Yoga and Wellness Retreats Perfect for Anyone Looking to Unwind

In today's fast-paced world—where we're all connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week—luxury now means being able to put down your phone, ignore emails, and immerse yourself in nature to ease your mind, release stress and tension, and feel at peace. It's not a coincidence that so many resorts offer what's essentially known as a social media detox, giving guests the opportunity to focus on wellness, yoga, and adventuring in the outdoors. Some of the best getaways to look for to do just that? Yoga and wellness retreats.

"Yoga and wellness retreats allow us to truly learn the practice of self-love and self-care," says Rachel Tudor, a yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. "So often we're dragged into the chaos of daily life that it's hard to allow ourselves to truly relax—and beyond that, we sometimes struggle to give ourselves the opportunity to relax because we cater so much to others. This 'me time' offers us a space where we can look inwards and find stillness."

That's why it's so important to carve out time in your busy schedule for a vacation—and not just a traditional vacation, but one that puts an emphasis on wellness. On a yoga or wellness retreat, you won't only exercise and explore your outdoor surroundings, but you'll also eat healthy (and delicious) food, take time to unwind at the spa, and truly learn to just enjoy. And if you have a specific trouble area you want to address, whether it's digestive issues or insomnia, you'll be pleased to know that there are retreats geared specifically toward healing a variety of problems.

If you're interested in planning your own rejuvenating getaway, check out these yoga and wellness retreats. No matter which you select, you can look forward to returning home relaxed and ready to incorporate some of the practices and new habits you've learned into your hectic daily life.

The Golden Door resort in San Marcos, California, began as a secluded spot for 1950s Hollywood starlets like Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood. The Asian-inspired wellness resort has an organic garden (that's where your meals will come from), miles of hiking trails, luxe spa treatments, and plenty of ways to exercise (yoga included). Thanks to the décor, numerous ponds, and even the kimonos guests wear to dinner, you'll truly feel like you've stepped into a Zen heaven.

Combine yoga and meditation with Ayurvedic approaches to wellness and eating, and you have Ananda. Tucked away in the Himalayas, it's a must for anyone who needs a wellness overhaul, or who just wants to indulge in some much-needed "me time." They have a variety of packages you can book, from week-long meditation and yoga retreats to those focused on Ayurvedic rejuvenation.

We can't talk about wellness and yoga without including a resort in Bali, and Revivo is our pick. There are two yoga spaces, a meditation room, Pilates studio, and a spa that specializes in ancient Balinese healing traditions. Meals are also individualized based upon each person's needs, and they host specific retreats geared toward expectant mothers, sleep, anti-aging, longevity—and the list continues.

If you live on the east coast, you don't have to travel to the west coast or another continent to unwind. Canyon Ranch in Massachusetts has a gorgeous, luxurious location tucked away in the Berkshires. Try their digital detox retreat, which gives you a concrete reason to abandon your phone. You'll practice yoga, meditate, unwind at the spa, and learn tools needed to take time for self-care.

Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah, is perfect for adventure seekers. You'll practice yoga on top of the red rocks, go on day hikes and river raft at Zion National Park, and eat at their delicious, healthy restaurant, which has both indoor and outdoor views of the beautiful scenery. (It's not too healthy though—you can still have a glass of red wine at dinner and watch the sunset at the end of an active day.)

Those committed to starting or improving their yoga practice will love Flo Retreat Center in Costa Rica. Nestled in the mountains, you'll practice yoga a few times each day (the number varies depending upon the retreat you choose) and eat three organic meals a day, but you'll also have plenty of free time to lay on the beach, swim in the pool, and explore the rainforests.

An intimate coastal farm and yoga center located on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, this spot is truly a hidden gem. With a freshwater lake, hammocks to lie in all day, elegant rooms that each have their own outdoor patio, and acres of untouched land, you'll never want to leave.

In Tennessee, hidden away in the Great Smoky Mountains, you'll find Blackberry Mountain. While super luxe, it's as quaint and charming as the name suggests. With the mountains in the distance, it provides the perfect mental wellness respite. The food is all organic and locally grown, and the activities you can partake in are practically endless, from biking and yoga to fly fishing, hiking, paddle boarding, and of course, time out at the spa.