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Idyllic locations, like-minded people, and activities to soothe the soul. What more could a person want when it comes to travel? If this sounds like your idea of a good time, then a wellness retreat might be right up your alley.
Wellness retreats are a great option for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world, to disconnect from a fast-paced life, and to reconnect with yourself. The great part is that there are retreats to fit everyone’s style, vibe, budget, and activity level. Learn more about wellness retreats below and see if attending or creating a retreat is the right move for you.
What exactly is a wellness retreat?
Wellness retreats come in all shapes, sizes, and forms, but they all have one thing in common. You guessed it — wellness. Wellness retreats aim to balance, align, and support the mind, body and soul in various ways, and they are typically set up in a beautiful location for ultimate peace and pampering. From mountain chalets to beachside bungalows, there are an array of location options and themes to choose from.
Regarding themes, retreats can focus on one or a combination of the following options:
- Yoga
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Healthy or plant-based food options
- Weight loss and nutrition
- Fitness
- Spiritual experiences such as cacao ceremonies, temazcal sessions, ayahuasca, etc.
- Women’s empowerment
- Self-care and self-work
- Cultural experiences in a specific location
- Art workshops and creative sessions
- Gender/race-based workshops
- Finance/cryptocurrency
Regarding location, you can choose almost any place in the world to host a wellness retreat or participate as a guest. Some popular locations for retreats include:
- Costa Rica
- Mexico
- Bali, Indonesia
- Morocco
- India
- Thailand
- Colombia
- Peru
Overall, wellness retreats give you space to process your emotions, work through mental blocks, and provide time and the right people to help you achieve your goals. From honing your yoga practice and stepping up your fitness game to simply relaxing on a beach with some incredible cultural experiences thrown into the mix, retreats can be designed for a multitude of purposes.
Activities and excursions
The activities and excursions within a wellness retreat will undoubtedly vary depending on the type of retreat and location. For example, a yoga retreat will typically offer once- to twice-daily yoga sessions, while a fitness retreat may offer a combination of workout sessions, one-on-one coaching sessions, and adventure activities to keep the body active.
When it comes to empowerment retreats and self-care options, journaling sessions, cultural excursions, crafts, and even massage or reiki may be involved. The goal is to create or attend a retreat that features activities you enjoy that align with your values and needs.
Location also plays a huge role in creating a retreat, as you want to ensure you have the space and equipment necessary to run a solid experience. If ensuring a fitness room with weights, a yoga shala with mats, kitchen for nutrition and cooking classes, or spiritual activities are accessible, then these are just some of the questions that need to be answered when choosing where to host.
Along with the resort or venue itself, adding other activities that match the vibe is also key. For an art/creative retreat, adding an excursion to a pottery studio or textile cooperative are great ways to connect with the local community and culture. The same can be true for spiritual retreats. Visiting famous temples and iconic waterfalls can add to everyone’s experience while supporting the local population.
Schedules and timelines
When it comes to creating or booking a wellness retreat, the schedule is key in determining what kind of vibe you want to set during your travels. Do you want ample time off from the group to do your own thing, or as a leader, are you looking for community dinners and excursions to bring everyone together? Knowing the schedule can make or break a retreat.
Here is a possible daily yoga retreat breakdown:
- 8:00 – 9:00 am: Vinyasa Flow
- 9:00 – 10:00 am: Community breakfast
- 10:00 – 12:00 pm: Workshop (yoga, breathwork, empowerment, Reiki, etc.)
- 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch
- 1:00 – 6:00 pm: Free time (beach, adventure activity, massage, excursion, etc.)
- 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Community dinner
- 7:30 – 9:00 pm: Restorative yoga and meditation session
The fun part about creating a wellness retreat is deciding what to add and when. Some retreats focus on workshops, while others focus on fun excursions in your chosen location. For example, check out this fitness retreat schedule
- 8:00 – 9:00 am: Group fitness session
- 9:00 – 10:00 am: Breakfast
- 10:00 – 2:00 pm: Daily excursion with lunch (surfing, hiking, rafting, bike tour, etc.)
- 2:00 – 6:00 pm: Free time (optional 1:1 coaching sessions)
- 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Community dinner
- 7:30 – 8:30 pm: Optional stretching and restorative session
When creating a schedule, you want to ensure you have a theme (fitness, yoga, empowerment, etc.) and that the schedule follows the stated theme. Give people time to relax, along with an array of options to choose from.
When it comes to selecting a wellness retreat to join, be sure you’re comfortable with the schedule, especially when it comes to the activity level, free time, and meal plan. If you find a retreat, but it doesn’t seem like a great fit, keep looking for that glass slipper feel to ensure you have a positive experience.
Book or create a wellness retreat
At TourHero, we can help you with all your wellness retreat needs. From creating a custom retreat to joining a retreat and preparing for an epic getaway, we can do it all! Reach out to us, and let us know how we can help you make your wellness dreams come true.
About TourHero
TourHero is a social travel platform that enables you to travel with like-minded people and fall in love with the journey. We work closely with handpicked local operators to ensure every experience curated is unique and exclusive to your travel group. Come with us on epic adventures and create memories that last a lifetime!
