“Retreat” translated from English means “solitude.” Although this word and the corresponding type of relaxation have come into fashion recently, retreats are at least 2000 years old: the practice of withdrawing from the world in order to devote oneself to meditation and prayer, accepted in all three world religions, in essence is a real retreat, no matter how it is called called in one tradition or another. However, retreats are different, and the religious component is not always present in them. An example of this is yoga retreats, which are open to people of all beliefs and beliefs. To participate in many of them, it is not even necessary to have experience in yoga – the main thing is a sincere desire to spend a week or two with benefits for the body and mind.
Strictly speaking, calling a yoga retreat a vacation is not entirely correct. At least it has little in common with staying at an all inclusive resort. There’s not much you can do on the beach here—spread out your mat and go ahead and do asanas! Instead of cocktail parties and dancing until dawn, there is a strict daily routine with early rises, and instead of a buffet there is a vegetarian diet, or even a detox menu of raw fruits and natural juices.
It would seem, why does a city dweller, tired of the squirrel wheel of “work-home-work”, need such torment on vacation? Each participant in the yoga retreat has his own answer to this question: test yourself, get rid of bad habits and join a healthy lifestyle, find yourself among like-minded people who love yoga… But the essence of a retreat is the opportunity to go beyond the usual in order to rethink your own life, overcome your fears and realize your desires – few things clear your head as much as physical activity and healthy food. Of course, a yoga retreat is just one of the possible paths to yourself. But, firstly, one of the most interesting, because it involves a trip to exotic places and new acquaintances, and secondly, as paradoxical as it may sound, one of the easiest: starting to wake up at dawn and giving up overeating is much easier in a group , than alone.
So, where to go? There are retreat centers that conduct their own programs all year round, which you can join at any time. There are retreats organized by specific yoga teachers – they take place on certain dates in the same retreat centers, in hotels, or even in the format of hikes (the difference from a regular trip to nature with tents is the practice of yoga).
Photo: Marion Michele
Yoga retreat programs also vary. Not only by their directions, but also by the requirements for the physical training of participants and even the daily routine and diet: they can be either mandatory or “optional”. If you want to immerse yourself in a radically different environment and understand the essence of retreat as a phenomenon, it is better to choose the “obligatory” option, and at the maximum distance from civilization, or rather its fruits such as bars, clubs, television and the Internet. The optimal period for such complete immersion into oneself through yoga is 7-10 days; you won’t be able to reboot properly in one weekend.
As for programs that allow the participation of beginners, experienced yogis should not be afraid of them. Firstly, it is useful to remember the basics, and secondly, many yoga poses suggest the possibility of simple execution for beginners and more complex ones for “advanced users”, so the latter will not be bored.
To save money when booking a retreat yourself, it’s best to plan your trip in advance—many retreat centers offer early bird discounts. You can also choose, for example, between living in a room or in a tent and single occupancy or sharing a shared room with another participant (in both cases, the second option is more budget-friendly). However, whether these options are available depends on the rules of the particular retreat center.
For those who want to go on a yoga retreat, we have selected 5 interesting places to go this year.
Photo: unsplash.com/@jareddrice
Ulpothain Sri Lanka serves as a venue for yoga and Ayurvedic retreats annually in July-August and from November to March. The rest of the time, this place lives the normal life of a tropical village where rice is grown. It’s far from cheap, but the best teachers from all over the world come here with their programs. The situation will be remembered for a long time: the houses have no walls, despite the fact that there is a tropical forest around with an abundance of living creatures, in particular, wild monkeys. This is where you can feel unity with nature and are guaranteed to get rid of the phobias inherent in the “children of asphalt” who are far from it!
Photo: unsplash.com/@chupzzz
If you prefer horses to monkeys and elephants, you have a direct (albeit not close) road to the other side of the world in the USA, Vermont, to the retreat center Stowe Mountain Ranch. The local climate and setting are not much reminiscent of Asian retreats – the atmosphere of the wild, wild West reigns here. And yes, the menu, in addition to organic vegetables, fruits and cereals, includes fish and game. But with a variety of programs offered throughout the year, including the unique Yoga with Horses, there is no doubt that this place is not without reason called one of the best yoga retreats in North America. You can negotiate with the chef about vegetarian food.
Photo: Jon Flobrant
Retreat Center Villa Sumayais located in Guatemala on the shores of Lake Atitlan, framed by volcanoes. The views from the comfortable rooms and both yoga studios are a definite plus of this place. As well as the variety of retreat programs held all year round, the presence of a SPA complex and a varied vegetarian menu. However, to completely disconnect from your usual routines, you will need willpower: the center has Wi-Fi and a bar with alcoholic drinks. The latter are, of course, not included in the retreat menu, but they can be purchased for an additional fee. If you are confident in yourself, now is the time to book a place on the retreat: from May to October, the “green season” lasts at Villa Sumaya, when there are fewer people and lower prices.
Photo: unsplash.com/@chupzzz
And again Asia. Lotus Yoga Retreatin the main resort of India, in the state of Goa, there are two retreats in one: you can sleep, eat, practice yoga and meditate under the whisper of the waves of the Arabian Sea, or you can in a tropical forest 2 kilometers from the beach. In any case, this is a very budget option with accommodation in huts made of bamboo, reeds and palm leaves and a varied vegetarian menu with organic products, freshly squeezed juices and herbal teas. You can come here with a friend or girlfriend who has not done yoga – while you are undergoing a retreat, your companion can simply enjoy life in an eco-village. By the way, in addition to India, there is a Lotus retreat in Spain, in Ibiza.
Photo:
Kristopher Allison
Since we’re talking about freshly squeezed juices, how do you like the idea of a week-long detox with natural juices and smoothies in one of two retreat centers Juice Master? You can’t do without yoga, just like you can’t do without other types of physical activity: fitness, table tennis, volleyball, hiking and cycling… But here it’s not yoga that is put at the forefront, but just the nutritional system. You can try out the original approach of the British Jason Vale this year until October (inclusive) in Turkey and in October-December in Portugal (all places in the summer programs have already been booked). The conditions are more comfortable than in Asian retreats, and the prices wouldn’t be too bad if they weren’t in English pounds.
We recommend booking your hotel on the OneTwoTrip website or app.
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