I have done a lot of research into transformational retreats as part of my job. Curiously, I have found a ton of information on the retreats from a participant’s perspective. There is no shortage of online posts explaining what participants can expect. And yet I haven’t seen much from the perspective of the instructor or facilitator.
I decided to research transformational retreats from the yoga instructor’s perspective. I wanted to know what an instructor could expect when facilitating a retreat for the first time. In all my research I learned something curious: the perspectives of instructors and participants are not particularly different. All of them engage in the transformational journey together.
An Opportunity to Connect
I discovered a common theme among the yoga instructors I researched. Most of them spoke about transformational retreats as opportunities to connect. There are a couple of ways to look at this principle:
- Connecting With Participants – Yoga instructors appreciate the opportunity to connect with participants, including those they don’t know. It is not just about guiding or leading. It’s about connecting with them in a personal, meaningful, and intimate way.
- Connecting With Self – Transformation retreats are also an opportunity for yoga instructors to connect with themselves. This is important because it’s easy to get bogged down as an instructor. It is easy to invest so much time and effort in your students that you forget self.
Yoga expert and transformational retreat leader Scott Moore says the connections are invaluable once a retreat ends and everyone goes home. Connections made with others facilitate long-lasting relationships that benefit everyone involved. Connections with self-rejuvenate instructors and infuse their practices with new energy.
Exposure to a Variety of People
It is normal for yoga instructors to get comfortable with a core set of students to the point of stunting their own growth. Attending a transformational retreat as a facilitator exposes an instructor to a variety of different people. Each person has a personality. Each one has needs, goals, and desires.
Another way to look at it is exposing oneself to more diversity. It can be shocking to the first-time facilitator. But ultimately, working with a broad range of people helps to expose an instructor to the full scope of humanity. That can only help their practice down the road.
Exposure to New Techniques and Styles
Most transformational retreats are not facilitated by a single instructor. Multiple instructors with different styles and techniques are brought in. It is good for them, as being exposed to different styles and techniques can help an instructor become more well-rounded.
There is also the potential for being exposed to other disciplines. In other words, yoga may not be the only game in town at a given retreat. There may be other facilitators specializing in things like breathwork, mindful movement, and sound healing.
A New Level of Personal Growth
Finally, many of the yoga instructors I researched talked about transformational retreats from the perspective of their own personal growth. Quite a few mentioned going to that first retreat and not expecting to grow personally. After all, they were going to facilitate growth among participants. Yet they walked away having grown in leaps and bounds themselves.
Transformational retreats are ideally intended to benefit participants the most. But facilitators aren’t left out in the cold. Because everyone engages together and in a holistic environment, facilitators tend to get as much out of retreats as participants do. If you are a yoga instructor looking to facilitate your first retreat, prepare yourself for a fantastic experience. Prepare to be surprised as well.