How can it be a destination retreat if it’s just one day?
In Part One, we discussed the differences in a one day retreat and a workshop. The challenge is to create your workshops with the expectation that is a group experience and that each individual will receive the exact same information. The price will reflect the one size fits all curriculum, and everyone get a lot of information and a great experience.
For a retreat, the curriculum should be personalized and supported by a team of professionals. It is a white glove experience and the price will reflect that. Professionals to support your day are the venue team, catering and service staff. Your personal team should include people to welcome, answer questions and deliver handouts, photographers and specialized duties like music, computer programs and selling products. You might choose to collaborate with other healing professionals to add diversity to your program. It’s your vision, what would be the perfect day in your mind’s eye?
Creating a destination feeling for a one day retreat is more dependent on finding the perfect place for transformation, healing and change, than for a workshop. I have heard many people come out of a workshop in a horrible hotel room that was cold all day with fluorescent lighting and never complain. But, they didn’t expect a retreat feeling and so they didn’t miss it. However, if you are calling your event a retreat, and expecting to create an atmosphere of change then the environment is everything.
It should be a safe space to feel, to cry, to go into a meditative trance and to zone out in a deep introspective journey. There should be private areas to escape to for contemplation. The group areas need to support conversation and indulge comfort. No cold metal chairs! And look for a venue that has an easy vibe of serving food, available water and convenient well-appointed bathrooms that’s similar to being in friend’s comfortable home.
Many times the best choice for this type of nurturing immersion is a private home, either rented or graciously provided. The complete control of the entire space and opportunity to have it just like you want it can’t be beat.
A local rental facility might have the price and the location you need, but has the challenge of not being available to make the space into your own. If they have a tight turn around then sometimes you only get an hour to set up and an hour to break it down.
A B&B is simply fantastic, and usually a turnkey space, but usually the cost is the challenge.
This is where a good organizer will look at how many attendees can be comfortable in the space and what the best price would be. This will help you decide where to hold your retreat.
Other than the ambiance and the affordability, it just needs to be really easy to get to and to set up for the specifics of your program. That can be a tall order for a one day rental.
Check your local listings. In Houston, my favorite is Habitat House, run by Selia Qynn.
The specifics I would be looking for in a one day crystal healing retreat would start with private rooms to set up massage tables, group seating with comfortable chairs and very nurturing textiles and lighting. An outdoor area for natural light to really see the crystals and to make elixirs would be key. It would need a rain friendly area just in case.
Retreat spaces are becoming popular and many are convenient to urban areas. Many heart centered entrepreneurs are looking to support teachers and leaders in creating events. I always suggest finding a space that works with you and frequently them again and again. The collaboration is rewarding for both of you.
We will talk more about collaboration in the next article, part three, when we discuss the benefits of planning a one day retreat to you the teacher and your treasured attendees. The right collaborations benefit everyone!
