Canada is a land of sweeping natural landscapes, friendly people, and a relaxed vibe, perfect for anyone who needs time away from their everyday life to relax. In this tranquil, welcoming environment, you’ll find it much easier to disconnect, go inwards, and refresh your mind and body at a yoga retreat.
Canada has retreats scattered all over, many of them in areas so beautiful that you won’t believe your eyes. When you’re choosing your yoga retreat in Canada, you’ll have lots of choices that will pamper and teach you while you heal and renew your mind, body, and soul.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the best retreats in Canada.
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Why Should you Consider a Yoga Retreat in Canada
Retreats are a relatively new idea to the bulk of the population and yet they’re one that is rapidly growing in popularity. And there are lots of good reasons for this surge.
Modern life is busy, noisy, and demanding. If you’re like most people, then your to-do list is endless, the demands on your time constant, and the things that you need to do but can’t find time or space for are a constant nag on your consciousness.
Leading this kind of lifestyle can be stressful and damaging to your mind, body, and your soul. It also acts to separate you from your spiritual side, from the small, still voice inside of you that guides you toward what you really want and need in life.
Spending time in a yoga retreat in Canada is your chance to correct these problems and this lack. It’s your time to focus on your inner self, heal any damage, and find a path to move forward in your life. It’s also your chance to improve the health of your mind, body, and soul with healing practices, delicious food, nature immersion, and the support of instructors and people who are on the same journey that you’re on.
What Can you Expect from a Yoga Retreat in Canada?
Yoga retreats in Canada are well established and are designed to help you achieve your retreat goals and improve your health and well-being. While you’re there, you can expect to do regular yoga, at least once a day, drawing from different disciplines to enjoy a variety of benefits.
Whether you’re a newbie, a casual yogi, or an expert, the classes at retreats will help you build a solid foundation and expand your practices. And this will support you in establishing a regular yoga practice once you get home.
Most retreats also offer a variety of other practices and perks. You should expect to have your accommodation and most, if not all, meals included in your package. The retreat you choose will probably also offer other wellness activities like meditation or breathwork classes as well as more varied practices like sound healing, reiki, or natural healing practices. Basically, whatever wellness strategies you want to learn while you’re in Canada, you’ll probably find a retreat that will support your learning.
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How to Choose the Right Yoga Retreat in Canada for you
Choosing the right retreat for you is a highly individual decision. It’s one that you need to make based on what you want to achieve during your retreat. Want healing and renewal? Prefer a more active time with hiking in Canada and other activities? Want to spend time with other people who are on the same journey? All of these goals are achievable; you just need to choose the right retreat.
So, before you make your booking, sit down and think about what you want from a yoga retreat. And be honest. You can’t achieve your goals if you aren’t honest about them, so don’t let shame, embarrassment, or pride get in the way of making this decision.
You should also think about the barriers and problems that you’ve been experiencing. If your body is feeling weak and fragile, then you’ll need a different approach to your health and different practices than if you’re looking for spiritual enlightening from your time in a yoga sanctuary.
Once you’ve established these essentials, it’s time to look at the practical considerations that will drive your choice.
Location
Canada’s yoga retreats are located in some of the most beautiful, serene places in the country. No matter where you want to go, you’ll be able to find a yoga sanctuary close by. Some of the retreats are more isolated, with nothing but nature all around and others are close to cities, so you can enjoy the modern amenities. So, it’s all up to you which retreat experience you want to have.
Retreats that are close to the major cities in Canada are some of the most popular options. You’ll find yoga sanctuaries near Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, and Montreal of course, so if you’d prefer to be near these popular cities, you’ll have lots of options to choose between. However, you may also enjoy more remote locations such as Nass Camp.
Practices
Retreats in Canada tend to focus on incorporating a range of yoga disciplines and techniques in their classes. This makes them appropriate for beginners and advanced yogis alike as, unless you know absolutely everything about yoga and its different forms, you will still be able to learn something new during your retreat classes.
You should also expect to do meditation during your time at the retreat, whether this is a separate practice or done at the beginning or end of your yoga classes. Meditation can be a very good way to improve your mental and emotional health, so don’t try to skip out on this aspect.
In terms of other practices, retreats differ widely. You can find retreats that offer everything from chakra reading and energy work to those that just focus on yoga, so make sure you choose an option that suits your needs.
Price
The price of yoga retreats varies widely from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. The most important factor that determines this wide difference is the amount of oversight. The cheaper retreats are self-guided, which means you’ll be on your own in an isolated area without instructors. These options usually only include your food and accommodation during your stay. They’re a great option if you’re looking for peace and quiet and are quite self-directed, but if you need more help and guidance, then you’ll need to look for a more expensive option.
The other factor that’s strongly linked to the price is the duration. The cheaper retreats are usually shorter, lasting only a couple of days, while the more expensive ones last a few weeks.
Perks
So, what perks should you be looking for when choosing a retreat? Well, first you should look for outdoor activities that you’re interested in. Some retreats in Canada offer outdoor activity options like SUP paddleboarding or hiking, so if you’re the active type then look out for these options.
Another perk to look out for is a child or pregnancy-focused retreats. Canada has quite a few of these, which you won’t often see in other parts of the world, so if you’re pregnant or would like your children to learn the practices of yoga, then take a look at some of these options. However, these do tend to be online for the convenience of everyone involved.
Duration
Most of the yoga retreats in Canada that are designed for normal practitioners are fairly short. This means they’ll be easy to fit in around your travel plans or other commitments. In fact, the shortest is around a weekend, so you can even fit them in during your work week!
There are a few longer options available, up to a few weeks, but these are usually focused on training yoga teachers. If you’re interested in the theory of yoga, you can still attend these options if you aren’t planning to teach yoga back home.
The Top 10 Yoga Retreats in Canada
Ready to make your booking at a yoga retreat? Then here are our top picks.
Best Overall Yoga Retreat in Canada – 6 Day Laya Yoga and Meditation Summer Retreats in St. John’s, Newfoundland
- $
- Catherines, Canadá
This retreat has something for everyone. It’s a great price and is located in the small town of Catherines in the Newfoundland and Labrador provinces. The local area is simply stunning, strewn with wild areas and secret water features, ideal for anyone who needs to get back in touch with nature.
The retreat is also for all levels and focuses on Laya yoga, which is a scientific and practical discipline that will help you go deeper into yoga and into yourself for real transformation. You’ll learn a range of techniques and strategies related to yoga at this retreat, from chakra purification to pranayama, Kriya techniques, and mantra exploration, so you can find strategies that work for you and bring them back home with you.
Best Mental Health Retreat – 5 Day Executive Self-Transformation Program
- $
- Bragg Creek, Alberta.
Designed for those seeking a complete and intensive transformation of their lives, this retreat is designed to help you overcome depression, anxiety, negative behaviours and patterns, grief, and trauma. Hosted in beautiful natural surroundings, you’ll be able to quiet down your surroundings and concentrate on yourself.
You’ll learn about how to positively overcome the many issues holding you back in your life through a program tailored towards you personally. With one-on-one coaching you’ll be able to create a life filled with peace and joy.
Best Retreat in Canada for Solo Travelers/Backpackers – 3 Day Yoga and Nordic Spa Wellness Retreat
- $
- Sainte-Adèle, Quebec, Canada
This retreat is quite a trip, during which you will experience a lot of new things. It’s also a great price, which makes it ideal for backpackers traveling to Canada on a tight budget. It’s located in the town of Sainte-Adèle in the region of Quebec and is a haven for outdoor and cultural activities and sites.
This yoga sanctuary in Canada is all about a relaxed, heart-centered approach to wellness and healing. It’s for all levels and combines restorative peace and quiet with Nordic Spa, Detox, and cold and warm water treatment to help you retreat inward to find and renew your authentic self. You’ll also indulge yourself with a cacao and chill experience that will delight your senses as well as a trinity eating experience!
Most Affordable Wellness Retreat in Canada – 3 Day Private Retreat, Chatham
- $
- Ontario, Canada
This retreat is only for people who want to delve deep within themselves and discover their inner power. You’ll feel at one with nature and all of its healing properties in this tranquil setting.
The camp is located in a privately owned forest where you can disconnect from life and reconnect with nature. During your time there, you can do yoga, meditate, or simply contemplate the path you’re taking in life while you have the time and space to do so.
Best Women’s Yoga and Meditation Retreat in Canada – 4 Day Private Yoga & Wellness Haven Retreat
- $$
- Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada
This women’s retreat uses peaceful surroundings to help you meditate, come back to yourself, and still your mind. It’s located in the beautiful Alberta province of Canada, an area that’s known for its culture, history and incredibly stunning landscape.
During the retreat, your instructors will guide you to use somatic breathing, yoga and meditation as the foundation to quieten your mind and find inner joy and peace. You’ll spend lots of time resting and renewing during this retreat when you’re not doing workshops.
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View on Booking.comBest Spiritual Yoga Retreat in Canada – 3 Day Initiation into Babaji’s Kriya Yoga Seminar in Estrie, Quebec
- $
- Saint-Étienne-de-Bolton, Quebec
This retreat is located in the sparsely populated municipality of Saint-Étienne-de-Bolton with its small-town feel, tranquil surroundings, and beautiful natural areas, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and doing water sports in the lakes or rivers. It’s the ideal location for this retreat, which focuses on a more spiritual interpretation of yoga.
The classes at this retreat are suitable only for beginner levels and will teach you the basics of kriya yoga, which focuses on achieving happiness, peace, and enlightenment. Kriya yoga uses specific yoga postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to help you continually stay in communion with the divine and its techniques can be traced back for thousands of years.
Unique Yoga Retreat in Canada – 5 Day (Flexible) Raw Food Detox Retreat
- $
- Denman Island, British Columbia, Canada
Raw food and yoga go together naturally, if you think of a retreat in terms of wanting to feel good, then they’re a natural combination. Located on Denman Island, which is in British Columbia and known for its ruggedly beautiful landscape, this retreat will delight your senses! While you’re there, you’ll stay in custom-designed huts right by the water.
Throughout the camp, you’ll follow a raw food cleanse/detox a nutrition plan where you eat only smoothies full of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. You can enjoy Thermal Therapy as well as jumping in a hot tub and cold plunge tub.
Best Yoga retreat in Canada for Friends – 4 Day Quest for Balance SUP and Yoga Retreat in Algonquin Park, Ontario
- $$
- Kawaywaymog Lake, Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada
Are you a more active type and need more than yoga to boost your health and your energy levels? Then why not try a retreat that offers stand-up paddleboarding lessons? Grab a few of your friends and enjoy this fun and challenging activity in the beautiful surroundings of Algonquin Park in Ontario. Learning SUP paddleboarding together will help you learn new skills, have fun, and boost the connection between you!
The retreat focuses on regular yoga sessions, delicious, locally sourced meals, and outdoor activities. Besides SUP paddleboarding, you’ll also have opportunities to go biking, hiking, or canoeing in the beautiful wild spaces around your camp.
Long-stay Yoga Retreat in Canada – 15 Day Nature Immersion 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Off-Grid in The Kootenays, British Columbia
- $$$
- Grand Forks, BC, Canada
This retreat is for anyone who wants to train as a yoga teacher or wants to understand the deeper meaning and theory behind yoga. You’ll go off the grid in the stunning surroundings of the Kootenays in British Columbia and learn about yoga with the mountains, creek, and forest all around you.
The program offers a completely immersive experiment where you will do yoga on the forest floor, take classes by the creek, and completely disconnect from modern life. You’ll learn more about Hatha, Yin, Vinyasa, and Restorative yoga than you ever could on your own and stay at a base camp that has everything you need to be supported and feel comfortable during your visit.
Luxury Yoga Retreat in Canada – 4 Day Self-Development & Healing Private Retreat in Bragg Creek, Alberta
- $$$
- Rocky View County, Alberta, Canada
This retreat is a luxury because of the personal attention and the boost you will gain to your mental health by attending it! The instructors at the retreat focus on healing therapies and strategies that will help strengthen every part of your mind, spirit, and body, and help you release and overcome your problems.
During your time at this yoga retreat in Canada, you’ll do yoga and regular meditations and have long private coaching sessions every day to ensure that you gain the guidance and tools that you need to thrive. You’ll also enjoy an energy healing session, healthy foods and snacks, comfortable accommodation, and depression and anxiety release therapy to help you emerge from the camp stronger than ever!
Don’t forget insurance
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on Yoga retreats in Canada
Canada is a truly beautiful land. The natural landscape with its mountains, lakes, and forest is ideal for anyone who needs to run away from the concrete jungle and reconnect with the spirit of the land. Add in the friendly people, delicious food, and welcoming vibe, and it’s the perfect place to take a break away from the modern world and reconnect with yourself and with the world.
If you’re ready for this kind of world-changing experience, then we recommend the 6-Day Laya Yoga and Meditation Summer Retreats in St. John’s, Newfoundland with its ideal combination of great pricing, beautiful natural surroundings, and comprehensive services!
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