We Survived The Challenge Retreat: Why Pushing Limits Is the Ultimate Growth Tool
What happens when you combine physical challenges with emotional growth on a 700-acre ranch in Northern California? Nikki and Chris, hosts of the Emotional Badass podcast, discovered the answer when trauma, grief, and exhaustion nearly kept them from attending The Challenge Retreat.
Just weeks before the retreat, Chris lost his father. The couple faced mounting stress from funeral arrangements, travel demands, and maintaining their production schedule. Despite having every reason to cancel, Nikki and Chris decided to follow through with their commitment to Emily Schromm's wellness retreat.
This decision proved transformative. The Challenge Retreat offers an experience that pushes participants beyond their perceived limitations while creating profound personal breakthroughs. Participants discover strengths within themselves that surprise even their closest companions.
The Challenge Retreat: More Than Physical Fitness
Emily Schromm, former MTV Challenge cast member, created The Challenge Retreat to merge wellness with physical challenges. The retreat takes place at Teravana, a stunning ranch north of San Francisco where participants engage in multi-day competitions designed to test both physical and mental capabilities.
Chris admits he had never watched The Challenge TV show and had no idea what to expect. "I am not an athlete by any stretch," Chris explains, describing how he spent the entire retreat "sucking in his gut." Despite his athletic insecurities, the retreat welcomed participants of all fitness levels.
The ranch itself feels like paradise. Nikki describes walking through gardens where ripe plums and apples hang within reach, ready to eat. Longhorn cattle roam the property while three horses, including an unexpected foal, graze nearby. Everything served at meals comes locally—eggs from on-site chickens, beef from the roaming cattle, and vegetables from extensive gardens.
The Challenge Retreat format includes daily meditation sessions at a temple area, organic farm-to-table meals, and optional workshops alongside the main competition elements. This holistic approach combines physical exertion with emotional healing and community building.
Emily Schromm's Vision: Creating Safe Spaces for Growth
Emily Schromm hand-selected event coordinator to ensure a positive group dynamic. Her approach emphasizes emotional intelligence and mutual support over aggressive competition. The retreat features ten former MTV Challenge cast members who serve as mentors and cheerleaders rather than intimidating competitors.
Nikki initially worried about encountering Hollywood egos. Instead, the Challenge veterans expressed genuine excitement about having participants who knew nothing about the show. "We wanted some people to be here who had no idea," they told Nikki and Chris. "That makes it even more fun."
The carefully curated environment allows participants to take risks without fear of judgment. Nikki found immediate relief when her teammates took charge of communication and coordination—roles she usually fills in her therapy practice. For once, others created space for her to simply participate rather than facilitate.
Pushing Physical Boundaries at The Challenge Retreat
The first challenge caught everyone off guard. After a nature walk down a steep hill, Emily Schromm surprised the group by announcing they would race back up for prizes. The first six finishers would receive her specially designed travel packs.
Chris describes the mental shift from casual walk to competitive race. "When you're racing and you feel that adrenaline, you're going uphill, and I am not a runner," Chris recalls. The hill felt endless, but emergency medical staff positioned every thousand feet provided safety and encouragement.
Team formation happened through this initial race. The fastest six became team captains, then subsequent finishers joined teams in rotation. This system created balanced groups where athletic ability was distributed evenly. Chris landed on Team Green while Nikki joined Team Purple.
The retreat's challenges range from uphill running competitions to complex multi-stage obstacles that test endurance, strength, and problem-solving abilities. Each challenge incorporates both physical and mental components, ensuring that various strengths contribute to success. Chris found his puzzle-solving skills helped compensate for his limited athletic ability.
Mental Health Benefits of Challenging Physical Experiences
The most surprising outcome came during the final challenge. Chris, despite his self-proclaimed non-athlete status, finished fourth overall out of 45 participants. "I had no business coming in fourth place," Chris admits. "There were people with abs. I don't know how this happened."
This achievement became life-changing for Chris, especially coming so soon after his father's death. The experience proved he could handle far more than he believed possible. "I did things that I'd never thought I'd be able to do," Chris reflects. "It made me realize that there is almost nothing I can't do if I try hard and grind."
Stepping outside comfort zones through physical challenges creates lasting psychological benefits. The retreat experience builds confidence by proving that perceived limitations often exist only in the mind. Participants report feeling stronger and more capable in all areas of life after completion.
The group setting provides additional mental health benefits through community support and shared achievement. Nikki found healing for childhood wounds around physical activities and gym class awkwardness. The supportive environment replaced negative associations with positive memories of capability and belonging.
Building Authentic Connections Through Shared Challenge
The Challenge Retreat creates genuine friendships through shared vulnerability and mutual support. Nikki and Chris met Tracy, a beekeeper from Colorado who runs Boom Life, creating salves and oils from bee products. This connection will likely lead to future podcast collaborations and potential beehive installation on their property.
The non-competitive atmosphere prevents the cliquey dynamics often found at group events. Every meal becomes an opportunity to connect with someone new. "Hey, do you want to sit by me? I haven't had a chance to talk to you yet," became the standard greeting, healing old cafeteria anxieties.
Many attendees are entrepreneurs and creatives who understand the importance of pursuing passion projects. About a quarter of participants came from Colorado and Denver, creating unexpected local connections for Nikki and Chris. Emily Schromm's background running a Denver gym explains this geographic concentration.
Nikki describes the emotional impact: "It restored my heart in ways I didn't know that I needed." The retreat created a space where being highly sensitive felt like an asset rather than a burden. When anyone teared up, the response was simply "go ahead and cry" rather than discomfort or judgment.
Horse Therapy and Alternative Healing at The Challenge Retreat
Nikki signed up for horse therapy as one of the optional workshops, unsure whether it meant therapy for humans or horses. The session involved energy work and bodywork with rescue horses who had experienced trauma and abuse.
Working with a gray gelding, Nikki learned to manage her energy and set boundaries with the pushy but passive horse. The trainer explained that his pushiness came from needing clear boundaries - a concept familiar to Nikki from her therapy work with highly sensitive clients.
"I could watch him taking me in," Nikki describes. "I was watching this horse discern about me." The horse's initial assessment reminded her of how highly sensitive people evaluate safety in new situations. Once trust was established, the horse welcomed touch and bodywork.
Nikki found sore spots on the horse's body, which the trainer confirmed matched known injury sites. Providing muscular release work created a reciprocal healing experience. The horse would yawn and turn his face toward Nikki as thanks for finding the right spots.
The experience inspired Nikki's vision for future land ownership and retreat hosting. Her vision board from the retreat includes donkeys - animals she wants to work with in future healing practices. The combination of large animal energy work and highly sensitive facilitation feels like a natural evolution of her current practice.
The Challenge Retreat Experience: What to Expect
Daily schedules at The Challenge Retreat balance structure with flexibility. Mornings begin with group meditation followed by organic breakfast and team challenges. Afternoons offer downtime, optional workshops, or rest periods before evening wellness activities like sound healing and cacao ceremonies.
Nikki and Chris chose a camper van for accommodation, seeking private space for decompression. While the van proved challenging with low ceilings and cramped quarters, it provided necessary alone time between group activities. Other accommodation options include the main house, eco pods, and group areas.
The retreat includes professional photographers who capture experiences without being intrusive. Emergency medical personnel remain on-site throughout all activities, ensuring participant safety while pushing boundaries. Staff members with walkie-talkies position themselves along challenge routes to provide support and communication.
Kitchen staff present each meal with stories about ingredient sources—which part of the property provided each component. The staff sings to participants and facilitates gratitude practices before eating. This attention to nourishment extends beyond physical food to emotional and spiritual feeding.
Good for the Soul Segment: Investment Strategies: Growing Beyond Financial Comfort Zones
Chris has been diving deep into investment education as part of his personal growth journey. Growing up in a household where money fights dominated conversations created limiting beliefs about wealth and scarcity that he's now working to heal.
"Money is kind of a form of energy," Chris explains. "You can make more money. You can make less money. It's not like you just snap your fingers and be rich, but because of the arguments I used to hear in my house, I definitely needed to work on my mental relationship with money."
Learning about balance sheets, company fundamentals, and investment strategies has become genuinely enjoyable for Chris. As entrepreneurs, understanding how businesses work feels natural. The education process demystifies wealth building and challenges the notion that investing is only for certain types of people.
Chris emphasizes that investment knowledge is accessible through online resources, YouTube videos, and popular books. The key involves starting small and building knowledge progressively. Their first property purchase was a tiny 410-square-foot studio apartment in Denver, which they used as a stepping stone to larger properties.
Many people avoid investment education due to limiting beliefs about who deserves wealth or who can understand financial concepts. These mental barriers prevent individuals from building security and creating choices in their lives. Money represents freedom, peace, experiences, and reduced stress rather than just material accumulation.
Dear Internet Segment: Processing Difficult Relationships, The Cat Allergy Dilemma
Real-life challenges often involve negotiating conflicting needs in relationships. Chris and Nikki faced their own version of this when they had to rehome Chris's cat due to behavioral issues rather than allergies. The cat, described as a "mega diva," harassed other pets and interrupted conversations with constant screaming.
The decision proved beneficial for everyone involved. The cat immediately settled into her new home with Chris's friend, becoming queen of the household and bonding with the resident cat. This experience taught them that sometimes the most loving choice involves difficult decisions that serve everyone's highest good.
The Reddit situation they discuss involves a 34-year-old man with cat allergies engaged to a woman with four cats. The man hoped his fiancée would rehome the cats after their engagement, creating a crisis when renovation dust triggered a severe allergic reaction.
Successful relationships involve multiple negotiations and compromises from both parties. Trial periods allow couples to test solutions before making permanent decisions. Air purification systems, separate sleeping areas, and increased cleaning can address some allergy concerns.
The key involves both partners clearly identifying their absolute boundaries versus areas where compromise is possible. Four cats represents significant dander exposure that might require creative solutions like multiple air purifiers, frequent professional cleaning, or even separate living spaces.
Taking Action: Your Next Steps Toward Growth
Personal growth requires stepping outside familiar patterns and taking calculated risks. Nikki encourages listeners to pay attention to what's "tickling your fancy" or nudging you toward new challenges. Whether joining a retreat like The Challenge Retreat, trying a storytelling competition, or addressing relationship conflicts, growth demands action despite discomfort.
Chris's experience proves that physical challenges can reveal hidden capabilities. "I guarantee you, you will be pleasantly surprised after you get through the painful part," he promises. The pain of growth leads to expanded self-concept and increased confidence in all life areas.
Nikki emphasizes the importance of experiencing before planning. As a highly sensitive person, she needs to feel environments and approaches before designing her own offerings. This experiential learning style allows for authentic creation rather than copying others' approaches.
The couple plans to use their Challenge Retreat experience to design their own retreat offerings within the next year or two. Their vision includes combining emotional healing work with physical challenges in a format that serves highly sensitive people and trauma survivors.
Emily Schromm continues to offer The Challenge Retreat experiences multiple times per year. Visit her website at emilyschromm.com to learn about upcoming opportunities and determine if this type of challenge aligns with your growth goals. Remember that transformation happens through action, not just intention.
Episode Tags
- ADD 1
- Abuse 16
- Alcohol 3
- Anger 9
- Bullying 5
- Childhood 37
- Codependency 10
- Covid 4
- Crystal Catalina 4
- Depression 15
- Detachment 2
- Disassociation 4
- Emotions 75
- Existentialism 2
- Faith 1
- Family 28
- Fatigue 4
- Focus 3
- Gratitude 11
- Grief 13
- Guilt 2
- Healers 7
- Healing 52
- High Sensation 4
- Hope 1
- Hypervigilance 7
- Introverts 6
- Lonliness 7
- Love 3
- Manifesting 5
- Manipulation 19
- Masculinity 1
- Men 1
- Mindfulness 38
- Money 10
- Music 3
- Nutrition 2
- Overthinking 8
- PTSD 11
- Parenting 12
- People Pleasing 8
- Perfectionism 6
- Pets 4
- Relationships 19
- Resiliency 14
- Sadness 1
- Self Esteem 17
- Self Love 11
- Self Respect 1
- Self-Care 26
Episode Tags
- ADD 1
- Abuse 16
- Alcohol 3
- Anger 9
- Bullying 5
- Childhood 37
- Codependency 10
- Covid 4
- Crystal Catalina 4
- Depression 15
- Detachment 2
- Disassociation 4
- Emotions 75
- Existentialism 2
- Faith 1
- Family 28
- Fatigue 4
- Focus 3
- Gratitude 11
- Grief 13
- Guilt 2
- Healers 7
- Healing 52
- High Sensation 4
- Hope 1
- Hypervigilance 7
- Introverts 6
- Lonliness 7
- Love 3
- Manifesting 5
- Manipulation 19
- Masculinity 1
- Men 1
- Mindfulness 38
- Money 10
- Music 3
- Nutrition 2
- Overthinking 8
- PTSD 11
- Parenting 12
- People Pleasing 8
- Perfectionism 6
- Pets 4
- Relationships 19
- Resiliency 14
- Sadness 1
- Self Esteem 17
- Self Love 11
- Self Respect 1
- Self-Care 26
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