Earlier this month we had the pleasure of hosting Mellulah Retreats for their first ‘Finding Balance’ surf and yoga retreat in Morocco.
Here are some things we learned whilst planning and hosting this retreat, may be helpful for others planning a retreat and provides a behind the scenes insight into life on retreat at Azul Guesthouse.
Set clear intentions for your retreat. The theme for this Mellulah Retreat was ‘Finding Balance’. We also had daily themes, eg. Fear, Gratitude, Compassion, Water, and loosely planned our yoga classes and meditations in line with these. Particularly helpful if there are two or more teachers. Notice how opportunities come up in line with your daily theme. Let the schedule flow, be prepared for changes, if it helps, keep in mind the words, ‘Expect nothing, appreciate everything’.
Balance. With everyone living such busy lives, it became apparent that people really enjoyed the space to fully relax. High energy activities were balanced with yin yoga, sound healing, meditation, long Savasanas, hammam, massages, reiki circles and delicious, heart-warming home-cooked family meals. Alongside energy healing sessions, we nourished our guests with sunshine, outdoor activities, connection to nature and a large dollop of humour.
Set boundaries and house rules. Say when you as the host/teacher are contactable during the week. Communicate clearly your ‘House Rules’ and ‘Retreat Guidelines’ from the outset. For example, do you want it to be alcohol-free, exclusively vegetarian menu, a digital detox? We asked our guests not use phones at meals and on the yoga terrace, which helped the group bond and made communal meals interactive and interesting.
Be present. It was wonderful to witness the power of presence playing out. Truly present in the moment, and the group bonded quickly as a consequence. People commenting that it felt like we’d been together for weeks – on day 3! Being in this present state we were able to create a safe space for people to open up, heal, relax and marvel as their true selves surfaced.
Feedback and transformations. Ask your guests for their feedback and enjoy reading those testimonials. Keep in touch with your guests afterwards and observe the changes that happen in their lives post retreat. With their cups filled, some of our guests went home and were able to make significant changes; resigning from jobs, addressing long-term relationship blocks, coping with family grief, with a support network and from a place of power and strength.
If you’re planning a retreat, or are wanting to join one of our surf and yoga retreats at Azul Guesthouse, pop a message through to Sally on [email protected] and start planning your dream retreat today. Our retreats can be started on any day, subject to availability, and start from a minimum of 3
nights. If you like the idea of hosting your – or attending – a retreat with like-minded people and plenty of joy sprinkled in too, we look forward to hosting you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSZ-i1UyVt8
