California is home to dozens of unique destinations that thousands flock to visit each and every year. From Hollywood to the Golden Gate Bridge, with sandy beaches and tall mountains, vineyards, and perfect sea waves, there are many great reasons to visit California.
This state is also home to some of the best yoga retreats in the world. So, if you are looking for a great yoga retreat, then here are 8 amazing yoga retreats in California for you to visit.
Best Yoga Retreats In California
Check out the list below and browse all the different options California has to offer. There are lots of different types of yoga retreats so you can definitely find one that suits your tastes!
1. Sagrada Wellness
If you asked any yogi about yoga retreats in California, it’s pretty likely that their first recommendation would be Sagrada Wellness.
Sagrada Wellness is easily the best, most highly recommended yoga retreat in California. Found at Santa Margarita, you can access a huge range of all-inclusive yoga retreats. The retreat is surrounded by preserved land and its situation atop a huge hill gives visitors and guests tons of amazing scenery.
Many guests choose Sagarad Wellness for its amazing culture and facilities. Not only can you take part in the numerous yoga classes here but enjoy wine tasting, pool lounging, and more.
You can choose a yoga retreat with additional writing classes, meditation, pilates, hiking, or even lively gatherings.
This means that there’s a yoga retreat here for everyone – no matter what kind of experience you are looking for! There are yoga retreats designed to strengthen your body, and others to help you find peace and unwind, for exploring the local area, or for exploring your spiritual potential!
Truly, Sagrada Wellness has it all!
2. Casa De Chinquapin
Each year, the Yoga Blooms Wellness group organizes numerous retreats at the Casa de Chinquapin retreat in Carlsbad, California.
This yoga retreat takes advantage of the seaside location to offer additional water activities. You can go paddle boarding and try SUP yoga or visit the nearby tide pools for a relaxing dip.
There are also nature hikes to help you reconnect with nature and enjoy some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The annual Casa de Chinquapin yoga retreats use yoga and mindfulness training to help you feel relaxed and rejuvenated. This makes them a great choice for those looking for a break from the stresses of everyday life and who want support to help them face the future.
As a result, this empowering retreat is a popular choice with so many people!
3. Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort
Yosemite is one of America’s best national parks so it’s a top vacation destination for thousands of people each year. There, you can find the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort which offers authentic cabin experiences for its guests.
This resort is not a yoga-centric retreat like other entries on this list but it does have a well-facilitated spa with lots of activities and treatments for you to try – yoga classes included!
So, you can book your stay here and tailor your retreat to suit your needs. You can attend yoga every day while trying out new and exciting activities. Hike through the local forestry, try out the hot tubs, or visit the sauna.
Try new massages or a soaking bath to rejuvenate your muscles or repair your skin.
So, you will not want to miss out on this rustic retreat!
4. AZ I AM Yoga Retreat
If it’s a complete reset you are after, then check out the AZ I AM yoga retreats at Desert Hot Springs.
This modern, luxurious retreat offers everything you need to detox your body and soul. Each spa retreat package offers tons of superfoods and juices to help flush out the toxins in your body while meditation and yoga help you find peace and relaxation.
Along with scheduled dips in the mineral-rich hot springs, this retreat is the perfect choice for those wanting to completely cleanse themselves.
5. Vedanta Spiritual And Holistic Retreat
Another great spa retreat in Desert Hot Springs is the Defanta Spiritual and Holistic Retreat.
Most of the retreats on offer here come from a spiritualistic view. If you are very spiritualistic yourself, then this retreat is just right for you. There are yoga retreats on offer here that cover the spiritual impact of yoga, its history, and more.
This means that with each session, you can learn more about the various types and areas of yoga while introducing it into your daily yoga practices!
6. Yoga Squirrels
The Yoga Squirrels organize a yoga retreat to Joshua’s Tree each year and it’s easily one of the best yoga retreats in California! Although spaces and booking may be limited, it’s definitely a yoga retreat to try and snag a space on!
On this retreat, you get to explore the gorgeous nature of Joshua Tree national park, meet new people, and enjoy a range of various activities. Alongside regular outdoor yoga sessions, you get to try AcroYoga – a more intense form of yoga that introduces aspects of acrobatics.
Don’t worry though if you are not very advanced at yoga because the instructors on this retreat are trained to teach at all skill levels. There are also classes for Thai massages, rock climbing, and more.
This retreat is also a camping experience so you will be sleeping outdoors in the high desert. This makes it a completely unique experience and one you should definitely try out!
7. The Expanding Light Retreat
In northern California, you can find the Expanding Light Retreat – a gorgeous yoga retreat situated in a small, peaceful village. It’s the ultimate getaway destination if you are looking for a bit of peace and quiet with a ton of yoga to fill your day.
You have two types of yoga to choose from (ananda or karma) so you can either stick with what you know or branch out and learn something new. You can also participate in private or group yoga therapy sessions so you can always stay within your comfort zone.
On top of this, there are lots of meditation opportunities, and acres of meadows and forestlands to explore with long walks.
So, if you are looking for a low-key yoga retreat where you can dedicate most of your time to improving your mind and well-being through yoga, this is the place for you.
8. Ultimate Fitness Vacation
This yoga retreat is very unique and won’t be to everyone’s tastes – but if you love fitness and pushing your body to the limits, then this is the perfect retreat for you!
Yoga is a great way to strengthen your muscles and improve your body’s flexibility. It’s also a slower, less intense form of fitness that works well with other forms of exercise. This yoga retreat combines relaxing yoga with more extreme workouts including cardio and high-intensity training (Is yoga a form of cardio? Find out here).
The daily itinerary for this retreat is packed with adventurous activities including mountain biking, exploring, swimming, hiking, weight training, and more.
Everything is rounded up by an afternoon of yoga – you can choose between lots of different styles and the instructors are ready to teach you the basics or fine-tune your practices as a longtime yogi!
So, if you are looking for a yoga retreat that is a little different, the Ultimate Fitness Vacation on the southern coast of Lake Tahoe is a fantastic option!
Final Thoughts
So, those were some of the most amazing yoga retreats open to you in California. Whether you want to try something new and unique like intense fitness or outdoor camping or visit a resort with everything you could possibly need, California has it covered.
There’s so much to try out here so check the list above, find the right yoga retreat for you, and get booking!
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yoga retreats are short getaways filled with activities that focus on yoga and offer similar benefits. These include activities like hiking, swimming, meditation, therapy, and more – all designed around health, well-being, and spirituality.
Not all yoga retreats are the same and depending on the retreat you visit, you can expect different meals, accommodations, and activities. For example, some yoga retreats offer shared accommodation, outdoor camping, or private rooms or lodges.
Some places may have vegetarian or vegan-only menus. Because some yoga retreats offer half-day plans, accommodation may not even be offered at all!
So, yoga retreats are very diverse but there’s one thing you can always count on – yoga!
Yoga retreats aren’t just yoga from sunrise to sunset.
Most retreats fit two to three yoga sessions in a day. This gives you plenty of time to try other activities like hiking, relaxing in a sauna, exploring nearby areas, and more.
Again, this depends on what kind of yoga retreat you have signed up for. Some focus less on yoga and more on meditation so you can expect fewer yoga sessions each day. Read the plans and schedule for your potential yoga retreat carefully to see if the plan has enough yoga for you!
I created this website to help newcomers to yoga and enthusiasts alike, and to share our common passions for yoga.
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