International Yoga Day: top 5 yogacation destinations
Get your healthcation off to the most mindful start at these luxury hotels that offer personalised yoga and meditation sessions amidst spectacular views.
From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bollywood actors like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shilpa Shetty, everyone is finding solace and fitness through the practice of yoga. Closer home, my 86-year-old uncle starts his day with 11 Surya Namaskar (sun salutations).
Across India, Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation–a sequence of 12 powerful yoga poses–is recognised as beneficial for the body and the mind.
Yoga is rapidly gaining popularity across the world as a means to achieve ultimate physical and mental well-being.
The word “yog” is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj”, which translates to “join”, “unite” or “yoke”. The practice is said to bind individual consciousness with universal consciousness, creating harmony between the mind and body.
“Yoga offers physical and mental health benefits for people from all walks of life and of all ages. Done regularly, it reduces stress, inflammation, and anxiety, improves heart health, sleep, bone health and brain function, and improves strength and flexibility,” says Smita Parlekar, who runs a yoga studio in Mumbai.
To most of us, yoga is all about physical poses, but the practice also includes meditation, prayer, chanting, breath work, and rituals.
Wellness retreats like Ananda in the Himalayas offer curated yoga and meditation sessions in beautiful surroundings.
Yoga’s growing popularity has made it one of India’s most popular cultural exports. Last year, Meenakshi Lekhi, former minister of state for external affairs and culture, admitted that yoga was a form of India’s soft power and said it was “an Indian tradition that we gifted the world”.
The Modi-led government embraced yoga as a soft power asset, consolidating its global presence by pursuing the recognition of an International Day of Yoga, which finally happened in December 2014.
Ten years later, as people get busier and lives get more demanding, more persons are choosing a healthier lifestyle and giving their health goals the time they deserve by opting for dedicated “health-cations”. The idea is to get your (holi)day off to the most mindful start with a relaxing yoga session, including meditation, pranayama, strengthening movements, and stretches, all with incredible views.
Ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, YS Life has compiled a list of luxury hotels that are ideal for yogacations round the year.
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius
The yoga instructor at Four Seasons Resort offers sessions for all levels and can tailor each session to guest preferences.
Nestled amidst 64 acres of tropical gardens and fringed by the island’s largest lagoon and the Indian Ocean, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita is an oasis of quietude and natural beauty. Set against the Bambous Mountain, the design melds indoor and outdoor living: all the 136 villas have private walled gardens, landscaped terraces, an al fresco shower, and an infinity edge plunge pool.
The “natural wonderland for wellness seekers” offers varied yoga programmes that incorporate Hatha and Ashtanga practices, pranayama and meditation sessions, and gentle yoga for pregnant women.
Joelle Jennepy, Senior Director of Spa, says, the yoga pavilion is perched over the tranquil lagoon, offering serene views and a soft breeze during sessions. Private sessions can be organised on the beach or on the lawn on Quiet Beach.
“Blindfolded yoga sessions are also available, where guests are blindfolded during the class, making them more mindful in the moment, more aware of their surroundings, and disconnect from their thoughts and worries. Our experienced yoga instructor offers sessions for all levels and can tailor each session to the guest's preferences,” Jennepy says.
The award-winning overwater spa set on wooden pillars above the Indian Ocean is ideal for unwinding with a wellbeing treatment; other activities include tennis, snorkelling, kayaking, and beachfront fitness.
Ananda in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand
At Ananda in the Himalayas, the yoga sessions aim to help balance the body, mind, and spirit.
One of the world’s best known holistic wellness retreats, Ananda is set against the majestic Himalayan foothills. Located in a sprawling 100-acre estate, belonging to the erstwhile maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, it has attracted wellness seekers from around the world.
Ananda integrates yoga and meditation with Ayurveda and holistic wellbeing, focusing on spiritual awareness and emotional healing. At the luxurious “spa with a soul”, Bihar School of Yoga teachers create specific yoga and meditation programmes, Ayurveda doctors and therapists administer personalised treatments, and Vedanta disciples and other experts offer interactive talks.
Check into one of the 24 treatment rooms and don’t forget to troop into the swanky gym, swim in the outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pool, and sign up for a luxurious hydrotherapy session. Special seven and 14-night yoga programmes promise to help achieve specific physiological, psychological, or spiritual goals.
Other amenities include a fitness centre, billiards room, sauna and hammam, and a golf course, and a stunning heated pool. Outside the hotel, adventure activities abound: white water rafting, wildlife safaris, and trekking in the foothills.
Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, Kovalam
Personalised sessions are available at the yoga pavilion at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra.
This Kovalam beach retreat, perched on a dramatic cliff edge and flanked by sheltered beaches, offers serenity by the sea. The award-winning Ayurvedic retreat, with 10 dedicated Ayurveda rooms, offers multiple options for a luxurious yogacation.
The expert team of Ayurvedic doctors, skilled therapists, yogis, and chefs create a personalised and holistic healing programme to focus on physical and mental aspects that affect overall well-being.
Start the day with a rejuvenating swim in the sea-facing infinity pool. And, be it sunrise or sunset, participate in the yoga and meditation sessions that are available in gorgeous locations–in the hotel pavilions, atop cliffs, or on the beach as the waves roll in. Whether you are a beginner or a regular yoga practitioner, the yoga experiences at Niraamaya Surya Samudra aim to revive the senses and ensure reinvigoration.
Unnikrishnan, yoga instructor at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, who leads the guests in Surya Namaskar practice every morning, says, “Yogic healing is an ancient system that begins by understanding the individual and targeting the root cause of illness. It is a holistic approach that considers every aspect of the individual to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally, rather than just addressing the disease.”
Other activities include backwater cruises, beach picnics, sunset boat rides, chef-led visits to the nearby fish market, and cultural immersions in nearby Thiruvananthapuram.
Cape Weligama, Sri Lanka
Cape Weligama’s scenic and serene cliff-top location is ideal for practising yoga and meditation.
A part of the Resplendent Ceylon “best of Sri Lanka” circuit, Cape Weligama is a cliff-top resort set on 12 tropical acres above the Indian Ocean near Galle. The swanky 39 villas and suites are set out like a traditional Sri Lankan village, with the restaurants and bars offering the best of food and drink.
Created by the family-owned Dilmah Tea Company, Cape Weligama is an enchanting wellness destination. Get every day off to a mindful start with a yoga session at the thatched pavilion near the Moon Pool. The hour-long class, led by a Balinese yoga partner, includes meditation, pranayama, strengthening movements, and stretches. It can be personalised to suit varied abilities and preferences, and offers incredible ocean views and sounds.
Take a dip in the shared infinity pools between villas or in the two main pools, the cove pool and the 197-feet crescent-shaped cliff-top infinity pool. Explore the fitness centre, water sports area, and spa villa. If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving, the property can arrange sessions by the PADI-certified dive centre. Other activities include surfing, snorkelling, lake kayaking, rice paddy bicycling, stilt fishing, and whale watching expeditions.
Raga on the Ganges, Rishikesh
A wellness resort in Rishikesh, Raga on the Ganges offers numerous rejuvenating activities.
Located on the banks of the Ganga, this tranquil mountain retreat offers panoramic views and a stunning wellness escape. The 30 rooms are designed to provide comfort and serenity while offering magnificent views of the river.
The wellness resort offers the chance to sign up for a rejuvenating yoga session–individual or group--on the outdoor deck that overlooks the river. Or else, settle yourself down by the riverside and listen to the soothing sounds of flowing water as you meditate or do pranayama. End the session with a dip in the holy waters.
The spa offers a range of Ayurvedic and other treatment packages–ideal to end your day with while the outdoor pool is inviting at all times of the day. Those who love to keep busy all day can sign up for the many adventurous activities: cycling, trekking, kayaking, or river rafting.