Everyone knows that yoga retreats are the best. It’s a chance to relax and nourish yourself while some fabulous teacher leads you through an incredible yoga practice. That, of course, is when you go to a yoga retreat. But what about when you teach a yoga retreat? Sure, it may not be the unplugged vacation your students are going, but there is something special you get when you teach a yoga retreat. We think of it as one of the many perks of being a yoga teacher.
Oh the places you’ll go… When you teach a yoga retreat
Not all of us can afford a spontaneous trip to Italy or Peru, and as a yoga teacher you know that cash flow isn’t always what you’d like it be. But when you lead a yoga retreat you have an opportunity to go to exotic countries all around the world… for free. In fact, in addition to free trips to countries like Guatemala or Costa Rica, you could be getting paid to teach yoga in these magical countries.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a part of a yoga retreat somewhere exciting, but could never really figure out how to afford it, why not teach a yoga retreat in the country yourself? It’s a great way to go wherever you dream of going without breaking the bank in doing so.
It’s a great chance to bond with inspiring yogis
One of the things we love about hosting yoga retreats is the incredible bunch of yogis we get to meet along the way. Every day someone new is signing up for our yoga retreats and each individual yogi brings a world view and a lifetime of experience that is different from what we know.
When you teach a yoga retreat you open yourself up to all of these people. Even if many of them are people you have practiced with in the studio, a yoga retreat offers a different kind of bonding experience where everyone can open up and share their authentic selves with one another. What better way to get connected with the inspiring yogis in your life than to lead them through yoga practices in some of the most beautiful places on Earth?
Your own practice will grow from the experience
Anyone who has taught yoga knows that teaching is an incredible learning experience and every class you teach serves to deepen your own yoga practice as well. This is especially true when you teach a yoga retreat. The intensive setting of a yoga retreat steeps you in the yoga world and the constant teaching forces you to face your boundaries and redefine your limits.
Our yoga teachers are constantly raving about what they learned by teaching yoga retreats with us and we are endlessly amazed by the wisdom that so many of them find during these experiences. There is something uniquely powerful about teaching a yoga retreat… something simply teaching in a studio cannot touch.
Want to find out how you can teach a yoga retreat in some of the most amazing locations in the world? We’ve got your back.
I found myself hiking uphill in a small town on the outskirts of Turriabla on a Costa Rican adventure, wondering exactly what I got myself into. I was beyond exhausted from hours jumping from bus to bus, brain buzzing with struggling with translating the language, and was surrounded by mainly cows and leaf cutter ants. I was on an adventure.
In our culture and day to day lives, it is all about the hustle and bustle. We push ourselves in our personal life, careers, and are usually working towards what is next. It is ingrained in us and becomes subconscious behavior. At least for me it is, and I am sure many of you can relate. Juggling professional life, family life, and self care is a never ending “to do” list. On top of that add in our constant connectivity where we can be reached and expected to be reached at any moment. Instagram, facebook, snapchat, emails, all in your pocket.
By the second day, I woke up lightness in my step. Waking up to the rushing river, birds chirping, and the world yawning herself into the
I needed to be reminded it all isn’t so serious and that we all need to delegate time for play, day dreams, and simply being. Maybe it didn’t require such an extreme adventure, remoteness, and challenging situations for me to get there in my head space. But that is how it happened and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The river danced with the sunbeams, and laughed along the rocks, she pushed me right along and when I left I had a tear in my eye. I came in crying with stress and exhaustion and left with tears of joy, surrender, and gratitude.
used as much as possible. That is the mentality of this gorgeous country; pure life. Barely the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica has so much to offer from culture to landscapes. The hospitality is unreal and the abundance of love and greenery is just as mind blowing. I couldn’t wait to join the Shakti Yoga retreat!
on retreat were so sweet, accommodating, and genuine. Deep and beautiful friendships were forged. Also, there was literal family on this trip; multiple groups of sisters and moms!!! Daily practicing, group meals, excursions, and service projects made relationships strong and vibrant. Being surrounded by this energy is an amazing boost of connection that I greatly appreciated. Lauren and Kelly did an amazing job fostering these relationships and allowed a space for new friendships to blossom, and past relationships to strengthen.
3. Adventure. You can not have a Costa Rica experience without adventure. Whether your four wheeling through dense jungles with howler monkeys guiding your way, trudging through rivers to experience a powerful waterfall, or being covered with saltwater from surfing in rolling waves right outside your room’ a Pura Vida experience is at your finger tips. During retreat, excursions are abundant and supported by local and knowledgeable guides. Not only will you know you will be safe and the outing will go smooth, but you will push your limits and experience something totally new. I am a strong believer that adventure wakes something up in all of us. One of my favorite experiences with the Shakti yoga group was four wheeling through rainforests to the close by town of Montezuma, a quaint rootsy coastal town. Delicious food, local goods, waves crashing, and speed on four wheels allowed a memorable experience.
This young man has been working so hard to this family, he is thankful for the miracle of having a new family, a family that trust in his change. We all deserve a new chance to make the things right.
About the author: Alana Roach is a International Yogi currently based out of Annapolis, MD. Formerly adorned by the city lights and the busy streets of America, she was then whisked away by the illustrious path of yoga and took to traveling the world to share it with others. A few years back she started to write about the transformation she undertook by practicing conscious meditation. She practices and teaches varied styles of yoga at Ruahstudio.com, leads international retreats, loves surfing, being in nature, and enjoys a good belly laugh. She is on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter, and can be reached by email alanaroachyoga
