Quick Picks:  Meditation and Yoga Retreat

Esalen Institute – Big Sur, California

The Esalen Institute is in Big Sur, California. It’s surrounded by water and mountains and has a beautiful location. You can do relaxing activities there, and they are open for 23 hours a day with a dining room, outdoor deck, sunroom, and kitchen.

You can go to many classes, including Tai Chi, yoga retreats, meditation, and spiritual workshops. If you want to take a yoga retreat in California, this is the perfect place. There are three meals a day with fresh produce and fruit available all day long.

There are different accommodations for workshops. You can select one with a shared bathroom, or you can get one that has an upgraded bathroom and privacy or even internet and ocean views, or Point Houses. Which have private suites with living rooms, bedrooms, full kitchens, private decks, and dining areas. And there are sleeping bag accommodations in meeting rooms too.

You can attend this workshop for $730 per person. It includes meals, a movement program, and access to the facilities. This is one of California’s most popular spiritual retreats.

The Omega Institute – Rhinebeck, New York

The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck is a place that has classes and workshops. On any day, you can go to different classes like meditation, yoga retreats, movement, and Tai Chi.

There is a store on campus and access to the library. There are also other services like massage, acupuncture, and life coaching.

Long Pond Lake has a lake for swimming and boating, tennis courts, trails to walk on, sauna where you can relax after being outside in the sun or cold. There is also a dining hall where you can eat with people. If you want private rooms instead of camping, there are private cabins or shared cabins.

This place is good for relaxing and disconnecting. There are no TVs or phones, but there are payphones and Wi-Fi. The rooms are called Double Cabin Rooms. It starts at $416 per person for two nights, including three meals daily. This place has some of the best meditation retreats in New York state. Camping also starts at $216 per person for two days, with three meals a day included.

Shambhala Mountain Center – Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

The Shambhala Mountain Center is a place in the Colorado Rockies. It is perfect for people who want to take a spiritual retreat. People can stay for a weekend or a week, depending on their preferences. The Shambhala Mountain Center has programs for people who need help with their spiritual life, but it also has space for people who just want to come and relax.

The land is home to over 100 programs, and you can do different activities. These activities include wisdom, Shambhala teachings, contemplative arts, body awareness, and mindful living. You can also hike or just go on a tour of the Great Stupa. In addition to these things, there are 8 miles of trails for you to explore and other classes that might interest you.

If you stay at this place, you can eat 3 meals a day. The ingredients are all-natural and healthy. We have 5 different rooms in the lodge or 2 tents to select from. There is also a seasonal dorm and Red Feather double to pick from.

There are places in the tent where people can sit and relax. But there is no bedding in the tent lodgings. Tent lodging starts at $109 per person per night, including meals.

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health – Berkshires, Massachusetts

Kripalu offers yoga retreats to learn about yoga, healthy living, and other topics. Kripalu also gives classes on how to do the activities at their campus. The campus is 150 acres and has a beach, labyrinth, trails, and hilltop views.

You have the option of taking residential professional training in yoga or Ayurveda. There are various programs to select from, including hiking and yoga, conscious eating, integrative weight loss, detoxing for healing and health, developing a resilient life, and more. Some courses are intended for professionals only; others, such as yoga and walking, may be taken by anyone. Programs exist for people with cancer or Parkinson’s disease who wish to visit Sri Lanka.

There are many different things to do here. You can go to the bookstore, cafe, or fitness center. There are also healing arts centers and meditation rooms for people who want to relax. On the grounds, there are walking trails, a coastal lake where people swim, and dorms starting at $198.

Feathered Pipe Ranch – Helena, Montana

The Feathered Pipe Ranch is for people who want to get away from city life. The ranch has different types of lodging that can be private or shared. You can go on a retreat and relax, and also explore nature.

You can choose between things like tents, yurts, or tepees. You can also stay in rooms that have a chalet style. You get to use the hot tubs and saunas when you are here. Visitors can also schedule to have a massage or bodywork done.

Montana is a place where you can do all kinds of fun activities like hiking, exploring lakes, swimming, and canoeing. There are also organized retreats for people who want to learn about different topics like yoga or healthy eating. The cost of your stay includes all of your meals.

Kalani – Pāhoa, Hawaii

Kalani is a place where people can go to explore yoga. There are 120 acres full of things, like organic farming and preserved heritage. People will stay in a cabin without phones or TVs. They will have original art and use all of the facilities at Kalani.

Kalani offers classes for a wide range of interests. There are 12 different types of yoga, Lauhala weaving, hula, tai chi, dancing, meditation, and bodywork among them. Kalani also has a small gym and a pool. The campus is surrounded by nature which means that the temperature will be perfect every time you visit. In addition, you can unwind in the lounge or browse the gift shop. You can play volleyball too!

Hale Aloha is a place where people can eat. They have sandwiches, salads, snacks, ice cream, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a gift shop. People can also eat in Lanai, an outside area with tables and chairs. The buffet meals are served at lunchtime. You can choose from tropical produce, fresh-caught fish, or vegetarian options. There are also rooms to rent called lodge rooms with shared baths for $95 per night, including the use of Kalani’s facilities (pools and hot tubs). Your stay includes all meals.

Brooks, Maine’s Rolling Meadows Yoga & Meditation Retreats

Rolling Meadows Yoga & Meditation Retreats are the best places for people to do yoga or meditation. They will have retreats in Sweden, Italy, and Costa Rica. But people also come to the Maine campus because it has nice views of the countryside.

There are 10 rooms in the farmhouse. Some of them are living rooms, others are porches or sunrooms. There’s also a library inside.

There is a large area with organic vegetables and flowers. There are also walking paths, a spring-fed swimming pond, and sheep. The meditation room has yoga supplies and cushions to sit on while you meditate. You can do things like take a wood-fired sauna or go swimming in the summer. In the winter, you can walk through fields and woods or cross country skiing (skiing on snow).

The retreat provides vegetarian food. It is a time away from distractions, with limited talk. You can go to India for 12 days for $1,995.

Spiritual Retreat: Insight Meditation Society – Barre, Massachusetts

The United States’ Insight Meditation Society is a retreat center. They have been teaching people about Buddhist meditation for a long time. The first retreat center they had was near the forest, and this is where they started to teach their students how to meditate. The 240 acres of woods around Insight Meditation Society are safe places for people who want to learn about Buddhism. There are courses for beginners and more experienced students.

The Retreat Center has three dorms with single rooms. These have a closet, chair, and sink shared with other dorms in the building. There are also bathrooms that people can use in these buildings. You will find similar accommodations at the Forest Refuge, but there is only one bathroom for every six people. The meditation instructors give you guidance and instructions to help you be compassionate and mindful about yourself and others in your life. Depending on which place you go, they offer individual interviews and group retreats at both places, if they last between 1 week or up to 3 months.

If someone wants a work retreat, they can also get one at both places!

There are three vegetarian meals for you each day on retreat. If you have food allergies, the kitchen will make it for you. The cheapest retreats are from Friday-Sunday, and they cost $205. Longer retreats are up to $475.

Santa Barbara’s White Lotus Foundation is a yoga retreat in California.

The White Lotus Foundation is a mountaintop retreat with panoramic views of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. A variety of activities are available, including camping and indoor activities. You can also go on short-term retreats to practice yoga and other pleasant activities.

You can do yoga at a retreat or take other workshops like Thai Massage. The retreats also have vegetarian meals. Several exploration opportunities throughout the retreat, including swimming holes and springs. You can also get massages and soak in tubs when you need them.

A typical day at a retreat would include hiking, breakfast, yoga, more yoga, lunch, and dinner. If you are looking for an exciting retreat near Santa Barbara, weekend programs start at $650.

Big Sky Yoga Retreats – Bozeman, Montana

Big Sky Yoga offers many types of yoga retreats. All of them include food and a place to sleep. They are all in the beautiful forest and mountains. There are cool waterfalls too!

For example, the B-LUXE Cowgirl Yoga retreat includes a cabin where you can live and do yoga. Sometimes in winter, they might offer skiing. When it is summer or fall, they want to do hiking and other activities.

Yoga retreats are for people who like yoga. You can do two types of yoga each day. They take place outside, and the food is included.

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center – Muir Beach, San Francisco

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center is also called the Green Dragon Temple. You get to have a Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist practice center for meditation training and awaken yourself from within. There are also Sunday lectures open to the public, including tea, meditation, and more.

Green Gulch Farm is a place where you can stay. There are three buildings where you can stay, or Hope Cottage if you want to be by yourself.

You can participate in workshops, ceremonies, and talks at a guest practice retreat. You can get some alone time to reflect on your life. There are zazen (sitting meditation) and tea classes on occasion. There are also activities to explore nature with Redwood Creek Watershed and Muir Woods.

There are three vegetarian meals and tea, coffee, and snacks. The rate of a single room is $90 per night. There are double rooms available as well. One-day retreats are $65 and weekend retreats are $180, including meals for both days.

Mount Madonna Center – Watsonville, California

Mount Madonna Center is a place for people to go on vacation or hold conferences. Visitors can stay in sleeping rooms which include shared bathrooms but no TVs or phones.

There are homes in a forest with heat and electricity. There is a separate shower house nearby. During the summer, you can use a tent or bring your own to stay there too. Guests can go to yoga classes, hiking trails, or use the hot tub.

There are programs for people to learn more about living in a yoga community. People can join for 12-week programs or shorter times. They can learn how to be a Yoga teacher, massage therapist, and more things. And guests get food when they stay in the retreats.

Miraval Resort & Spa – Tucson, Arizona

The Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson is a great spot to stay if you want to unwind. There are 117 spa rooms, all of which come in different styles. There are also 6 villages to choose which buildings have what they want.

There are nice rooms with colors that come from nature. There is also an option to stay in a private house, and the spa is fun. You can get life-enhancing treatments there like body renewals, Ayurveda treatments, Oriental and energy rituals, manicures and pedicures, hair care, massages, skincare, and specialty bodywork.

Miraval is a place where you can do many things at. There are many things to do, so it will be best to stay for a few days. The Cactus Flower has vegan options, and the Palm Court has smoothies. Brave Bill Lounge offers cocktails too. Prices start from $499 per night if you have a room, and packages are also available.

The Raj Ayurveda Center – Fairfield, Lowa

The Raj offers a treatment program on 36,000 square feet of land. You can stay in a room with one or two beds. People come to The Raj for treatment, and they do not have to go anywhere else.

The Taste of the Raj program lets you customize your activities during your stay. You can have a wellness consultation, get a massage, or learn to meditate. These are just some of the things you can do.

This hotel has a restaurant and offers a continental breakfast in each room. Lunch and dinner are served in the restaurant. There’s a Sunday buffet and family-style meals, and private dining. Single occupancy rates start at $108, and double rooms start at $123 per night. They also offer In-Residence Panchakarma Packages, including 2-3 hours of Ayurvedic Spa Treatments, Yoga classes, Evening Lectures, meals, and more for $660 per day.

Yoga Retreat: Lake Shrine Temple – Los Angeles, California

Lake Shrine Temple is where people can explore their spirituality while enjoying its beauty. The temple has a lot of flowers, trees, and fish in the water.

Visitors can go on a tour of the grounds. You can see the Court of Religions which honors all religions, the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, and a museum with information about Paramahansa Yogananda. Visitors can attend Temple activities such as lectures, meditation circles, yoga retreats, and more. They can go to Lake Shrine Retreat on Tuesdays to Sundays.

General retreat programs are very loose. With this, there are morning meditations, counselors, and specific events. You can do a Conducted Weekend Retreat program with concentrated classes for more structure. The rooms are comfortable and simple, with vegetarian meals on the communal dietary menu. From Tuesday to Sunday, one- to five-night getaways are available all year.

Art of Living Retreat and Center – Boone, North Carolina

The Art of Living Retreat Center and Ayurvedic Spa is located in Boone, North Carolina, just minutes from downtown. It was founded by Sri Ravi Shankar. It is surrounded by beautiful natural beauty, and it has a magnificently designed building. They have skilled staff to help you take care of your body and mind.

The Center has a lot of programs. These include guided meditation and yoga, spa treatments, philosophy workshops, group ceremonies, nature walks, and celebrations. People can come here to learn about living well or just be by themselves if they want.

Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat – Detroit, Oregon

The Breitenbush Hot Spring Retreat is nestled deep in the woods for complete peace and natural beauty. The rustic and cozy year-round cabins may be rented by night or used as a camping site during the summer months. Campers have their own bathrooms, whereas cabin renters do not.

Mountains, hot springs, and a river can all be found on the property. The main structure is the Historic Lodge. Here you will find a library as well as other rooms. The Cedar River Yurt and Forest Shelter both offer workshops. At the same time, there is Buddha’s Playhouse and Sanctuary for people to go if they want peace and quiet or to meditate. In addition, there is a labyrinth where you can freely explore or play. And there’s a gift shop with books that inspire people and handcrafted gifts for sale too!

Guests can enjoy a lot of different things. They can get a massage, participate in daily programs, do the Inipi ceremony*, go hiking, and more. The meals are vegetarian, and every meal is organic. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are the three meals you have to pay for before going into the restaurant. If you want something other than vegetables, you should let them know before going into the restaurant. Adult supervision is necessary for children under 12 since they may run away or be harmed if not accompanied by an adult*. Tents start at $60 per person for one night or $62 per person for 1 night.*

To learn more about yoga and meditation retreat ideas, check out this link.