Yoga retreats

If you are anything like me, you are desperate for an escape from this FROZEN reality we’ve all been living in for the past three months. This is a perfect time to start dreaming about a fabulous yoga retreat. Here are some great options:

• Kripalu Center – located in western Massachusetts, this center was formed in 1966 to “promote yoga and uplift the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of individuals.” It is THE place to go to learn from master yogis and spiritual teachers. You can learn yoga trace dance from Shiva Rea, restorative yoga from Judith Hanson Lassiter, or even improve your golf game using yoga. There is a session this weekend on yoga and chocolate – how great is that?! Plus, they have all the massage, Ayurvedic treatments, and organic food a modern yogi could ask for. If nothing else, get on their mailing list so that you can lust over their catalogs every quarter.

• The Raj – close to home, but oh so different than what you might expect from a small Iowa town. The Raj is associated with the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield Iowa. This is the American home of Transcendental Meditation (TM). You go to the Raj for Ayurveda, the ancient whole-body Indian health-care philosophy and practice. It is super expensive, but this place is the real deal. Your health and wellness will be evaluated, you'll receive prescribed treatments (ranging from special Ayurvedic massage to herbal enemas ;-)), do some gentle yoga, eat a specially chosen diet to address your imbalances, and hear from experts in the field. From what I’ve heard about this place, it is a once in a life-time experience.

• Himalayan Institute – founded by Swami Rama of the Himalayas, the mission of the Institute is to “discover and embrace the sacred link—the spirit of human heritage that unites East and West, spirituality and science, and ancient wisdom and modern technology.” Located in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, the Institute offers ten-day “lifestyle experiences” to affect a personal transformation. The program includes meditation intensives, daily yoga, guru talks, and daily karma yoga (selfless service).

• Yoga North – a yoga studio in Duluth that offers yoga workshops and retreats a little closer to home. This September they are doing a North Shore hiking and yoga retreat called, Lodge to Lodge. Call 888-722-YOGA for more information

• Big Sky Yoga Retreats – run out of a luxurious lodge just outside of Yellowstone National Park, these retreats combine yoga and skiing, hiking, or horseback riding. The philosophy of these retreats is that ”yoga helps you do anything better.” My friend Beth just signed up for one of their retreats this spring. I can’t wait to hear what it is like. Ahhhhhh……

• More information - this list is obviously just the tip of the iceberg. For more ideas, Yoga Journal has a great articles about seven destination ashrams and fancy-pants international yoga retreats.

• Back to reality - for those of us who can’t afford the time or money it takes to make one of these fabulous retreats happen this year, local yoga teacher, Tanya Boigenzahn recently wrote an article for Metro Magazine about wellness services in our neck of the woods. (If not a personal transformation, at least get an amazing massage!!) Also, it is always a great idea to try some of the yoga workshops at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis. There is some amazing expertise and transformation to be found in our fair city.