7 Steps To Hosting Your Own Wellness Retreat

Imagine hanging out with a bunch of awesome, like-minded women in a comfy space, developing your business or brand while workshopping motivational topics, creating inspiration, perhaps enjoying some meals together, and most importantly—having fun.

You could, of course, enjoy this experience as a retreat attendee, but how about hosting your own? There's a growing trend, especially with wellness bloggers, to host events that create connections.

Aussie blogger Heather Cox hosts intimate Treehouse Retreats focused on yoga and clean living. One of her clients was quoted saying, "I didn't want to leave. I left feeling lighter physically, emotionally, spiritually and with a smile on my face... I can't wait to go back."

While many connections today are made via social media, there seem to be fewer opportunities to connect in person. A wellness retreat can act as an escape but also a time of community and personal and/or professional development.

Collaboration can be a beautiful thing—you can usually accomplish more as a team capitalizing on individual strengths for a common goal. It widens your network for attendees and also helps greatly with execution.

After you've set your intention, it'll give you a better idea of the space you'll need; maybe it's a yoga studio or a kitchen for meal prep as a group.

Yup, this is now your baby. You've found a place to host your event, now you need to give it a name. Think about what you're trying to emphasize and write a list of words that describe that idea. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms. Brainstorm. Think of puns, or even made-up words.

Now comes the nuts and bolts of planning. What will the day/s look like? Will you start out with morning yoga? Or breakfast? What workshops/seminars/talks will you host? How long will each one be? Will you teach them yourself?

Building a list of potential attendees is key. Use Mailchimp or other subscriber management software to maintain your list. First reach into your own address book, then seek out friends of friends. Next spread the word via social media.

As a facilitator, it's up to you to guide the conversation of your retreat. Encourage questions and thoughtful responses. Ensure that your curriculum gives value, that your attendees will leave with new knowledge, ideas, and/or actionable steps. There's great benefit to sharing your own experiences—both good and bad—from which others can learn.