Yoga Retreat UK

If you have never been on a retreat before, the thought of doing so may fill you with trepidation and uncertainty.  Fear may be preventing you from taking the plunge and signing up for what could prove to be the best decision of your life – or certainly of the year!

Here’s why a short UK based retreat could be the perfect option:

• No stressful airport queues or needing to arrive at silly o’clock to get a reasonably priced flight
• No language or cultural barriers
• Plenty of opportunity to relax and unwind
• Lower cost than overseas options
• A few days are a perfect introduction

Enjoy More Classes with your Teacher

Booking a retreat away from home through your teacher offers the opportunity to enjoy more classes with them, with guest teachers and partake in other yoga and health related activities.  A short yoga retreat means that you don’t have much to lose if you decide that its not your thing.  Many participants discover that it is the perfect introduction to meditation or kicking up their yoga practice to a daily practice that supports their weekly or twice weekly classes.

Seek a Quality Experience

Like many things yoga retreats vary tremendously.  So, be sure to choose an option that gives the impression of attention to detail and well thought out options.  When you are not sure if a yoga retreat is for you select one that is UK based over a few days and that is not too full on.

We Don’t All Want the Same Thing

Some people like to give themselves to the idea of retreat 24/7 for the time they are away.  They throw themselves into exercise and all the extras that the retreat offers.  Some retreats offer fully inclusive packages, so that all you have to do is follow the herd and go with the flow.  There are some that offer things like vegan or vegetarian only menus, cleansing menus and detoxification as part of package.  While others are created with free time to explore the area and to decide what additional activities you want to take.

Yoga Retreat Spa Extras

Some readers want to experience extra yoga, explore meditation, nidra yoga and have options to partake in other things like a sound bath, Reiki, reflexology and massage.  For some the option of afternoon hair and beauty treatments really enhances their experience and makes the holiday feel less intense and more “holiday” like!

What About Pets?

While a room full of people attending a yoga class with their pets could easily turn into the opposite of what many want to achieve from yoga.  Just imagine a couple of pooches who don’t get along, snarling and growling or yapping is not what you want during a yoga class especially when relaxing into a child’s pose or shavasana.  But maybe there is a retreat that offers morning only daily yoga and nearby doggy daycare?  Then you can enjoy exploratory dog walks in the afternoon or evening.

What About Partners Can They Come on the Retreat?

Perhaps you can find a retreat that welcome’s non-participant partners or friends who can find something else to do for the hours you are attending classes and has sufficient free time to explore the local area and enjoy time together as well as gaining from the retreat experience.

Maybe there is a retreat that welcomes non-participant partners and offers activities that they can enjoy such as basic introduction to yoga or guided walks to explore the nearby countryside.

Think about the options you want, do you want a fully immersive retreat that removes you from all of your everyday life or would a semi-retreat work for you as a holiday where you still get away from daily life but combine yoga with a couples break and spend quality time separate and together.

Yoga Retreat Accommodation

Then there is the accommodation. Some retreats fully immerse the participants in the retreat 24/7 with accommodation on site or all being accommodated together in a large house and sharing meals and down time together.  Those types of accommodation work well when you are attending an overseas retreat and for anyone wanting a fully immersive experience.  Some even have basic dormitory style bedrooms.

But just suppose you want to experience a yoga retreat without fully immersing yourself and without having to spend all your time with the other attendees.  In that case a retreat that gives options of accommodation and additional activities could suit your desires and personality better.

Let’s suppose that you want to attend a retreat with your partner who does not practice yoga.  Or maybe you have dietary requirements that you don’t want to make a fuss about; then a self-catering accommodation option could suit you much better.  Or maybe, the thought of spending all your time with people you don’t yet know is stopping you from pressing the pay now button.  Then accommodation options and free evenings to chill out on your own to read, walk, explore or watch your favourite television might be your preferred choice.

Free Time to Explore and More

Of course, if the evenings are free time there is nothing to stop you from arranging to meet up with some other attendees and going out for a meal or taking it in turns to host the evening if you have self-catering accommodation.  But to have the option is nice when it is your first exploration into a yoga retreat.

Some people love the hotel experience where everything is catered.  A retreat location where lunch is provided and the hotel provides dinner and breakfast throughout the stay.  Being waited on and maybe enjoying time in the hotel gym or swimming pool.

While some people love the idea of extra yoga and exploring other types of yoga and exercise but to enjoy choosing a pub or restaurant for the evening meal and others’ experience is enhanced by being able to kick off their shoes and prepare an evening meal before chilling at self-catering accommodation.

Easy to Return Home

When you attend a UK based retreat if you decide that it is not for you, rather than going home early you can enjoy your time away by finding alternative accommodation. An option that is simpler than trying to do so when overseas.  Going home early is also a much simpler decision than trying to rearrange flights or ferry’s if you decide to leave early.

A Great Way to Test if a Retreat is for You

A yoga retreat over just a few days in relatively familiar surroundings should give anyone thinking of attending a gentle exploration into a retreat that may lead to regular UK retreats or exploration further afield. 

In most cases the aim of the retreat is relaxation and exploration of yourself.  A UK based retreat should ensure that you start the experience relaxed and in the right frame of mind safe in the knowledge that language, food and so on will not create any barriers.

The UK has some wonderful, beautiful places and there are many retreat options without needing to dig out the passport.  Some combine with spiritual experiences and combine yoga with new age ideas and activities that might intrigue you.  For unusual and unconventional options head for Glastonbury, the spiritual town in Somerset believed to be the mythical Isle of Avalon.  It is said that the lay lines around Glastonbury enhance the spiritual experience.  Certainly, Glastonbury is an inclusive place offering choices for many religions and belief structures making it a good yoga retreat option in Somerset when you want to explore alternatives. 

Whatever type of retreat you decide on and wherever you attend your retreat there are many options of countryside and coastal locations outside of the towns and cities that enable you to combine the heart, mind, body aspects of yoga with the healing and awe inspiring nature of the British Isles.

Think about what you would want from your perfect few days of yoga away from home and find the retreat that is closest to your desires or that resonates with you.

Whatever you decide by choosing a yoga break that suits your desires you will come away better for the experience.

Some comments from retreat attendees:

“It was so much better than I expected”

“I wish I’d known, I should have gone before”

“I loved the extra’s, The sound bath was an amazing experience”

“The added spa experience really listed the week to a higher level, thank you”

Combine the Retreat Experience with UK Nature

There are some people who seek out and attend UK based yoga retreats year after a year, going on retreats in Devon, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Wales and more.  Staying in the UK offers a great way to enhance your yoga journey and, in some cases, explore the UK.  Sometimes, overseas visitors attend UK yoga retreats and benefit from the UK experience. There is no right or wrong way for a yoga retreat to be planned and what is on offer.  The variety on offer ensures that there is something for everyone.

If you are thinking about booking a UK retreat, please contact me at Yoga with Lyn with your desires and wishes for your perfect UK yoga retreat.  I can’t promise to encompass everything, but I can take your comments into account when arranging UK based yoga retreats.  Planning a yoga retreat takes time and currently early planning is in place for a yoga retreat in Devon and a yoga retreat Somerset.

Who knows people’s ideas and wants could create a whole new blog post too!