Yoga Retreats Continue After National Yoga Month

While you may have missed National Yoga Month, you can still continue on your journey to find inner peace with a yoga-centric getaway. Here are some ideal resort and spas offering special yoga retreats, so you can practice those sun salutations while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos

At Parrot Cay, the amenities seem endless on the remote, 1,000-acre island of white sand. Students can take advantage of the COMO Shambhala Retreat’s substantial facilities of holistic wellness including massage, exclusive Dr. Perricone anti-ageing facials, and Ayurvedic therapies. Along with yoga, Parrot Cay offers Pilates, a gym, tennis, and a variety of water sports.

Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman, and Elena Brower are the returning gurus for this year, joined by newcomer Louisa Sear. Because of the small class sizes, participants will engage directly with the instructors, creating a therapeutic atmosphere. This year, Parrot Cay is offering two retreats:

Anusara Yoga: From Awareness to Acceptance, October 24-30, 2010

This retreat is led by Elena Brower, certified Anusara teacher who opened Virayoga in New York eight years ago. The package includes:

• Six nights accommodation.
• Five hours of yoga instruction per day.
• Full American breakfast daily.
• Lunch and dinner daily from special COMO Shambhala menus (excluding beverages).
• Return airport transfers (for commercially scheduled flights only).
• Single occupancy rates start at $5,728.

Moving from Conflict Toward Peace: An Exploration of Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, and Chanting, December 5-11, 2010

This retreat is led by Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman. Yee was a co-founder and former owner and director of Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, California. He is also the author of Yoga: The Poetry of Body and Moving Toward Balance. Saidman was originally certified in the 800 hour-plus Jivamukti Teacher Training Program and in 1999 opened the hip Yoga Shanti studio in Sag Harbor, New York.

• Six nights accommodation.
• Five hours of yoga instruction per day.
• Full American breakfast daily.
• Lunch and dinner daily from special COMO Shambhala menus (excluding beverages).
• Return airport transfers (for commercially scheduled flights only).
• Single occupancy rates start at $6,077.

Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, Trang, Thailand

Tucked away along the quiet shores of Changlang Beach on the Andaman coast of Thailand, not far from the rock climbing capital of Krabi, Anantara Si Kao offers more than just a relaxing Thai holiday. It can be a starting point for travelers looking to rejuvenate and reenergize their souls through yoga, pranayama, outdoor activities, and water sports.  Encircled by part of the Hat Chao Mai National Park and the brilliant turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea, the resort’s 138 sea-view rooms and suites are adorned in exotic Thai-inspired furniture and designs, with large open bathrooms, bathtubs built for two, and private terraces or balconies.

The Anantara Spa “floats” above a tranquil pond and offers six treatment rooms, a couple’s treatment menu, and Jacuzzis.  Integrated into the resort’s spa menu is the Wellness 360˚ Program, which offers personal wellness retreats, yoga classes, and naturopathic and Ayurvedic consultations to promote healthy, balanced lifestyles. The resort’s resident Naturopathic doctor and Ayurvedic specialist work together with the Executive Chef to offer recommendations for healthy eating to encourage normal functions of the body’s systems. An integral part of the resort’s Wellness 360 Program is yoga, including Hatha, Pranayama, Kriya, and Ashtanga.

Anantara Si Kao is offering a special Personal Wellness Retreat available now through October 31.  Included in this package are:

• Six nights in a room or suite.
• Daily meals personally planned for your body type and goals.
• A personalized program coordinated by the Wellness Team with pre- and post-retreat evaluations.
• Consultations with the Naturopath and Ayurvedic Doctors.
• Five specially selected spa therapies, and ten personal wellness discovery activities, including daily yoga and meditation sessions.
• Rates for a Deluxe Garden Room begin at $2,626 for single occupancy; $3,611 for double occupancy.

Prana del Mar, Los Cabos, Mexico

This new luxurious eco-­resort dedicated to yoga, Pilates, and other retreats and trainings is nestled in the desert on five oceanfront acres, 20 minutes north of the resort town of Cabo San Lucas. In addition to quality yoga instruction, Prana del Mar offers an extensive array of therapeutic treatments and spa services, including several forms of massage, sea salt body scrubs, aromatherapy, foot reflexology, and more.

For those interested in additional activities, there is horseback riding on the beach, snorkeling by the famous Cabo Arch, whale-watching (in season) from the Cabo marina, surf lessons at a nearby surf breaks, and many other options to add some adventure to the trip.

Prana del Mar is hosting a variety of yoga retreats in the coming year. The next retreat is the New Year’s Yoga and Surf Retreat with JP Tamblyn, December 27, 2010 – January 2, 2011, which includes:

• Seven nights accommodation at Prana del Mar.
• Two Yoga classes per day incorporating asana, meditation, and pranayama.
• Three organic feasts per day, plus snacks
• Interactive living foods class.
• Eco-Friendly goodie bags.
• Ground transportation.
• Double Occupancy $1900 USD; Single Occupancy $ 2250 USD ~ SOLD OUT.