Non religious 'Retreat' ideas please?

[OldLace]

I was talking to a friend who is interested in starting an non religious 'retreat' type experience.

She is unsure what people would like.

She would have use of a stonebuilt house with large private garden on a small island (open to rest of the public). It is very beautiful. It would give a person a chance to 'step off' the world for a while. The house is basic but has all mod cons including good internet.

She was thinking of making it particularly women friendly but isn't sure of the legalities of making it women only?

But had wondered about offering a basic BnB type experience with communal local Vegetarian food (with extra local eggs / seafood/ sausages cooked separately for those who wished to eat such stuff)

Local history walks, guided meditation, journaling / writing group, awakened bellydance, Yoga / Reiki could all be offered by local folk.
Whether that would be part of a basic 'package' like a Spa or all booked separately I am not sure?

The person is a qualified Counseller who has experience in a range of methods and could offer a 1:1 session which could then be continued online should the client wish.

Does this all sound wishey washy or something that people might want / benefit from / be prepared to pay modest amounts for please?

I appreciate that many folk want to get 'back out there' after Covid-19 but it seems clear that many people have found a quieter life can bring its own joys too. So she wondered if people might like to 'dip into' that every so often and if there was a market for modest UK breaks like this?

Oh, brilliant

THANK YOU ALL YOU LOVELY PEOPLE!

loads to think about here :)

It sounds like my basic idea of 'non religious nourishment for the soul / psyche / 'spirit' / body is not so crazy after all. Yay!

I'm going to put my thinking hat on and try to believe in me a bit more

I suffer with lack of sleep I wish I could go now . Make sure you have really comfortable beds .

It sounds fab OP. I'd be up for it! I would much rather go somewhere peaceful and a little more 'no-frills' than some luxury spa-retreat anyway, but that's probably just me.

As long as the beds were comfortable, the food was plentiful and there were lots of books, cosy corners and long walks, it sounds lush. Yoga would be amazing, maybe massage? Definitely meditation. Reiki for those that are into it. Painting, drawing, simple craft stuff like knitting/crochet. (I wouldn't personally be interested in belly-dancing but it could appeal to some!)

I know someone who runs a quite-spartan yoga retreat on one of the Scottish islands. It's blissful.

I don't think there would be an issue with a women-only retreat. Or you could do some women-only and some mixed I guess?

Sounds great, but would it have reasonable occupancy year-round?

This sounds wonderful, just the sort of thing I would go to/join in with. I am sure it would work as so many people would be interested.
However, you need to think about marketing....how would I find out about this, for instance? How would I be able to book it? Think carefully about who you are aiming at (ie. who would be your clients)

What I'd look at, if I were you, would be having a basic package you are confident in offering, and then theming various different weekends/packages to run in rotation. Then perhaps having a more 'bespoke' offer where you could offer a mix-and-match approach to groups wanting something specific.

e.g. a books & reading retreat (book club discussion evening, themed walks that discuss literary landscape/heritage, perhaps, if it's rich near you, creative writing/poetry/journalling class); a 'silence and sounds' retreat (sound bath/chanting/sounds of nature - I'm sure you can come up with more); a wellbeing and back to your body weekend (yoga/reiki/food for wellness etc).

If you have themes, it makes it easier to feel focused and get the right mix (rather than having a whole raft of activities you offer all the time, where, as you say only 3 people might fancy the yoga and only 1 the basket-weaving, or whatever) and also you want to be able to target your marketing and make it feel as if this particular weekend won't happen again for a while so book quickly... and also so that when people come back they can get something "the same but different" to try.

So, I've come up with 4 different themed ideas.

If you were to go on a long weekend with a writing book review/ theme, or a yoga / guided relaxation theme, or a Foodie weekend, or a Castles & Gardens weekend, would you prefer to go alone, as a couple or with a (female?) friend, or a group of friends?

Would you prefer an ensuite in a house with a dozen others, or a smaller self contained unit of 2/3 bedrooms just for you or your friends?

If this was fairly modest accom ie not boutique hotel, included a modest vegetarian menu, what sort of price would you be prepared to pay?

It would include transport from nearest station, 3 nights accom, 3 meals and 2 classes /sessions / activities per day?

Sounds wonderful.

Personally I would like women only as it makes us single people feel less lonely than if there were couples there. Ensuite room for me with basic meals prepared so I feel like I'm having a break.
Plenty of books and craft stuff would keep me occupied.

Thanks, @TheFormerPorpentinaScamander that's helpful to know.

My idea of hell but I’m an oddball, I know, and I’m certain there would be demand.

I love how short lived the ruse was OP

Although a nice idea this is a terrible time to start a destination/ event based business. Covid is not going anywhere for a long while. The liability issues would be huge.

The Quakers do the type of retreat you are talking about. They have a lovely venue in Lingfield. Despite being Quaker, there is no religion involved unless you go on a specifically religious retreat weekend. Simple, but clean facilities, peaceful atmosphere, lovely gardens, a library and excellent vegetarian only food (3 meals plus tea with homemade cake) - they also rent the venue to people who want to run small courses for things such as yoga, meditation, calligraphy.

I think themes would work best for me either Food or drawing. Would probably go alone or maybe with a friend. Dh has different interests so would be bored if he came too.

@OldLace if you want to PM me I would be happy to look at your basic concept and marketing and help you.

I have some relevant experience that I can discuss via PM.

Ooh, sounds great! I’d come for sure. How about a writing retreat for women? I can really see a place for a counsellor with some creative writing and teaching experience (cough! that strangely specific description says I’m up for a job ).

Sounds good. I’ll pack my bags!

@QuimReaper Yep. I'm a bit rubbish at deception. Fold instantly

@shamalidacdak Yes, I agree. The folk renting the property say they are 'snowed under' with people wanting to start businesses from it. I wonder?

@peacockbutterfly righto, I'll investigate that, thanks!

@CormoranStrike - Oh, that's bloody nice of you, thank you so much!

I'm getting kids to bed right now but will pm you tomorrow if I may? x

Sounds great. I like the idea of women only but definitely wouldn’t be up for sharing a room with a stranger. A lot of retreat type places seem to offer this and it always puts me off.

Of course @OldLace - I am travelling to an island myself tomorrow. I wonder if it is the same one?

I go on religious and non religious retreats fairly often.

Yoga/Reiki are things that some people plomp in the religious category because of it's roots. So I'd be careful to both include it and say "secular".

That said some people are against meditation too even though a lot of people just call it prayer.

@Craftycorvid yes, my dream is to grow employment for others not just myself. That would be wonderful

I'd like Silent Walks as well as chatty walks.

I'd also like some conservation talks or work to do if the location was right?

@OldLace Even before you folded you forgot yourself in your third post and said

but for example, the yoga / bellydance would be provided by local experts so I guess I'd need to pay them for, say a class of 10 but only 3 people might want to join in? not sure how that would work?

Anyway, I meant to say this sounds like a great idea, and in fact I was looking at 'writer's retreats' only last week which is why I was clicking on the thread. What I was after was a lovely peaceful self-contained room with a desk and a view, rather than what you describe, but I was willing to pay for that simple requirement + meals and beautiful surroundings, even though I'd have had no intention whatsoever of taking advantage of the 'extras' on offer. So yes, I think there'd be a market for it.

You've had some terrific suggestions on this thread already ("themed weeks) is a particularly good idea. Here's my two-penn'orth:

• I wouldn't make it women only. Cutting out 50% of your potential clientele for no really compelling reason would be commercial insanity - the first thing I thought of when you described this was that my mum and her partner would absolutely love it.

• I think (and this is probably for the future) there would be a real market for yurt / outhouse extensions for a more self-contained and "nature" experience, if you have the land for it. Meals would still be provided in the main house, and you'd have to think about toilets etc., but it could increase your capacity and I think some people would make a beeline for that over a house as long as it were comfy and convenient (i.e. not air mattresses and a trek for a nighttime pee).

• Don't even dream of doing this without getting an alcohol license! (Unless you're going all-inclusive with catering, in which case don't underestimate how hard people will hit the free wine ) One of the places I looked at for the writer's retreat said they didn't have a license so they provided wine with the "welcome dinner" but that thereafter you'd have to buy your own from a local shop. I thought that was a completely barmy loss of a healthy revenue stream.

• When you do open, please have a gift certificate system so I can buy one for my mum

Sounds great. But why purely vegetarian meals?