Why do a Yoga Retreat?
Like kale chips or juice cleanses, I get the impression that yoga retreats are the kind of thing that scare people a little at first.
Imagining bending over backwards at 6am while being force-fed vegetable juice?
I don’t think you’re the only one (but if that’s your idea of a good time? Well, by all means. There’s no judgements here).
Obviously, not all yoga retreats are like that – as someone who’s dipped in and out of yoga for years I’ve teetered on the edge of doing one loads of times. When I get on a good roll with attending classes and practising in the morning,
it does wonders for my anxiety
and gives me such a positive outlook. But again - the sound of a full-on retreat made me a little apprehensive.
So recently, when I was invited along to the
Spread Eagle Hotel in Midhurst
to try out their new yoga and wellness retreat for
, I was up for it – but not without my reservations. I love a glass of wine and a chocolate biscuit. Was I going to spend the whole time
hangry
(hungry + angry)? Or trying to look interested as other participants droned on about their alkaline levels?
Only one way to find out.
In this post I wanted to not just share my thoughts and some photos of the retreat – but what I think a yoga retreat can offer, and essentially, if I think they’re worthwhile. If you’ve never done one before or are thinking of giving it a go, I hope you’ll find it helpful.
What yoga retreats are for
The Yoga Wellness Retreat at the Spread Eagle
lasts just 24 hours
, with the main aim of providing a gentle introduction/reintroduction to hatha yoga, alongside a general discussion on health and wellness (with a cheeky spa treatment thrown in there too, for good measure).
From what I can tell, the range of retreats on offer is really diverse
so it’s difficult to lump them into one category
. Generally though, yoga retreats are designed to help develop and further your yoga skills, give you some time out from everyday life, and perhaps give you a place to meet some other likeminded people. They’re like a mini holiday – lasting from anywhere between a day and two weeks, obviously just with a healthy dose of yoga thrown in.
I think that most people’s main issue with yoga retreats, the thing that holds them back from going, is that they don’t think it’s
for
them.
They think they’re not flexible enough, or not thin enough, or they feel they won’t be as good as everyone else.
But there are so many different types available, I genuinely think there’s something to suit everyone, it’s just about finding the one which fulfils your specific need (more on that later).
A lot of retreats also incorporate detoxing and healthy eating, with the aim of helping you lose weight or just become more healthy - equipping you with knowledge to take away with you. Not all, though –
so don’t panic-eat your last Oreo just yet
.
What to expect
I arrived in Midhurst, a cute little market town in Sussex, determined to be open and accepting of everything the next day would throw at me.
Yoga pants packed, limbs limbered and sugar cravings temporarily sated,
I was ready to go. But truthfully, I had no idea what to expect.
The first thing I did was take a look around the Spread Eagle, which is a hidden gem if you ask me. It’s an old coaching inn
dating back to the 1400’s,
and is so full of character and cosy, traditional interiors that you feel at home right away. Plus - it has the comfiest beds EVER.
I was provided with my itinerary for the next 24 hours, which included a balanced mix of wellness talks, yoga classes, meditation – and eating.
Yes, eating.
To my relief, I saw that we’d be dining together in the hotel restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There was also plenty of free time, too, giving us the chance to explore the hotel and surrounding area. I was also surprised to learn we wouldn’t be hauling our asses out of bed at sunrise –
yoga started at 8am.
What I liked most about our itinerary is that it felt like a warm introduction to yoga, rather than a didactic boot camp. Depending on which kind of retreat you go for, you can opt for varying levels of strictness and control (I did hear some horror stories from my fellow retreaters about food being restricted and alcohol banned on some other retreats) – you can easily find this out before you attend.
We were provided with raw juices at the Spread Eagle – but we also ate hearty food like pan-fried seabream with new potatoes and chorizo.
Oh, and we also had dessert.
It was left completely up to us the choices we made, which was nice.
What to take
Obviously, you’ll need some yoga clothes. Generally, they should just be stretchy and loose-fitting. If you’ve never done yoga before,
Lululemon and Sweaty Betty
do great ranges, but the good thing about yoga is that the gear doesn’t need to be particularly high performance or technical –
just comfy
.
At the Spread Eagle, we were also invited to enjoy the spa (the 30 minute drift away massage was heavenly) and pool, so it’s always worth taking a bikini or swimming costume.
We also had a good amount of free time, so take whatever helps you switch off. Might be a couple of books you’ve been dying to get through, your favourite magazine,
or just trusty old Netflix
.
Different kinds of retreats
In the last ten years, the types and amount of retreats on offer has exploded. You can now do
anything from silent retreats in India and meditation workshops in Bali, to laughter workshops in London and crying therapy in Japan.
At the Spread Eagle, it’s nice and simple
hatha yoga
– which is based on a range of postures to increase energy flow within your body. We started on the first day with a restorative session, designed to help us wind down ready for sleep. It focused on stretching and relaxing the muscles rather than testing or strengthening them, and involved
a lot of lying down
(always a winner) and reconnecting with your muscles and how you feel.
The second day started with half an hour of breath work. This is where sceptics might start to shake their heads and tut gleefully – but our lovely teacher Elaine Vaughan (check out her website – she’s such a lovely lady) explained how important breathing properly is to our health and well-being. We learned how to breathe when trying to calm anxiety, and also how to stretch the diaphragm, helping you to breathe more deeply.
Our last class was more dynamic, and more like many people think of as “traditional” yoga. There were plenty of warrior poses and downward dogs to keep us on our toes (get it? heh). The class was challenging but Elaine made sure that everyone in our class was accommodated and didn’t feel pressured to hold every single pose.
How much they cost
I think one of the other main factors which tends to hold people back from trying a retreat is that
they’re perceived to cost the earth.
And some probably do – but they’re also likely to take place in some far-flung destination. Remember that these types are also essentially a holiday, so paying upwards of £500, or even £1000, isn’t unheard of.
I’m happy to report however, that
the yoga wellness retreat at the Spread Eagle costs just £299.
That includes three yoga classes, a night’s stay in the gorgeously charming Spread Eagle hotel, a spa treatment, free use of the pool and gym, and lunch, dinner, breakfast, and another lunch before you get on your way, two really interesting talks about health and wellness, and some healthy juices, too.
To me, that’s pretty good value.
It was also kinda nice knowing that I was only forty minutes from home, but feeling like I was miles away, all wrapped up in a delicious slice of rural countryside.
The verdict
Obviously, I’ve only been to one yoga retreat, so my experience is limited, but I can genuinely recommend the Yoga Wellness Retreat at the Spread Eagle.
I think it’s the perfect introduction to yoga and wellness,
whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to know more about or you just fancy something a bit different for your next break.
On the retreat, there was a mix of single women, couples and friends,
so no one felt out of place.
The atmosphere was so welcoming and relaxing, that I found myself a little wistful as I let my muscles relax out of their final asana, or pose.
I heard birds singing in the countryside just outside the airy room we were practising in, and knew my journey home, and life as a whole, was waiting for me – with all of its various challenges, good days, bad days, and everything in between. But for that moment, I was content just to stretch, to appreciate,
to breathe
.
Have you ever done a yoga retreat? What did you think – would you recommend it? Is there anything holding you back? Let me know!
