Creating a transformative destination retreat for just one day has some unique challenges, but it also has benefits for both you, the organizer, and most importantly, your attendees.
This is the first of a three part series to share some insight on creating a one day event that has lasting results for your attendees. As an expert in your field, this is a growth opportunity for you to shine as well. Let’s get started!
First, it is very important to focus on the experience of transformation you want to share in this shorter time frame by choosing a theme. It needs to capture the imagination, and it needs to solve a specific problem. Give yourself plenty of time to grow through the development process, as a transformation retreat evolves. You can’t rush it!
As the organizer, you need to answer these 3 questions in the development process:
1. What makes my one day retreat different than a class or a workshop?
2. How can you create a true destination feeling if it’s just one day?
3. What healing transformation (problem) do my clients want to experience (solve) in one day?
If you have in mind that you are going to have a one day retreat in the near future I bet you will be surprised at the direction you receive from your clients and your peers. Intention starts the process of creation.
Let’s answer the question of what makes this one day retreat experience different than a workshop using a theme of crystal healing. The problem we are solving is the accumulation of deep level stress reduction and release.
What is the difference in my one day retreat and a workshop?
My experience with workshops and retreats has been that a workshop is focused more on the how and why to do something and the retreat is having an experience of actually doing it. A workshop satisfies the intellect and the logical mind, and a retreat satisfies the emotions and the subconscious mind.
Offered as a workshop, I might explain the history of crystal healing, share my background and give a brief look at the menu of my practices and treatments. 
Many people want to know what the different types of crystals and gemstones do and what results to expect in each treatment, so I would share the stones that are best for stress relief. There might be a front of the room demonstration, a brief preview of advanced treatments that work best for stress. There would be some interactive activities, like Q & A discussions, handouts and support materials.
Attendees would have a group experience, learn more about my offerings and leave with one or two tools for immediate use. This curriculum could be expanded to a full day, or done in an afternoon. The price would reflect a group experience and really make it easy to join in. This format is a great way to gage interest in a one day VIP retreat.
Creating a crystal and gemstone retreat would allow each attendee to experience each treatment fully. As the organizer, I would choose the perfect order of gem treatments to achieve the goal of releasing deep level stress. The retreat location is key for this stress free and flowing program, but more about that in part two.
The intention is to create an experience from the moment they walk in, of complete relaxation and nurturing, so each participant can focus fully on the personal goal of releasing deep level stress.
Attendees would leave feeling as if they had a personal transformation experience, unique and complete. This experience curated by you, the expert, is able to solve a problem in a shorter amount of time, because they experience several treatments in one day. Priceless!
In part two we will discuss location, and how to create a healing transformation retreat environment in just one day.
