Sun is shining, weather is sweet. It sure makes us want to journey somewhere beautiful to practice a little stillness this Summer, and you don't necessarily have to jump on the next flight to India to answer the call. Here are some of the most soul nourishing yoga retreats in Europe this Summer, to inspire a journey within.
Yin & Yang Yoga Retreat, Andalucía, Southern Spain
Join two incredible teachers, Claudia Brown and Emma Leaf, as they guide you through a week of soul nurturing yin and yang yoga practices at Molino Del Ray, a luxury yoga retreat in the beautiful Sierra de las Nieves nature reserve in Andalucia. With a challenging yang practice in the morning, slow yin practices in the evening, and a variety of wellbeing, mindfulness and positive living sessions in between, this is a retreat you can co-create yourself. You get to decide what sessions to join, and when to spend time alone, all the while being nourished by delicious local vegetarian food. Imagine a spring of the river Rio Grande running through the centre, the Spanish mountains holding space and a natural caves for you to practice your nightly meditations in, this is one unique and rejuvinating yoga retreat.
Sunday 24 June - Sunday 1 July
Molino Del Rey, Sierra de las Nieves, Andalucia, Spain
Join the retreat.
Yoga, Meditation and Detox in Transylvania, Romania
Set in the village in the clouds, Pestera, in the mountains of Romania is Akasha Wellness Retreat. A home for yoga, meditation, nutrition and conscious living, Akasha hosts five day and weekend retreats to help you unwind, detox and find your centre. You'll be practicing yoga in an area that is still living in symbiosis with nature, with pristine virgin forests, horse-drawn carts and people living in parts the same way they lived 100 years ago. Throughout the year, Akasha hosts a range of specialised yoga retreats each focusing on different aspects of wellness including mind-body and gut healing, hiking, plant based cooking, wine tasting, nature reconnection, and alchemy of nature retreats focusing on the elements.
Retreats are on offer throughout the year
Akasha Wellness Retreat, Pestera, Piatra Craiului National Park, Romania
More information here.
Summer of Love Mindfulness Weekends, Suffolk, UK
Take a holiday from your head with a Mindfulness Weekend Retreat with The Now Project. These weekend retreats have been featured in the Guardian's Top 20 Retreats for 2018, and offer a down to earth approach to mindfulness. They will teach you the basics of mindfulness, with emphasis based on you really experiencing and practicing it yourself to be able to embed this practice into your daily life. There are no robes, no sitting and staring at blank walls, but a team of experienced mindfulness practitioners who are dedicated to you experiencing and learning for yourself what mindfulness really is. With sessions on body awareness, mindful walking, meditation, qi-gone and mindfulness and your emotions, this is the perfect retreat for even the busiest folk.
June 22 – 24 | July 13 – 15 | July 27 – 29 | Sept 28 – 30 | Oct 26 – 28 | Nov 30 – Dec 2
Suffolk Cabins Red House Yards, Gislingham Road, Thornham Magna Suffolk IP23 8HH
More information here.
Digital Detox with Offline Portgual
We live in an age when we are spending more time online, addicted to social media and less present with our inner and outer worlds. The team at Offline Portugal want to help you disconnect to reconnect. This yoga and surf retreat asks that you leave your laptops and phones at home to connect with nature, yourself, and the other guests on your retreat. Old school cameras and nokias are welcome. The Offline House offers weekend stays, retreats or the opportunity to create your own while staying with them. Their upcoming mindfulness retreat includes yoga, mindfulness and meditation sessions and yoga nidra. Also on offer are SUP tours in the caves of Sagres, surf lessons, hiking and cycling, horse riding, and plenty of offline games, toys and musical instruments.
Mindfulness Retreat 9th - 16th June
Offline Portugal, Algarve, South Portugal
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Kundalini and Sound Baths in the South of France
Join Kathryn McCusker and Catherine Page at the inspiring La Balie, France on a nourishing and nurturing four day journey as you explore techniques to calm the mind and open the heart as a way to create peace and purpose. At the Lot-et-Garonne you'll practice two Kundalini and Gong Bath classes morning and afternoon, with each class including movement, meditation, dance and transformative breath work to calm the body and mind and elevate the spirit. You'll devour three nourishing and nutritious vegetarian meals per day including a cooking demonstration with the visiting chef, and have plenty of time to relax, walk in nature, swim in the pool, read, journal, meditate. If you've never practiced Kundalini before, don't worry, this retreat is open to all levels of experience, including complete beginners. This is an intimate retreat for a maximum of 14 people, so if it is calling you, claim your space soon.
Wednesday 6 June - Sunday 10 June
La Balie, South West France
Join the retreat: Kathryn McCusker - kathryn@kmyoga.com / 07990 521642 / www.kathrynmccuskerkundalini.com
Catherine Page - info@yoga2calmthemind.co.uk / 07771 892964 / www.yoga2calmthemind.co.uk
Kundalini Yoga in the Greek Islands
Kathryn McCusker is holding a second Kundalini Yoga retreat in beautiful Amorgos, the most easterly Cycladic island where the 1000 year old Byzantine Monastery Hozoviotissa rises out of the ‘big blue’ on a thousand foot cliff. Experience a nourishing, energising and inspiring Kundalini Yoga retreat, where the beaches and views are breathtaking! Practice Kundalini Yoga with Kathryn each morning and evening, enjoy nourishing food with enough time to relax and explore in between. This gorgeous retreat centre is home to the Lalon Idor Spa, where you can enjoy their hammam, indoor heated seawater swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and fitness centre during the retreat. The perfect place to sink into stillness!
22nd - 28th October
Aegialis Hotel & Spa, Amorgos Greece
Join the retreat: Kathryn McCusker - kathryn@kmyoga.com / 07990 521642 / www.kathrynmccuskerkundalini.com
Self Love Workshop, Berlin
If you can't get away for a whole retreat, our Silatha meditation wonder woman, Joanna, is hosting a one day self love workshop in Berlin. A certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher, psychologist, counselor and coach and more, Joanna is dedicated to helping people become more mindful, happy and in love with themselves and their lives. This workshop is based on positive psychology, mindfulness and neuropsychology, to give you the tools to stop self-criticising, and start loving yourself unconditionally. Discover how to love your uniqueness, put yourself with respect for yourself and others and develop compassion and kindness towards yourself. Held in a beautiful yoga studio in Schleiermacherstraße, Berlin, this will be a beautiful day of connecting to your heart centre.
Sunday June 17, 11am - 3pm
Praxis für Chinesische Chiropraktik Gunda Deutschmann
Schleiermacherstraße 1 Eingang Blücherstraße, 10961 Berlin (Kreuzberg)
More information here.
Millionaire Yogi Luxury Retreat in Glastonbury
A retreat set in the sacred site of Chalice Well, where pilgrims have been coming for 1000’s of years for healing. Run by Millionaire Yogi, connect with fellow Entrepreneurs on this is a retreat for those seeking a shift in their life and mindset. Daily Shamanic meditations and deep guided talks enable you to gain insight into the levels of Entrepreneurial business to help you succeed and become abundant.
11 - 13 July
More information here.