Five of the best yoga retreats

It’s well known that practising yoga is one of the best habits you can get into for both your body and your mind. Yoga’s physical benefits include increased flexibility and strength, better posture and stronger bones, as well as improving circulation. According to medical journal, The Lancet, it can also help to lower blood pressure.

Yoga also offers a wealth of indirect physical and mental health benefits by helping to increase the quality of your sleep and decreasing your cortisol levels (that’s the hormone responsible for stress). Another of life’s great stress-busters is going on holiday, so getaways centred around yoga are becoming increasingly popular as a great way to recharge your batteries. Here are five of the best from around the world.

Feathered Pipe Ranch, Montana, USA

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Feathered Pipe Ranch is one of the oldest and finest yoga retreat centres in the United States. Surrounded by almost a million acres of forest and mountains, this place is all about personal growth in a beautiful environment away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Feathered Pipe plays host to a programme of summer retreats centred around mindfulness, meditation and yoga, and is taught by some of the world’s leading teachers. The ranch’s Helena Forest home is a beautiful place to hike, or you can rent a canoe between classes and explore Feathered Pipe’s very own spring-fed lake.
The week-long Mindful Unplug Retreat starts at £1,247. Visit featheredpipe.com

COMO Shambhala, Bali, Indonesia

With a resident Ayurvedic doctor and dietician among its staff, COMO Shambhala presents a holistic approach to health in a beautiful environment on the paradise island of Bali. The resort’s wellness programmes, designed for stays of three, five or seven nights, encompass Ayurvedic body treatments, cleanse-focused diets and personal fitness training alongside yoga classes. Dining options include traditional Indonesian cuisine alongside organic, health-focused dishes for those looking to detoxify.
The seven-night Ayurvedic Wellness Programme starts at £5,259 for a double Garden Room. Visit comohotels.com/comoshambhalaestate/

Kaliyoga: Puglia, Italy

Enjoying a grand setting on a 16^th century Puglian estate, Kaliyoga is brilliant for a more relaxed yoga retreat. With an emphasis on integrating the principles of yogic practice and mindfulness into daily life, the grounds of the estate, peppered with olive, fig and prickly pear trees, are a beautiful place to relax in between the two yoga sessions and guided meditation class that comprise the daily schedule. Tashi, the yoga teacher, will make you feel at ease whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned yogi.
Prices start at £795 for six nights. Visit kaliyoga.com/italy/home/

Maya Tulum, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Situated on the stunning Yucatan Peninsula, a trip to Maya Tulum combines the ultimate relaxation of a sun, sea and sand beach holiday with tailored programmes and an extensive list of yoga styles and classes to choose from. The Mind Body Spirit programme, available as a three, five or seven-night package, includes two yoga sessions and three healthy vegetarian meals per day, as well as spa treatments and half-day excursions to cultural sites such as the Yal-Ku Lagoon and the Mayan Tulum Ruins.
The Stand Up Warrior Yoga Retreat starts at £1,283 per person for seven nights. Visit rrresorts.com/maya_tulum/

Ananda Spa resort, Narendra Nagar, India

For a yoga retreat that brings the height of exclusivity and luxury to the original home of yogic practice, look no further than Ananda in the Himalayas – a luxury spa resort set in an opulent former Maharajah’s palace. Just 20 minutes up a winding mountain path from Rishikesh, the ‘yoga capital of the world’, Ananda is an exclusive oasis away from the throngs of backpackers and bustling ashrams of the main town. Traditional yoga and meditation practices are taught by experienced teachers, and diet plans are personalised for each guest, in line with traditional Ayurvedic principles. Past guests have included Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt.
Prices start at £3,962 per person for seven nights. Visit anandaspa.com