Yoga has quickly grown to become one of the most popular fitness programs in the country, with more studios and gym classes than ever before. With a variety of different types of yoga including hot yoga, asana, and hatha, each type focuses on particular poses and different ways to stimulate the mind and body. If you are feeling like your usual one day a week class is starting to plateau your strength or stress levels, you might want to consider something a little more involved, like a yoga retreat. These yoga retreats can be notoriously expensive and require travel to exotic places; however, there are options for more affordable yoga retreats for those looking to go a little lighter on their wallet.
- Island Yoga, Thailand
During this retreat there is morning meditation, then an energizing asana yoga practice, breakfast, and in the afternoon you have some tourist time to relax and explore the island. They provide massages and workshops, and you can also go climbing or kayaking. The evenings involve relaxing through meditation and asana yoga. This mini yoga retreat is 4 days and 3 nights, and costs between $150-$350.
- Yoga and Dance at Finca Argayall, La Gomera, The Canary Islands
This is a seven night yoga retreat where Sue Pendlebury teaches yoga, dance, voice meditation and pranayama to free your body, open your heart and find your inner dance of joy. Finca Argayall is a magical venue set on the gorgeous island of La Gomera, nestled in the cliffs of a secluded bay. The schedule includes morning meditation, two asana yoga classes each day, free time, and creative workshops. The price ranges from $875-$1200.
- Yoga at Masseria della Zingara, Puglia, Italy
Set alongside the beautiful coast of Italy, Masseria della Zingara lies on 20 acres of olive, fig, cherry, and almond trees. It’s isolated near Polignano a Mare, the ice cream capital of Italy, for those of you with a sweet tooth. The classes at this yoga retreat focus on movement, breath, relaxation, and meditation. This is a weeklong yoga retreat, and the price includes accommodations, three meals per day, and two yoga sessions per day. The cost ranges from $650 to $1300.
- Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Quebec, Canada
This Yoga Camp is one of the nine ashrams in the world. Guests staying here must partake in the daily schedule of meditation, two yoga classes, brunch, lecture or free time, and dinner. It is located in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains, and in the summer, guests do yoga on an outdoor deck and swim in the in-ground pool. In the winter, guests at this yoga retreat can go skiing and snowshoeing. A special weekend getaway from Friday to Sunday ranges from $130-$150.
Obviously some of these yoga retreats require air travel, so to keep the price low try going in the off season when specials or promotions might be available. You are going on a yoga retreat, so try to pack light with just a carry-on to avoid the bag fees. This trip isn’t supposed to stress you out and lighten your wallet, it’s supposed to clear your mind and free you of stress.
I love to travel, and I love to exercise. Yet would I love to combine travel and exercise? Maybe
I like the idea of cheap. We so rarely travel right now, I didn’t realize that staying at places like this could actually be so inexpensive. Of course air faire would be the more prohibitive portion of it but even then the prices can make it worth the trip.
I can imagine how wonderful these yoga retreats would be. I would love to be in such a beautiful relaxing setting.
This sounds like heaven!! Have you been to these places? I’m tickled that one of them is in Canada and can come in under $150 for a weekend. That’s going on my to-do list!! Thanks for this great list of afforadable yoga havens – it’s great to fantasize about places like Italy and Thailand at this cold, grey and dreary time of year.
This is such a great list! We’ll be in Thailand in the June-July timeframe, so we’ll definitely have to check out the Island Yoga retreat! I’ll let you know if we make it there. Thanks for the suggestion!
It’s an excellent idea to take time off and go to a yoga retreat.
But why not start by finding an excellent yoga instructor where you live? Preferably an Indian or someone who learnt yoga in India.
Have done yoga all over the world and the Indians are by far the best instructors you can find. And it makes sense because that’s where yoga was developed thousands of years ago.