5 Ways To Support Your Guests After A Retreat

Hosting a Retreat is such an amazing and rewarding experience. It really is an opportunity to create a transformative space where your guests can deepen their Yoga practice, connect with like-minded people and recharge, away from the stress of their daily routines & responsibilities. But what happens once the Retreat is over? How can you, as a Yoga Teacher, continue to support your guests as they transition our of the “Retreat Bubble” and back into their everyday lives?

I’ve just got back from running my Wild Woman Retreat, my 2nd Retreat of 2024 and what an amazing experience it was! We had fantastic weather (it felt like summer) and the Northern Lights gave us a spectacular show on the first night. The space we used was just fantastic for helping guests make some big changes - with so many spaces for yoga-ing, relaxing, contemplating, forest bathing and just being. I had used this venue last year and it was amazing then, but the weather was cold and wet - not very inspiring for a back-to-nature Retreat!

But we are all back home again now, without the excitement of a Retreat looming (except for the next one, of course!) and hearing how my guests are struggling to get back into the routine of things again, got me thinking about ways that I can support my guests better for a long time AFTER the Retreat has ended.

In this blog, we’ll look at strategies that you can use to help your guests keep the benefits they gained during the Retreat going, and encourage them to continue on their wellness and self care journey. Whether you’re planning your first Retreat or have already run a few, these tips will help you provide lasting value to your guests.

1. Create a Follow-Up Plan

One of the best (and easiest) ways to support your guests post-Retreat is by having a well thought-out plan, that you have already prepared, before your Retreat has even started! This could include:

1. Personalised Emails - Sending a personalised email (using a basic template) to each guest thanking them for coming, recapping key/memorable/funny moments from the Retreat and providing them with encouragement for their continued practice or transformation. This is a great way for your guest to feel valued, seen and heard and will help to keep them motivated.

2. Group Follow-Up - Send a group email (or Whatsapp) that includes photos/stories etc and encourage your guests to share their highlights and photos too. This will encourage relationships from the Retreat to continue outside of the event and help guests support each other.

3. Scheduled Check-Ins - Set a schedule for regular check-ins with your guests to see how they are getting on and if they are managing to include the experience and practices, into their daily lives. After the initial contact, I reach out 1 week, 6 weeks and 3 months after the Retreat, to show the guests that I am still there supporting them and to build a better connection/trust.

2. Provide Resources from the Retreat

Help your guests keep the Retreat feeling going, by sending them tools and resources that they can use at home. This could include:

1. Practice Guides - Sequences, Meditations, Affirmations, Journal Prompts, Readings/Poems etc that you used on the Retreat.

2. Recorded Sessions - You could record these during the Retreat itself, or (like I prefer to do), record them after the Retreat so guests can revisit them.

3. Reading Lists - Provide a list of recommended books, articles, videos etc that align with the themes and teachings of the Retreat.

3. Create an Online Community

Building your community doesn’t need to stop when your Retreat is over! Creating an online space where your guests can stay in touch and support each other is invaluable! Think about:

1. Social Media Groups - Create a private Facebook Group or Whatsapp group for Retreat Guests. I have a Retreat Guest Facebook group for everyone that has attended a Retreat and then separate Whatsapp groups for each Retreat, so it doesn’t get too confusing! Encourage previous Retreat guests to share their experiences with newbies, so they know what to expect!

2. Virtual Meetups - Host regular meetups (I use Zoom) for your guests to join. This gives them a chance to ask you any questions they may have & will save you writing out the answer time and time again to any regularly-asked questions! This is also a great way for guests to reconnect with each other.

4. Offer Continued Development

Encourage your guests to deepen their practice & to keep learning, by offering them additional resources and opportunities. Things like:

1. Workshops & Classes - Did your guests love a class/workshop that you ran on a Retreat? Could you re-work it, or advance it and run it again, just for Retreat guests?

2. Retreat VIP Programme - Create a programme or bundle of classes for previous Retreat guests that provides them with ongoing education and community support

3. Discounts & Incentives - Provide discounts on future Retreats and events & open bookings to previous guests first. This is how I fill my Retreats most of the time, by opening bookings to previous guests for 7 days, before I open the dates up to everyone else!

Collect Feedback & Improve

Finally gather feedback from your guests to understand their wants & needs better and to improve future Retreats. Ways to do this include:

1. Surveys - Send out a post-Retreat survey to find out what worked well and what didn’t work so well! I send this out via googledocs, electronically, within the first 48 hours of returning home after a Retreat. I allow mine to be completed anonymously, to help people feel like they can give honest feedback.

2. Feedback Session - Hold a virtual feedback session (or send via email), where you address the problems raised in the feedback and show your guests how you plan on making the changes. You could even ask for suggestions and their opinions on what they think about the proposed changes!

Conclusion

Supporting your guests after a Yoga Retreat is crucial to help them integrate all the things they have learned and the benefits, into their everyday lives. By creating a follow-up plan (that you have already prepared), building your community, providing support and resources and staying in touch regularly, you can make sure that your guests are still thriving and using the Retreat to their advantage long after the retreat has finished.

Remember, the Retreat is just the start. With your ongoing support and guidance, your guests can continue their wellness journey!