Lead an Epic Yoga Retreat: Where Travel and Yoga Meet

Are you a yoga teacher? Do you like to travel and meet new people? Do you have a good following? If the answer to these questions is yes, it might be time to consider teaching a yoga retreat.

Here are 10 tips on how to take your practice out of the classroom and onto the road to lead a successful yoga retreat.

1. Consider co-teaching.

Are you a solo flyer or a team player? If this is your first retreat, consider co-leading to expand your reach and to take some of the pressure off of teaching solo. Having another instructor involved can both complement your teaching style and add another dimension to the experience. I’m a big fan of co-teaching events and retreats. Teamwork makes the dream work.

2. Practice organized asana.

Planning, preparing, and leading a yoga retreat is a time-intensive process; you’ll get all sorts of questions from potential attendees. Make sure you have the bandwidth and patience to wade through the pile of emails and requests that you will receive.

3. Find a great spot.

Do your research! Contact a variety of retreat centers and compare costs. Consider airfare and travel time. Then assess meal costs, excursion prices, etc. In a perfect world, you would visit the retreat center before booking, but this isn’t always possible. Exercise due diligence before you commit to a location. You’ll also need this information when responding to retreat attendees, so knowing as much as possible will pay huge dividends.

4. Create a budget.

Most retreat centers require deposits that can be in the thousands of dollars. Make sure you’re comfortable with the amount of money you’re investing. Determine exactly what is needed for you to recoup your expenses and turn a profit.

5. Get comfortable with marketing.

Retreats, like most yoga-related endeavors, require promotion. You’ll need to share the information in some way. A page on your website, digital and print flyers, and Facebook events are your three best bets. People respond well to well-designed flyers. Working with a graphic designer is a great idea—if you can fit it into your budget.

6. Be responsive.

Be prompt. How you do anything is how you do everything. When replying to emails, phone calls, and requests, there is no bigger turn-off to a potential retreat attendee than a yoga teacher who doesn’t respond quickly. This is a big investment for people, both in time and money. They want to know they can trust you.

7. Have a plan.

Want to rock seven chakras in seven days or lead an epic Costa Rican recharge? Plan it all out. Again, this is a big investment for students, so the more you have your sh*t together, the better the experience will be.

8. Be flexible, too.

Maybe your midweek Chaturanga workshop needs to be swapped for a heart-opening, restorative yoga class—and that’s perfect. Always prioritize what is the best for your group, and keep your ears and eyes open for what people need.

9. Be available.

Stuff will come up and people will inevitably work through unexpected emotions while on a yoga retreat. Make sure you and your co-teacher, if you have one, are open to talking through things with your retreaters. You need to hold space to schedule the practice and meditation time you need to be a great listener and leader.

10. Have fun!

This is an incredible opportunity that many people only dream about—getting paid to travel. Soak it up and share the good, good vibes!

Want to go on a yoga retreat adventure? Join Amy next summer in Bali for her Bali Bhakti retreat, from July 24-30, 2016! Visit www.miamyyoga.com/balitretreat to learn more.