Connect. ExpLORE. ExpAND.
We learn and grow in reflection with others
Flying Heart Retreats are rooted in yoga, but they are about far more than time on the mat.
Each experience brings together adventurous, open-hearted people who understand the power of traveling in community—how seeing new places and cultures alongside others expands perspective, deepens meaning, and reveals details we might miss on our own.
connect.
explore.
expand.
The group dynamic amplifies the beauty of each destination, creating shared moments that feel richer because they are experienced collectively.
With community as the priority, these retreats honor yoga in its truest sense: not just poses or practices, but union—coming together, connecting deeply, and leaving places, and each other, better than we found them.
A Heart Centered Approach to Group Travel
Flying Heart Retreats began informally over 10 years ago, when founder Willis Johnston hosted his first retreat in México.
What started as a simple gathering has since grown into a global offering, with retreats held around the world and rooted in the intention of cultivating genuine connection and communal joy.
Willis believes that travel and yoga share a similar energetic language—each has the ability to reveal parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there, and to rekindle aspects of our essence that may have gone quiet over time.
Flying Heart Retreats are about more than yoga alone.
Each experience is thoughtfully shaped by its destination, with deep respect for local culture, food, history, and natural beauty, inviting guests into a richer, more expansive way of exploring both the world and themselves.
Flying Heart Retreats has literally been a saving grace for my heart!
While I started yoga as a way to find purpose after loss, I discovered so much more during these all-inclusive retreats…new adventures, yogi friendships, healthy foods, and of course outstanding yoga by a dedicated instructor in the most beautiful settings. I have now followed Willis Johnston to Greece, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Portugal and Iceland. Flying Heart Retreats is my new favorite way to travel around the world!
–Jenn H.
I’ve been on a few Flying Heart Retreats now and they are always an incredible, memorable experience.
Every adventure has something unique to offer. Willis thoughtfully plans each day with a great balance of cultural exploration, yoga, delicious food, and connecting with really wonderful people along the way. I always come home feeling refreshed, filled with great memories, and so grateful I went.
–Janey H.
In 2019, my partner, Debbie, persuaded me to go to Havana with her for my first yoga retreat.
Willis’s infectious happiness quickly assuaged my first-timer’s trepidations through encouragement, adjustments, and his deep knowledge of Yoga. Since Cuba, Debbie and I have been on a dozen Willis retreats. He has introduced us to the Bahía de Banderas, Oaxaca, Tuscany, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Slovenia, providing stunning settings for deep connections with folks of every skill level and background from all over the Americas and Europe. As each retreat nears, we know Willis has joyfully attended to every detail, that every meal will be delicious, that he will masterfully resolve any glitches, and that every day will end in a peace-sharing Namaste.
–John A.
Going on a retreat with Willis is heaven on earth.
He provides high quality yoga classes drawing from many styles, adaptable to varying levels and always connecting body and breath. Beyond this, he shows you beautiful off-the-grid places, nourishes you with local food & adventure experiences, and brings community into it all. I never even dreamed I would get to see, eat, explore and connect with people all around the world as I have. I recommend attending a Flying Heart Retreat with my whole heart. I’ve been on 5 ranging from Mexico to Greece to Slovenia and I hope I can go on many more.
–Katie D.
Retreating with Willis Johnston and Flying Heart Retreats has been one of my greatest joys.
I have had the pleasure of experiencing several retreats with him around the world, and each one has been magical - from the locations, to the food, to the yoga. Willis curates the retreats impeccably, choosing places where I would want to go on vacation and then taking it up a notch by including locally-prepared meals with REAL food of the culture (not typical yoga retreat food), fun excursions, opportunities to relax, and time to connect with great people - many of whom have become my close friends. Most importantly, Willis teaches each class with creativity and uniqueness, allowing yogis of all levels to explore and expand their practices. I look forward to many more retreats with Willis and Flying Heart.
–Karin E.
I allow myself one to two yoga retreats a year, and as long as Flying Heart continues to share retreats, I honestly will only go to them.
They are loving, relaxed, fun, challenging, and always somewhere in the world I would love to experience. Finding Willis is one of the greatest gifts of my life—he is a very special unique individual.
–Louisa D.
Willis’ retreats are an invitation to reconnect with your soul.
Each day blends meaningful yoga practices with curated experiences to explore the beautiful place you’re in. The real gift, though, is the community you’ll find along the way. You’ll leave the retreat with unforgettable memories and incredible connections. Take this as your sign to book!
–Elyse B.
To many, the concept of a yoga retreat seems very straightforward.
A couple practices a day, some meals, making a few new friends, exploring a new place. However, the retreats that Willis has developed are so much more than that – they are a true immersion in the culture and a chance for the soul to heal and grow. The locations themselves are spectacular, each chosen for the way they move you visually and emotionally. The support staff – hosts, chefs, villa assistants – are world class in their pursuit of providing authentic hospitality. One simply could not ask or hope for more.
–Brian H.
It all started 11 years ago when I signed up for my very first yoga retreat with Willis in Tulum.
Eleven years later, I still find myself looking forward to the next adventure and experience he offers. What began as a yoga retreat has evolved into a reunion with fellow travelers from all over the world. Every retreat is thoughtfully planned with comfort in mind. In a nutshell, you wake up in a beautiful place, enjoy breakfast and dinner together, and in between, Willis leads one or two yoga sessions along with an excursion between practices. It’s truly the best combination, and participation is always voluntary.
–Angie G.
