So, you’re a massive fan of yoga and the benefits that it provides. You practice at home, you attend classes, and you love the way it makes you feel. With such so passion for the practice, you may have considered flying abroad to an international yoga retreat, taking your practice to the next level.
But what’s involved in flying abroad to such a destination? Slightly different from your typical holiday, is there anything you can plan and be aware of beforehand, allowing you to solely focus on enjoying your trip?
Well, let’s find out! Today, I’m going to share with you several things you need to know before booking your dream yoga retreat away.
Check the Weather
This may seem like a bit of an odd one to start off with, but it’s just as essential. Travel to a yoga retreat, perhaps on the Eastern side of the world, and you could be caught out in monsoon season, not an ideal condition for yoga outside.
Of course, flights will be cheaper during these times, but it can also ruin your entire experience. When practising yoga itself you might be inside, but when you get time to explore the local area, the weather is sure to dampen your spirits.
Iron Out the Details
So, you’ve managed to book, or find, a yoga retreat that you’re really interested in, and you’ll want to make sure that it goes off without a hitch. That’s fine, that’s exactly what you want to be doing. Look through your schedule when you’re at the yoga retreat before you fly, allowing you to get a grasp of what’s to come.
This will allow you to actively prepare yourself for what’s to come so you can pack and make sure that you’ve got everything you need. Have any questions? Simply call up the retreat and ask. They’ll be more than happy to help you with anything you need.
Expect Changes in Your Practice
Whether you’re a teacher and travelling alone, with your class or with friends, be prepared that your own yoga routine is going to change, sometimes quite dramatically. Yoga retreats will only employ the very best in the business, and you may have been practising for several years, perhaps even your entire life, but the pros may completely change the way to see and practice yoga.
A Designated Leader
This is an especially important point if you’re travelling with a group of people. Just like any other time in your life, emergency situations can occur. However, this time, you’ll be far out of your comfort zone if they do.
Prepare for the worst and expect the best. This means designating a leader of your group who has everything you need in case something goes wrong or some ‘logistical’ needs have to be taken care of.
Get to Know the Destination
You’re travelling to another country, perhaps even one that you’ve never been to before. Just like you would if you were going on holiday, it’s essential that you get to know the destination you’re visiting.
Look into the currency, the emergency phone numbers, the culture and how everyday life is run. While you may believe you’ll be apart from main society in your retreat, which can be true, you still need to navigate there and back and may spend time in the destination before or after, so get to know everything you may need to know.
This includes safety tips that are officially recommended. You may need jabs, or courses of jabs, depending on the destination you’re travelling too which will need to be implemented months in advance.
Enjoy Yourself
Many different people travel to different yoga retreats for different reasons. However, whatever the reason you’re going, don’t forget to let your hair down and enjoy yourself while you’re out there. This could be the only time you get to go to a retreat such as this, so be sure to be grateful and make the most of your experience.
