How to Have a Yoga Retreat at Home

Yoga retreats are often thought of as big-ticket trips, the sort that require saving, planning, and a decent amount of travel. But what if you could experience a similar sense of transformation, one that furthers your commitment to your practice, at home?

Personal yoga retreats may sound less aspirational than a hosted trip at a premium price point, but this more accessible option can be a powerful vehicle for self-care. More than a simple staycation, a stay-at-home yoga retreat calls you to create a space designed exclusively to support your experience. This means taking inventory of what you want out of a retreat, getting real about your needs, and taking yourself seriously enough to curate an exceptional event for yourself.

Traditional yoga retreats come with the benefit of stepping out of your everyday life and into an immersive experience. Your yoga staycation should do the same. A little forethought goes a long way here. If you need some help getting started, the following suggestions can help make the concept of an at-home retreat feel like a (very possible) reality.

How to Turn Your Home Into a Yoga Retreat

Take inspiration from retreats you’ve read about online that speak to you as well as teachers whose practices you love. Think about the sort of schedule you would most want to receive on day one of an international retreat and go from there. 

1. Block Off Your Time

A yoga retreat can’t happen without the requisite time and space. Don’t hope for a few days, or even a week, that are relaxed enough to support your yoga. Make the time. Cancel plans, take some PTO, and commit to your cause. Beginning your retreat with this sort of targeted mindset will make the entire process more rewarding.

2. Choose Your Focus

Assigning a theme to your yoga retreat can help you self-direct the experience. Are you hoping to find purpose in your professional life? Do you wanting to delve into yin yoga? Are you hoping to recommit to daily practice and meditation? Allow your overarching goals to guide everything else so the practices and activities you select feel intentional.

3. Collect Your Practices

Self-guided yoga is, of course, possible. But the Internet makes putting together a lineup of aligned virtual practices easy and brings your favorite teachers into your home. Choose practices that help you get excited about your dedicated time on the mat!

4. Add Some Wellness

Most yoga retreats come with some element of added wellness, whether an outdoor activity or a scheduled massage. Set aside some time for a soak, a face mask, a long walk—whatever best supplements your yogic and personal aims. A little self-care goes a long way.

5. Create a Schedule

Once you’ve determined a direction for your retreat, draw up a schedule that supports your goals. Get granular with it, carving out the appropriate amount of time for each yoga practice, activity, rest period, and meal, and commit to sticking to it.

6. Disconnect

You may be at home, but that doesn’t mean a Netflix binge is an option. Although you might need your screens to guide your practice or to set the tone with music, do your best to stay off social media and say no to any unnecessary scrolling. This time is for you; don’t waste it.

7. Eat and Drink Mindfully

Health is a pillar of the yoga retreat. Plan your meals in advance, choosing food and drink that feed and fuel rather than detract and deplete. Saying no to alcohol is usually recommended, as is reaching for fruit, veggies, lean protein, good fats, and whole grains. Drink lots of water and eat well, meaning enough and with your body and brain in mind.

8. Build Community

Experiencing a solo retreat is a worthy endeavor, although once you start the planning process you might find that inviting a friend (or a few friends) can actually lend to the experience. In the yoga retreat setting, energy is everything, and shared energy is often amplified. Again, let your chosen theme or focus help you determine what makes sense for you.

9. Make Space to Reflect

Pepper your days with moments that encourage reflection, whether through journaling or, if you invite others, through discussion. A-ha moments abound in retreat settings, and making the space to let them come through and honor their arrival ensures that you’re getting the most out of the experience.

10. Open and Close with Ceremony

Adding ritual can help your home retreat feel real and profound as well as separate the event from your daily life through opening and closing ceremonies of your choosing. The former sets the scene and anoints the space, the latter brings closure to your efforts with the observance they deserve.

11. Enjoy Yourself

Allow yourself to be entirely present and don’t forget to have fun. After all, a retreat is an opportunity to return home to yourself—and that should be a good time.