City life in Barcelona is great in so many ways. It’s buzzing and jam packed with activities and festivities. But we all, or at least most of us, need to stop and disconnect from time to time. A yoga retreat is a perfect way to do just that. Whether you are a yoga amateur seeking some inner harmony and wellbeing, an experienced yogi looking to progress into teaching, or a yoga teacher trying to organise a perfect retreat for your group, there is something for you, somewhere near Barcelona. Here is a sample of the top yoga retreats on offer.
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Cal Pau Cruset
Surrounded by the vineyards and palm trees of the Alt Penedes, a region famous for its cava, this beautiful Catalan farmhouse really is an idyllic yoga retreat. The spacious and beautiful grounds and gardens provide a perfectly peaceful and inspiring setting. Thanks to the micro-climate of the valley, you can enjoy plenty of light, sun and heat most year round. The house itself, which is over 150 years old and completely renovated, maintains an authentic style and elegance, full of antiques and art.
For yoga practice, they offer a spacious dedicated activity room, The Alaya (Sanskrit for ‘base’ or ‘home’), with oak wooden floors and plenty of light streaming in through the windows. Here you can practice yoga while enjoying stunning views of the surrounding region. It is also fully equipped with professional sound system, mats, pillows, blankets and other accessories.
If you really want to be at one with nature while practicing yoga, they also offer to help organize classes on the tops of the surrounding mountains, at nearby waterfalls or lakes, on the beaches or in the middle of medieval ruins!
The Alaya, which is spread over two floors, has very comfortable accommodation for groups in separate beds or rooms, with the capacity to sleep up to 48 people. There is also a chillout terrace on its roof with wonderful views of the vineyards of Penedes, and a terrace with large awnings provide shade in the warmer months. Perfect for outdoor activities, rest and relaxation.
The three surrounding houses also offer comfortable accommodation for groups, the largest sleeping 8-12 people, the smallest 2-6 people. Each house has private bath, kitchen and balcony with panoramic views and a patio or garden. Prices range considerable, between 300€ and 2,950€ per week, depending on number of people and season.
The grounds include a relaxation area with gardens, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, Barbeque and more.
This is a place secluded enough to really escape the noise of the city and disconnect the mind, yet the location is well connected with several nearby villages, such as Sant Marti (3 kilometers away) and four other villages within 45 minutes driving distance, so that, if you have a car, there is the option to take a trip for lunch or just exploring.
As well as a yoga retreat, this is also a perfect location for those who like to write, create art or simply get away from it all for a bit. There are also a variety of cultural, wellbeing and outdoor activities on offer, including hiking, renting bikes and wine tasting tours. They also offer courses in massage, painting and drawing, cooking and language, among others.
Surya Retreats
For yogis, Surya Retreats offers the chance to combine your yoga retreat with adventure and travel. Surya Retreats is not one single retreat centre, but rather a gateway to many exciting and varied yoga retreats going on all across Spain. As the founder and manager, Laura Bujalance, states:
“I want to show yogis Spanish local culture, tasty food and astounding natural beauty, get them inspired and help them share their practice amongst each other.”
Check the website for information on upcoming retreats, and get signed up!
For Yoga Teachers, Surya Retreats offers a perfect solution for yoga teachers thinking about organising a yoga retreat, but who are lacking the time or experience to organise the perfect retreat. They will help you organise a great retreat in a great location, allowing you to focus on the important task of developing an inspiring yoga program. Each of their unique holidays is tailor made just for you.
Simply tell them what type of retreat you have in mind, whether it’s a high-end luxury retreat by the sea or a meditative nature-loving retreat in the mountains, and any complementary activities you want to include, such as hiking or wine-tasting. They ask for a refundable down payment, after which they do all the work, crafting a tailor made package retreat. They also take care of all bookings, questions, payments, price negotiations, meaning no organizational stress from the teacher! Surya Retreats will also help teachers market their retreat worldwide so that anyone may sign up.
You can feel confident in the knowledge that Surya Retreats have personally visited all the venues they choose, and ensure all are suitable for a yoga retreat.
You can also check out their website for inspiration on bestselling retreat packages.
International Yoga Teacher Training in Barcelona, Spain
From June 2nd – June 21st 2016, Yoga Alliance International, a certified school, will deliver its Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training. It’s a little way away, but as they only take on a maximum of 15 students, it’s a good idea to get applying early!
The 200 hour course, taught in English, takes place in the stunning mountainous Montseny region. Guided by Sindu Ma, who has over 7300 hours of teaching experience, it promises you a comprehensive and high quality course, designed to develop a firm foundation in the holistic daily practice of yoga, covering Hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja Yoga levels supported by Bakthi Yoga vision.
This is a course for experienced Yoga practitioners with minimum 2 years into Yoga path), designed to guide and transform you into a yoga teacher through the realisation of your true potential. This is achieved through a program of practice and study to deepen an awareness of the body, mind and self connection.
The course comes under the lifetime membership program which allows its graduates to refresh the level anytime internationally.
What are you waiting for? Get your perfect yoga getaway organised today!
That’s a really nice article.
You should also write an article about doing one in India. It would be so very good. Anyway thanks for sharing this with us
I enjoyed reading this text so much. As someone who visited Barcelona a couple of times, I am so happy to discover new places I can check out the next time I am there. Especially when these locations are perfect places for all of us who love yoga. The International Yoga Teaching Training sounds interesting as well!