Body Mind Spirit

Retreat centers such as White Lotus Foundation Retreat Center in Santa Barbara, California (805-964-1944), or Feathered Pipe Ranch in Helena, Montana (406-442-8196), lie at the middle of the spectrum. These large retreat centers offer an eclectic assortment of courses in personal and spiritual development—and yoga retreats comprise just part of their offerings.

The more demanding daily schedule at retreat centers typically features yoga classes one to three hours twice a day. You spend the rest of the day in instructional activities or meditation, and you’ll usually have one to three hours off for other recreational activities like music, dance, hiking, swimming, biking, and so on. The courses in these centers often attract a large number of participants, a great plus if you are socially minded, but not so hot if you prefer smaller groups.

At the intensive end of the spectrum of yoga vacations are the half-dozen ashrams, or spiritual communities, around the country that open their doors to visitors. Whereas retreat centers offer courses taught by teachers from many different traditions, ashrams most often focus on the teachings of one spiritual master. The Expanding Light Center in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, for example, is the home of Ananda Village, a large intentional community founded by followers of Paramahansa Yogananda (800-346-5350). The daily routine includes yoga sessions and workshops with a focus on self-discovery or healthy living. Similarly, the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch in New York’s Catskill Mountains offers retreat programs based on the yoga and Vedanta teachings of Sivananda (914-436-6492). Here you’ll spend your stay in meditation, asana, chanting, readings, and discussion. You’ll also be expected to participate in some of the daily work activities around the ranch.

Whether you go for a resort-style yoga vacation or decide to embark on a retreat is, of course, a matter of personal preference. If you want the flexibility to schedule your day exactly the way you want—or if you’re new to yoga and don’t want to commit to a more involved retreat—choose the resort-style vacation. This kind is also a best bet if you’re combining a yoga adventure with a family vacation, as few retreat facilities offer child care or options for a nonparticipating spouse. In many places, you simply take a one-hour class in the morning and are free to vacation with your family the rest of the day.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a deeper yoga experience, then the retreat centers and ashrams have the advantage. You’ll experience life in a spiritual community, and hopefully awaken to new dimensions of meaning and purpose. You will meet like-minded people, make new friends, and explore enriching spiritual disciplines and teachings. For many people, the journey to a sanctuary where everyone is focused on the pursuit of personal and spiritual growth can be a transforming experience.

At the same time, you want to make sure you’ll be comfortable with the more structured daily routine typical of retreat centers. Look over the daily schedule in advance, and see if it suits you. If you have very little previous experience with yoga, a retreat that offers two daily three-hour yoga sessions may be more than you bargained for. In some cases, particularly at ashrams, participation in the daily schedule is mandatory. Even when it isn’t, you don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you feel torn between following the center’s daily routine and fulfilling your own vacation goals. In addition, you may be asked to help out with chores (doing dishes, helping with yard maintenance, etc.), so be sure you’re comfortable with this before you sign up.

Accommodations and meals add another dimension to the planning. Most retreat centers serve a vegetarian or vegan-only menu that excludes caffeine-containing beverages—a welcome bonus for some, a challenge for others. Ashrams typically offer dormitory accommodations (four to seven per room), with shared bathroom facilities. If you prefer a single or double room with a private bathroom—and these are available—be sure to book well in advance. But if you don’t mind a little communal living, the low cost of retreat-type vacations ($220 per week and up) makes them a persuasive option next to the typical $800 you’ll pay for a resort-style yoga vacation.

Whichever option you choose, any yoga vacation can be a deeply transforming experience that helps you develop a new sense of yourself and what’s important in your life. Peace, strength, serenity, renewed vigor, and better health are just some of the souvenirs that you’ll bring home. Yoga retreats enable you to meet fellow travelers on the spiritual path, learn new techniques for creating greater inner balance, and above all, have fun and explore both the outer and the inner wonders of life.

Resources

Yoga Vacations: A Guide to International Yoga Retreats by Annalisa Cunningham (John Muir Publications, 1999). A comprehensive and detailed listing of more than 100 different yoga vacations and retreats in the United States and overseas. Helpful indices in the back of the book group the retreats according to location, instructor, or time of year offered.

www.yogasite.com: This useful site provides links to the Web pages of nearly 40 yoga retreat centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.