Should you go on a yoga retreat?
Being able to practice yoga a few times a week is one of the great perks of the explosion of yoga studios around the world. It means you can take a few hours out of your week to relax and maintain some mindfulness between work, your social life and everything else on your schedule. But maybe you’ve been craving something more? You want the connection and calmness that yoga brings, but you want it kicked up a notch. Have you considered going on a yoga retreat? You might think that yoga is just for your weekly workouts, but it can also be a different kind of vacation.
Why should you go?
There are multiple reasons to go on a yoga retreat — but probably the first one is to reconnect with nature and disconnect from technology. When aren’t we on our phones these days? Many retreats take place in nature around the world and some offer up a digital detox. It can also help to have distance your own life in a unique way. Maybe you’re feeling stuck in a rut or unable to figure out a problem. Going on a yoga retreat can give you an outsider’s perspective.
Yoga retreats also offer you the chance the spend more time with amazing teachers than just one class. It means you get a whole retreat with them! Ever have burning questions that you wanted to ask but never had the time? Here’s your chance. Retreats can also offer up healing and positive energy. It’s the perfect getaway for wellness that normal vacations don’t quiet measure up to.
And for the yogis who are really dedicated to their practice — it’s the ultimate way to deepen your practice. You not only can take your practice to the next level, but you can also meet lifelong friends with whom to travel that path. It’s an opportunity to relax and take leaps of faith with your physical and mental practice. What better way to take advantage of your vacation time than to spend it being healthy and taking serious you-time?
So, where should you go?
The yoga retreat business is a pretty popular one. You can travel anywhere from Bali, Hawaii to Southern France. Benjamin Sears founded LuxYoga, a unique retreat in the South of France that allows yogis to stay at a private villa in luxury while practicing yoga every day. There are different styles of retreats such as ones that focus on Hot Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Vinyasa — depending on what suits you best.
Yoga retreats range far and wide. You can travel to Costa Rica Blue Osa, stay local in New York with the Omega Institute or North Carolina with Humble Haven, go exotic in Mexico with Haramara Retreat or Bali with Nandini Yoga. These are only a few of the options — and with some research, there is a perfect retreat for each yogi — you just have to find what’s right for you.
