Yoga Retreat, Take Me Away

Ninety minutes of yoga away from daily stress is heaven.

However, to really get away from it all, find a stretch of time (4-10 days) for a vacation and go on a yoga retreat.  

For most of us, a yoga vacation is a luxury, but a retreat can help maintain balance in our very busy lives. Going on a yoga retreat incorporates the luxury of getting away and our love of the practice. 

Also, it’s a healthier choice, returning from your vacation, renewed, rejuvenated and reconnected to yourself. With spring break fading fast and summer vacation on the horizon, consider the options.

In no particular order, I’ve created a list of exciting retreats near and far for you to review, plan and execute. GO!

My teacher, Micheline Berry is hosting two yoga retreats, Esalen Spring and Summer Rejuvenation Retreats April 20-22nd and July 6-8th at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Calif.  

Joining her will be Joey Lugassy & Red Musette Ensemble.  “A healing weekend retreat of radical relaxation. Accompanied by world fusion music, you will immerse yourself into practices that revitalize, renew and inspire all overlooking stunning vistas of Big Surs magical oceanside bluffs!”

EARLY REGISTRATION RECOMMENDED!  Cost (per person):  $385 - $1,120, which includes everything except body work for 2 nights / 3 day.  Info and Registration: esalen.org or 831.667.3005.

Forrest yoga creater Ana Forrest will be hosting her first yoga conference, Wind Horse: The First Forrest Yoga Conference  August 17th-20th 2012. Three Days of exclusive Master classes with Ana Forrest at the Snow Mountain Ranch in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  It also includes a wide variety of yoga classes with Forrest’s Guardians and includes ceremony with Native American Medicine Healers Alex Turtle and Chenoa Egawa.

Miami teacher Will Duprey will host, Lost in the Mountains : Men's Yoga Retreat  for its 2 year on August 30 - September 3, 2012.  Duprey was a presenter at Rasa-Lila Festival this year, and if I were a dude, I’d want to go on this retreat. 

Lost in the Mountains is held at the Synergia Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I find it exciting that men have a choice to get away with other men and reconnect with nature, themselves and their human tribe of man. Cost: $600 Double Occupancy, $750 Single Occupancy.

Tampa favorite, Jen E. Smith is teaching a 5 day yoga retreat at The  Villas Pura Vida Retreat Center Apartado , Alajuela , Costa Rica, May 5–10, 2012. Join Jen for five days of soul stimulating yoga, poetry, readings, music and nightly movies specifically chosen to enhance your sense of union, truth, clarity and love.

Pura Vida, meaning Pure Life, is located on a Private Estate atop a Mountain in Costa Rica’s Alajuela Province. Pura Vida is considered “Heaven at the Top of the World.” Retail Price: $1695 Single Occupancy RYW Price: $1495 Single Occupancy. 

Join the Retreat Yourself  Well Yoga Club at ($70 for a six month membership) and get $200 off your cost of this retreat.  Price includes: Deluxe accommodation, three health driven meals daily, 2 daily yoga classes, meditation, Book Club, Journaling instruction, Nightly movie showings with discussion. No airfare included.

Local favorite Rubén Vásquez is leading his Journey to Life Balance - Summer Retreat at Pura Vida Retreat & Spa in Costa Rica, July 2 to 7, 2012 Create balance in your life by cultivating a healthy body, a serene mind and a joyful heart.  Free yourself from habitual stress and tension in this  6 day retreat, you  arrive Monday July 2nd  and return Saturday, July 7th Cost: $899 before April 31 (double occupancy).

Join Tampa-based yoga teachers DinaGeorgoulis & Sherry Smith for an adventure of a lifetime! Taking you off the mat and into the world for 8 days/7 nights to the mythical and magical island of Santorini Greece!  For all information and pricing please go to www.retreatjourneys.com.

Longtime Tampa teacher and psychologist, Shelley Happel and Diego
Hernandez  will be leading a Yoga and Meditation retreat in  in Costa Rica on July 14-21,2012. 

Seven nights and 8 days in Costa Rica. Yoga, relaxation, adventure, meditation, relaxation, workshops, gourmet vegetarian meals, relaxation all in the beauty of Costa Rica.  

Happel will be teaching the yoga and Hernandez will be teaching the meditation.   Prices for the retreat are around $1495 for double occupancy (exact prices depend upon accommodations you choose.

Price includes the lodging, ground transportation from San Jose airport, all meals,Yoga and workshops.  This price does not include airfare or optional tours.

From Lakeland Florida, Frankie Hart from Satya Life Yoga is offering a Leaf Changing Yoga retreat in Tennessee October 2012! Call the studio for more information 863-802-9642.

Try New England Yoga With John Calabria for a Spring Retreat in the Sirius
Community of  Shutesbury, Massachusetts. May 18th 2012. For years, John's been bringing small groups to beautiful settings for affordable Yoga retreat weekends in Massachusetts, New York, and throughout New England.  To reserve your place for the spring 2012 Yoga Retreat please email John before sending in payment of $150.

Katelyn Thureson & Jenny Miller are leading a retreat to Costa Rica August 18-27 2012  St. Petersburg based Yoga instructors, Jenny  Miller and Katelyn Thureson bring yoga and fun to  Costa Rica. Lounge away your
afternoons on the beach, or explore Cahuita National. It sounds yummy to  me. More info: http://beerasana.wordpress.com/costa-rica-retreat-sept-21-30-2012/.

Orlando teacher, JulieRoach is hosting a group to Wanderlust Squaw Valley  July 26 ~ 30, 2012. Shared Luxury Condo at Squaw Valley Lodge from Thursday checkout Monday.  Two-minute walk to most all classes or the Gondola up to high camp. Check out the line-up for Classes and Music www.wanderlustfestival.com . Call for pricing levels and more info: 407.766.3680, www.H2yo.co, julie@H2yO.co.

I would love to hear about your own Yoga Retreat experiences, or if you are going on any of these retreats, I’d like to hear about your experience!

Namaste!