CLIENT STORIES
Being part of the Retreat Academy with Polly and Shaun has been invaluable in helping me create a retreat that offers everything I want it to offer for my clients.
Shaun has been incredible in helping me get clear on how much I wanted/needed to pay for a chef and advising me on how these things work, this has saved me a significant amount of money, therefore saving my clients money too.
Never having organised a retreat before, but knowing I wanted to make it something truly special, I knew i’d need some guidance. However, it wasn't until I started planning it that I realised how much there is involved and how much guidance I would actually need. Without Polly and Shaun's support I would be feeling incredibly overwhelmed at the prospect of holding a weekend retreat, and i would have made a lot of decisions that wouldn’t have supported my desires. But, I’m feeling calm and confident that this really is going to be a weekend that will change peoples grieving journeys for the better, and that is priceless to me.
Thank you Polly and Shaun for creating this powerful and nurturing space and sharing all your knowledge with us. It would have taken me a long time, and a lot of retreats, to create what I want to create but doing it with you by my side means I can miss out making a lot of mistakes.
-Karen Sutton - The Widow Coach - Retreat Accelerator & Retreat Mastery
I found The Retreat Academy at a time when I was desperately in panic mode about my first retreat, realising I had a vision and a dream but no idea how to strategise it into physical form. Polly and Shaun and their accelerator course answered my prayers! Not only did they make me feel safe, supported and understood but they provided me with the tools I needed to attract my ideal client and hone in on my niche, taught me about aligned sales, and all the dos and donts for running retreats. I can now say I have successfully completed my first sold out retreat abroad and fulfilled something that has been a dream of mine for a very long time. And not only did I just get through it, I truly felt I created something I am so proud of and fulfilled my intention of transforming peoples lives through my work thanks to the guidance I received from them. Thankyou Polly and Shaun for giving me the confidence to step into my retreat week and show up wholeheartedly and authentically.’
-Erin Dusek - Yoga Instructor - Retreat Accelerator
I had given the course a lot of thought after having a discovery call with pollie. In fact, a whole year went by. It was something I wanted to commit to but for numerous reasons talked myself out of it! (All the unworthiness TBH!)
I Couldn’t afford it, why do I need it? Get busier first and so on.
My business was doing ok, but I knew I needed guidance and support to take it to the next level.
Since being on the accelerator course I have gained so much. I have sold out on most of my retreat’s, gained clarity on my vision & have grown so much in confidence.
I now believe what I offer is of great value, confident with my pricing, I attract my ideal guests, everything seems more organised and it shows in my retreats from my guests and venue owners.
Polly & Shaun are so supportive, encouraging and inspiring. I look forward to the Calls with the other retreat leaders where we also support one another.
I highly recommend Retreat Academy if you are ready to level up your business.
-Lisa Mitchell - Revive Wellbeing Retreats - Retreat Accelerator
I just wanted to pop in and say thank you to Polly and Shaun for the Bridge.
I didn't know what I didn't know and thought the Bridge might give me some clarity, at an in between price, to help me work out what my next steps could be.
What I received went way beyond what I was expecting. It was so incredibly useful. Polly and Shaun had so many ideas and tips, directly relating to my business, and my retreat offerings. I had a to do list as long as my arm, which I am still working through.
The biggest, and most surprising, outcome for me though was the huge shift in myself, and how I see my business. I am subtly and usefully re-focusing my business and my message.
It all felt very personal, caring, and non-judgemental. Polly and Shaun got me, got my business, and valued me and it, and gave me so much insightful advice. This is going to impact me for years.
I got so much out of the Bridge process I have now signed up to the Accelerator programme. And I am already feeling looked after personally, and getting huge amounts of value for my business, after just a few days.
I thoroughly recommend the Bridge. It is a great first step. And it is a step worth taking.
-Cathy Williams - Chilled Mama Retreats - The Bridge & Retreat Accelerator
I am incredibly grateful for the Accelerator programme and how it has provided me with the knowledge & encouragement to feel confident in taking the next steps into becoming a retreat leader.
Before starting the programme, I felt overwhelmed with ideas and was unsure where to begin, however with its wealth of knowledge and insights in this field, along with the support provided I was able to breakdown the process and create a clearer plan for my retreat.
The experience I have had has been supportive and encouraging, feedback has always been constructive helping me to refine and continually improve the vision I have for my retreats.
Thanks to Polly & Shaun I now have a clear business plan and feel excited about its future. I am deeply thankful for the guidance and support; the whole experience has been inspiring and has played a crucial role in shaping me into a retreat leader with a successful retreat business plan.
-Jo O’Neill - Peak & Flow retreats - Retreat Accelerator
I wanted to follow up on the wonderful experience with you and say a big ‘thank you’ for your support, encouragement and leadership. Being with you both was such a deep and meaningful experience, it enabled me to be fully immersed in a way that reflected my potential clients experience. Also, your beautiful relationship (with each other) was magical and really added such depth to my overall learning, as well as touching the soul.
I left you full of inspiration and excitement, as well as many practicalities, an actual meaningful schedule (yay!), lots of learning, plans and a deeper understanding for the wonderful world of retreating. I know that the experience I curate for my clients, will be transformational.
I definitely will approach my future retreats in a different way, because I'm now better at what I do and that's amazing to even say out loud.”
— Fiona Stimson - Kora Coaching - Retreat Mastery 2023
“The Accelerator Course has taught me everything that I wished someone had taught me before I planned my first retreat. I've realised how the best retreat leaders are only made, when you get to know how to be a leader and be confident in what you do. I now have a niche and a planning process for my next retreat…..
I definitely will approach my future retreats in a different way, because I'm now better at what I do and that's amazing to even say out loud.”
— Fizz Yasin Yoga Instructor - Retreat Accelerator
40 Easy Ways to get more clients onto your retreats
Whether you are a newbie retreat leader, or if you are fed up with complicated retreat admin and marketing that is expensive, or ineffective, it’s well worth learning from the experts at the Retreat Academy. You’ll discover how to truly enjoy the whole process of creating experiences that make a positive and lasting difference to people’s lives . Polly’s approach to marketing is not “sales-based” or pushy. Instead there is a sense of passing on her own inspired belief in the transformative process of taking a deep dive into a subject, be it yoga, wellbeing, art, cookery, walking, gardening, storytelling… She is highly proficient at PR, social media work, writing copy, networking and championing a wide range of interesting and creative people.
Julia Moore - Holistic Yoga
“One month to go until my retreat and I was sadly getting cancellation requests from my lovely students - not because they didn't want to come but due to the pandemic and date changes - guests could no longer make it. I then started panicking to fill these spots, constantly advertising on my socials and via emails I thought I had exhausted all my options...even googling 'How to fill last minute slots for my yoga retreat'?'
I saw 'The Retreat Academy' were putting on a FREE session on 'How to become a successful retreat host' and I signed up straight away! Honestly I don't know how, but Thanks to Polly's wonderful workshop & wise words - somehow a spark changed in the way I marketed my retreat out, by fixing the issues people were facing to book on and I managed to get there, selling out my first retreat! Polly you are an angel thank you! Everyone should attend this workshop and I hope to keep learning from 'The Retreat Academy' in the future
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Fizz Yasin - Happy Heart Flow Yoga