What a Day on a Yoga Retreat Looks Like

If you have never been on a yoga retreat, it is hard to know what the days are actually like. Here is the rhythm our retreats follow. The details differ from place to place, but the shape stays the same.

Morning: meditation, then practice

The day begins seated. A guided meditation settles the mind before anything else is asked of it. Then comes the main yoga practice of the day, open to every level, with variations offered so that each person can work at the right intensity.

Starting this way matters. The tradition treats the early hours as the clearest time for practice, and most people find that a morning which begins in stillness stays steadier.

Midday: food and the outdoors

Meals on our retreats are vegan and vegetarian. The middle of the day is for the place itself. In the Austrian Alps that means guided mountain walks. In North Goa it means time by the sea and traditional Ayurvedic massage in the afternoons.

Evening: a slower practice

As the day closes, the practice slows down. That might be Yin, where postures are held for several minutes, or a guided relaxation. After a day outdoors, the body is ready for it.

Evenings are also for talking over the day with the group, or simply for quiet.

What people are often surprised by

• How much rest there is. A retreat is not a boot camp. Free time is part of the design.
• How quickly the mind settles. By the third day, many people notice they are thinking less about home and more about what is in front of them.
• How demanding it can be. Two practices a day plus walking is real effort. It is steady work, not strain, but it is work.

Where we go

Our current retreats are five days in the Austrian Alps and eight days in North Goa, India. A retreat in North Wales is coming soon. Full details are on our retreats page.