YOGA RETREATS AND VACATIONS
BY Clay Larroy
A
vacation can soothe the soul and leave you renewed, refreshed, and invigorated.
Whether you are just now starting to plan your next vacation, or are merely
looking for travel
ideas and suggestions, read all the articles about yoga retreats. So take away
some of the stress of making travel plans, and get started thinking about the
fun and relaxing times you will soon be having on your next trip! When you are ready to plan an
exciting vacation contact me!
Imagine
this: you return from your vacation renewed and refreshed, like you really had
some time off. At work, you have a stronger sense of purpose, a feeling of
authenticity that permeates all of your professional relationships. At
home, you are more the person you want to be: strong, energetic and aware. It
sounds like you just returned from a retreat at a center specializing in
meditation and body soothing yoga. Think clean air, good simple food, no
clutter, no telephones... and time to unwind and get reacquainted with yourself
and loved ones. Far from being a "new age" junket, yoga retreats are
a way to reconnect with the simple process of being. When all goes as planned,
you not only return home feeling on top of the world - as though you really
have had a holiday -, you will return with knowledge on how to maintain your
newly centered feeling when back in the hustle and bustle of your everyday
life.
Breathe
slowly and deeply and relax into the thought of blissful peace and tranquility.
Forget the mass market cruises, the theme parks and the mad rush of too much in
too little time. A meditation retreat does not mean that you HAVE to go to
India, or sit unmoving in a cold cave at the top of a remote mountain. Meditation,
yoga, taiji, and similar mind/body experiences, encompassing anything from
spiritual to philosophical, are available in almost every corner of the world
from Buddhist retreats in Africa to yoga centers in Taiwan and Zendos in
Switzerland. While this article focuses on yoga, many of the same opportunities
exist for combining travel and other body/mind disciplines.
With
a few structured searches through your favorite yoga magazine and a visit to
your travel agent, you will be able to plan your own relaxing trip to the
retreat of your choice and combine a wonderful vacation with the study of a
relaxing, spiritual discipline - long before your incense stick has burned all
the way down.
Choosing
a Retreat
There
is a mind-boggling array of retreat options from which to choose. As always,
the best place to start is a careful consideration of your interests and the
destinations that coincide with your interests. If you already have a
particular yoga style that you follow or you know of a teacher or instructor with
whom you would like to study, you have successfully narrowed your choices! If,
however, you are open to a variety of options, there are yoga retreats in
hundreds of locations and venues: castles, beaches, ashrams and city parks. You
can choose tropical locations in Hawaii, practice yoga in the Alps or salute
the sun in a monastery in California. Because yoga is so widely practiced and
because every village, hamlet, town and city has a multitude of schools and
styles available, it is not an exaggeration to say that anywhere you desire to
visit, there you will find an opportunity to practice yoga with an instruction.
The
more interesting challenge will be to determine whether you are looking for a
resort type of experience or a deeper, more intensive experience. Most resorts
provide some opportunity for yoga practice, so with informal classes and other
with more formal instruction. The resort experience typically ensures that you
will stay limber and toned while enjoying a more traditional vacation experience.
Resorts offer flexibility and chance to practice while vacationing with others
who may be non-practitioners.
Yoga
retreats and ashrams, on the other hand, focus on yoga as the reason for
attending. At a yoga retreat, you are immersed in the world of yoga: new
positions, philosophies, styles and practices. Those around you are
practitioners and your instructors are advance adepts. Your time is structured
your meals planned, your activities centered on yoga practice. You experience
yoga as part of a community in a sanctuary of like-minded individuals.
When
choosing your own yoga vacation experience, find a point on the spectrum of
opportunities with which you and any traveling companions will be comfortable.
Will everyone in your group be happy with your choice? Do you want to commit to
hours of practice each day or would a class in the morning followed by your own
choice of activities be more to your liking? Do you want a structured
environment? How much of each day is given over to actual practice and how much
to other activities? Is the yoga style one with which you are comfortable?
Inquire about daily routines. Do participants rise at dawn or are classes
available on a regular schedule throughout the day. When are meals? Are there
opportunities for non-scheduled activities or is the routine regimented? In
general, what are the ambiance and the rhythm of the retreat you have under
consideration?
When
evaluating a range of possible retreats, consider the demographics of the retreat’s
typical client. Does the retreat host a range of yoga practitioner skills, or
does it focus on the novice or advanced practitioner? What is the age range and
gender of a typical client? Finding yourself out of your skill level or mixed
with others with whom you have little in common will likely result in
disappointment. Also, inquire about the number of students that will be present
during your visit. Too small a group results in little interaction with a
variety of people while too many students’ means less interaction with
instructors.
Accommodations
and facilities vary widely from yoga retreat to retreat. Some have very
luxurious and soothing environments while others provide a very Spartan
appointment. Many yoga resorts are also spas, providing a host of amenities and
services such as exercise rooms, weights, saunas and massage. Others are quiet
centers for meditation and reflection. Again, your personal preferences and the
goals you have set for yourself will dictate your choice. What is important is
to be well informed prior to making your selections and deposits!
Diet
and food are often very important aspects of a yoga retreat’s amenities. Again,
inquire with regard to the dietary philosophies and food preparations during
your planning stages. Most will provide a range of foods and diets, from
vegetarian to full cuisine, from raw food diets and all manner of specialty
culinary experiences in between. Make sure that your own goals match closely
the dietary offerings of the center you will be visiting. Note too that most
facilities on the more intensive side of the spectrum do not allow caffeine or
alcohol and may restrict other substances as well. A week or more of a highly
specialized diet can either be a blessing or a burden, so choose with care.
In
providing your travel arrangements, travel agents can access a large array of
travel options and discounts not available to the public at large. Travel
agents work with tour operators that package air travel, accommodations and
land transportations at large discounts from the retail purchase of those same
components. Thus, a travel agent is a great place to go with assistance in your
travel arrangements regardless of your choice of destination for your yoga
retreat. Your travel costs and opportunities, as well as the climate of your
preference may have a lot to do with the season during which you choose to
visit your yoga center. Ask your travel consultant to price both peak and
off-peak travel seasons to provide you with some insight into the range of
travel opportunities available to you.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
Travel to experience life with those you love!
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