Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, it’s hard to miss the incredible photos and stories of yoga teachers practicing and teaching in exotic locations.
Leading a retreat is an amazing step forward in your teaching career. You’ll have a chance to engage with your client base in paradise! As a bonus, you’ll get a nice boost to your income while doing something you love. A retreat experience can reinvigorate your regular classes, and give you new inspiration and insight.
Prospective retreat leaders often come to Mindful Balance Retreats with questions. We’ve rounded up seven of our most common queries for you.
Students in gorgeous Chacala, Mexico.
What are the requirements for retreat leaders? How much experience do I need?
You do not have to have experience leading retreats in order to partner with us. There are, however, a few basic requirements we have for our retreat leaders. We only accept certified and insured yoga teachers. We ask that you submit proof of insurance and certification along with CPR certification.
We also want to set you up for success by making sure you have the experience necessary to lead your students in a new environment. Retreat leaders must have at least two years of consistent teaching experience and teach a minimum of six classes per week. Leading workshops or involvement with yoga teacher training programs can also help you develop the skills necessary to be a great retreat leader.
In addition to being an experienced instructor, we also ask that prospective leaders have a strong client base and established email list or studio partnership. You can plan the most incredible retreat in the world, but if you don’t have an target audience, you’ll have a hard time filling slots.
If this isn’t you just yet, don’t worry. Think about the steps you can take to build the skills a retreat leader needs to have. Get in touch when you’re ready. We’d love to hear what you have in mind.
2. Why enlist the help of Mindful Balance Retreats?
You can absolutely plan a retreat on your own, but there are some serious advantages to working with us. First and foremost, we have years of experience leading retreats. We understand best practices and common pitfalls. We can help steer your retreat in a direction that will lead to happy students. Mindful Balance Retreats has your back every step of the way so that you can stay focused on bringing your best self.
We also help with marketing. We’ll set you up with a website so that you can advertise and handle transactions. You’ll be able to reach your network more effectively and reach beyond your network.
We offer support to your guests from the moment they sign up. Whether it’s figuring out what to pack or where to go on an optional excursion, we’ve got information, and we’re happy to share. This takes some of the onus off you, and it helps students feel supported in their journey.
3. I like the itineraries on your website, but I’d like to do something different. Can I make some changes or pick a different location?
The itineraries on our website are examples of what is possible, but your retreat is yours to shape as you wish. We would love for you to customize your retreat to meet the needs the of your students. Whether that means trying out a new location or modeling your retreat after the itinerary of an existing retreat, we’re all ears and happy to help.
Experience culinary and gustatory magic happening in Panama!
4. What do I do if I have a student with many dietary restrictions?
Your student can still enjoy being part of the retreat! All of the retreat centers we work with are happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions, an intake form will cover all of that upon registration.
We’ll also help you plan the meals for your trip, so if there are particular dietary choices you want to make for your retreat, we can make a plan that accommodates those wishes. Let’s put our MA in Holistic Nutrition to work for you!
5. What happens if I have a student who really doesn’t want to do one of the excursions?
We want you to make the most of your retreat and listen to what is best for you. All of the classes, excursions and activities are optional. If a student needs to spend a day relaxing or has a specific reason you’d prefer to not to take an excursion, that’s a-okay. This experience is all about what you and your students need.
6. How much lead time do I need to plan a retreat?
To plan efficiently, it’s Ideal to start the process 9-12 months out for international retreats and 6 months out for local weekend retreats. It may sound like a lot of time, but it really flies by. This gives us ample time to collaborate, advertise, and prepare your guests for their adventure.
Never miss a chance to give to others. Photo Credit: Diego PH
7. I have an organization that I’m passionate about supporting. Can they be part of your karma yoga program?
We absolutely love our karma yoga partners, but we’re always eager to work with anyone serving the greater good. We would love to support your passions! Let us know which organization you’d like to help out so we can contact them and make sure they are open to this collaboration.
We love questions!
There’s no doubt that leading a retreat can feel like a big undertaking. It’s natural to have many questions. We’re here to help!
Didn’t see the answer to your question? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us here.