. Really something for everyone.

Guest coaches Chyna and Feddy were great and it was a great experience to train and learn from them as well as from Lauren.

I would highly recommend these trip and i'm already looking into a 2nd.

Thank you Lauren and Ras

This was our third Grown Strong retreat and I can't say enough amazing things about these trips. Rancho Santana in Nicaragua was breathtaking and we had a blast. It was a great balance of relaxation and adventure. As fun as it is to explore new places and cultures, the friendships we make on these trips are the best part. I know that sounds cheesy but it's so true. This past year, we went to two weddings of friends we've made over the years on these trips. Lauren, Ras and Rachel work so hard to give us all a special experience and also to help us get to know each other as well as them. It's a cool bond I can't explain, you just have to go for yourself to find out!

This trip was simply amazing! From the warm welcome at the airport I knew this experience was going to be epic. The itinerary was non-stop action packed and executed very well. From site seeing in the city, beach day activities, all the food and wine tasting!! Left this trip with 20+ new friends who all love the same things. Food, adventure and fitness!
I will certainly be back for the next one!

This was one of the most well thought out and well planned group trips I have ever been on. Every activity and meal was top notch, along with the gym and workout environment, and location of Barcelona, Spain. Lauren and Rasmus ensure each participant is included and well cared for in every activity. Truly one of the best trips I have ever been on. I am so grateful I put my trust in Lauren and Rasmus! And you just can't beat being trained by the best! Worth every penny!!

I've been on every retreat that Lauren and Ras have hosted and there's a reason I keep coming back. They have consistently delivered incredible, once in a lifetime experiences. I've made some fantastic friends on these retreats from all over the world. And it's also awesome to get a chance to work out and learn from such incredible athletes. I'm going to keep coming on these retreats for as long as possible!

Great experience, great people. The planning was impeccable, the execution was even better. Lauren and Rasmus are very personable with great attitudes. The whole Grown Strong team is fully invested in each participants enjoyment and growth. I would/do recommend joining a retreat with these amazing people.

Looking forward to signing up for another retreat in the near future.

The retreat was marvelous, I enjoyed every minute of it. The hotel was beautiful, the food and events organized amazing. All the participants of the group were friendly and fun to hang out with. The coaches and Organisation were flawless

Portugal was a dream! Truly had nonstop fun and made so many lifelong memories and friends. Meeting so many like-minded people who enjoy fitness while vacationing was the best part. The Grown Strong team did an amazing job and had everything perfectly organized for a smooth and fun-filled week including daily workouts, incredible activities, and delicious food. Couldn't be happier with my time spent with Lauren and Ras and their team. Obrigada!

Our trip to Portugal was postponed due to COVID, but it was definitely worth the wait! It was a week full of great company, fun workouts, delicious food, and many memories made. I highly recommend attending their fitness retreats! It will be an experience you won't forget!

I've been on three retreats so far and I want to keep coming back!

Lauren and Rasmus are so fun to travel with, and having all the activities and food and transportation planned makes it really easy to relax and enjoy. It's a perfect blend of fitness and exploring a new country. And I always leave so grateful for people I've met and the experiences we've shared. 10/10 would recommend :)

Amazing experience, Only buy olive oil extra virgin and in a dark bottle.

Make bread with grandma any chance you get.

Wine is served best with bread, while swimming In an elegant pool and sharing with good friends .

Crossfit is hard no matter where you do it.

Sometimes you have to drive a ways - to experience beauty.

Working out on the beach during sunrise is magnificent.

The End of the World is a pretty amazing place.

Take a deep breath, look around an enjoy God's beauty.

Time of my life! I signed up for this retreat not knowing anyone or what to expect. I left with countless memories, life long friends, unique experiences, and several new fitness/lifting tips. This trip fueled my soul- can't wait for the next one!

This was our second Grown Strong retreat and it was absolutely incredible! The first trip we did to Portugal was amazing and Barcelona was even better. It's so great having food, excursions and transportation all planned for you- makes for an effortless way to explore new places! It's also so special how strangers from all around the world with one thing in common - crossfit/fitness- can come together and grow so close in such a short period of time! We can't wait until next year to see some old friends and continue to make new ones!