9 Amazing Yoga Retreats To Book Now

By Lisa O'Neill - 01 Aug 2016

I'm trying to stay upbeat. I’m making delicious hot cups of tea, slipping on my ugg boots a soon as I get home and describing every night in as ‘cosy’ to make it sound more appealing when it’s freezing and pouring with rain outside. And let’s be real, Perth ain’t a bad place to experience winter. But everyone needs a holiday and you know what really makes me feel better? Dreaming about escaping for a short while to places filled with sunshine and swaying palm trees. Zoom in a little further, escapes in which I return a little more peaceful and cleansed by daily yoga and nourishing foods I don’t have to plan and cook for myself.

If you fancy turning these daydreams into reality, here’s where our fave Perth yoga teachers are heading for their retreats.

Yoga Alchemy | Hawaii

3—10 August, 2016

Stahhhhp. This is literally my dream in a holiday package. Yoga Alchemy’s Amanda Noga is leading her disciples off to Kalani on the east coast of Hawaii Island for seven days of morning and evening practice with live music, farm to fork meals and tropical breezes sweeping over you at night from the accommodation’s treehouse rooms. Optional volcano visits, ziplining through the Hawaiian jungles, swims in the nearby tidal pools and spa treatments. Amanda’s also off to India, so if you miss the Hawaii boat, jump aboard the Indian retreat in September.

Horizon Yoga | Spain

4—13 September, 2016

Is this what it feels like to be in a movie? This retreat, which includes 10 days trekking with Horizon’s Katrina Thomson along the coastal, ancient pilgrimage trail of Camino del Norte, doesn't even sound real! Kick off in San Sebastian and put your hiking shoes on for 145 kilometres until you finish in Balbao. Daily yoga will stretch out your pleasantly weary bones and culture is high on the agenda of this retreat too, with a Guggenheim visit, cooking classes and local guides showing guests around their ‘hoods. Si, por favor.

Yogaworx | Bali

20—26 October, 2016

Soak up yoga couple Mal Yates and Wendy Muir’s words of wisdom in the tropical climes of Ubud, Bali. As twice daily yoga, fresh organic juice, sunrise meditation and organic meals flood your body with wellness, your mind will be guided to heal and return to your life at home with fresh purpose. If you’ve always been enchanted by Ayurvedic practices, one of the best Ayurvedic doctors in Bali will provide a session on eating and living for your dosha. You won’t know yourself.

Beyond Being | Thailand

24—31 October, 2016

Hayley Schmidt is teaming up with one of her teachers, Laura Carroll, to head to idyllic Koh Samui for seven nights of yoga bliss, tropical fruit, and Thai massage. Kick off proceedings with a sakalpa (intention setting) circle and throughout the week, watch your intentions become clearer, develop and evolve through deep practices. This retreat promises to be an empowering one with epic transformations on the cards according to Hayley. Also on the cards are massages, temple tours, swimming in waterfalls, snorkelling, cleansing ceremonies and Thai cooking classes. Go find the best you.

Tamara Yoga | Bali

24—30 July, 2017 | 31 July—5 August, 2017

You’ll have to pop your patience pants on for this one (it’s not until 2017), but it looks worth the wait, friends. Tamara Graham has enlisted some New Yorker yogi pals to share her ISHTA (Integrative Science of Hatha, Tantra and Ayurveda) bliss retreat that will have you levitating home. Twice daily yoga, daily meditation and satsang plus plenty of opportunity to rest, visit the nearby elephant safari park, indulge in a spa treatment and explore Ubud.

TwentyFour Seven Studios | Broome

9—13 October, 2016

Hot off the press! Skaya Martino and Emma Milner are taking a squad to Broome for four days of all the wellness wonders—yoga, fitness, fashion and food. Skaya will lead the group in multiple ways of moving three times daily, from beach circuits to Vinyasas, Yoga Nidra to Yin and Flow while Nikki Heyder from NOOD will be on hand for healthy cooking demonstrations. There’ll also be a fashion section where the latest and greatest from Twenty Four Seven's epic athleisure wear will be revealed. Cable Beach Club is hosting the event, including every meal and three hours of spa treatments as a part of the package. What more could you want? Nothing, or else you’re just being greedy.

The Yoga Vine | Yallingup

23—26 September, 2016

A little closer to home, Donna Buchanan and Kate Taylor are hosting some yoga heaven in Yallingup over the September long weekend. The weekend will be broken into five sessions of yoga with optional activities on offer such as surfing, SUP-ing, winery visits and strolls along the beach which your accommodation borders. Get your road trip on, people.

Rhyanna VL Yoga | Perth CBD

11—13 November, 2016

This little social media sensation has a Perth CBD retreat for the people who can’t escape, but really, really need to (hand held high). You don’t even need to take a day off work for this one with the first session Friday night, followed by a long Saturday afternoon and a cheeky Sunday morning. The accommodation aspect isn’t part of this retreat, but it makes the concept more affordable and has all the trimmings like multiple yoga practices, meditations, a preparatory juice cleanse in the lead up and uber healthy food throughout. Plus Rhyanna puts together a mean goodie bag.

8 Limbs Yoga School | Byron Bay

8—14 October, 2016

This Byron Bay retreat is for the classic yogi, exploring all eight limbs of the yoga lifestyle. 8 Limbs founders Monica Gauci and Gregor Maehle are heading east to a site near sacred tea tree lakes to lead students in five hours of practice each day. When you’re not deep in ashtanga, there are tours to the healing tea tree lakes and The Crystal Castle where you can stroll around the sacred labyrinth and take time to reflect upon your journey in the magical gardens. Legendary vegetarian chef Veet of Veet’s Cuisine will create all the meals throughout the retreat and obviously you need to make time for the usual Byron Bay activities—beach visits, hiking to the lighthouse and perusing the creative hub of the town centre.

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By Lisa O'Neill

Lisa is a fitness loving mum-of-two who loves writing, reading and talking. You can find her running along Cottesloe Beach (at chatting pace, natch), hanging out for the savasana in various yoga classes around Perth, chasing an endlessly energetic three-year-old across playgrounds (interval training and negotiation practice rolled into one) or hammering out stories on her trusty laptop while sucking down lattes and raw balls in cafes. Her spirit animal is a golden retriever because she's endlessly optimistic and loves meeting new people, while her nearest and dearest are her world.