ABC News Online came out with a report in March of 2010 called America's Healthiest Vacations. Included in this were several retreats that offer yoga. Just a few years ago yoga was considered an "alternative" practice. In the last ten years it has catapulted into a mainstream practice, ranging from a form of exercise to an integrated approach to wellness through meditation and asana practice. For some if it has led to a lifestyle change, which can include giving up meat, alcohol and eating less refined foods. As a natural progression in the benefits people receive from furthering their yoga practice, or simply out of curiosity if someone wants to learn more, yoga retreats are becoming a viable choice for vacationers.
In these changing and often uncertain times, a yoga retreat can also offer a time to reflect and be taken care of in a nurturing way, or to explore other activites you enjoy and have wanted to try. Many yoga retreats these days offer things like surfing or writing, for example, as well as yoga classes. Yoga teacher training is another thing that has "taken off" and can deepen your experience. Many retreats offer month long teacher trainings, some offer several retreats that add up to the time required to meet the standards that will qualify them to be a Registered Yoga Teacher.Yoga is the union of the mind, body and breath. By taking a vacation that includes yoga, you can awaken your body and mind, fostering a deeper relationship with yourself.
This can improve your outlook on your life, your relationships with others as well as your ability to handle stress and change. What is required to practice yoga? An open mind. Any qualified teacher can work with you around anything you may perceive as a limitation- past injuries, conditions like high blood pressure, arthritis or chronic fatigue, for example, need not stop you from doing yoga. Yoga can also be a great tool for losing weight, not so much in the physical aspect, which is helpful, but in the way our mind adjusts into a better life balance.
What can you expect from a yoga retreat and what should you look for?
Make sure the approach is one that fits your needs and level. If you have already been well into your practice for some time, seek out a teacher that teaches a style of yoga that you know and like or try a new one. In this case a retreat with larger classes and teachers with large followings may excite your practice and ignite your enthusiasm. If you would prefer personalized attention, a retreat that is not a large institution may better suit your needs. In this day and age there are many flavors of yoga vacations. Some are more basic, like an ashram, and work on stripping away your set habits, which can be a good tool in personal growth; others are more middle of the road in cost, size and popularity. Lastly, there are high-end luxurious retreats, offering alcohol and meat, which are less concerned with teaching the total yoga lifestyle. There are many locations around the world so it might also be a chance to have an adventure in a new place.One thing that many retreats offer is an opportunity to be near, or out in, nature.
Opportunities for a yoga retreat can range from a Costa Rican jungle, versus an ocean, lake, forest or beautifully manicured acreage.Styles of classes and other amenities and activites to enhance your overall time should be considered. Massages, walks and hikes and other endeavors you enjoy may be a part of the program. Food is also an important factor while on a yoga retreat. The food can range from raw food and juicing to vegetarian fare that is so delicious you won't miss your meat, all the while learning healthier habits along the way. Steaks and wine may also be enjoyed at the high end retreats.As yoga continues to be recognized as a tool to prevent health issues that can arise out of stressful living and unhealthy habits, more opportunites to take vacations that include yoga are happening. Some places that are not specifically yoga retreats, like the high-end Canyon Ranch, offer yoga as an adjunt to its programs that include physician consults as well as pampering treatments.
The internet is a great way to start your search for Yoga Vacations and Yoga Retreats.If you are already taking yoga, ask your teacher or fellow students if they have any suggestions, as word of mouth is still a powerful tool. Go on a retreat and enjoy the journey.
