Yoga is an excellent complement to most sports, thanks to its focus on balance, flexibility and strength. Maybe that’s why recreational retreats nowadays are incorporating the 5,000-year old practice as a part of their vacation packages. If you’re looking for an activity-oriented trip where you can unroll your mat with likeminded yogis, consider these upcoming getaways:
Yoga and Cross Country/Skate Ski Retreat, Mazama, WA Cross-country skiing and its sister sport, skate skiing, are two highly aerobic and wildly exhilarating winter workouts. And Mazama—which boasts a half million acres of virgin timberland—is an incredible place to enjoy spectacular beauty while cruising the snowy trails. During this adventure, retreat leader Melina Meza teaches morning yoga (rather vigorous) and afternoon classes (more relaxed) in a style she calls “seasonal vinyasa.” Depending on the time of year, she says, “people eat different foods, wear different clothes and make other changes to stay healthy; your yoga flow should change, too.” You have the option of staying at the Mazama Country Inn, where meals are included, or renting your own cabin and cooking as you wish. February 12-15. Price varies depending on lodging. 206.579.7220, MelinaMeza.com.
Yoga and Snowboard (or Downhill Ski) Retreat, Telluride, CO or Mammoth Prefer swooshing downhill in the Rockies or the Sierras? Join Adventure Yoga Retreats this winter. Each day begins with a vinyasa flow practice taught by Ted McDonald, owner of Point Dume Yoga in Malibu. After fueling up with breakfast, head to the snowcapped mountains for as much boarding or skiing as your heart desires. Evenings offer the chance to wind down with a restorative yoga session before drifting off to sleep.
In Telluride you’ll stay at the Peaks Resort and Golden Door Spa. Mammoth’s retreat is held at Convict Lake Resort. Telluride: February 3-7. $1295 per person ($1550 after 12/18). Mammoth: February 25-28. $575 per person ($675 after 1/6). 310.455.6681, AdventureYoga Retreats.com.
Touch the Earth and Yoga in Nature, Big Sur If you haven’t been to Treebones Resort in Big Sur, you must go. With an organic garden, chlorine-free pool and 16 adorable yurts perched on the edge of the Pacific, it’s the perfect escape for Angelenos. To kick off the New Year, Treebones is hosting two earth-oriented retreats, (plus a third, Artful Journaling in Nature, scheduled for late February). Touch the Earth incorporates yoga into days that are otherwise devoted to instructional sessions on garden preparation, the plant life cycle, and of course, plenty of opportunities to get your hands into the earth. Yoga in Nature is more active, with abundant sun salutations, afternoon sessions and evening chakra dancing. During free time take advantage of Treebones eco-adventures, such as hiking through redwood forests or sea kayaking in San Simeon Cove. Touch the Earth: January 25-27. $350 per person, double occupancy, $450 per person single occupancy. Yoga in Nature: February 22-24. $425 per person, double occupancy, $500 per person, single occupancy. 877.424.4787, TreebonesResort.com.
Surf Retreats, Maui, Hawaii Learning to surf in Southern California means braving the cold ocean. With SwellWomen’s weeklong Surf Retreats in Maui, you can forget the wetsuit and pack only a bikini for paddling around warmer parts of the Pacific. Surfing lessons start each morning at 8am with a follow-up yoga class. In the afternoon you can opt to participate in an excursion or spend your free time lounging by the pool. Wind down the day with a sunset surf session. Cuisine is prepared by a private chef—think fresh seafood and organic vegetables—and guests stay on a private stretch of Ka’anapali Beach. Various dates April–August (men are welcome the weeks of May 2 and August 15). $2,895 per person double occupancy, $3,495 per person single occupancy. 1.800.399.MAUI, SwellWomen.com.
Athleta Wine Country Adventure Rrunk Diding—er, I mean, drunk riding—is never a good idea, but there is a lot more in store than wine tasting at this Sonoma Valley women cyclers retreat. Morning yoga is followed by a winding ride along the Pacific Ocean. Plus, there’s trail running, hiking and African dance. You can sign up for a massage, write poetry, or learn about olive oil making. Meals are cooked from scratch and lodging is at The Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg. All fitness levels welcome. April 25-30. $1,695 per person, 303.545.9295, Womens Quest.com.
Cowgirl Yoga, Bozeman, MT Many young girls dream of owning a horse. Instead, most get stuck with a toy stick pony. Now you can fulfill your childhood fantasy of riding through open country in the state where The Horse Whisperer was filmed. Big Sky Yoga Retreats in Bozeman, Montana is run by Yoga Works-trained instructor Margaret Burns Vap. Offered in the summers, her five-day Cowgirl Yoga packages “explore the link between yoga and riding.” Lunches come from the Community Food Co-op or the town’s eco-friendly Sola Café, while dinners are held at various area restaurants. You’ll sleep at the Gallatin Gateway Inn, but be sure to wander outside at night and gaze heavenward. Montana is called Big Sky Country for good reason. June 6-11 or July 11-16. $2,750 per person for double occupancy; additional cost for single occupancy. 406.587.2390, BigSkyYogaRetreats.com.
Nama-Stay Retreat, Wherever You Are, USA You don’t have to travel to another location for an exercise and yoga retreat. Throw a staycation in the comfort of your own home. Jane Clarke’s book Bodyfoods for Busy People (McBooks Press) describes how to host your own 48-hour home spa retreat. With morning walks in the great outdoors, nourishing meals, and pampering yourself with plenty of rest, herbal teas and aromatherapy, you can feel nurtured and reenergized without ever packing a suitcase.
— by Jenny Rough
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