Travelling Can Be Hard Sometimes, but We Do Have Yoga Retreats!
Switch off from stress with a wellness holiday
Modern life can be stressful, but a trip to a yoga retreat can help you to relax, de-stress and recharge your batteries.
With long commutes, longer working hours and the pressures of finding a work-life balance, modern life can be pretty stressful. And, in fact, almost half of Britons consider themselves to be suffering from stress, with some feeling ‘close to breaking point’.
Many view going on holiday as the perfect opportunity to escape the pressure and de-stress, but with delayed flights, airport queues and large crowds, even a ‘relaxing’ getaway can be more stressful than first anticipated.
Luckily, yoga retreats can offer a truly relaxing alternative – and, with more and more people waking up to the benefits of this type of getaway, it seems that wellness holidays are on the rise.
Why yoga?
Yoga is perfect if you are feeling stressed, exhausted, or simply want a bit of ‘me time’. It has a focus on mindfulness and wellbeing, helping you to switch off from the stresses of modern life and recharge your batteries. It’s also beneficial to your physical health, helping to improve both strength and flexibility.
Heading to a yoga retreat can really help you to immerse yourself in the yoga mind-set and start giving your mind and body the care and attention they deserve.
Como Shambhala Estate, Bali
Bali is the spiritual home of yoga and is a favourite destination with yoga enthusiasts. Visitors to the Como Shambhala Estate can enjoy a ‘360-degree wellbeing experience’, complete with a resident nutritionist and supplementary health juices. The resort is in a beautiful jungle setting with yoga classes taking place in open-air hilltop pavilions. Como Shambhala also offers private lessons and runs yoga retreat weeks with visiting masters, for those looking for more intensive training. Try to time your visit to coincide with the annual ‘Bali Spirit’ festival in Ubud which hosts a programme of yoga workshops.
Marigold Yoga Holidays, India and Nepal
Most yoga retreats cater to a wide range of age ranges, but more and more initiatives are popping up with services specifically targeted at people of or near to retirement age. Marigold Yoga Holidays is one such enterprise. With retreats in both India and Nepal, Marigold Yoga offers yoga courses that are especially suitable for older people. The British yoga trainer, Meg Lee, offers a programme of easy poses and basic relaxation and breathing techniques, that even a complete beginner will be able to master.
Big Sky Yoga Retreats, Montana
Unleash your inner cowgirl-yogi with a visit to Big Sky Yoga Retreats in Montana. This women-only retreat is open to people of all skill levels and has an emphasis on outdoor fitness. Visitors in the summer and autumn can combine their yoga classes with horseback riding, while those staying during the winter months get to try their hand at cross-country skiing, as well as cookery and tea-making classes. And of course, don’t forget the other big selling point of this resort – the spectacular mountain scenery!
Yoga Cruise, Turkey
Who says that yoga has to take place on land? If you’re looking for something a little different and would like to combine your yoga holiday with a bit of sightseeing, a ‘yoga cruise’ could be the answer. With Yoga Cruise in Turkey you will spend a week practicing yoga on a traditional style motor sailing yacht in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. As well as practicing your poses, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore the picturesque coves and villages that dot this beautiful coastline. There are a number of yoga cruise operators but this one is ranked amongst the top ten in the world.
Littleton Mill, Wiltshire
You don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to enjoy a yoga retreat. If you prefer to practice your yoga a bit closer to home, UK-based retreats such as Littleton Mill in Wiltshire could be the answer. Littleton Mill health and wellbeing retreat has been converted from an old water mill and is set in ten acres of meadow and woodland. Its large yoga room still has its original beams and offers stunning views over the water.
The popularity of yoga holidays continues to rise, and there is a wealth of great yoga and wellbeing retreats to choose from. The great thing about yoga is that it’s suitable for all ages and all fitness levels. So whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned professional, you are sure to feel the benefits of a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga holiday.