The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
371: Organizing a Yoga Retreat with Checka Antifonario
Have you thought about hosting a yoga retreat for a day, a week-end or longer? Retreats are a great way for yoga teachers to provide a new, more immersive experience to their students but planning and executing a yoga retreat can be challenging. Checka Antifonario shares her thoughts as an experienced retreat planner and host.
Checka Antifonario is the founder of Yogaway, and she has been guiding yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops and retreats since 2008. She is deeply committed to maintaining a welcoming, inclusive, and grounded space for practice and community. When Checka is not teaching near home or online through her digital platform Anyday Yogaway, she journeys throughout the United States and abroad, leading weekend and week-long retreats. Checka also supports yoga teachers through her mentorship program for new or evolving Yoga teachers, as well as an in-depth retreat planner training. Off of the mat, she is passionate about being in nature and spending time with her dogs, goats and family!
Checka shares insights about the fundamentals of planning and organizing a yoga retreat. She gives tips on how to choose a venue for the retreat, the ideal group size, and things to consider when pricing the retreat. Checka also offers an insider view of how to organize a retreat schedule as well as how to build community among the participants of the retreat. If you have been contemplating hosting a retreat but aren’t sure how to get started, this episode is for you.
[3:23] This episode is made possible by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
[5:25] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Checka Antifonario.
[9:54] What does Checka do and who does she do it for?
[12:06] What is step 1 when it comes to planning a retreat?
[16:19] What are some tips Checka would give to a yoga teacher who needs to clarify their driving force for hosting a retreat?
[20:10] How long should a retreat be, especially for the first retreat that you host?
[23:42] What are some elements we might consider when planning the retreat schedule?
[27:07] What kind of group size should we be aiming for? What should the ratio of leaders or teachers to people attending the retreat be like?\
[30:09] Shannon pops in with a quick tip about how OfferingTree can support you in hosting retreats in your community or around the world!
[32:12] Checka and Shannon discuss pricing for retreats. There can be a big difference in costs between hosting your retreat at a retreat center vs self-hosting a retreat!\
[38:07] Checka shares some of her experience in terms of managing logistics, coordinating with retreat centers, and handling insurance.
[40:41] What are some hiccups that we could run into while planning and hosting a retreat?
[46:30] How can we form community and connections while we are on a retreat?
[52:14] Learn more about hosting yoga retreats from Checka by connecting with her via her website or on social media.
[53:04] Checka shares some final thoughts for yoga teachers who are feeling inspired to plan a retreat.
[55:36] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Checka about hosting retreats.
[59:00] Shannon shares a review about the yoga series with Tyler Arnason in Pelvic Health Professionals.
[60:18] Check out all the different yoga series available in Pelvic Health Professionals with a free month of membership!
[62:27] Shannon shares some final reflections about yoga and social justice.
Pelvic Health Professionals (Get a free month using the code Connected2024)
Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
"Just finding your own most authentic way toward building community because that's really the foundational piece that will make offering and running retreats so much less intimidating [and] a little smoother when you get to that process."
"What is your mission with the retreat?"
"Where I'm going to pour my passion and love and energy is where things are going to thrive, and with retreats, I think that's really, really true."
"Group size is very important because I do believe it affects the dynamic of things quite a bit."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
370: Is Email Marketing Dead? with Meg Sangimino
Many of us are struggling with overflowing email inboxes and receive ever more emails daily. In this context, is email marketing still a relevant tool that can help your yoga business? How can yoga teachers use email marketing effectively? Meg Sangimino some insights.
Meg Sangimino is a yoga teacher and business expert. Her expertise is in helping wellness professionals implement sustainable business strategies. With a background in project engineering and a passion for wellness, Meg is your go-to for implementing essential (and efficient) systems that underlie a business that nourishes, supports, and fulfills the lifestyle that you want without spinning your wheels on social media or having constant technology headaches.
If you don’t already have an email list, you may be wondering where to start. Meg shares tips for effective lead magnets and freebies, and explains why email marketing doesn’t have to be cringe-inducing. She also gives some ideas about what to email your list, suggestions on how often to email them, and trends when it comes to effective email marketing for yoga teachers.
[3:16] This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
[5:10] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Meg Sangimino.
[9:39] What does Meg do and who does she do it for?
[10:18] Why do people cringe when they think about email marketing?
[11:20] There is a lot of value in the content yoga teachers create to market themselves, and sometimes they may not realize that.
[13:25] People go to social media for a different purpose than their email inboxes.
[15:55] How can yoga teachers get started with email marketing?
[19:23] If you have a freebie or lead magnet and nobody is signing up for your list, you could have two problems: 1) nobody is seeing it, 2) nobody wants it.
[23:11] Do not be discouraged if you put something out and it doesn't get the response you hope for!
[24:47] Shannon reflects on the freebies she has in her own business.
[25:15] You may get people who unsubscribe from your list, and that's okay!
[26:25] What is Meg's advice to yoga teachers who feel like they wouldn't like to receive multiple emails about an offer, so feel uncomfortable sending emails to their list?
[28:11] What kinds of freebies are working in the yoga space and what are some trends that Meg has observed in email marketing?
[32:17] What should yoga teachers write in their emails?
[34:35] How often does Meg recommend including a call to action in you emails?
[35:42] How often should yoga teachers email their list?
[37:11] It's important to continue supporting your list even when you are not selling anything!
[38:08] What is something Meg wishes she would have known when starting email marketing?
[40:50] Shannon pops in to share about OfferingTree, a great all-in-one software option especially for email marketing!
[45:07] Shannon and Meg discuss the popular options for email marketing platforms.
[49:01] Shannon reflects on her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Meg.
[50:47] Shannon shares some of the upcoming guest calls inside Pelvic Health Professionals.
[53:32] Shannon gives a special shout out to yoga teachers who have been and continue to speak out for humanity and Palestine.
Previous Episodes on Email Marketing
072: Email & Content Strategy [Consultation Call] with Kristen Boyle
The Connected Yoga Teacher Live Show: Episode 9: Create and Grow Your Yoga Student Email List
Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
"For listeners who are feeling drained and a little bit bogged down by social media, email marketing is a really, really solid alternative."
"Those of us in the wellness industry tend to be very averse to marketing ourselves."
"The fact that people are picky with who they give their email to is why email marketing is so effective."
"The more time we invest in growing that list, the more warm leads we have, the more we can promote when we actually have something to promote."
"We first have to be the consumer that we want to attract."
"The trend that I'm seeing is shorter and simpler are getting more downloads or more subscribers."
"Your tool for bringing people onto your email list, whether that's a freebie or something different, should be aligned with what you're going to offer them."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
369: Struggling to Write Content is Normal with Billie Smith
If you have ever sat staring at your blinking cursor and wondered how to write an email, social media caption, or blog post for your yoga business when more important things are happening in your personal life or the world – you are not alone. Billie Smith recently faced this same struggle and decided to share their honest thoughts instead of their usual messaging.
Billie Smith is a queer advocate, trauma, abuse, and eating disorder survivor, who is shaking up the status quo and challenging conventional narratives in the wellness industry. They believe in discarding harmful ideologies like diet culture and spiritual bypassing, and are dedicated to creating spaces where individuals can authentically connect with themselves, free from judgment and expectation. Billie's approach to movement is all about empowerment, helping students tune into how they feel rather than how they look. With over 600 hours of training and a commitment to inclusivity, Billie's classes, workshops, and one-on-one sessions provide a safe space for those seeking to reclaim their bodies and their narratives.
In this episode, originally shared as an email to Billie’s subscribers and then as an audio on their podcast, the Rebel Movement Podcast, Billie shares openly about their experience struggling to write an email about topics related to their yoga business while also grappling with other challenges. They talk about how difficult it can feel to hold multiple truths, balance self care and social justice work, and reflect on showing up authentically.
Writing content can be hard when we are faced with balancing work, personal life, and tragedies in the world - if you are struggling because of this, this episode is for you.
[3:07] This episode is sponsored by Pelvic Health Professionals.
[4:14] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Billie Smith.
[7:30] Billie shares a little about a newsletter that they sent out on 14 February and their process of writing it.
[14:40] Shannon pops in to talk about a recent call with Mary Reddinger inside Pelvic Health Professionals.
[16:17] Listen to a short snippet from Mary Reddinger about how she gets the bulk of her private yoga students. Get access to the full interview by joining the Pelvic Health Professionals membership.
[18:13] Billy highlights that it can feel difficult for us to hold all the things that are happening in the world and in our personal lives - what we are experiencing is not normal.
[21:12] We are all struggling to find balance lately.
[24:47] If you are using your platform to talk about Gaza or Palestine, unfortunately it is a risk.
[27:53] Billie talks about the importance of standing up for your values and staying true to them even in difficult times.
[31:02] It is important to take care of yourself even as you do social justice work.
[32:28] Shannon reflects on her own personal experience of speaking up about the harm taking place in Gaza right now.
[36:01] There are so many people who say they want peace and freedom for all people but are afraid to speak up. But we can make a huge difference if we all speak up.
[39:29] Do leave a review for the podcast and come hang out in real time with Shannon in the Pelvic Health Professionals membership!
Billie Smith on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Spotify
Nourish Your Nervous System, 6-Week Online Series with Kathleen Pratt in Pelvic Health Professionals
Gratitude to our Sponsor, Pelvic Health Professionals.
"Invalidating your own struggles is not gonna give you any more energy to help change the world."
"It's ok if you don't feel rage every single second of the day because like how are you supposed to do all your stuff if you do?"
"There's a struggle to find balance lately."
"[If] you've been having that feeling of doubting yourself or doubting, what is even the point of doing this anymore? I would just encourage you to check in with it and not take it as a sign that you're doing anything wrong in your life."
"I don't want my business to negate its values to make money. I don't want to sacrifice my values for profit."
"Find the balance between taking care of yourself and then doing social justice work."