We were lucky to catch up with Lana And Mark Royce recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lana and Mark thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

There have absolutely been moments when we’ve wondered what it would be like to have a “regular job” again — predictable hours, guaranteed paychecks, and a clear line between work and home. But then we remember… this is our calling.

Being the trustees of Blisstopia Retreats and now expanding into Blisstopia Yoga has been both the most challenging and the most fulfilling experience of our lives. After owning several businesses back in Minnesota, we thought we understood entrepreneurship — but creating spaces for healing and transformation in Arizona has asked something deeper of us: faith, surrender, and trust in our purpose.

There was a moment not long ago — it was 108 degrees, the pool pump went out, the website crashed, and we hadn’t had a day off in weeks. We looked at each other and said, “Remember when we thought owning a retreat would be relaxing?” 😂 But then, that weekend, a guest told us her retreat here completely changed her life. In that moment, every ounce of exhaustion melted into gratitude.

We may not have “regular jobs,” but what we do have is real impact, deep connection, and a life built around heart and meaning. And that — even on the hardest days — is worth everything. 💛

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

We’re Mark and Lana Royce, the heart and hands behind Blisstopia Retreats and Blisstopia Yoga in Peoria, Arizona. Together, we’ve created a sanctuary for rest, renewal, and reconnection—where people can step away from the noise of daily life and come home to themselves.

Our journey began long before Blisstopia. We’ve been entrepreneurs for most of our lives, owning several businesses in Minnesota before following a call for something deeper and more purposeful. Lana has spent over 25 years in the wellness field, teaching yoga and guiding clients through energy healing, somatic therapy, psychotherapy, Reiki, and mindfulness-based practices. Mark brings his expertise in business, operations, and hospitality—along with a deep passion for creating spaces where people feel genuinely cared for. Together, we blend heart and structure, spirit and groundedness.

At Blisstopia, we offer transformational retreats, yoga classes (both in-studio and virtual), sound healing journeys, breathwork, and training programs for those ready to deepen their own path—like our 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training and Energy Healing Certification series. Every offering is intentionally crafted to support emotional healing, spiritual growth, and authentic connection.

What sets us apart is our integrative, heart-centered approach. We don’t believe in “quick fixes.” Instead, we invite people into immersive experiences that open the door to true transformation—body, mind, and spirit. Our spaces are intimate by design, allowing guests to feel seen, supported, and safe enough to let their walls down.

We’re most proud of the stories we hear afterward—the woman who left her retreat saying she finally felt joy for the first time in years, the student who found her calling through our yoga training, or the person who came to “relax” and left feeling completely renewed. Those are the moments that remind us why we do what we do.

Ultimately, we want people to know that Blisstopia is more than a retreat center—it’s a living, breathing space of transformation. Whether you’re joining us for a yoga class, a sound bath, or a weekend retreat, our hope is that you leave feeling lighter, clearer, and more deeply connected to your own inner peace.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The spring of 2020 changed everything.

At the time, we owned three TITLE Boxing Club locations and a boutique yoga studio in Minnesota. We were deeply invested—not just financially, but emotionally. Our community meant the world to us. Then the pandemic hit. Practically overnight, we were forced to close our doors. Memberships were frozen, revenue stopped, but the expenses didn’t. We still had over $40,000 a month in lease payments—and no way to bring people together without the state coming down on us.

It was one of those moments that tests everything—your faith, your resilience, and your ability to listen to life’s bigger message.

For months, we held on, hoping things would shift. But deep down, we both knew this wasn’t just a shutdown—it was a shake-up. A call to evolve. We realized that while fitness and yoga had been powerful doorways for transformation, what we were truly meant to do went deeper. We wanted to help people heal from the inside out, not just through a workout or a single class, but through immersive, soulful experiences that touched the whole being.

So, we made the hardest—and most liberating—decision of our lives: we sold everything and followed a long-held dream to Arizona.

There, surrounded by the raw beauty of the desert, Blisstopia Retreats was born. A sanctuary where we could bring together everything we’d learned—movement, meditation, energy work, sound, nature, and community—into something that truly changes lives.

That pivot, as difficult as it was, became our rebirth. Losing what we thought was everything gave us space to create what was meant for us. And now, every time a guest leaves Blisstopia feeling lighter, freer, or more connected, we know that choice—to surrender and start anew—was exactly the path we were meant to walk.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Our story began on OkCupid, of all places—a little modern magic mixed with divine timing. From our very first conversation, we could tell there was something unique between us. Beyond the spark, we shared a deep passion for entrepreneurship, wellness, and helping people feel alive in their bodies.

At the time, Mark was coaching at TITLE Boxing Club, and Lana—ever the visionary—was exploring new business opportunities in the wellness world. One day, she came to one of Mark’s classes and was completely blown away by the energy, the empowerment, and the community that surrounded the boxing workout. After class, she said, “We should check out the franchise.”

And that was it—the idea took root, and before long, we found ourselves side by side, opening our own TITLE Boxing Clubs together. It was the first of many businesses we would build as partners—in life, love, and purpose.

That shared leap of faith not only launched our entrepreneurial journey but also set the foundation for what would one day evolve into Blisstopia Retreats and Blisstopia Yoga—spaces built on connection, courage, and the power of saying yes to possibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blisstopiaretreats.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blisstopiaretreats/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blisstopiaretreats
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74573163/admin/inbox/thread/2-MzJlOWRhOGMtY2I4Ny00NjczLWFiYmYtZDQxNmYxZmMxOTU0XzEwMA==/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blisstopiaretreats2798

Image Credits

All our own pictures by Lana & Mark Royce