How To Pick The Best Yoga Retreats

If you’re having feelings of overwhelm, burning out, stress or stagnancy, it may mean you need to take some time to hit the reset button, and give more time to you for some self-care and healing.

Sometimes it takes removing yourself from the daily cycle of doing things for people, and stepping into an entirely new environment solely designed to make you feel your best, inside and out.

Yoga retreats can certainly be a much-needed holiday break for some, but often it’s a time to find clarity and direction. If your health is suffering, yoga retreats can be a wonderful way to replenish your spirit and your passion for living.

If you feel like you need some balance in your life, then a yoga retreat is what you need. Here are 5 key considerations when choosing a yoga retreat:

1. What location is right for me?

Yoga retreats run all over the world. Do you have a place in mind that you already love or are you ready to discover somewhere new? Are you into beaches or do you prefer dramatic mountain ranges?

If you’re looking for a yoga retreat in the UK, you’ll find lots of options in the city and in nature. Do you prefer being surrounded by green fields in the countryside, sandy beaches, big open lakes or mountains. If it’s mountains, Scotland and Wales boast some wonderful scenic ranges. If it’s beaches, Northern Ireland has lots of stunning beaches. If it’s lakes you’re after, the Lake District is beautiful!

You should if you want the retreat to be a solely yoga focused retreat, or would you like to explore other activities such as hiking, paddle boarding, surfing, kayaking, skiing, etc. If so, choose a location that offers diverse activities in the agenda.

2. Retreat Themes

Retreats can have some wonderful themes tied into them. It might be a retreat to guide you through personal growth. There are retreats that focus on making you stronger and fitter. And of course, yoga retreats for tranquility and healing. Or perhaps it’s something with a little bit of everything.

Ask yourself what you want to get out of the experience. For example, getting your life direction in balance, weight loss, letting go of old traumas, making new friends, trying new activities and styles of yoga etc.

Make sure to read the descriptions of the retreat themes carefully and find the one that most speaks to you. The yoga retreat focus will bring together like-minded people, so look forward to a sense of connection to others that will enhance an already incredible experience.

3.  Price

The best way to manage your budget is finding a retreat inclusive of pretty much everything except airfare. This makes it easier to be aware of what your total trip expense will be. It’s easy to overspend if your lodging and meals are not yet included in the yoga retreat package.

Don’t be fooled by the cheapest price. There could be many reasons for this; for example, maybe the size of the retreat will be larger than you anticipated. When thinking of costs, consider the length of your retreat, including accommodation and food and drinks included. Don’t forget all the yoga classes and activities also come with a cost, so be realistic.

There are ways to save money too. Sharing a room with a friend, or paying in installments are great options to make it more affordable for you.

4. Retreat Duration

You can choose anywhere from a 2-night weekend, to a 10 day retreat. I wouldn’t assume that longer equals better. Sometimes, all we need is a weekend getaway to “reboot.”

If you want to plan for something 11 months from now, go you. But, if things in your life seem to be falling apart now, don’t wait to start healing. Get your dose of self-care and book yourself onto a yoga retreat today.

5. Style of Yoga

A retreat can be like a mini “teacher training”, as you guessed it, lots of yoga is involved. Make sure you feel aligned with the style of yoga you will be practicing (Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Raja, Hatha, Rocket etc.). You should also make sure the level of yoga (beginner, intermediate, advanced, multi-level) meets your needs.

I would also recommend aligning your retreat choice with how you define your yoga practice. If your definition includes meditation, philosophy, and chanting but the style offered doesn’t include what’s important to you, then keep looking.

When considering a UK yoga retreat, it is important that it’s YOUR decision. Make sure it’s not what everyone else wants you to do, or even the availability of your partner. Do this for you.

How do you best choose a yoga retreat? Choose based on what you want. From there, the foundation will be set for the best experience possible.