Category: Yoga Retreats

One of the main questions asked by people who are planning on attending a yoga retreat is how to prepare properly for the experience. Even if you’ve been to a yoga retreat before, every one is different so you can’t be certain that you’re ready mentally or physically to attend. If this will be your first ever yoga retreat, you’re probably a little worried about whether you’ll be able to manage everything that’s expected of you and you’re probably thinking that if you could just be better prepared you’d feel more relaxed when you finally arrive at your destination. After all, most people don’t do yoga for two or more hours every day, and certainly not for several days in a row, so it isn’t surprising that some people are naturally a bit worried that they won’t be able to keep up with the other yogis when they arrive.

The good news for yogis old and new is that there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. You’ll cope just fine, however often you’ve practiced yoga. Even if you’re completely new to it, you’ll find that you can manage perfectly well since you can just work at your own pace and explore your practice in the way that best suits you.

However, if you’re still worrying about how you’re going to ensure that you’re completely ready, here are some top tips to reassure you and get you ready for your yoga retreat experience so that you can have maximum enjoyment.

1.Keep Up With Your Practice

It’s a pretty obvious tip, but if you keep practicing before you head off to your retreat, you’ll feel more mentally and physically prepared when you arrive.

If possible, add in a couple more classes and keep your practice as balanced as possible trying different styles. A couple of weeks before you set off is definitely not the right time to begin advanced postures if they’re new to you – you don’t want to get injured just before the retreat – so hold off for a while. Even if those postures do come up while you’re at the retreat you can just explore them then.

2.Pack Light

There is absolutely no need to take tons of stuff with you to a yoga retreat, so part of your preparation should centre around what not to take rather than what you should be putting in your suitcase. You definitely won’t need 20 pairs of yoga leggings and you won’t be wearing makeup or using a hair dryer. Just pack light and keep luggage to a minimum. You’ll probably wear the same few outfits repeatedly because it’s simple and convenient, and there’s no primping or preening at a yoga retreat. Everyone just accepts each other as they are, whether they’ve got frizzy hair, bad skin or the same clothes every day!

3.Think About Your Goals

Before you go to a yoga retreat, one of the key things you should be doing is thinking about your goals. What is your sankalpa or intention for your retreat? Why do you want to go to a yoga retreat at all? What do you want to get out of it? Perhaps you want to learn to meditate more effectively, or perhaps you want to widen your yoga practice. Maybe you’re keen to rejuvenate yourself and get some deep relaxation, or maybe you’re looking for a stronger connection with yourself. Some people go to yoga retreats to heal themselves spiritually, physically and emotionally. Whatever your reasons, you should make sure that you acknowledge them and honour them. Sometimes, that will mean that when you’re at the retreat you should let go of your barriers and be brave, or sometimes it means that it’s ok to skip a yoga practice so that you can take a walk or sleep in. You need to be completely aware of yourself to get the most benefit from the experience.

4.Eat Mindfully

A yoga retreat usually offers you the chance to eat some amazing, healthful food with minimal processed products, no caffeine, alcohol or meat. That means that it can be a bit of a shock for your body if you’re used to eating fast food and sugary snacks and drinking gallons of coffee and wine.

When you’re preparing for your retreat, cut back on processed foods and flush the toxins from your system a couple of weeks before you head off. Try including more vegetables, fruits and whole foods into your daily eating plan so that you already feel good inside and out, all ready to find a more radiant and healthy self on your retreat.

5.Find Out About The Destination

When you’re heading off to a yoga retreat overseas one of the best things is getting to know an exciting new country with its own culture, heritage and sights to explore. Find out more about the place that you are visiting and learn about what that region is best known for. See if you can find sufficient time to plan in excursions so that you can really immerse yourself in the full experience of the country you are going to. Learning more about the destination that you’re going to will also get you more excited about your trip and will get you in the right frame of mind to maximise the experience.

Above all, when heading off to a yoga retreat, no matter where in the world it may be, you need to manage the expectations that you have about what you’re going to get out of the experience. Asking the retreat leader about anything you’re concerned about or anything you need clarified before you go is very important so that you’ll be well prepared for what everything will be like. If it’s your first retreat you are naturally probably quite nervous, and having the reassurance of a clear idea of what you can expect will prepare you mentally and physically for what is sure to be an amazing experience for you.

This infographic is brought to you by TantraYogaThailand.com

Heidi Dietrich will be leading a yoga and meditation retreat with Italian Cooking Classes next September in Italy! Read on in this exclusive interview to learn how the idea of “Full Circle” plays into her retreat and learn more about Heidi’s greatest influences and passions.

Heidi is a RYT500 Yoga Teacher and has 108 hours of training in the heart-oriented method of Anusara. Through the dance of balancing the body, mind and spirit she guides us toward harmonizing our inner truth with our actions and experiences. Heidi’s gentle and restorative approach to the yoga practice incorporates energy work, flower essences, mantra, yantra painting, gemology and astrology as well as Yoga Nidra. Join her in Italy from September 15- September 22, 2018!

Meet True Nature Leader Heidi Dietrich

1. How does the idea of “Full Circle” play into your upcoming Yoga Retreat, and what  themes do you see coming up?

“The breath flows in and just before it turns to flow out, there is a flash of pure joy -life is renewed. Awaken into that.” – Lorin Roche

In the setting of this Living Yoga Retreat, Full Circle gives us a framework to step outside of daily demands and really meet ourselves again. Just as we reside in the NOW in the practice of yoga, travel offers a direct avenue to wake up to the magic of life, lightened of prior beliefs or thoughts, consciously embodying each moment, we digest life fully, breathe it in then let it go. Practicing yoga and meditation tools during the Retreat will strengthen the habit of relaxing into the flow of life as well as tuning into our inner callings. Find the Pause.

When we fully digest our experiences, we are more open to live in the present moment. We are invited to consider completing a project as a tribute of our time in Italy as a way of digesting the adventure and integrating the ah-ha’s. This may include a photography book, a painting, learning how to cook an Italian dish to make at your next gathering, writing letters to loved ones, planting a new garden, designing a new piece of clothing based upon Italian fashion…

Let’s ride the cycles of life, thoroughly digesting our experiences and celebrating their impact on the quilt of our lives. Inhale. Exhale. Full Circle.

2. Who has been your greatest influence and why?

From the very beginning, my organized, supportive and loving parents shaped my ability to be a conscientious human, to take responsibility for my choices, and to pursue my dreams. In the company of my best friend, Beth, I found the courage to expand my view of how the world works and branch out into entrepreneurship, creating the life of my dreams. My yoga teacher, Brenna Geehan was my inspiration to become a yoga teacher and her teaching partner, Jean Mazzie felt like a gift from God! Jean personifies the absolute freedom that called forth my authenticity and truth. And for my entire life, my sister Heather, who is also a yoga teacher, has encouraged and inspired me and … she celebrates my Wild Woman side.

3. If there was a yoga pose or meditation practice that describes you – what would it be and why?

The practice of Yoga Nidra in its peaceful, relaxing cleansing of all the layers of ourself. Savasana was what pulled me to learn more about yoga as I wanted to live wherever it was that I went when I floated into Savasana. The healing and the recharge that we experience while the whole body is completely relaxed is what I encourage everyone to remember. Relax into your True Nature.

4. Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions? Will these be explored in your retreat?

Travel, Painting, Photography, Wine, Food. When I imagine us in Italy, it includes watercolor painting on the veranda, perhaps with an afternoon glass of wine. We will have the opportunity to schedule special outings for photography shoots, explore Italian cooking classes, plus wine and olive oil tasting! We will be absolutely glowing!

5. What is on your “Italian bucket list” and what are you most excited about?

Spending rent on a pair of leather boots. Riding bikes around Italy. Strolling through farmers markets. Watching the colors of the buildings on the Amalfi coast shift in the Italian sun. Soaking in the luxurious and abundant energy of Italy. Photo-ops in the vineyards and on the coast. I am most excited about visiting a new country in the loving care of True Nature Travels and having the opportunity to once again launch into new frontiers to share and explore life with adventurous souls.

6. Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?

From the Radiance Sutras by Lorin Roche, Ph.D

The way of direct living experience begins with a breath

such as the breath you are breathing now.

Awakening into the luminous reality

may dawn in the momentary throb

between any two breaths.

The breath flows in and just before it turns

to flow out,

there is a flash of pure joy –

life is renewed.

Awaken into that.

As the breath is released and flows out,

there is a pulse as it turns to flow in.

In that turn, you are empty.

Enter that emptiness as the source of all life.

Enter these turning points

In the play of respiration and expiration,

Where the rhythms of life transform

Into each other.

Cherishing these moments,      

Mind dissolves into heart,

Heart dissolves into space,

Body becomes a shimmering field

Pulsating between emptiness and fullness..

In any quiet moment when you are breathing,

the breath may flow out and pause of itself,

or flow in and pause of itself.

There experience opens into an exquisite vastness

with no beginning and no end.

Embrace that infinity without reservation.

Dive into it, drink deeply of it and emerge renewed.

“Costa Rica Yoga Retreat: Join Me On The Journey.” first appeared on Love Grown Wellness. 

Maybe you are on the fence about heading out on a yoga retreat. A life-changing journey in which you will be surrounded by amazing energy, stunning scenery and the opportunity to unplug. That’s right… letting go of the daily grind so you can rest, relax, restore and reconnect. Still debating? Here are a few reasons why I went on my first retreat:

1. CONNECT WITH NATURE

Many yoga retreats take place in stunning, natural locations around the world. Get out of the hustle and bustle than to go on a yoga retreat! Connect with nature on a deeper level, immersing yourself in your surroundings and taking advantage of them in a way you might not otherwise do.

2. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE ENERGY

One of the many benefits of going on a yoga retreat is taking a vacation full of positive energy! On retreat, you’ll surround yourself with positive thoughts and feelings. No need to worry about any vacation stress, just embrace the positives vibes coming your way.

3. COMMIT TO HEALTHY EATING

The food you eat on retreat is chosen with care for your health and wellbeing. Going on retreat is an opportunity to eat well without having to worry about it yourself, and it’s a wellness habit you can take home with you.

4. YOU DESERVE IT

Treat yourself to an experience by going on a yoga retreat. This is a vacation all about YOU, leave the stresses of daily life behind, let it go, you deserve it!

5. HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Every retreat is different, even if you return to the same place. The other people and your frame of mind at the time will never be the same again. A yoga retreat will always result in a unique experience, and each retreat will be different as you continue to grow within yourself.

Ride the flow of the yoga classes, move to the rhythm of the waves, allow yourself to connect deeper to yourself and others.
Book Now! Early Bird Pricing in effect.

“Bringing Your Retreat Home: How to ease back into real life after a glorious week away.” first appeared on Being Well Yoga. Thanks to author, Lisa Feder, for letting us share this amazing blog about bringing your retreat home and for her awesome tips about keeping the retreat wisdom alive long after the retreat is over!

I recently returned from leading a Yoga retreat in Costa Rica.  Long, relaxed days of waking up with the sun, enjoying delicious meals made for us with food from the biodynamic farm  at our retreat center, and extended, deep practices in the open-air studio surrounded by the rainforest.  Free time in the afternoon to reflect and journal, walk and explore, and hang out by the pool with new and old friends.  Connecting with the earth, with our fellow travelers, and with ourselves.  NOT connected to technology every waking minute. As one of the leaders of the retreat, I got to observe the shifts that the participants experienced, and to watch each retreater shine in her own way.

By the end of the week I could literally see the changes, as each person looked lighter and stronger and radiated a newfound freedom from some of the things that had held them back in the past.Then we returned home.  We were challenged by flight delays and power outages.  We had to go back to work.  We regained 24/7 access to air-conditioning and our cell phones.  We returned to our partners, friends, children, bosses and schedules.  I heard from many retreaters that they were holding tightly to what they experienced on the retreat, feeling softer, calmer and more focused.  When retreaters returned to my regular Yoga classes, I noticed the “retreat effect”—stronger practices, but also an indescribable lightness and power.  I heard from others that they road back was bumpy, challenging, and that there had been some “melt-downs”.

I experienced my own melt-down a few days after returning—complete exhaustion and lack of motivation.  I gave myself a few days, and then a few more.  After a nourishing long walk around the lake with a friend, I began to return to myself.Retreats are awesome, but they can’t last forever (sigh!). However, with a little bit of thought we can ease ourselves back into life and keep building on the effects of the retreat…at least until the next retreat comes along!Here are a few things you can do to help ease yourself back to reality following a retreat:

1. Pace yourself.  After a week away, you may feel like you are a little behind at work, or need to catch up with friends, house projects, of even TV shows.  Take a deep breath.  And pace yourself, perhaps even giving yourself more time than you usually need for things.  Crisis at the office?  Prioritize—you can only do one thing at a time.  Use the power of presence and focus that you cultivated on retreat to help you take it one moment, one project, and one day at a time.  Social commitments overwhelming you?  Spend your time in ways that bring you joy and learn to say “no thank you” to those extra activities that you don’t renew your energy.  And build in time for yourself.
2. Keep up your practice. Upon returning to your daily life, it is unlikely that you will have time for two practices a day, or even one long practice a day. Don’t let that derail you. Carve out some time each day. Perhaps on a busy day you only have time for a short meditation walk before work, or maybe you can schedule a class at lunch or in the evening. If the schedule at your nearby studio doesn’t work for you, do a home practice when it is convenient for you. Find a video or trust your instincts and just move in a way that feels good. What is important is that you have a little time on the mat for self-inquiry to understand how you are feeling and what you need each day.
3. Understand that not everyone in your life has been on retreat. You may have settled down and shifted your thinking during your week away. You may have a new appreciation and understanding of what mindfulness means for you. Don’t expect that everyone in your world will have also had this shift, or will even understand it. Resist trying to teach them everything you learned during the week. Simply practice the compassion and presence you experienced on retreat and open in acceptance to those around you. It’s unlikely that your experience will profoundly change the people around you—however, you can change or reframe your response to those people or things that trigger you. And then take another deep breath.
4. Keep some retreat habits. Did you enjoy journaling every day? Eating healthy food? Taking a break from Facebook and emails? Connecting deeply with people? You can still do that, even when you are not on retreat! Each day or week, set an intention to continue something that you felt was helpful, nourishing, fun or centering. Build that into your day. If you liked letting go of social media, keep that up. That always provides some extra free time.
5. Stay in touch with your new retreat community. No, you might not have hours to hang out and share every story of your childhood, career, and love life. But you can send a quick text, or share an article on your community page. And this is where social media really shines—reach out to the group on FB. Share pictures and stories related to the retreat. If you find a great class, or concert or event, spread the word an invite the retreaters who live near you. Make plans to see the retreaters who live out of town when you can. We are so often on the move, things can line up. If you are having a melt-down, reach out to someone from the group—they may be going through the same thing or can offer some perspective. Don’t let too much time pass before connecting.

Even in the “real world” you can maintain the retreat effects with a bit of mindfulness.  Pause, take a deep breath and take your new perspective into your days.  And, of course, there’s always the next retreat!

About the Author:

Lisa Feder, founder of Being Well Yoga, loves teaching Yoga and Mindfulness anywhere—studios, offices, and the rainforest!  Her company, Being Well Yoga, brings Yoga on-site to the workplace so employees can work well and be well. Learn more about Lisa here!

Everyone knows that yoga retreats are the best. It’s a chance to relax and nourish yourself while some fabulous teacher leads you through an incredible yoga practice. That, of course, is when you go to a yoga retreat. But what about when you teach a yoga retreat? Sure, it may not be the unplugged vacation your students are going, but there is something special you get when you teach a yoga retreat. We think of it as one of the many perks of being a yoga teacher.

Oh the places you’ll go… When you teach a yoga retreat

Not all of us can afford a spontaneous trip to Italy or Peru, and as a yoga teacher you know that cash flow isn’t always what you’d like it be. But when you lead a yoga retreat you have an opportunity to go to exotic countries all around the world… for free. In fact, in addition to free trips to countries like Guatemala or Costa Rica, you could be getting paid to teach yoga in these magical countries.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a part of a yoga retreat somewhere exciting, but could never really figure out how to afford it, why not teach a yoga retreat in the country yourself? It’s a great way to go wherever you dream of going without breaking the bank in doing so.

It’s a great chance to bond with inspiring yogis

One of the things we love about hosting yoga retreats is the incredible bunch of yogis we get to meet along the way. Every day someone new is signing up for our yoga retreats and each individual yogi brings a world view and a lifetime of experience that is different from what we know.

When you teach a yoga retreat you open yourself up to all of these people. Even if many of them are people you have practiced with in the studio, a yoga retreat offers a different kind of bonding experience where everyone can open up and share their authentic selves with one another. What better way to get connected with the inspiring yogis in your life than to lead them through yoga practices in some of the most beautiful places on Earth?

Your own practice will grow from the experience

Anyone who has taught yoga knows that teaching is an incredible learning experience and every class you teach serves to deepen your own yoga practice as well. This is especially true when you teach a yoga retreat. The intensive setting of a yoga retreat steeps you in the yoga world and the constant teaching forces you to face your boundaries and redefine your limits.

Our yoga teachers are constantly raving about what they learned by teaching yoga retreats with us and we are endlessly amazed by the wisdom that so many of them find during these experiences. There is something uniquely powerful about teaching a yoga retreat… something simply teaching in a studio cannot touch.

Want to find out how you can teach a yoga retreat in some of the most amazing locations in the world? We’ve got your back.

“Oh, lago de Atitlán, eres orgullo Nacional, eres la Perla más linda que Dios nos brinda.”
“Oh, Lake Atitlan, you are a national pride, you are the most beautiful pearl that God gives us.”

-Teachers in Guatemala