Over the past decade, I've organised, co-organised and hosted multiple yoga rereats. Some were full very quickly. Others took more time. All of them taught me something.
This article is not about trends or dreams. It's about clarity, positioning and strategy... while staying deeply aligned with who you are.
1. Start with clear intention
Before thinking about marketing, venues or dates, return to the source. A retreat is not designed; it is felt. It emerges from a deep intention and a creative impulse. Ask yourself : why?
Why clarity comes first ?
The clearer you are with yourself, the clearer your communication will be.
Clarity creates trust. Transparency creates safety.
When everything is aligned from the start, you don't need to justify anything. People arrive informed, grounded and open, energetically and emotionally
This clarity is not only practical. It's vibrational.
2. Define a clear Theme and Differentiation
In many destinations, yoga retreats are everywhere. In some places, there can easily be 15 to 20 retreats happening at the same time.
So the real question is not "Is there space?"
It's "Why mine?"
You don't need to invent something extraordinary. You need to be clear and coherent.
Your differenciation comes from:
- who you are
- what you value
- how you hold space
People don't choose the best concept. They choose what resonates.
3. Know your Ideal Client (your Soul-Aligned Client)
Trying to attract everyone is exhausting and ineffective.
Personally, I design retreats for people who resemble me:
- busy persons
- often women and mothers
- sensitive, active, curious
- who value quality, depth and clarity
Knowing your ideal client helps you decide:
- the rhythm
- the duration
- the level of comfort
- the price
Marketing becomes lighter when it reflects something true.
4. Let your life shape the format
Your retreat should fit your life - not the opposite.
I don't offer long formats because I don't have that space for now.
I offer short, intense, well-structured retreats (around 4 days) because that's what I can hold with presence and joy.
Sustainability is part of integrity.
5. Build a strong community (not necessary a big one)
You don't need thousands of followers. You need trust.
A strong community means people who:
- already practice with you
- understand your language
- feel safe in your guidance
Remember : a small engaged community will always convert better than a large passive one.
At this point, you might be wondering :
how do you actually build a strong, engaged community?
I. Teach before you sell
Your community grows through value, not promotion. Share what you actually transmit in your classes :
- a cue that helps people feel safer in a posture
- a breath technique that calms the nervous system
- a reflection about discipline, rest, or self-respect
When people learn something from you regularly, trust builds naturally.
2. Speak to your people, not to everyone
Clarity creates connection.
Use the same words you use in class. Share your philosophy, your pace, your boundaries.
Some people will not resonate, and that's a good thing, because the right ones will stay.
3. Show consistency, not perfection.
You don't need to show up every day. You need to show up honestly.
Consistency creates safety:
- same tone
- same values
- same level of presence
People follow teachers they can rely on.
4. Invite conversation, not performance
Community isn't built by broadcasting, but by interaction.
Ask questions.
Reply to messages.
Acknowledge people by names when you can.
Even a simple "I see you" creates loyalty.
5. Bring online energy into real life
The strongest communities are often built offline first.
Your classes, workshops, or small gatherings are the foundations.
Social media simply extends what already exists in real life.
People who have practice with you once are far more likely to:
- trust you
- recommend you
- join a retreat
6. Let people follow your journey, not just your offers
Share moments of :
- preparation
- doubt
- learning
- integration
Not oversharing, but real process
People don't join retreats only for the destination. They join because they trust the person who leads the way.
6. Co-organise whenever possible
Co-organise allows you to:
- share responsibilities
- expand your audience
- balance skills and energy
It also gives you the freedom to create themed retreats.
When you co-organise, you can combine disciplines and visions, such as:
- yoga & boxing / surf / horseriding...
- yoga & nutrition / deetox / relaxation
- yoga & painting / ceramics ...
This brings depth, diversity, and clarity to your offering.
Another key benefit is network expansion. Each co-organiser brings their own community, people you might not know, wouldn't reach on your own, or wouldn't have thought of inviting.
This often results in:
- a more diverse group
- richer group dynamics
- new perspectives inside the retreat
Chose collaborators who:
- share your values
- respect your vision
- complement your expertise
Alignment is more important than visibility.
7. Price fairly (for them and for you)
Underpricing creates resentment and exhaustion.
A retreat price is built from the ground up.
Start with your real costs.
Before thinking about profit, list every single expense linked to the retreat.
This table helps you list all expense categories, avoid underestimating hidden costs, and build your pricing from something concrete rather than intuition.
You can use it to :
- map out every expense line by line
- understand what your retreat truly costs
- ensure fair remuneration for youself and your collaborators
- create a sustainable, well-held offer
I've also created an Excel version of this table, ready to use
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Your price must also reflect:
- your experience
- your preparation
- your emotional availability
- the quality of the container
If saying the price makes your uncomfortable, something needs adjusting.
8. Choose a location that supports the Intention
The place is part of the teaching
A location should:
- support the theme
- reflect your positioning
- feel coherent and grounding
Whenever possible, choose a venue with a dedicated practice space.
A room designed for yoga or movement, with enough space, light and calm, allows participants to settle more easily into the experience.
The environment matters just as much as the room itself.
Locations surrounded by nature, open spaces, or outdoor areas invite people to:
- breathe more deeply
- slow their nervous system
- feel held by the rhythm of the place
More than being "cool" or visually attractive, the location needs to feel right.
It should be coherent with the energy you want to transmit and support the pace, depth, and quality of the retreat.
When the place is aligned, it does part of the work for you.
9. Thoughtful welcome gifts matter
A simple, meaningful gift anchors the experience emotionallhy from day one.
It tells participants: you belong here.
The most impactful gifts are:
- useful (during or after the retreat)
- aligned with the spirit of the retreat
- chosen for their quality rather than quantity
This could be a beautiful local product (argan oil, scented body oil, an essential oil), a welness ritual item (matcha, herbal blends), or a practice-related object (yoga mat, mat bag, mala, notebook).
Welcome gifts are also a powerful opportunity to build meaningful partnerships.
Collaborating with yoga clothing brands, mat designers, wellness or ritual brands; or even co-creating a custom product for the retreat, can elevate the experience for everyone involved.
For example, partnering with a brand offering something original, such as matcha infused with CBD, can feel both aligned and memorable. These collaborations often create a win-win dynamic; participants discover a brand in a meaningful context, while the partner brings visibility, credibility, and sometimes access to their own community.
Wearable items are especially powerful.
A well-designed t-shirt or yoga outfit becomes both a souvenir and a shared identity. Participants wear it proudly; long after the retreat; extending the experience into their daily life and creating organic visibility for your work.
A thoughtful welcome gift should feel like a natural extension of the retreat, not an afterthought.
When chosen with care - and sometimes in collaboration - it becomes something people keep, use, and emotionally associate with the transformation they experienced with you.
10. Communicate in layers
Communication works best when it's progressive, intentional, and human.
Not everything needs to be public from day one.
My communication strategy always unfolds in layers.
1. Inner circle first (pre-selection)
Before posting anything publicly, I start with people I already know and trust.
This includes:
- former students
- past retreat participants
- friends, clients, collaborators
- people who have already expressed interest in this type of experience
I personally reach out, explain the intention, and offer them early access or a preferential rate.
This first layer often fills a significant part of the retreat; and sets the energetic tone
2. Internal communication (partners & venue)
Communication is never done alone.
I always coordinate with:
- the co-facilitators
- the venue
- any brand or partner involved
I ask them to:
- relay the retreat on their own channels
- share posts, stories, newsletters
- speak about it within their community
This creates coherence and amplification, without additional cost.
3. Social media & communities
Once the foundations are set, I move to wider but still targeted visibility.
Key channels;
- Instagram (posts, stories, pinned highlights)
- Facebook (personal profile + professional page)
- Facebook groups dedicated to yoga, wellness, retreats, women's circles, travel)
- Whatsapp groups (former participants, local communities, curated lists)
- Email or newsletter (even small, highly engaged lists work)
The tone remains:
- clear
- honest
- without pressure
A small, engaged audience always converts better than broad exposure
11. Use retreat plateforms (if needed)
If you need additional visibility beyond your own network, retreat platforms can help, as amplifiers, not foundations.
Well-known yoga and wellness retreat platforms include:
The largest yoga retreat marketplace worldwided. Strong SEO, high traffic, but competitive.
Covers yoga, meditation, fitness, detox, and wellness retreats.
More curated, often aligned with conscious, spiritual, and teacher-led retreats.
Parent platform of BookYogaRetreats, sometimes useful for broader travel exposure.
Typical cost structures:
- Free listings: limited visibility, useful only as a digital presence
- Annual subscriptions: approx. €100-300 / year depending on platform and options
- Commission-based models: Usually 10-20% per confirmed booking
Important perspective
These platforms do not create desire. They simply capture existing demand.
They work best when:
- your retreat already has a clear identity
- your messaging is strong and embodied
- your retreat feels alive before being listed
Used too early, they can dilute your positioning.
Used at the right moment, they can fill the last remaining spots.
Think of retreat platforms as windows, not the house.
12. Paid ads (optional and targeted)
Paid advertising is never the starting point.
But when used intentionally, it can support visibility and fill remaining spots.
The decision tu use paid ads depends on:
- the standing of the retreat (intimate, premium, luxury)
- the communication budget defined upfront
- whether the retreat is a one-off event or a recurring format
Possible paid visibility channels include:
1. Social media advertising
- small, controlled Instagram or Facebook ad budgets
- clear, embodied messaging (not generic wellness promises)
- highly targeted audiences (location, interests, behavior)
These ads work best when:
- the retreat already has social proof
- visuals are aligned with the experience
- the call-to-action feels natural, not urgent
2. Specialized media & wellness platforms
Depending on the retreat's positioning, you may consider:
- paid features on yoga or wellness websites
- editorial placements or advertorials in wellness or lifestyle magazines
- niche platforms aligned with slow travel, conscious living, or luxury retreats
This approach makes sense mainly when:
- the retreat is premium or high-end
- the experience is visually strong and well-defined
- the budget allows for curated exposure rather than mass reach
3. Regular retreats vs one-time events
For recurring retreats, paid ads can be part of a longer-term visibility strategy.
For one-off retreats, they should remain light and very targeted, often to support the final phase of bookings.
Note: human connection still matters
At the end of the day, retreats are not filled by algorithms, but by relationships.
Most of the time, the most effective step is simply reaching out. Following up personally with those who showed interest; having a short, genuine conversation; asking a trusted contact or communication agent to pass the message along.
A single human exchange often creates more trust than weeks of content or countless posts.
Because: people don't book retreats. They say yes ! to you.
13. Have fun - and make it yours
Create something that truly reflects who you are. Something that brings you deep joy, not just something that looks good on paper.
This is the best way to:
- stay motivated over time
- communicate with authenticity
- keep your energy high throughout the process
Because organizing a retreat requires a lot of energy, presence, and emotional investment.
That's why it matters to:
- surround yourself with the right people
- work with those who share your values
- built with people who genuinely resonate with you
When joy is at the center, everything flows more naturally.
If these 13 tips resonated with you, feel free to share this article with anyone dreaming of creating their own retreat !