To prepare equipment for a yoga retreat, start with the sessions, the group size and what the accommodation already provides. You need enough mats for everyone practising and the props requested by the teacher. Then organise the layout, delivery, care between classes and return. This guide focuses on equipment, one specific part of planning the retreat.
What equipment does the venue already have?
Ask for an inventory with quantities and condition before hiring extra equipment. Having a yoga room does not necessarily mean a venue includes every mat and prop you need, or that all its equipment has the same dimensions.
- Mats: quantity, dimensions, material and surface condition.
- Props: blocks, straps, blankets, cushions or bolsters, depending on the sessions.
- Space: flooring, a covered alternative, storage and somewhere for equipment to dry.
- Responsibilities: who prepares the room, receives deliveries and clears up afterwards.
Ask for photographs if you cannot visit. Agreeing what the venue provides, what the teacher brings and what you hire avoids duplicate purchases and missing equipment at the first session.
How do you calculate mats and props?
Count everyone practising at the same time, including the teacher if they need a mat. For sixteen participants and one teacher, start with seventeen mats. Add spares only where the programme and availability justify them.
Choose props for the practice, rather than from a universal shopping list. The teacher should specify which supports they will use and in what quantity. oléyoga's mat hire should not be treated as a package including blocks, blankets or bolsters; arrange any other equipment separately.
How much space should you allow for the mats?
The Eco Daily measures 185 × 65 cm, occupying approximately 1.20 m². Twenty unrolled mats cover around 24.05 m² of floor, but that excludes gaps between people, movement and space for the teacher.
The footprint of the mats does not determine the room's capacity. Ask the venue to confirm its capacity and check a real layout with the teacher. Keep access routes clear and allow room for the programme; do not fill a floor plan simply because the rectangles fit.
For outdoor sessions, inspect the ground and agree a covered alternative. Our guide to yoga mats for different styles of practice helps match equipment to the sessions. We do not recommend the Eco Daily for hot yoga.
How should you arrange delivery for a multi-day retreat?
Separate practice dates from delivery and return needs. Someone at the accommodation should be responsible for receiving and preparing the equipment before the opening session.
Each Eco Daily weighs 1.8 kg, so twenty mats weigh 36 kg without packaging. That calculation helps you think about access and dividing the load; it is not the weight of a single parcel or a suggestion that one person should carry the whole set.
Provide the full shipping address and any access details. Our yoga mat rental booking checklist is also useful when coordinating with the accommodation.
What should you allow for between sessions?
Schedule time to inspect the equipment and follow the agreed cleaning instructions. If participants change or moisture builds up, the programme needs to allow the mats to be cared for before their next use.
Read how to clean a natural rubber yoga mat and confirm the conditions specific to your rental. Arrange a suitable drying area and avoid storing damp mats. Assigning responsibility helps prevent care being left until the final class.
Preparing a retreat includes deciding who will receive, lay out, care for and return the equipment.
How do you budget for the whole retreat?
Multiply the number of mats by the agreed rental days and daily rate. At oléyoga, the rate is €15 per mat per day, with transport depending on location. Check our rental cost examples for events and retreats and confirm the final amount before setting your budget.
To get started, request yoga mat hire for your retreat with your email, quantity, dates and shipping address. Availability and the arrangements can then be confirmed using those details.
