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In theory, yoga retreats are meant to immerse you in practice, place, and community. Some retreats achieve this goal and more, creating space for transformational moments that can only exist in the container. But any group vacation comes with its share of variables. Personalities of teachers and students come into play, as does the actual environment. (Bugs and critters, anyone?) Add travel mishaps to the list and keeping all focus on the actual yoga becomes an impressive feat.
But the best yoga retreats take all of these elements and work with them, allowing the brief respite to serve as a microcosm of life. A yoga retreat can provide an opportunity to master a pose, drop into your intuition, and return to your breath, all against an often jaw-dropping backdrop—even if the trip isn’t entirely perfect.
We asked friends, followers, and other editors about their most memorable moments—for better or worse—from various retreats. The selection of shares that follows demonstrates the breadth of experience that can come with taking your yoga on the road.
20 Memorable Moments from Yoga Retreats
1. Headstand finally unlocked.
2. The facilitating teacher insisted on constantly taking pictures and video even though the retreat was touted as being an opportunity to take a break from tech.
3. Everyone canceled at the last minute, so the retreat was suddenly a private one!
4. Scorpion in the sink.
5. A sound healing in an outdoor shala during a thunderstorm. Magical.
6. “I was pretty surprised when I showed up and realized the camp-style bunk-rooms were co-ed. –@sara.e.wallace
7. No one was on time to any activity or class. Ever. The bulk of the retreat was spent waiting around.
8. “I left my bag in the Havana airport. My guide had to take me to the police station, where I filled out a report in the back room under a large picture of Castro. My laptop was still in the bag, my Kindle was gone, but the officer was most confused by what to call the Yoga Tune Up Balls on the report!” –@danaslamp
9. “Getting Norvovirus and having symptoms set in while teaching my class and running off to throw up during class…without a student even noticing.” –@badassyogiforlife
10. An infestation of biting ants in bedrooms.
11. “I was facilitating a retreat in Bali when a delegate missed their flight so travelled solo to the retreat centre. On the way, her car was ambushed, the driver robbed and threatened to give over the delegate’s passport and $$. The driver had a wad of cash enough to satisfy the thieves. As a facilitator, this was enough for me to stop running international retreats after 7 years.” –@sharon_neish_
12. “A student broke their leg on our surfing excursion.” –@kerihoperichmond
13. Food poisoning in a dorm-style space with a shared bathroom.
14. “One of my attendees, who was in her mid 20s, mother died while she was attending the retreat and she couldn’t get back. You can’t be prepared for something like that as a retreat leader but grateful we all came together to support her.” –@cathymadeoyoga
15. “Self realization and reflection. It was pretty crazy.” –@ingridgolindano_
16. All attendees of the retreat (which was held at an international location) were a group of friends from one small town. Except for one…me. Not quite the immersive, diverse experience I imagined.
17. “Two large horses trying to f*@& stampeding through our outdoor yoga session in the mountains of Albania. Mats were flying and people were running so they didn’t get trampled.” –@momentumyogaflow
18. Forged Covid documents; the student was unable to board her flight back home.
19. We were asked to bring a brightly colored yoga outfit, which we assumed was for a ceremony. It was for an Instagram post.
20. Making lifelong friends and breathing new life into my practice in a beautiful setting.
