11 Reasons to Go on a Yoga Retreat
Return Home Feeling Refreshed:
How many times have you gone on a trip and when returning home you needed a vacation from a vacation? A yoga retreat embraces nourishment of mind, body, and soul and you will end your holiday feeling better than when you started. We encourage healthy, nourishing foods, moving your body, lots of free time to pamper yourself and of course, getting lots of sleep. While it’s important to indulge yourself here and there (and we welcome it!), there is no doubt that you will be a greater sense of health, well-being and balance after a week of yoga and nourishment.
Deepen Your Yoga Practice:
A yoga retreat is the perfect opportunity to grow your practice both physically and spiritually. Practicing twice a day gives you the chance to progress more quickly and work towards new goals. You also enjoy the gift of time on a retreat! Yoga classes are typically longer which gives the body time to open up and explore places that might not be accessible during shorter studio classes. It’s sorta like a daily yoga workshop where you have more time to break down the postures. You’ll also find over the course of doing yoga consistently, you will build a new strength and confidence in your practice and self!
Reignite Your Yoga Practice
Has your yoga practice taken a back burner? A retreat is the perfect way to feel re-inspired and create a new routine. Life happens and sometimes our practice gets de-prioritised. If you are hoping to recommit to your yoga practice and make it apart of your daily ritual, a retreat can make this happen. Daily classes and being totally immersed in yoga can help us fall in love with our practice again. In order to switch things up and feel inspired, sometimes it can be important to get out of your normal environment. A retreat removes you from the distractions of daily life that keep you from getting on your mat. You are given not only the accountability to practice each day, but are reminded of the joy and fun that yoga can bring to your life.
Learn Something New:
In some way, we are all craving new experiences. Whether it’s traveling to a new or learning a new skill, these experiences make life richer! We welcome total beginners on our retreats and make sure that the yoga practices are accessible for all levels. It’s so important to challenge ourselves, so it doesn’t mean that classes will necessarily be easy, but when you challenge yourself, learn, and grow, you will feel more empowered and confident in yourself. A yoga retreat is a welcoming, non-judgemental environment where you are safe to be yourself. We are here to support each other and continue to expand our comfort zones together.
Meet Like-Minded People:
People from all different backgrounds, walks of life, and locations come on a yoga retreat, but all have the common interest of yoga, travel and adventure. If you are planning to take a solo trip, a retreat can be a great opportunity to connect with other travellers while still doing your own thing! Because you spend so much quality time together practicing, sharing meals, exploring the area or simply hanging by the pool or beach, you will feel quickly connected to those on retreat. Great relationships are built on shared experiences so if you come solo or if you come with friends, expect to feel a deeper sense of connection to yourself and those around you. And if you are traveling by yourself, we are always happy to match you up in a shared room to accommodate to your budget.
No Need to Plan Anything:
The beauty of a yoga retreat is that everything is taken care of for you! How often have you been stressed trying to plan all the details of your holiday? We are here to take the hassle out of travel planning and allow you to completely relax from the moment you arrive. We partner with local experts to find the most beautiful venues in amazing locations, the best food, and incorporate fun, local activities to make your experience feel complete. On Nectar Retreats, we like to make sure there is a mix of planned experiences and free time for you to make it the holiday you want. Whether you want to lounge by the pool and read your book or treat yourself to a spa session, we always make sure there is ample time for you to create your own itinerary. There is always time to explore around our scheduled yoga classes and meals.
Build Relationships with Your Yoga Teachers:
Yoga retreats are the perfect opportunity to build a deeper connection with your yoga teacher and have quality time to learn from them. Typically the retreat environment is more relaxed than your normal studio classes, as time slow downs on holiday and no one is in a rush in and out of class. The smaller class sizes also allow for more attention and assisting and teachers can really get to know your practice over the course of a week.
Eat Healthy, Nourishing Food:
When you think of a yoga retreat, you might automatically think of green smoothies! While this isn’t necessarily true, you can expect that most retreats offer healthy, well-balanced meal that make you feel nourished. Yoga retreats can range from vegan and vegetarian or have a more foodie and local focused retreat with wine pairings and the like! You can find just about anything these days, but for the most part, retreats offer food that support a healthy lifestyle. At Nectar Flows, food is a huge component of our experiences and we believe it’s just as important as the yoga! Expect vibrant meals, inspired by local cuisine and fresh ingredients. Depending on the location, we also love to have cooking classes on our retreats so you can learn how to bring your favorite cultural dishes home with you. Good food brings people together and not only nourishes the body but also the soul!
Travel Somewhere New:
Retreats are the best excuse to travel somewhere you have never been before! Life is too short not to travel. Retreats range from local weekend getaways to big international adventures and you can find an experience that suits your travel appetite. Being immersed in a new culture, trying new foods, interacting with people from different backgrounds can be so refreshing and humbling. Gaining new perspectives and ways of living allow us to feel more connected and understanding of the world around us. Traveling is the best form of education!
Experience Different Yoga Styles:
Variety is the spice of life! On a yoga retreat, you often get to experience different styles of yoga. At Nectar we incorporate dynamic, vinyasa style flow classes in the morning to awaken the body and mind. Often we theme our classes towards a specific peak pose or philosophical theme to take you on a bit of a journey. In the evenings, we lead more low-key yoga styles including yin yoga, restorative yoga, pranayama and meditation, as well as yoga nidra to create a sense of stillness, calm and reflection. Each retreat is inspired by the teacher’s training and background so you will get to experience many different offerings. Retreats are also a time for lots of workshopping! We like to include the use of props, wall classes, and partner work. These experiences might spark something new inside of you and give you a new perspective of the practice.
Have Fun!
We are all about the good times at Nectar! We think life is meant to be enjoyed and that includes our yoga experiences. Our retreats are more like yoga holidays where you are allowed to let loose and kick back and enjoy the little things in life. Our classes are awakening, healing, and deeply reflective, but we compliment that with great music, fun times, and a playful attitude. We don’t take life too seriously and believe light heartedness is a key component to a sustainable life and practice. If you want to go on a retreat that will leave your abs sore from laughing and your heart full from vibrant experiences, join us!