How to Plan a Successful Yoga Retreat

A Step by Step Guide on Planning a Yoga Retreat:

2. Identify Your Target Audience

It is crucial to understand your target audiences needs, preferences and interests when planning a retreat. Important factors to take into consideration: 

• Do school holidays influence their ability to go on a retreat?
• How easy it is for them to take time off work and what is the optimal amount of time?
• What are they interested in achieving from the retreat? Does this align with your retreat theme and the location?

3. Choose an Ideal Location that fits your Retreat Theme and Target Audience

When hosting a retreat, the location is one of the most important decisions you make. You’ll want to search for locations that align with your retreat theme and provide comfortable accommodations, wholesome and nutritious dining options, and any tours or activities that fit in well with your retreat theme.

Questions you should ask yourself when searching for the right retreat location are:

• Is there enough space for your group?
• Is there a yoga shala and is it large enough to hold your group?
• Are yoga props included in the retreat?
• What are the facilities at the resort?
• What are the nearby attractions or tours?
• Do your guests want to share accommodation or bathrooms?
• How do you get there and how long does it take?

4. Understand Transportation and Logistics before securing the Retreat Center

How long does it actually take to get to the retreat location? If there is flying involved, you need to check flight availability and availability of transfers to the airport. Some retreat centers offer complementary transportation from the nearest local airport. 

By understanding the logistical experience back to front, can help the retreat experience to be hassle-free and seamless. If it sounds too complicated or long, your participants may be put off by going on the retreat altogether. Coordinating or facilitating travel arrangements can allow your participants to let go of any stress and focus on the retreat.

5. Set the Dates and Plan a Structured Itinerary for your Retreat

When planning your yoga retreat, climate is an important factor to consider when choosing your dates. If your group are adventurous and want to engage in outdoor activities, go for months where the chance of rainfall is low. Other important factors are seasonality, flight availabilities and peak family holiday times such as Easter or Thanksgiving. Once you pick your preferred date, choose a duration for the retreat. Retreats usually vary anywhere between 2-9 days, with the majority lasting between 4-6 days. 

The next step is to create a structured itinerary for the duration of the retreat, including timings for yoga classes, meditation sessions, excursions and some down time for relaxation. Ensure there is a balance between planned activities and leisure time to ensure you are accommodating for different preferences and needs. 

6. Secure Other Instructors or Special Guests

Get in touch with other experienced yoga instructors or staff that can help facilitate your retreat and align with your theme. When co-hosting a retreat or inviting guest teachers, you are opening up the retreat to a wider audience that includes their connections too.

7. Price Your Retreat and Set Budgets

Although many teachers offer retreats for leisure, many teachers rely on them as their main source of income. Ideally, you want to set your prices to cover the total costs and generate a profit. The most obvious cost is the accommodation. Most retreat locations will require a deposit upfront, which needs to be taken into consideration when planning your retreat. Many retreat centers also require a minimum number of participants to host a retreat.

If you retreat center offers different accommodation options, set up different pricing options based on room set ups, to cater for different needs and budgets. By offering shared accommodations, you are making it more affordable for some people and therefore, attract more attendees. 

Outside of the retreat center costs, you should consider other costs such as your own travel expenses, any marketing costs, and forgone income from the classes you’d normally teach if you weren’t to go away. If you are just starting out, it would help to be realistic and conservative about potential profits. It would also help to look at other teachers retreat offerings with a comparable format to yours, and understand the market pricing.