It wouldn’t even occur to me to pay someone to let me fast. I can do it for free at home, and I can make my home into a nice retreat. I’m not sure how a retreat owner would help. I can read and search the internet for answers to any questions I may have. I can make my own decisions about my body. What does a retreat do?
I already live on the beach. I can very easily toss all the food in my house and just put water in the fridge and still not spend what a week at a retreat would cost.
Perhaps it’s for people who need serious supervision. But to me that defeats the whole purpose of learning to do it yourself (unless it’s a medical thing).
Nobody is there to watch you once you go home.
I’m content sharing some ups and downs here and some other forums as support groups. Other than that if I think I need a massage or something I can do that nearby my home for much less.