Our amazing ambassador Silvia Mordini has given us tips on how to pick a retreat – a great read to check out before embarking on a sweaty and bendy adventure. Now that you’ve decided to play big and get inverted (you ARE coming, right?!), we thought we’d share our top picks for ‘holy-CRAP-I-love-my-life’ experiences on the mat.
1. journey into power level one training
february 25- march 3, 2012
kalani, hawaii
lead by: baron baptiste
Have you got deep enough into your practice that you’re contemplating instructing – or simply want a challenging week of yoga where your classmates elevate and inspire you? Check out this retreat hosted by yoga legend Baron Baptiste. Baron has been instructing since he was a child and his instruction is mind blowing (I speak from experience). His words are true, his questions penetrating and his demeanor supremely approachable. Best of all, you’ll be on the beautiful island of Hawaii, filled with all the green juice smoothies, beach strolls and sunny smiles you can handle.
2. sivananda ashram beginners yoga retreat
june 4 - 8, 2012
paradise island, nassau
lead by: sylvie boisclair
Are you new to yoga and want to take a week to deepen your practice and get away from it all? This retreat in the beautiful and quiet Bahamas could be a great choice for you. The Sivananda Ashram runs much like a traditional ashram, with a strong focus on the self. The schedule of events focuses on getting beginner yogis comfortable with movement, terminology and positions on the mat. In addition to daily yoga practice, there are daily meditations, art classes and massages on the white sand beach. Let’s all say it together: “ahhhhhhhhhhh.”
3. yoga breaks - hotel chamarel
september 6 - 11, 2012
denia, spain
lead by: assorted instructors
If you are looking to combine a week of asanas with travelling in one of the most beautiful regions in the world, check out Yoga Breaks. People from all over Europe and beyond have been attending this retreat for years, and with good reason: the town is stunning and the food at Hotel Chamarel is reputed to be delicious. What could be better than a day of yoga, followed by meandering down cobblestoned streets finishing with cava and delectable eats? Combine this retreat with a few days in Barcelona or Madrid and you may never come home.
4. luxe cowgirl yoga, big sky yoga retreats
september 13- 16, 2012
bozeman, montana
lead by: assorted instructors
If the idea of downward dogs followed by horse canters is your idea of a good time, look no further. Big Sky Yoga Retreats in beautiful Bozeman, Montana is the perfect retreat for someone who wants to mix a little high-energy adrenaline in with their oms. The countryside in Bozeman is expansive and wild, perfect for unleashing your inner cowgirl; the terrain also lends itself well to contemplative meditation and relaxing moments taking in sunrises and sunsets.
5. blissology ‘yes’ (yoga ecology surf) retreat
date TBD, 2013
goa, india
lead by: eoin finn & insiya rasiwala-finn
Longtime friends of lululemon (and friends to yogis around the world) Eoin Finn and Insiya Rasiwala-Finn have been delighting people for years with their retreats to various spots on the globe. Many folks here at lululemon’s Store Support Centre (SSC) in Vancouver have been to their workshops and come back raving (think getting excited but not the glow stick kind) about their experiences. The Blissology schedules are balanced with a focus on exploring local culture; if goal setting classes, daily sessions on the mat and yummy food is what you are looking for, this is the retreat for you.
PS – how cool is Goa?!
I don’t know about you but I hear a Hawaiian conch shell calling my name. Got a retreat planned for 2012? Tell us which ones!
