Sometimes, you need to recharge. It can be hard to do in a busy life – work, family, kids, friends, hobbies, chores, errands…. So why not get away for a bit? Even a few days is enough time to rest, breathe, and get back at it. We’ve gathered a few therapeutic retreat options that might be just what you need.
Image courtesy of Flickr user Stephen Liu
Yoga in Banff
Image courtesy of Flickr user Matthew Ragan
If you want to get away for some self-reflection but wilderness isn’t really your thing, this yoga retreat at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is for you. The retreat includes two nights’ luxury accommodation at the hotel, gourmet meals, and a selection of yoga & meditation classes as well as a few nature walks around beautiful Lake Louise. Worried about a retreat being too rigid? The schedule is entirely optional – attendees are free to join activities as they wish (meaning you can sneak away for a mid-afternoon savasana). Namaste.
Horses in B.C.’s Interior
Image courtesy of Flickr user Susan Drury
Anyone who’s spent time with horses knows these peaceful creatures are naturally therapeutic. If you’re looking for a unique retreat opportunity, Equinsity, located just outside Kamloops, could be right for you. Horse therapy offers “re-connection, re-vitalisation, and healing,” and helps attendees work on “dispelling illusion [and] shifting consciousness.” Attendees can ride, train, and interact with the horses as much as they want to – and are welcome to sit back and watch if they prefer that. Meditation and spiritual communication is also available. Not sure how much horse time you need? There are one, three, and eight-day retreats available, and each retreat is all-inclusive.
Fitness in Whistler
Image courtesy of Flickr user Fit Approach
For a workout you can’t procrastinate, consider Whistler Fitness Vacations. These one to eight-week retreats are affordable weight loss solutions – attendees can lose up to 100 pounds. Plus, there are day-pass options if you just can’t take the time away from work and life. Group classes, self-prepared food, and optional spa packages help make this retreat affordable for any budget. Fitness activities include hiking, bootcamps, swimming, biking, weight training, conditioning, and indoor & outdoor classes. Ready to get fit? Head to beautiful Whistler to kickstart your healthy lifestyle.
Meditation on the Sunshine Coast
Image courtesy of Flickr user Brian Ambrozy
The most holistic of these retreats, the Self Realization Meditation Centre provides “teaching, nurturing, the clearing of emotions and balancing of mind, body and spirit for all who are seeking peace, harmony, health and progress.” The inclusive centre offers a variety of scheduled and private retreats. The scheduled events are themed seasonally, so they fit into the rhythm of your lifestyle. (The New Year Retreat is a fine way to set your intention for the year.) There are also one-day or half-day yoga retreats where yogis can connect deeply to their practice in an immersive environment. This is the retreat for you if you want to ground yourself and connect more deeply with your spirituality.
