Many folks who hear the words yoga retreat meet that phrase with a hint of skepticism. Why do you need to fly away to some exotic place with a group of strangers or alone just to practice yoga?
Isn’t your home good enough? What about that local studio which is a few blocks away?
Many don’t know that for those practitioners who take the plunge – so to speak – they quickly realize how powerful an experience these retreats can be.
Whether your yoga practice needs some rejuvenation, or you’re just looking to add value to your upcoming vacation, give yourself the gift of a yoga retreat.
Here’s why:
It’s not just a vacation
Believe it or not, vacations don’t always deliver on the promise of keeping you relaxed and helping you refresh. Sometimes you don’t have the assurance of having a great time depending on the weather, the situation or even the timing.
But yoga retreats are different. You don’t need to worry about the weather or even the timing because it’s all scheduled. You also have a unique experience even if you return to the same place at another time.
Yoga retreats are specifically designed to help you de-stress, disconnect, and decompress. There’s very little planning required on your part – the retreat’s organizers takes care of it all on your behalf.
Then, of course, there’s yoga. Retreats allow you to wake up each morning, move, stretch, and breathe, only to do it again at the end of the day. Sometimes they offer complimentary meals and they’re usually either vegan-diet or it depends on your food preference.
It also helps you get more positive energy from the experience. When your vacation revolves around yoga, you won’t have to worry about looking for places, asking for directions and wondering what the most affordable restaurants are to get by. Yoga retreats know about this dilemma which is why they make wellness plans to cater to travelers.
It can help you learn more about yourself
Are you having problems at work? Are you trying to overcome a heartbreak? Or do you plan to get away from everything and have more of your me-time?
Well, this is the right time for you to stop overthinking. Stop worrying about things and start meditating.
Another great thing about yoga retreats is that they offer you time and space away from your busy lifestyle and responsibilities so that you can reconnect with yourself and rediscover your own personal journey.
The best part about having more time for yourself is to establish your circle of friends from different places, sharing an interest towards yoga. It’s easier to connect with others if they share the same wonderful experience.
You can also befriend yoga instructors. The best thing about the instructors in a retreat center is the fact that they are easily accessible. You can ask any questions, learn more tips and hear more inspirational wisdom from them. Just try to reach out. Befriend your yogamates and your instructor. They won’t bite. In fact, they will welcome you with open arms.
It can deepen your yoga practice
One of the greatest benefits of doing yoga in a retreat than at home is that you can commit to it. Put your phone aside, stop checking on your planner and again, stop worrying.
Being in a retreat center gives you a chance to disconnect yourself from technology. Because of this, you can empty your cup and fill them more of what you’ve learned from your experience.
Since this retreat gives you more time with yourself in a relaxing ambiance, you’ll practice yoga every day, if not twice or more a day. Beyond just helping your body get in and out of poses, retreats allow you to experience other aspects of yoga, including meditation, breathing practices, chanting, and other rituals.
There are various styles of yoga. There are Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram, Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa, to name a few. Each of them has their own unique style that can be good for all ages and sizes.
With all of these styles being honed and practiced by experts, you can say that they are passionate towards our well-being. Another great fact is that, the years of practice can help experts create their own yoga style. It still continues till this day! Who knows, you might even create your own yoga style as well.
After knowing this, what’s great about this experience is that you can try all of these styles, depending on which package you’ve chosen beforehand. And through this experience, you know what style is best for you and apply it at home. It saves time and money from doing yoga hopping in the future!
It can keep you inspired
The best outcome after experiencing yoga retreats is to get inspiration. Many practitioners agree that after a yoga retreat, they not only feel inspired but also they feel better about themselves. Not to mention, they feel inspired to improve themselves not in mind but body and soul as well.
And you know what’s the best part? You feel motivated to do yoga longterm! Since attending a yoga retreat gives a great experience, it will make you more inspired, more attentive to your time relaxing, eating healthy food, soul searching once you’re back home.
And you know what’s the best part? You feel motivated to do yoga longterm! Since attending a yoga retreat gives a great experience, it will make you more inspired, more attentive to your time relaxing, eating healthy food, soul searching once you’re back home.
Let’s not forget the fact about the sceneries. Compared to doing it at home or at a local yoga hub, what makes yoga retreats stand out is definitely the beautiful scenery. Most yoga retreats are located in places with breathtaking views. These views can be a great inspiration to your creativity. And it helps you focus more on your productivity. As you already know, when you are inspired, you start becoming productive and it helps you get focused.
It Helps You Be Healthier – Both Body And Mind
Finally, the most essential reason why people go for yoga: you get healthier in a long process. What’s amazing about retreat centers is that you are given a purpose. When you get healthier in both body and mind, you are going to be surrounded by positive energy and can change your life.
You might have an injured back and through the right yoga practice and style that suits you best, you never feel happier being able to have a good posture again. Tired of strenuous workout?
Yoga is a good contributor of weight loss. Not only it helps you lose weight, but you also feel relaxed both body and mind. Or you might have a long-term depression. It might not cure it overnight but this will be a good start to overcome it.
Knowing these things, yoga retreats offers a lot of ways to start with a healthier lifestyle –both mentally and physically. They customize food with a bit of touch of their local dish, depending on the availability and not to mention you can apply whatever you eat at home with your own homestyle cooking.
That’s why when it comes to a healthier workout, you can’t just ignore doing yoga, especially when you go for a yoga retreat.
In Conclusion
You see, yoga retreats are a life-changer. With the current busy lifestyle we have, it is necessary to try this unique experience. As mentioned earlier, the experience really helps you get by with your problems and it will be the start of your motivation in the long run. There is a reason why yoga has been practiced for many decades.There’s also a reason why there are many yoga styles and it won’t stop there. It keeps growing as it becomes more than just a trend and more of a lifestyle.
Now that you’ve read the benefits, try searching for a yoga retreat in your next travel and be sure to schedule it beforehand. Invite your friends to join the retreat as well and get to experience it beforehand instead of doubting it first. So, next time when you’re going out to de-stress yourself, be sure to get your yoga mats ready and start having good vibes in the name of yoga.
