Admit it, you’ve probably at least thought once or twice about taking your yoga students on a retreat.

Where would you go?

Costa Rica? Puerto Rico? California? Italy?

Maybe somewhere closer for you like a state park or nature sanctuary.

This week we chat with travel expert Heather Horrell about what it takes to organize wellness travel, what trends she is seeing, and so much more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

*Wellness travel is booming right now, and looks to be for the foreseeable future.  If travel is a part of your business plan or career dreams, consider really diving into what that dream might look like in reality.

*The guilt about selling this ideal of the epitome of wellness while also not being a part of it anymore is something I think is a huge issue within our industry. “You are selling something you no longer are” is something that Heather said that really resonated with me.

To me this is akin to hearing spiritual leaders describe a crisis of faith.  And it is totally normal.  See out guidance or take a break if you can and need to.

*Studios are great places to foster wellness travel and community.  I know so many studios that have retreats, within their country and internationally, as a part of their offerings.

*Being more local is going to be a trend this season, and I suspect for the next couple of years.  If you are conscious of folks’ pocketbooks and the accessibility of travel for most people, I understand that–Heather and I both agree that this is a big discussion.  But seeing if you can host events that are more easily accessible by car or train is a good option, and also having discounted rates, sponsored spots, and other opportunities for discounted rates (like volunteer spots) are great ways to make your adventures more accessible to lots of people.  

*Creating experiences is another theme throughout this series.  In the last of this series I talk with the lead for the travel team from the Himalayan Institute, which has had a long history of travel tourism as an organization.  If this topic interests you, take notes from our guests this season, Heather, Amy and Ransom about how you can create experiences for your own community.

*Finally, start small!  You don’t need to book that trip to Costa Rica right away, you can take a trip to a Botanical Garden near you, that cute little tourist town an hour away, or rent some cabins in the woods for the night.  There are so many ways you can create community and connection while traveling, and you don’t need to go far.

RESOURCES

Working In Yoga Website

Working In Yoga Newsletter

Heather’s Facebook Group

Heather’s Website

SPONSOR

Sunlight Streams Blog

Sunlight Apothecary