Running a yoga retreat can be a rewarding experience; however, organizing the retreat can be slightly overwhelming. In addition to planning and teaching the sessions, it’s your job to choose and book the venue, market the trip, and manage the application process. If you’re looking for some tips and tricks on how to do this, you’re in the right place! Put on a comfy yoga hoodie, sit back and learn exactly how to run a yoga retreat.
Visualize Your Experience
Before you book anything, consider the kind of experience you want your students to have. The first step in planning the retreat is to write down your vision. This simple step will help you to stay focused and not lose sight of the overall experience you’re hoping to create.
If you’re struggling with this step, ask yourself what kind of retreat YOU would sign up for. When it comes to yoga, most students have the same ideas in mind. If you’d enjoy the retreat, it’s likely that your students will too. When visualizing your experience, consider where you’d want to go and what factors are important to you. If you stay true to yourself, your retreat will be a success.
Choose Your Location
When planning a yoga retreat, choosing the location is an important step. For yogis going on a retreat, the venue is one of the biggest considerations. The right location will make the event all the more special, relaxing, and empowering. Depending on your vision, a small retreat center, a luxury hotel, or a spiritual ashram may be suitable.
When choosing your location, travel is a crucial detail. Consider how far away it is from your home, an airport, and how expensive the travel is in that area. If you can’t drive there, consider how you’ll get from the airport to the venue. Depending on the number of students, you may want to organize transport to and from. Once you’re at the venue, consider whether you’ll need transportation for activities and excursions. Choosing a location with everything on-site can be a practical and popular option.
When choosing the venue, it’s also important to consider whether it has a space for yoga. If you’re using a hotel or ashram, there may not be a dedicated yoga space for your practitioners. In this case, it’s important to find out whether there is enough space for what you need. If you use the wall in your sessions, make sure there is enough wall space. If you use props, find out whether the venue has any or whether you’ll need to provide your own. Before booking your venue, it’s a good idea to visit it in person to make sure it’s got everything you need.
Work Out the Cost
Once you’ve chosen your location, it’s time to work out the cost. Most venues require a deposit to secure your retreat. Remember that this is your personal financial risk. If you have to cancel the event, you’re responsible for the deposit. Many venues also have minimum numbers, requiring a certain number of yogis to sign up in order to host the event. This is definitely something to take into account, particularly if this is your first retreat. Before handing over any money, get an idea of how many students would be interested in attending.
Before determining the price of the retreat, consider any additional costs such as your own travel expenses, marketing and advertising, and lost income from the classes you’ll miss while you’re there. In an ideal world, your prices should not only cover the total cost but should also generate a profit. An easy way to make a profit is to add a teaching fee to the cost per yogi. For instance, if you’re teaching five sessions on your retreat and you charge each student £15 per class, you’ll need to add a teaching fee of £75 per student. This, on top of the price of your total costs, will ensure you make a profit. It’s important to note that you don’t want to overcharge your students, particularly if you’re new to the yoga retreat business. For your first few events, keep the costs low in order to build your feedback, reviews, and business. Once you’ve got guaranteed custom, you can increase your prices and enjoy a larger profit.
Plan the Classes
Once you’ve sorted the logistics, it’s time to start planning the classes. To do this, refer back to your vision. Consider what kind of experience you’re hoping to provide and think about what the students might need. Look within yourself and decide what sort of classes would benefit your practice and life.
Once you’ve identified this, support your ideas with thoughtful classes. Typically, retreats provide a more intimate experience than standard classes, so try to leave space for inspiration and spontaneity. While it’s important to have an outline for each class, relaxed and playful teaching will allow you to connect with each student and tailor the session to their needs.
Market Your Vision
The next step is to market your vision. If you’ve planned the right kind of event, this should be easy! Selling an event is easy if you’re excited about it. Genuine enthusiasm is a powerful marketing tool and will encourage your students to talk about the event with outsiders. A few months before your retreat, shout about it from the rooftops. If you’re a practicing yoga instructor, don’t be afraid to ask your students to spread the news.
Personalized promotion is powerful. Explain why you’re excited about the event, why you picked the location, and why students should consider signing up. Including these points in your marketing material will reflect your vision for the retreat and show potential students how great it will be.
Add the Final Touches
To make your retreat stand out from the rest, the final touches are important. To be a great host, try to anticipate your guests’ needs. Your job as the event leader is to make your students feel at home. Adding fresh flowers to each room, providing organic, wholesome meals, and planning a wide range of activities will make each student feel valued and welcome. If you want to go that extra mile, consider leaving a handwritten note or a yoga gift card in each student’s room.
In Summary
To successfully run a yoga retreat, follow the advice above. Before the event, let your students know exactly what they need to bring. In addition to their yoga clothes, state whether they need to provide props, mats, or any other accessories. Providing that you follow the advice above, your retreat will be a success.