By Kathy Gallo
If you are a yoga teacher and you are wondering about how you can develop your business while
offering something new and valuable to your students, perhaps you have thought of organizing a
retreat.
There are many benefits to you and your students if you offer a retreat. You can travel to a beautiful
location and take time off from the world to practice yoga in a tranquil setting close to nature.
Retreats can be powerful spiritual experiences for both teacher and students – but unfortunately,
they are not easy to organize, especially for first-timers.
Here are ten tips on some of the things you need to focus on to make a success of your yoga retreat.
1. Visualize what you want to offer
If you have decided to offer a yoga retreat, the first stage of planning is visualization. Try to picture
exactly what kind of retreat you want to run. Think about how your retreat will stand out from
others, what benefits your student will receive from attending and why it will be an enriching
experience for you too. Make notes on what you want to create – this way, you will have a clear idea
of what you want to achieve before you start.
2. Choose the students you plan to take
You need to decide on a particular type of student you wish to take on your retreat and target that
demographic. It could be anything, single mothers, couples, female-only, seniors, or any other
group. This will benefit you in two ways. First, it will help you tailor the overall package to your group
and second, you may find it helps with group dynamics during the course. The students you are
aiming for will also help determine the location as well as any extra activities you organize during the
course.
3. Choose the location
The location you choose for your retreat is one of the most important considerations of the whole
planning phase. Some people fall into the trap of just choosing a place they want to visit, but there
are several factors that should guide your decision. How will that particular destination benefit your
students? Is it affordable for the kind of students you are targeting, or will it make filling the course
difficult? Does it have a profound culture that can deepen the experience? Of course, choosing a destination that is attractive and exciting for your students is vital and will make filling your retreat
much easier.
4. Work out your budget
Calculate how much the retreat will cost. The key here is factoring in everything and not missing out
the hidden charges that might bump up the cost. Of course, you need to know how much transport,
accommodation, catering and facilities will cost, but don’t forget to factor in the time you spend
planning, lost revenue from regular classes, your travel expenses and so on.
5. Calculate the price you will charge carefully, don’t just make it up
When you calculate the price of your retreat, make sure you calculate carefully, don’t just make up a
figure. Look at how much it’s costing you to organize and work out how much you need to charge
make a profit. Remember to leave yourself some breathing space. If you need to fill every place to
make money, you will cause yourself a lot of stress. Aim to make a profit after your course is 50-60%
full – after that, every extra student is a bonus.
6. Create a marketing plan
Once you know what you are offering, work out your marketing strategy. This should include a range
of methods including social media, traditional flyers, emails and word of mouth. Above all, be
enthusiastic and excited about your retreat – this will rub off on anyone you speak to and the retreat
will sell itself.
7. Protect yourself
Make sure you are legally covered. Draw up a set of clear terms and conditions (including
cancellation and refund policies), look into taking out insurance and speak to a legal advisor to make
sure you haven’t overlooked anything.
8. Plan your classes and schedule
Once you have everything else in place, it’s time to start thinking about the content of your yoga
retreat in detail. Work out a daily schedule of classes and work on your routines, music and
everything else in detail. During the retreat, this part needs to be perfect. Also, think about other
activities that will be offered. If you try to do too much, students will be overwhelmed, but if you
offer too little, they will become bored and return home disappointed.
9. Pay attention to details
If everything else is perfect, the organization, the travel arrangements, the classes, the extra
activities and so on, the extra touches are what will take your retreat to the next level. Do you want
to leave gifts or flowers in each participant’s room when they arrive? Do you want to have a free
Keurig coffee machine on hand for everyone to use or some healthy green tea when it’s time for a
tea or coffee break? Also, remember not to neglect communication – this starts from when they first
sign up and continues until after they have returned home.
10. Seek feedback and follow up with students
At the end of the retreat, make sure you solicit feedback from your participants and act on it. This
will allow you to evaluate what went well and where you can improve for next time. If your students
were very satisfied with the whole experience, this will also provide you with useful testimonials
which will make planning and marketing a course easier in the future. This is also a part of the
communication process. Don’t allow your students to finish the course and think it stops there.
Thank them for attending and remind them how positive an experience it was for all involved.
Good luck – a well-planned retreat is worth all the effort
If you plan a successful retreat, the benefits for both you and your students can be great. Retreats
offer the opportunity for spiritual development in a beautiful setting surrounded by a supportive
group who are there to share the journey.
We hope you are able to make a success of your retreat and that it exceeds all of your – and your
students’ – expectations. Good luck taking the next steps!
