Long working hours and craving for some 'me time' means the luxury yoga retreats market is thriving, says Victorial McClelland, director of Wellbeing Escapes.
Yoga has established itself as a mainstream activity within the UK and yogis are no longer looked on so quizzically.
A yoga mat bag slung over a shoulder is now a common sight, and no longer mistaken for a roll of architect drawings.
With the widening appeal of yoga and its benefits, we have seen considerable growth in demand for yoga retreats, particularly the expansion into the luxury end of the market.
Balance and motivation
The attractions of this kind of holiday include long-lasting energising effects - people return refreshed and glowing rather than heavy and tired from over- indulgence.
Yoga retreats can also give people the motivation to start or deepen their practice (a commitment that can be hard to keep in daily life), and being a group style holiday means the environment is safe and friendly for solo travellers.
This type of holiday isn't usually a main annual trip, but more of an add-on where an individual can pursue their interest and feel healthy without the demands of their family or having to co-ordinate dates with friends.
With the increase of the time poor phenomenon and burn-out effect, people are looking for fast and efficient ways to recharge their batteries in order to build up the energy needed for their daily lives.
The idea of a break where everything is laid on, that is all inclusive, healthy and invigorating, makes yoga retreats the perfect ‘top-up' holiday.
Luxury breaks steam ahead
As the interest in retreats has grown, so has the supply and the variation, allowing accessibility for all.
There are still plenty of budget breaks for those who want excellent yoga teaching, nice surrounding but aren't so demanding about the standard of their accommodation.
However the significant growth has been in the high-end yoga retreats, where people expect five-star accommodation, service and cuisine in addition to the excellent yoga teaching in perfect locations.
Comfortable beds, soft pillows, en-suite bathrooms and private space are creeping up the priority list for the 30's - 40's year olds.
The other main shift has been towards more structured yoga retreats with 'added dimensions', where yoga is combined with other activities. This might include detoxing with yoga and Thalassotherapy, getting fit with yoga and hiking or yoga and surfing.
People are willing to pay more for these hassle-free breaks where all the arrangements are taken care by a specialist company and the only thing they need to focus on is absorbing new skills and enthusiasm from their teacher.
In this way, they can re-establish good habits, de-stress the body and mind and lap up long-lasting energising effects.
Hotspots
The hotspots at the moment are retreats in Spain, Morocco, Portugal - for the convenience factor of their locations and retreats with a theme (such as yoga and silence, yoga & Thalassotherapy detox, yoga and surfing).
However, the adventurous are looking further afield - to the Caribbean, Tanzania and Chile.
Launched at the beginning of 2006, Wellbeing Escapes is a leading health and wellbeing specialist travel service formed in response to the growing trend for holistic spa, yoga and wellbeing holidays.
Images:
* The top image was taken at the Ananda Spa in the Himalayas, India
* Final image shows a Yoga Break in the Costa Blanca, Spain
_0.jpg "Dancer Pose: Nataraja")
