We often get questions from retreat leaders about what a full experience actually looks like at The Perch. They want to know how groups move through the space, how the property is used across a few days, and how different facilitators shape their time here.

So, we wanted to share a real example.

Below is a snapshot of Shuffle Glow Up Retreat by Kento Moriguchi, a 5-night, 4-day retreat hosted at The Perch at Twin Peaks in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The Retreat

The Shuffle Glow Up Retreat was designed as an annual offering by Kento Moriguchi, a shuffle dance instructor based in Southern California. Shuffle Glow Up didn't actually begin as a retreat.

"It started as a one-month online shuffle intensive," Kento told us. "The biggest thing I noticed wasn't even the dance progress... it was the community that formed."

Students were showing up for one another, holding each other accountable, celebrating wins, and forming friendships that extended well beyond dance.

After co-hosting his first in-person retreat in Hawaii, everything clicked.

"Online is amazing, and weekly classes are amazing, but there's just something different about being together in person,” shared Kento.

The group of 25 (3 instructors and 22 attendees) gathered for a shared experience that balanced programming like master classes and workshops with rest and adventuring around the mountain creating the kind of rest and connection that can’t happen through screens.

As Kento describes it:

“I wanted people to leave feeling like they had returned home to themselves.”

What Kento Was Looking For In a Retreat Venue

When Kento was looking for a retreat venue, he had a few non negotiables to pull off his dream retreat. His top three were:

Space to comfortably host around 30 guests
A dedicated area for dance workshops and instruction
The ability to play music without worrying about constant noise restrictions

Beyond logistics, he wanted participants to feel something the moment they arrived.

“I wanted people to arrive and immediately feel like they were at a home away from home. I wanted them to be able to take a deep breath, relax into their bodies, and just be present. My hope was that once they arrived, they could let go of the stress of everyday life because everything was already taken care of. And if they ever had a question or needed anything, they knew they could always come to the venue staff or me. I really wanted everyone to feel supported from the moment they walked in,” shared Kento.

How the Space Was Used

One of the most helpful ways to understand The Perch is to see how different areas support the rhythm of a retreat:

Cabins → rest, privacy, reflection, decompression
Barn / Cabin 13 → workshops, shared meals, group sessions
Outdoor areas → movement, breaks, informal connection, evening gatherings
Fire pit & fireplaces / deck → integration time, storytelling, closing circles

Rather than a single-use venue, the property functions as a sequence of environments that support different energetic phases of the retreat.

For Kento’s retreat, they leaned heavily on our new deck which served as the dance floor for instruction during master classes while the barn was the location for late night dancing. Meals were cooked & served by The Lettered Shell out of Cabin 13 that also functioned as a hang out space and Cabin 13’s porch was the retreat’s coffee shop courtesy of The Lettered Shell’s Coffee Bar.

“The Perch itself also made my job so much easier. Everything we needed was already there. We had beautiful spaces to dance, comfortable places to relax, incredible food, and enough room for everyone to spread out without every feeling crowded. Because the venue was so well designed and the staff was so supportive, I didn’t have to spend all my energy worrying about logistics. Instead, I was able to focus on what mattered most, which was being fully present with the participants and creating meaningful experiences for them,” said Kento.

Rhythm of the Retreat

While every facilitator designs their own flow, The Shuffle Glow Up moved through a pattern like:

Arrival + grounding + welcome circle
Structured sessions of master classes by Kento & his guest instructors
Open time for rest, exploration, or informal connection
Shared meals as anchors throughout the day
Evening dance sessions at The Barn
Group adventures on the mountain for hikes, visiting shops, & dancing on scenic overlooks

What stood out in this particular retreat was how naturally participants began to self-regulate between engagement and rest—using the cabins and outdoor spaces as extensions of the programming itself.

Why We Share This

We’re sharing this not as a template, but as a reference point for retreat leaders designing their own experiences.

No two retreats at The Perch look the same. The structure is intentionally flexible so facilitators can shape the experience around their content, their group, and their intention.

For Retreat Leaders Considering The Perch

If you’re designing a retreat and trying to imagine how your own programming would live in this kind of environment, we’re happy to walk you through past examples or map out what your version could look like here.

“If I had to describe The Perch in one sentence, I’d say it’s a dream retreat venue, not just because of the beautiful location and everything the property has to offer, but because of the incredible team behind it that’s genuinely invested in helping you bring your vision to life,” shares Kento.

Learn more about Kento’s work here: Learn To Shuffle Dance Online | Shuffle Baby Academy

Reach out for an informational call with our Retreat Director, Laura, by emailing events@theperchattwinpeaks.com.

Inside a Retreat at The Perch: The Glow Up Retreat in Practice