Photo courtesy of iStock / Inside Creative House
Breathe deeply and relax in child’s pose. On your next trip, refresh and de-stress at a hotel that offers onsite yoga.
Travel can be a Pandora’s box of hassles. A new time zone, cramped seats on airplanes and a change in diet can wreak havoc on your health. A yoga class may help to alleviate at least some travel headaches.
You don’t need to be a devoted practitioner of this ancient discipline to participate. The following 10 hotels offer excellent instruction that make it easy to give yoga a try.
Photo courtesy of Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
Grand Residences Riviera Cancun | Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Grand Residences is a luxury beach hotel on a stunning swath of sand just outside of Puerto Morelos. It retains the feel of a sleepy fishing village, yet it’s only a short drive from bustling Cancun.
The hotel presents the opportunity for numerous activities on land and sea, including a morning yoga class. It’s held outdoors, either on the sand or in a sheltered cove near the pool. You’ll inhale the salty air and feel the sea breeze as the instructor leads you through a series of easy postures and gentle stretches, ending with a guided relaxation.
Photo courtesy of Tenaya Lodge
Tenaya Lodge | Yosemite, California
Yosemite National Park is a place to admire earthly bounty, whether you’re hiking a trail or marveling at El Capitan. Tenaya Lodge is just two miles from the park’s south gate.
A favorite way for guests to prepare for a day of Yosemite adventure is with a morning yoga session. Offered year-round, the class stretches the muscles and calms the mind. In warmer months, it’s held outside on the Grand Terrace, where participants enjoy panoramic views of the forest landscape while practicing sun salutations and other poses.
In summer, children come in pajamas for a special family evening yoga session that ends with milk and cookies.
Photo courtesy of Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa | Aruba
Aruba’s tropical trifecta of sun, sand and surf is a winning vacation combination. The island is an independent country yet it maintains strong cultural ties with the Netherlands.
Manchebo Beach Resort is an intimate hideaway on Eagle Beach, one of the Caribbean’s most gorgeous white sand beaches. The resort is Green Globe Platinum Certified, so sustainability is taken seriously.
Yoga classes are held in the open-air beach pavilion several times daily. The top-notch instructors and enticing seaside location have made the classes popular with residents. Mingle with local yogis as you practice your downward-facing dog and balance in tree pose.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Russo Photography for Ventana Big Sur
Ventana | Big Sur, California
With sea, sky, mountains and a towering redwood forest, Ventana Big Sur is a spectacular setting to namaste in nature. This rustic, refined resort offers a thoughtful combination of private sanctuaries and soothing social spaces such as Japanese-style baths and an infinity-edge hot tub.
Complimentary yoga classes are offered every day at 8:30am (except Friday when there’s a tai chi class), to a soundtrack of Pacific surf. Classes are open to all levels, though geared towards beginners.
Photo courtesy of The Lodge at Woodloch
The Lodge at Woodloch | Hawley, Pennsylvania
Located in a rustic corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the lakeside Lodge at Woodloch is a wonderland of wildflowers, woodlands, orchards and gardens. It’s a serene setting to explore the mind-body connection with one of their numerous daily yoga classes.
Access your inner warrior with a vinyasa-style class focusing on strength and balance or go for the groovy as you learn simple yoga poses while listening to songs by Mr. Smooth himself, Barry White. After you’ve stretched and relaxed, cycling, hiking, boating, fishing and archery are some of the many additional recreational temptations.
Photo courtesy of The Allison Inn & Spa
The Allison Inn & Spa | Newberg, Oregon
The Allison offers guests a wine country immersion in the foothills of the Willamette Valley. Sweeping views of vineyards, valleys and farmland offer tranquility while the open-air, Oregon-focused art gallery ups the manmade visual stimulation.
Yoga in the Meadow Garden is scheduled throughout the
Photo courtesy of Heidi Kern Photography for Hidden Pond
Hidden Pond | Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport is a classic New England town. Lobster traps bob in the waves, old-fashioned lemonade stands line the streets and mazes of low-bush blueberries are as pretty as a picture.
Hidden Pond is a rustically elegant seasonal resort with quaint cottages nestled in a birch forest. A gentle flow yoga class is offered every morning.
For guests with a more advanced yoga practice, the instructor is well-versed to teach various styles including more vigorous adaptations for seasoned students. Yoga is held in the studio or outdoors, weather permitting.
Photo courtesy of The Palms Hotel & Spa
The Palms Hotel & Spa | Miami Beach, Florida
Miami may be known for its party vibe, but wellness is at the heart of The Palms Hotel. Set on the shores of Miami Beach, guests may Zen out with yoga classes as respected local yogis guide them through a dynamic practice.
Sunrise and sunset vinyasa yoga on the beach should stretch those tight hamstrings. On Sunday morning, immerse in Florida flora and fauna when you participate in the yoga class held in the tiki hut.
Photo courtesy of Club Med
Club Med Michés Playa Esmeralda | Dominican Republic
Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda is an all-inclusive resort located on one of the Caribbean’s most secluded beaches. They offer a variety of yoga classes and styles including yoga for families, aqua yoga and standup paddleboard yoga.
Their specialty is treetop yoga in the Treetop Wellness Canopy. You’ll practice balancing poses surrounded by rustling palm trees in the unspoiled Dominican jungle.
Photo courtesy of The Peninsula Chicago
The Peninsula Chicago | Illinois
The Peninsula Hotel is situated in the heart of Chicago‘s Magnificent Mile, surrounded by towering skyscrapers, premier shopping and fine dining.
The spacious rooftop spa holds a variety of group exercise classes daily. Guests may greet the morning with sunrise yoga, re-charge in a vinyasa-style power yoga class or relax with traditional hatha yoga. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a sundeck assure breathtaking vistas.
