As a new vinyasa yoga teacher, you might already be thinking about running a retreat. You might have heard that this is a good way of making money. And of course, the idea of making money while traveling is quite nice...To organize a successful retreat involves a lot of attention to detail and decision making. Location, clients, price, retreat program and timing are just a few aspects to consider. You will probably make some mistakes, but read our take on the most common big ones, and you might just avoid some of them.

1. Don't rush into it. A lot of yoga teachers run retreats to soon. Are you ready to be a retreat leader? Have you established trust within your own yoga community? You may have to start in a small scale nearby to test your yogi's interest and build trust in your ability to deliver an amazing experience. 
2. Be super organized. Planning and running a retreat goes way beyond teaching well. You have to be exceptionally organized in order to teach well. If not, your head space will be occupied with organizational worries at the retreat and you may not teach well.
3. Do your research. Booking a venue you have never visited may work. But it's a great risk that could jeopardize the experience for your guests. Unless you have an amazingly strong recommendation from someone you trust, we recommend you to do your research. Test sleep, test eat, meet the owners, see the yoga space. Research weather, flight routes and ground transportation. 
   
4. Market your event. It will not sell itself. You probably can't rely upon your class regulars alone. Know who your ideal guest is. Make your retreat presentation stand out. Invest in the right channels of marketing, the ones that will find their way to the potential guests who will love what you offer.
   
5. Be professional. Make sure the experience is amazing on all levels for your guests. Never forget that people have invested time and money into your retreat. Stick with your program, the one they booked. Do not ever slip into vacation mode yourself. You are working, 24/7. Add extra days for yourself after the retreat has ended: this is your vacation.  
   

You know that feeling of completion and content, when you come out of a Vinyasa class that had it all. The teacher gave you a mental break, took you on a journey and left you with a story to tell. To create a class like that, try starting with this very simple Vinyasa recipe and build upon it.

1. ONE PART YUMMY WARM-UP
Make it slow at first. Whether you are teaching a morning or evening Vinyasa class, start slow and simple. This is what every body needs. Take your class into receptions of any combinations of half Sun Salutation A, complete Sun Salutation A, Classic Sun Salutation or Sun Salutation B. The Ashtanga tradition calls for repetion in sets of five, but as a Vinyasa Teacher you are free to do any combination and number of repetition. Another delicious way of approaching these classic warm-up series could be to tease and pulsate within a movement, for example lifting three times into a soft cobra pose instead of one.

2. ONE PART CLASS THEME 
A theme should have logic and intelligence in order to make sense to your students. It might an asana theme, such as forward bends, backbends or twists. It might be a theme of a more spiritual nature, such as emotional challenge, the full moon or setting a greater intention. It might be a very practical theme, like focusing on the feet, exploring the movements of the shoulder or activating the core. There are no rules when it comes to a class theme. We have themed classes around pretty out there ideas like  "Asanas with Bird names", "Resist the Dark Side" and "Planting seeds". An asana themed class is usually a good start in Vinyasa, and quite often a peak-pose progression is a good idea. Always design a well-rounded class, and don't try to jam in too much. Use the power of repetition in verbal cues as well as asana family, and move from simple to more complex.  

3. ONE PART COOL-DOWN  
Always allow time to unwind the nervous system and cool down the bodies of your students. Set them up for a soft, gentle landing. Allow the heat of the practice settle. Use classic cool-down poses like forward folds and reclined twists. Use counterposes that balance your theme and neutralise the spine and settle the nervous system. Allow at least 10 minutes for Savasana and closing of the practice. Don't be afraid to offer a gentle touch as your students settle into relaxation, and assist with blankets, essential oils and cues for calming the breath and letting go.