The document outlines the agenda for a retreat business workshop covering four sections: an overview of starting a retreat business; planning retreat logistics and finances; marketing and sales; and executing a successful retreat. Section one discusses factors for success or failure, considerations for leading a retreat, and initial steps. Section two covers financial planning, logistics, marketing strategies, and sales tactics. Section three reviews execution of the retreat week. Section four concludes with a question and answer session.

2. Workshop Agenda
ONE
An overview of the retreat business
ü A sense of purpose
ü Who can lead a retreat?
• Key factors of success
• Main reasons for fiascos
ü Your first steps in the retreat
business
TWO
Planning your retreat into detail
ü Retreat finance 101
ü Figuring out the logistics
ü Marketing & Sales
ü Planning & Follow up phase
THREE
Execution Phase: leading the trip
ü The role of the teacher in the art
of retreat
ü Creating chemistry
ü Wrap up
FOUR
Q&A + Discussion

4. A sense of purpose
ONE I Overview
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
ü Sharing the joy of adventure
– The journey is the destination
ü Expanding horizons
– Encountering a new culture
– Discovering yourself through others
ü A journey deep into yoga and meditation
ü A well deserved R&R
– Press the Reset key
– Let beauty show you what the present moment is
ü Planting the seeds of wellbeing

5. ONE I Overview
Who can lead a yoga retreat?
ü Minimum following base?
ü Is your community ready to follow you?
ü Co-leading a retreat with a partner?
ü Still hesitating?...
– Take a leap of faith
– And work hard to make it happen
ü Success stories
– Connie & Jodie (ID)
– Jessie & Jenn (IL)
– Jaime (WA)
– William (CA)
ü Flop stories
– Note to self: Don’t mention names

6. Key Factors of Success
ü Have Experience & Drive
– Steep learning curve
ü Be enthusiastic go-getters
ü Show solid PR & Promotion skills
ü Know how to design appealing content for
their retreat
ü Keep their retreat open to all levels of yoga
ü Start selling up quickly
– Take bookings early, the earlier the better
ü Keep their bottom lines in mind
ü Collect non refundable money early
ü Create firm commitment from students
ü Leverage on their community awareness
ü Express their own style of leadership
ü Set a goal or an intention for the week
ü Organize and communicate efficiently
– With their guests
– With the staff on-site
ü Adapt to new situations with an open mind
ü Address issues in a constructive approach
ü Give and take feedback
ü Know how to relax
ü Support their guests when needed
ü Don’t get stressed out by overwhelming
students
ü Close their retreat with a farewell ceremony
ONE I Overview
BEFORE
Successful
group
leaders
tend
to:
DURING

7. Main reasons for fiascos
ü Overconfidence
– Past experience
ü Excessive ambition
– Hope for the best but plan conservatively
ü Group leaders with many balls in the air
– Retreat planning sidelined
ü Lack of ownership of the project
ü Inadequacy of offer with students
– Dates & Availability
– Price tag vs purchasing power of students
ü Lack of proper marketing and sales efforts
ü Poor closing
– Many maybes, not a single yes
ü Mismanaged payments
ü Wrong management of cancellation policy
ü Group leader doesn’t read the contract
ü Awkward
group
dynamics
- Bad
chemistry
- Age
or
background
difference
between
guests
ü Troublemaker
guest
affects
ambience
ü Cultural
gap
with
local
customs
ü Nega?ve
aAtude
ü Poor
adapta?on
to
unforeseen
situa?ons
- Weather
-
Emergency,
accident
-
Illness,
injury
ü Wrong
expecta?ons
- Guests
who
don’t
read
emails
and
website
properly
ü Inefficient
communica?on
with
guests
ONE I Overview
Some?mes
it
doesn’t
work
out.
Why?
BEFORE DURING

8. ONE I Overview
Your first steps in the retreat business
A
world
of
des?na?ons:
design
your
dream
experience
ü Research
– Finding the right venue:
– Lodging
– Food
– Yoga facilities
– Spa, excursions & additional activities
ü Know the truth, then go
– Customer reviews
– Word of mouth
– Trust your community

9. ONE I Overview
Your first steps in the retreat business
ü How to find a true solid partner
– Look for service & support
– Ask many questions
– Be specific on your requests and your expectations
– Focus on details
– Pick an ally you can trust
ü When to run your retreat?
– Dates & availability
• Your own
• Your students
– Seasonal pricing: perks you should consider

12. TWO I Finance 101
Getting the numbers right
ü Set your financial goals
ü Don’t set the bar too high: allow yourself a learning curve
ü Profits are directly linked to the number of participants you get
ü Average: $450-$500 gross income per participant for the retreat leader
ü Profits & Losses: Find your break-even point
ü Break-even point: revenue = expenses
ü Expenses:
ü Teacher’s transportation
ü Teacher’s lodging + meals (when not complimentary)
ü Marketing costs
ü Opportunity cost of void classes back home

13. TWO I Finance 101
Find your break-even point
• Example #1, you get less than 10 students
• Break-even math:
– Expenses:
• Teacher’s travel expenses: $700
• Teacher’s lodging + meals (when not complimentary): $300 x 7 = $2,100
• Marketing expenses: $300
• Cost of opportunity: $0
• Total costs: $3,100
– Revenue:
• Income per student: $500
• 7 students join you: gross income: $3,500
• $3,500 > $3,100
• Your revenue exceeds your expenses as soon as you get 7 students to join
your retreat

14. TWO I Finance 101
Find your break-even point
ü Example #2: you get 10 students or more
ü Break-even math:
– Expenses:
• Teacher’s travel expense: $700
• Teacher’s lodging + meals (complimentary as soon as you bring 10
students): $0
• Marketing costs: $300
• Cost of opportunity: $0
• Total expenses: $1,000
– Revenue:
• Gross income per student: $500
• 10 students join you -> gross revenue: $5,000
ü Your net income is:
– $5,000 - $1,000 = $4,000

15. TWO I Finance 101
Find your break-even point

16. TWO I Finance 101
Get the whole picture
ü Risks to consider:
– The risk of losing a little money
– Any risk related to traveling to a foreign country
– Risks of practicing yoga and other physical activities
ü How to mitigate them?
– Understand the terms and conditions of your reservation
– When well informed, your risk is less
ü Retreat center policies:
– Deposits / Cancellation policy
– Group rates (inclusions)
– Teachers' benefits
– Payment Calendar / Reservations method
ü Negotiation in a nutshell
– Win / Win
– Alternatives to a deal

17. TWO I Finance 101
Figure out pricing
ü Estimate flight fare
ü Package Pricing for your students
– Do the math:
• Lodging & meals cost
• Airport shuttle
• Gratuities?
• Inclusions?
– Add your fee
– Get final numbers per type of lodging (dorm, room, suite)
– Compare numbers to your students’ purchasing power
ü Getting peeps excited: Engage your community
ü Before you fully commit to the retreat center
– Get feedback on price and dates
– Get commitment from students

18. ü Example #1
– 7 night double occupancy Petite
Suite:
• Lodging & meals: 7 x $190 =
$1,330
• Airport shuttle: 1 x $100 = $100
• Gratuities: discretion of the guest
on check-out
• Inclusions: to book on site
– Add your fee: $500
ü Retreat price for guest: $1,930
– Estimate flight fare: $570
• not included in package
ü Total investment for your
student: $2,500
ü Repeat math for other lodging
types
TWO I Finance 101
Figure out pricing

20. TWO I Trip Logistics
Logistics for newbies
ü Sign a contract
– Importance to have everything in writing
ü Know your destination
– Importance of a familiarization trip and a site
inspection
– Air travel: do's and don'ts
– From the airport to the retreat center
– Scheduling and timing your week retreat
– Visualization and manifestation

22. ü Set your Marketing Mix:
ü The right Product sold at the right Price in the right Place using the most suitable Promotion
ü Product:
ü Phrasing your concept right
- Sea, sun, yoga & margaritas
- Retreats with a promise of transformation
sell better
- There needs to be a pay off:
• Peace, health, wellness…
• Not just come and join us for a week of yoga
on the beach
ü Price:
- You already tackled that when you did the
numbers
- Round up numbers, make them user
friendly
- Use discounts:
• Early bird
• Referral rebates
ü Place:
- Your classes
- Your studio
- Your website
- The retreat center’s website
ü Promotion techniques:
ü Find the right one for your crowd
- Social networks
- Email marketing
- Leaflets, postcards, printed goodies
- One on one sales
- Group sales:
• Savasana inductions
• After class information groups about the
retreat
TWO I Marketing & Sales
Marketing strategies to intrigue

23. TWO I Marketing & Sales
Sales: dig up your salesman briefcase
ü Selling is fun
– Believe in your dream retreat value
– Why it’s worth every dollar
– Plant a seed: the power of suggestion
ü Start the process early
ü Retreats sell well at the beginning not
last minute
– Early birds discount create immediate cash
flow
– Your early students will bring you more guests
• Snowball effect -> valuable momentum
– Easier and cheaper to book flights way ahead
– The more the merrier
• Everyone wants to go where their peers are
going
ü Getting to yes: talking to intrigued
guests
– Be genuinely interested in the needs and
obstacles of this guest
– Dissolve shyness
• Yoga level,
• Awkwardness,
• Sense of belonging
ü Engage the core of your community
ü Get firm commitments: 5 yes are
better than 25 maybes
– Collect non refundable money early
– Lock out alternatives

25. TWO I Plan & Follow Up
What to do meanwhile
ü Collect payments
– Stick to the schedule
ü Guide your guests in next steps of planning their trip
ü Answer FAQs
ü Back & forth with the retreat center
– Create a relationship with them
ü Start planning your classes…
– Theme and focus for the week?
– Varied Content
• Challenging classes
• Deepening practice
• Workshops for specific poses
• Introspection, meditation?
• Restorative
ü … and scheduling your week
– Be precise but allow improvisation
– Leave plenty of free time for your guests and for you!

27. THREE I Execution Phase
Let the adventure begin…
ü Last minute details:
– Send a packing list
– Send thorough instructions on what to expect at the airport and at the retreat
center
ü Dealing with the stress of travel
– Breathe and be present
– Sh** will happen, accept it
– Tension will be released, the second day miracle
ü At destination:
– Greetings and gathering: let the joy blossom
– Orientation
– Addressing concerns, solutions to issues

28. THREE I Execution Phase
As the week goes by…
ü Communication is key
– Do what you say, say what you do
– Confirm with every one
– Use whiteboards
ü Creating group dynamics: let the magic happen
– Remember your intentions
– Invite everyone to indulge into a well deserved treat
– Include daily challenges
– Let go & Have fun
ü Addressing guest problems: you're in the service industry
– Dealing with difficult guests
– Keeping an open mind
– Adapt to new situations

29. THREE I Execution Phase
The teacher in the art of retreat
ü The right amount of yoga: sequencing those 13 classes
– Select the right curriculum
– Beware of the increased intensity
ü Meeting everyone where they are
ü Deepening interest in yoga: engage people in their quest for a
healthier life
ü Shift of energy: An opportunity for new teachings, readings and
sharing
ü Contemplate, meditate, relax, an opportunity for deep rest and true
healing
ü Ordeals have a silver lining: empathy & reconciliation
ü Fun, friends, & party!
ü Strengthening bonds with your students

30. THREE I Execution Phase
Wrap it up
ü Go over your experience and invite students to share
– An opportunity for gratefulness
– Set goals and visualize coming back to reality on a smooth way
– Take and share pictures
ü Don't forget your bottom line: Engage people for future
events:
– Next retreats
– Teacher training programs
– Regular class schedule