The Best Yoga Retreats in California

California has all kinds of yoga retreat – from the highly spiritual to those teamed with wine
California has all kinds of yoga retreat – from the highly spiritual to those teamed with wine | Courtesy of Thomas Barwick / Getty images
Josh Taylor

Deputy Editorial Director

When looking for the best yoga retreat, it’s important to know your options. With so many different styles of yoga, the possibilities to open and expand your yoga practice are endless. These programs are perfect for finding peace, connecting mind, body and spirit – and getting in tune with your inner self. Here is a list of some of the best yoga retreats in California for all you dedicated yogis out there.

Sagrada Wellness, Santa Margarita

Located about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this rustic retreat is in the heart of California’s Central Coast Wine Country, San Luis Obispo. A typical stay involves yoga classes, lounging by the pool and plenty of wine tasting. Each evening will showcase a different wine from one of the retreat’s favourite local vineyards, served with a healthy home-cooked meal. The contemporary space is designed for maximum comfort and physical distancing is strictly maintained. Stay in the loft-like Manzanita Room for access to a large wooden balcony with epic mountain views, or the private brand new Blue Oak and Acacia rooms designed with renewal, peace and serenity in mind.

Casa de Chinquapin, Carlsbad

Love is The Prize Retreat, Santa Ysabel

This retreat in Santa Ysabel offers guests the chance to spiritually reconnect through meditation, group hikes, deep discussions, sound healing and, of course, plenty of yoga. Your wellness experts and hosts Memo and Jennifer will lead your sessions, and ensure physical distancing is maintained, with all accommodation being thoroughly cleaned between stays. There are three houses on site: a four-bedroom rustic house dating from thee 1940s, a large one-bedroom apartment house with shared triple rooms, and a third house to accommodate staff. A healthy breakfast is served every day.

Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, Santa Cruz

Start the year right by cleansing your mind and refocusing at the Land of Medicine Buddha yoga retreat – a unique facility providing Tibetan Buddhist teachings and healings in a beautiful environment, surrounded by the Santa Cruz mountain range. Your three-day programme will involve daily yoga classes, quiet meditation sessions, hikes in the surrounding area, and community gatherings in the evening. All meals are vegetarian-friendly and included in your stay.

AZ I AM Yoga Retreat, Desert Hot Springs

Located in Desert Hot Springs – America’s so-called “spa city” – AZ I AM yoga retreat is the ultimate destination to rest and reset. From meditation sessions and yoga sculpt sessions to tingling dips in mineral-rich hot springs and the opportunity to explore your surroundings, you’ll have have as much or as little as you like to keep you occupied throughout your stay. Included in the package are freshly squeezed juices, superfoods, herbal elixirs, herbal teas and healing soup broths. You can choose to stay in a private single room (queen or king-size bed) or a shared double room (shared queen or king).

Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort, Midpines

Deepen your yoga and meditation practice in the heart of the Yosemite Valley, at the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort. Dating back to the 1930s, the retreat is a magical setting complete with cabins on stilts dotted along the mountainside. You’ll start each morning with a healthy, freshly prepared breakfast to set you up for the day – served along with lunch and dinner at the June Bug Cafe. The rest of the time will be dedicated to practicing yoga, meditation and pranayama with an experienced teacher. The on-site spa is included as part of your package, with unlimited access to the hot tub and sauna – the perfect way to soothe aching limbs after an afternoon spent exploring the surrounding hiking trails. In addition to cabins, private hotel style rooms and hostel-style dorms (including female only) are also available.

For more options, discover our guide on where to unwind in Santa Cruz, California.

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