Testimonials
Here is what some of our retreat participants are saying about their experience:
Sharon
"Life-changing event. I do one-on-one coaching with Amy and I have also attended a group retreat. I am so grateful I found Luminaries Retreat and can now say I am a recovered food addict"
Jackie
"After spending 5 weeks on my retreat I have acquired all the tools I need to succeed at home. Pants sizes keep dropping and more importantly I have found freedom from sugar addiction and a candida overgrowth. Thank you for the experience of a lifetime Amy & Luminaries staff"
Torre
I had a fabulous time at the retreat and learned a lot. I am very happy I met you, Amy. You are a genuinely caring person and whether you know it or not you are very inspiring. THANK YOU for everything! I have ordered the Garden of Life Raw Meal and also the amazing grass sampler and I am excited to incorporate these items into my routine.
Carol
“I went on the Ladies retreat and found it to be extremely helpful and it has given me a lot to think about. Great group of ladies and I hope to do one-on-one coaching in the future to help me continue on in my goals.
Mark
"My wife and I went to a Luminaries Retreat and we could have never predicted the amazing benefits to our health and wellness. This ministry does more than simply encourage you to eat well and exercise. Amy taught us about the way God designed our bodies to work and how to eat in order to achieve maximum potential with the bodies were given to steward. We were given meal plans, taught how to make them, taught the benefits of certain foods, and revealed some secrets about food that we wouldn’t have otherwise known. Also, we were not simply encouraged to exercise; we were taught how to exercise. We actually did the exercises and were challenged physically. We weren’t pushed beyond our abilities, as we were able to choose the degree of difficulty for our exercises. The retreat taught us, challenged us, encouraged us and has moved us into a healthier way of living so to maximize God’s potential in our lives. As a pastor, I need this and am thankful for Luminaries showing me the way."
Mark
"My wife and I went to a Luminaries Retreat and we could have never predicted the amazing benefits to our health and wellness. This ministry does more than simply encourage you to eat well and exercise. Amy taught us about the way God designed our bodies to work and how to eat in order to achieve maximum potential with the bodies were given to steward. We were given meal plans, taught how to make them, taught the benefits of certain foods, and revealed some secrets about food that we wouldn’t have otherwise known. Also, we were not simply encouraged to exercise; we were taught how to exercise. We actually did the exercises and were challenged physically. We weren’t pushed beyond our abilities, as we were able to choose the degree of difficulty for our exercises. The retreat taught us, challenged us, encouraged us and has moved us into a healthier way of living so to maximize God’s potential in our lives. As a pastor, I need this and am thankful for Luminaries showing me the way."
Barbara
"When my ‘fat pants’ are tight, I know I am in a bad place, because my fat pants are, normally, extremely forgiving.
I knew I had to do something.
But inside, there was so much chatter: I don’t have the heart, the will, the stamina, the desire. I mean, what’s the use? I’ve been there, done that, watched the video. And look at me now. Fat, fretful, and in a fog. Lord, I prayed, I need a spark.
Enter Luminaries. Enter Amy Sotis and her wonderful January Wellness Challenge, which provided not a spark, but a bonfire of wellness as healthy living was examined from many angles, from every angle.
If a personal journey story doesn't provide inspiration necessary, perhaps Dr. Sotis' talk on obesity will motivate you. Or maybe you need to hear an explanation of why everyone must exercise and how to start. Or basic education on what to eat and why, or practical tips on how. How about a healthy meal demo? We can do that, too. This program offered it all, offered it with a smile, offered it with compassion, generosity, and grace.
There were challenges and chats, lessons and lifestyles to learn from. I attended as many of the sessions as I could. I was always blessed, coming away from each with a nugget (or sometimes a sackful) of truth to ponder and apply.
Running like a thread through it all was an underlying theme: the reminder and truth that Jesus cares and helps and sustains.
A flame glows within. Thank you."
Janita
"So I did measurements today....drum roll....I have lost 29 inches since I started a few weeks ago. And still no sugar and I'm feeling great. I would love to continue to do this - my scale says I have lost more as well. God has given me grace and now it is time for me to be healthy. Weighing in once a month or every two months will be best for me. Thank you, Amy for using the tools that God has directed you help make me a happier, healthier, mom for myself and my family! This is my lifestyle and the way I choose to be. I will be successful - help hold me accountable.
Ruth
I can’t say enough good things about Amy Sotis and Luminaries Retreat. For those of you who haven’t read her blog posts, Amy’s basic belief is that God has designed our physical bodies to house our spirits and our souls; treating our bodies with respect—by feeding them with nutrient-dense, delicious foods and strengthening them with exercise—is both honoring to God and a reflection of his love for us. Neglecting our bodies robs us of the vigor we need to be able to live our lives wholly and prevents us from serving God and others in the way we were created to serve.
How you treat yourself spiritually and physically is up to you, and any weight loss program can only do so much. Nevertheless, Luminaries Retreat provides a structure that makes success probable, so it’s a great place to start or renew a healthy lifestyle. Amy buys nourishing foods and brings kind, thoughtful people in to cook them! She schedules gym time, outdoor exercise, and a huge variety of ways to get moving so that everyone can find something they love to do. She teaches lessons based on sound Biblical truth and nutritional coaching. If you are thinking of changing your lifestyle, the structure of Luminaries Retreat is a perfect place to start.
All of the staff and volunteers that Amy brings in to work with guests are united in one thing: unqualified encouragement. From the volunteers who cook to the doctor who teaches seminars from a medical perspective to the guest speakers, workout friends and fitness trainers, not once was I made to feel ashamed for how I looked or how out of shape I had let myself become. Everyone had this sensible attitude of, “You’re here, so let’s do it!” that made me feel welcome and able to do it.
I spent seven weeks at Luminaries. That may have been a little overkill, but a week or two would not have been enough for me. I would encourage you to book as much time as you can afford. The longer I was there, the better I felt and the more it seemed as though I could make this lifestyle permanent. I began the program weighing over 300 pounds, so the 20 or so pounds I lost on retreat didn’t represent a huge percentage of my total goal. However, the scale isn't the only focus of the retreat. The improvements in my energy level and the lack of pain in my back are proof positive that our bodies can turn themselves around very quickly when we start treating them right. If you are discouraged because your bad choices have left you feeling sluggish, sick, weak, or even spiritually dead, there is hope! January 2018