Shared retreat centre property

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The EuropeanYogaNetwork is now undertaking a project to establish and maintain retreat centres, (uniquely, owned by members).

It is envisioned that the centre will offer courses and learning activities with an emphasis on Open Source Yoga

Extra finance and a lot of support will be required for future capital investment in retreat centre premises, and associated legal costs, surveys, alterations, architects fees etc.

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The problem of running a centre

Most retreat centres seem to depend on just one person, or perhaps a small group of controllers - which is what we are trying to avoid by setting up a retreat centre share ownership scheme.

After twenty years of observing the fortunes and misfortunes of organisations trying to pursue an ideal we know that that such close ownership of retreat centre property (ie. that is private ownership by just one individual) or on behalf of a larger group by a corporate committee or board) is inherently too risky and generally unsustainable without a huge amounts of good fortune - and even then squabbles are inevitable sooner or later even amongst the most well-meaning of people.

Close, private ownership, or control by an inward-looking umbrella organisation inhibits the effectiveness and viability of the retreat centre to attract business as the perception will always be the property of the wealthy benefactor, or organisation rather than a truly, shared space for the participants themselves.

In such opaque / clandestine management situations, serious illness or similar changes in personal or family circumstances of the owner - or problems with the controllers such as power struggles, personal differences, breakdowns / financial fraud etc. seriously jeopardises the chance of ongoing inward investment / development from potential donors or volunteers.

In most cases the property would then have to be put into the hands of an external administrator - possibly even sold and the whole momentum is then lost.

It is also very difficult to motivate a centre team when there is any uncertainty or a general lack of transparecy about financial management and ownership.

The solution to running a centre

This is why we would prefer to work openly with hundreds (or even thousands) of private shareholders to make the dream of a shared Yoga space - a reality.

We are looking in terms of years rather than months for completion - we would dearly love to get it right - right from the start - and the most important part is PEOPLE - and we do feel that the yoga community has some very good people that we would like to try and work with on this project.