Venues for yoga retreats and workshops

For a yoga retreat, the venue does a lot of the work. The practice room needs to be quiet and big enough to roll out the mats, with natural light. You also need simple but comfortable accommodation, food that's up to the job and somewhere people can leave everyday life behind.

Choosing a venue for your yoga retreat

In the practice room, allow 4 to 5 m² per participant. Check the flooring as well (wooden boards, tatami or soft lino), the heating outside the main season and the equipment provided: mats, blocks, straps, cushions. Many venues offer vegetarian full board; others are rented on a self-catering basis, which works out cheaper if the group does its own cooking.

For a weekend, it's best to stay within two hours of where your participants live. For a week, you can head south or go abroad, where the season runs longer. Write to the venue with your dates, the number of participants and the style of yoga: they'll reply to you directly.