Are you looking to plan your first workshop or retreat but don’t know where to start? Are you a seasoned teacher looking to make your events sparkle?

Whatever your level, we think you’ll find these tips below will give you a big advantage when you host your next yoga event.

Here are five monkey bites for planning and hosting fantastic yoga workshops and yoga retreats!

1. Make a dedicated notebook for each yoga event you’re hosting
   Just like you might have a dedicated notebook or binder for your studies and teachings in yoga, keep another one for planning events. Doing this allows you to have quick access to your information when you need it, and helps you compare the logistical success or failures of each event so you can plan for the future even more skillfully. If you’re digitally inclined, a great resource is Evernote.
2. Be intentional when creating your yoga event’s curriculum
   Teaching a workshop or a retreat is a completely different experience than teaching a regular group class. This is a chance for you to go into real depth and offer your teaching chops, but it also means you’ll have to think about how you take your students through hours of learning without exhausting them or yourself! Start planning your curriculum and sequence well ahead of time and think carefully about how to balance the workload with the need for rest, for yourself and the students!
3. Do your homework on the venue
   Whether you’re hosting an evening workshop or a week-long retreat, you want to know about the space you’re entering into. You don’t want to schedule a yoga therapy workshop, need a million props, and then arrive at a rented studio with only five blocks, right?!? Whatever the venue, try to see it for yourself and get a feel for the space and if it will fit your and your students’ needs. If you can’t visit, talk to other yogis and look for reviews.  A great resource for this is Host Finder which provides descriptions and user reviews of retreats around the world.
   
4. Actively look for topics that will translate into engaging yoga events
   If you’re not sure what to teach for a yoga workshop or retreat, make another notebook or a binder tab where you can write down the topics or classes that you can expand into a full-blown event. Keep this notebook by your mat when you practice and take it to your classes (to write in afterwards!). Make note of exciting concepts you’re exploring on your mat, the themes and poses your students are enthusiastic about, and then think about how you can translate it into a yoga workshop or retreat.
5. Remember how these events serve your yoga community
   Although it may seem intimidating, planning yoga workshops and yoga retreats can be worth it, not only for added stream of income it affords, but also for building a great community. Creating exciting learning opportunities like workshops or once-in-a-lifetime experiences like retreats fosters connection and loyalty among your yoga students.

These tips were taken from our online course, How to Run Workshops and Retreats with Amy Ippoliti! If you’re interested in learning more, follow the hyperlink to the course page.

Whether you’re teaching or hosting, this course is jam-packed with practical insights and tools for creating successful events that build community and contribute to the success of your yoga business overall.

Have more tips on running workshops and retreats? Leave them in the comment section below and good luck!