About Us

Each of you is perfect the way you are... and you can use a little improvement.Shunryu Suzuki

The global community of spiritual practitioners is growing and we are gathering here on Retreat Guru. Retreat Guru connects teachers, students, and retreat organizations together. In a nutshell we make it easier to find teachers and go on retreat.

Retreat Guru grew out of our former company Blue Mandala. Founded in 1998, Blue Mandala built websites and web services for spiritual retreat organizations and teachers.

Contact Us

support@retreat.guru
Our office: Jam Factory - Nelson Coworking
303 Vernon Street, Nelson, BC, Canada

Our Team

  • Deryk Wenaus
    Co-Founder & COO

    Deryk has two decades of experience as a programmer and project manager and has completed over 50 IT projects. He is a long-time buddhist and non-dual practitioner.

  • Cameron Wenaus
    Co-Founder & CEO

    Cameron is a project manager, designer and marketing advisor. He has been managing IT projects for over 15 years including 4 years as IT Manager for Shambhala International.

  • Christine Crawford
    Business Administrator

    Christine has over 15 years experience in office administration and bookkeeping, she is dedicated to keeping the office running smoothly.

  • Cloud Edwards
    Computer Mage

    Cloud tried to build a robot, but had to learn how to code, so he taught himself. Cloud is passionate about music, martial arts, and building things people care about.

  • Andrea Kennedy
    Project Manager

    With a background in marketing, communications and consulting, Andrea is dedicated to solving problems and making sure projects are on track. When not offering client support, Andrea can be found in the mountains equipped with skis, hiking boots or a climbing harness.

  • Michelle Heinz
    Project Manager

    Michelle started as one of our clients when she introduced our software to her team at the Clear Sky Retreat Center. Her passion for new experiences and waking up, has made for great alignment with our vision. She is less sheepish now that she's out of New Zealand.

  • Shayne Kasai
    Developer

    Shayne has been writing code for over 19 years. On his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, screenplay writing, and foraging.

  • Olivia Stille
    Product Manager

    When Olivia discovered so many of her loves coming together in this mindful, mountain-town, tech company she thought, ‘Could this be real?’. It was! So she packed up her life in the big city and moved to Nelson where she now gets to live & work in alignment with her true self.

  • Eli Finer
    Developer et al.

    Eli joined the Israeli army programming division thinking he knew how to code. He didn't. One would hope he learned a thing or two in the 20 years since. He combines his misguided perfectionism with his critical nature to make people happy and occasionally, himself, miserable.

  • Andy Chute
    Developer

    Andy loves making cool software and has been programming since he was in high school with Shayne. He also enjoys working around the house and gardening with his wife and cat.

  • Steve Strom
    Growth Team

    Steve's walk of life has been in corporate software, yoga, world travel, and living in retreat centres. He is passionate about conscious business, retreats and people finding connection to self. Steve is stoked to help bring to life the vision of growth and awakening at Retreat Guru.

  • Dennis Marriott
    Success Architect

    After serving in senior roles with multiple major holistic learning centers, Dennis decided to work for them all, and joined Retreat Guru. A voracious generalist, his management career has spanned technology, hospitality, arts and culture, and sport and leisure. He loves the journey.

  • Diana Garroway
    Developer

    Diana left the high-tech world 10 years ago to pursue a life with less stress and more fun. She filled her days with sun, ski, travel and ownership of a small hotel. Arriving in Nelson, she tumbled upon the team at Retreat Guru. She was so enchanted by the match of code and purpose, she dove right in.

  • Grant Cherwenuk
    Customer Support

    Grant's path has gone many places. He's pleased to have found a home in Nelson and a purpose at Retreat Guru. If he's not offering a smile and a helping hand to customers, Grant is often challenging himself in the mountains learning in the company of laughter and good times. He loves sharing their lessons in his interactions with everyone.

  • Rachel Selkirk
    Developer

    Rachel explored the professions of teaching and project administration before taking her love of problem solving and diving into to software development. Skier, mountain biker, climber, and thrift store enthusiast, she enjoys the good life in the Kootenays.

64,000+
Events, retreats, teachers & organizations
$110 million+
Processed by our booking system each year
148
Countries,
and 4,308 cities
25 years
Our team has deep roots in the retreat industry

Why Retreat?

We asked people why they go on retreat, here's what they said:

I teach yoga part time and am a mom of two toddlers full time. I love my life, but goodness do I need a break. My husband and I have been putting off our wedding ceremony for 4 years because life has gotten in the way. We haven't had a single night alone since our family has grown. I wouldn't change a thing about our lives now, but it would be so wonderful to remember what it's like to 'just be us.' Antrim
 

Retreat Guru's Vision

We believe human beings are innately wise, strong and kind. This wisdom, although not always experienced, is always present. Going on retreat is a beautiful way to reconnect to our basic sanity and health. Our aspiration at Retreat Guru is to inspire people to experience authentic retreats and reconnect with their innate wisdom, strength and kindness.