Making Your Quirks Work

Getting Your Om On -- Finding The Right Yoga Retreat For You

10 December 2015 by Derek Little

If you are like so many other yoga practitioners, there comes a point when you start thinking about attending a retreat. For some, attending an intensive yoga retreat could be a way to, hopefully, deepen and improve their practice and possibly even earn a teaching certificate. While for others, a retreat might be a personal journey into self-discovery. Still others are just looking for a vacation that combines their favorite pastime with some fun under the sun. Fortunately, there are retreats out there for everybody. Consider the following when looking into yoga retreats.

Ashram-style Versus Vacation-Style

In the very popular book and movie, "Eat Pray Love," the author decided to spend time in an ashram in India. Accommodations and the food offered were very basic, while the yoga and chanting practices were compulsory. If you decide to attend an ashram-style retreat, which are also available in the U.S., as well as in other countries, you can expect:

• To adhere to a schedule. You are there to deepen your practice and become a more disciplined yoga practitioner, so you are typically expected to get up at the crack of dawn and participate in whatever the ashram requires of you to do. This may also including doing what is called karma yoga or selfless service, where you help with chores around the a.
• Vegetarian fare. In most cases, meat dishes will not be available at this type of retreat.
• Communal living. Most everything, including dining and meditation, is done in a group setting.

This type of retreat is perfect if you are seeking to become more spiritually in tune with your yoga practice. But it is not for everyone. For example, you may want to consider a vacation-style retreat instead. At this type of retreat, you will typically find: 

• Luxury accommodations in a destination setting. For example, there are many yoga retreats available in beautiful resort areas such as Hawaii and Costa Rica.
• Access to onsite pampering. Need a massage after a day of doing yoga? No worries. Most vacation-style retreats offer a full slate of spa treatments.
• Workshops. Many yoga retreats also offer their guests extras, such as classes on healthy cooking or seminars on being happy.

Questions You Need to Ask

Once you decide what type of yoga retreat will be perfect for you, it's important to ask the following questions before booking:

• What is included in the price? For example, are all of your meals and drinks included?
• Are accommodations communal? Depending on the type of retreat you attend, you may have to stay in dorm-style rooms. Or, in the case of a vacation-style retreat, you may have to pay a single supplement if you will be attending by yourself.
•  Is transportation included to and from the retreat? If not, how much more will it cost you? Some retreats are in very remote locations, so it is important to determine how you will be getting to the location as well as how much more the transportation bill will add on to the cost of your retreat.
• Are yoga mats available. If so, do you need to rent them or are they available for free.
• What type of yoga will you be practicing? If you are used to Vinyasa-style yoga, you may be disappointed if your entire vacation is spent doing Hatha yoga -- and vice versa.
• Is there a policy on drinking? An ashram-style retreat will frown on drinking.

A yoga retreat can be very rewarding both physically and spiritually, as long as you do your due diligence to make sure that the one you choose is the right one for your specific wants and desires.

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