On first consideration, drinking and yoga may seem rather incompatible. If, like me, you’ve occasionally had one too many glasses of red wine before heading to an hour of vinyasa and downward dog, you may have reservations about combining the two. But trust me: these two contrasting activities can actually come together to create a truly relaxing and rejuvenating vacation.
For those who love wellness travel — wine and beer included — here are ten of the world’s top boozy yoga holidays:
Photo courtesy of ISchmidt via Shutterstock.
1. Yoga & Cocktails At A Maldives Retreat
In this retreat held at W Hotels Retreat and Spa and run by yoga guru Tara Stiles, you can relax into a routine of regular yoga classes, peppered with welcome drinks and cocktail evenings. There are also spa treatments, meditation and water activities available, plus plenty of sunset beach yoga in the tropical paradise of the Maldives. Prices start from $1,760; click here to find out more.
Photo courtesy of Westin Verasa Napa.
2. Wine, Women & Wellness In The Napa Valley
What better place to combine yoga and wine than in the California oenophile mecca of Napa? In the Westin Verasa Napa’s girls’ getaway program, female guests can take morning yoga classes, revel in four star French dining, enjoy world-class surroundings and attend evening wine tastings. There’s even a Superfood Cleansing Workshop, so there’s no guilt involved. Accommodation starts at $159 per night; click back here in the near future for updated rate information.
Photo courtesy of Samot via Shutterstock.
3. Yoga & Horseback Riding In Umbria
In the picturesque wine country surrounds of Umbria, Italy, indulge in a yoga and horseback riding retreat which also features Italian wine tasting sessions at the luxe Caimeli resort. Run by New Orleans-based company Shanti Yoga, this program combines yoga sessions, horse-riding and wine appreciation in the Italian countryside. Prices start from 1,430 euros; click here for a useful infographic.
Photo courtesy of Netfalls- Remy Musser via Shutterstock.
4. Yoga & Portuguese Viticulture In Madeira
On the stunning Portuguese island of Madeira, off the coast of Morocco, discover yoga and meditation at the Hotel Jardim Atlantico, where you can sample many local Madeira as well as Porto and Vinho Verde wines. The hotel also boasts a local cocktail, “The Poncha”: honey, sugar cane spirits, lemon juice and lemon peel. Accommodation starts at 74 Euros (about $92 USD) per night and individual yoga classes are 19 Euros (about $24 USD); click here for details.
Photo courtesy of the Vines of Mendoza.
5. Grape Picking & Yoga In Argentina
At the Vines of Mendoza, in one of South America’s finest wine regions, you can pick grapes, make your own wine, blend a Malbec or simply sample award-winning Argentinian drops. Add yoga classes in a studio with 180-degree views of the Andes Mountains and you have the perfect vacation. Prices start from approximately $700; click here for further information.
Photo courtesy of Windstar Cruises.
6. Cruise Through Yoga & European Dining
If you like the sea breeze in your hair as you practice yoga, then a Windstar Cruise could be for you. Yoga sessions take place on the ship’s deck, as you cruise from Lisbon to London via Spain and France, stopping for fine wining and dining along the way. Full packages start from approximately $4,000; click here to learn more.
Photo courtesy of Wanderlust.
7. Winederlust in North America
Wanderlust runs yoga vacations across North America, with retreats that combine hiking, biking, paddle boarding and special “winederlust” events. These include wine and beer samplings from local wineries and breweries, with plenty of food and music for the perfect atmosphere. Locations range the East Coast to Hawaii; click back here soon for pricing and further information.
Photo courtesy of Anamaya Resort.
8. Yoga & Relaxation In Costa Rica
How would you like to practice yoga in a stunning tropical location while also indulging in waterfall swimming, massage, cooking classes, spa treatments and excursions to nearby tropical islands? Anamaya Resort in Costa Rica offers just that, with daily ocean-view yoga classes. Anamaya focuses on healthy and organic fare and offers local wine and beer offerings, paired with farm-to-table dining. All-inclusive packages start from $895 per week; find out more by clicking here.
Photo courtesy of Finger Lakes Yogascapes.
9. “Chakratinis” In Finger Lakes NY
You don’t have to travel to exotic locations to indulge in a relaxing, boozy yoga retreat. In the calm surrounds of the Fingers Lakes region of New York State, Finger Lakes Yogascapes offers seasonal yoga and drink pairings throughout the year. These include the warm-weather “Chakratini” night: outdoor chakra-based yoga practice followed by martinis, plus wine/chocolate/yoga events. In the winter, you can even engage in “snowga”, a snow-bound yoga session followed by cocoa and peppermint schnapps. Events themselves are around $40; click here for details on accommodation.
Photo courtesy of Retreat in the Pines.
10. Mimosas & Yoga In Texas
With Retreat in the Pines, you can shack up in the woods of Texas for a relaxing yoga and wellness program. The retreat includes plenty of yoga classes, plus wine tastings, gourmet dining and mimosa brunches, with events like “Sip Stretch Savor” and “Wine Yoga Chocolate.” There are also plenty of meditation and nature programs, too. Prices range from $369 to $599 for packages; click here for details.
Have you been on a wellness travel -related boozy yoga vacation? Please share in the comments below.
Contributed by Gemma King
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
