Every year the popularity of yoga camps and retreats grows bigger. At the moment the market offer for this kind of gateways is huge. How to choose the right one for you? Check out my 5 criterias for the following matter!
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1. Choose the type of yoga you wanna focus on.
Normally retreats put stress on a specific style - vinyasa, hatha, yin, etc. Choose the one which sounds like the most relevant to you and check the daily schedule planned for the retreat. Examine what are they putting stress on during classes, who is going to teach you and what qualifications do those teachers have regarding classes they will provide. Good idea is to get in touch with the teacher, introduce yourself and start building interpersonal relations. So that you can feel if you are on the same vibe :)
2. Double-check certification.
If you go for the course at the end of which you are aiming to receive certification, bare in mind to check the relevance of the certification offered. Yoga Alliance is the biggest non profit organisation which gives certification and is recognised all around the world. In order to get Yoga Alliance certification you need to complete the course at the registered school of the alliance.But do not rush - this certification is not always needed. In some cases you'll overpay for the course just because of the certification, but maybe in your case you don't really need this paper? Or maybe a simple certificate of committing to course is enough, not necessarily the Alliance one? Think about it twice before making the final decision.
3. Compare prices.
Prices may wary depending on how long the course is, significance of the certification you are getting, what is included in the course (food, accommodation, etc), which season you are going in. Don't forget to count in the travel expenses - in most of the cases you would have to arrange the travel on your own meaning the price of a course does not includes travel expenses.
4. Choose the location.
"Authentic place for these kind of journeys are India, Bali or Thailand." - you've probably heard this before. However, the truth is that nowadays quality retreats went way beyond these three locations. You can find worthy program almost everywhere - Europe, Asia, Americas. There is even a big chance you'll find something close to where you leave. The question is - is it something you really wanted?
A price for the retreat itself does not includes the costs of travel so if you choose to go to Bali - just remember, getting there is not a cheap story.
5. Check the reviews.
The best way to know about a place is to speak to someone who has already been there. Since yoga retreats are that popular now, you will definitely find a friend who knows a friend of a friend who've went for this kind of trip. Use this opportunity to speak to a person and get to know the details at the firsthand! Indeed you can always reach reviews from the internet, and you should! But nothing is better then asking for the opinion someone who went through this experience already.
So take your time, do your research, speak to people and go take this opportunity to treat your mind and body the best possible way! :)
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