I don’t know about you but after last year's ill-fated girls' trip to Ibiza, the idea of a wellness retreat as a holiday sounds fan-flipping-tastic. Yoga, juices and meditation from dawn 'til dusk? Sign me up.
The problem is, though, that these retreats can often be a little spenny. And we're not talking the "I'll have the third-cheapest bottle of wine on the menu" kind of spenny. No, we're talking the kind of spenny that would make anyone bar Tamara Ecclestone go "Ugh".
Luckily, if you don't mind not staying in a five-star all-inclusive spa carved into the mountains of Indonesia, there are a few wellness retreats that are a little more affordable. Sure, you might not have a personal waiter, but you will have something that very rich people often forget – fun.
For the yogi traveller
The Beach Meditation
If you don’t mind roughing it in a dormitory for a few days then head to the island of Boracay in the Philippines for a four-day stress-release yoga retreat. You’ll do daily yoga on the beach, active and passive meditation, sunset meditation on the beach and attend spiritual talks. Plus, flights to the Philippines are super-cheap (think under £300), compared to more popular southeast Asian destinations like Vietnam and Indonesia. Why not add three days onto your trip and make it a week-long holiday?
Prices start from £101
Photo: Via The Beach Meditation/Facebook.
For the adventurous yogi
Lanzasurf Surf and Yoga Retreat
Head to the Canary Islands for this seven-day surf and yoga retreat. It includes five days' surfing, five days' yoga, meditation and relaxation exercises and a picnic at the beach. Plus, if you opt for a dorm in their surf house, located on Playa de Famara, it’s ridiculously cheap.
Prices start from £315
Photo: courtesy of Lanzasurf Surf and Yoga Retreat.
For the spiritual meditator
London Buddhist Centre Intro to Buddhism and Meditation Weekend
Want to find out more about Buddhism and get mindful? The London Buddhist Centre offers regular weekend retreats in Suffolk as introductions to Buddhism and meditation. There are several meditation sessions a day, workshops and talks on aspects of Buddhism as well as ‘devotional rituals’ called ‘pujas’. No phones or laptops, drink or drugs allowed. Probably a good thing.
Photo: via @clickclickjim.
For the fitness obsessive
Punta Vitality BodyBreak
This three-day programme at the Hotel Punta in Croatia is for those of you who still want to work out on your hols but also feel like getting some TLC to make up for all those HIIT classes you’ve been doing back home. At the retreat, you get one health and fitness consultation, one session of outdoor fitness training (choose from Nordic walking or a workout in the pool), one body-weight training lesson or waterskiing or wakeboarding, a pilates session, sports massage and a breathing class. Obvs there’s all the normal stuff like pools, saunas, whirlpool and gym, too.
Prices start from £420
Photo: via @matteosteinbach.
For the boozy yogi
Yoga And Wine Retreat
According to Portuguese guesthouse Offline, wine tasting can be one of the most mindful experiences you can have. Sure. Anyway, this retreat lasts seven days, offers yoga and meditation, breakfast and wine-tasting and dinner at a local winemaker. I mean, what's not to like?
Between two people it's £594
Photo: Via @offlineportugal.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Misty Copeland On What She Really Thinks About The Ballet Barre Trend