Yoga Retreat in Mexico

Because Mexico is within easy reach of the U.S. and Canada, it is not a new travel destination. However, yoga is more and more in demand amongst travelers, and the country has responded with plenty of options for yoga aficianados.When you plan a yoga retreat in Mexico, you have several options. Either design your own shoestring yoga vacation, join an organized group, or visit a Mexico yoga retreat center.

Even in winter, most of Mexico has plenty of warm, cloudless days and comfortable evenings. Whether you want to stroll the streets of a colonial city, explore Mayan ruins, or simply relax on the beach, you can get away from the winter chill and unwind with a yoga vacation.

Golf, snorkeling, whale watching, city tours, and jungle walks can keep you or your non-yogi travel partner occupied when you're not in a yoga class or workshop.

Book a Mexico Yoga Retreat On Your Own

Yoga retreat centers are popping up all over Mexico. There are retreats on the Baja California peninsula, in restored haciendas of the Central Highlands, and all along the Pacific coast.

On the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan peninsula, there are retreat centers in the city of Izamal, where most buildings are painted a beautiful Vatican yellow. There are island retreats on Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres, and beachside retreats on the Mayan Riviera from Cancun and Tulum all the way down to Lake Bacalar.

These are locations you can visit almost any time of year by yourself, and many are close to airports with direct flights from the United States. Accommodations range from rustic to luxurious, and prices vary accordingly. You can count on delicious vegetarian meals as well as meat options. Prices range from to 0 or more per night.

Do Yoga in Mexico with an Organized Group

A popular way of doing yoga in Mexico is to join a group organized by a teacher or group back home. (You can also find any number advertised on Google.) In a group, transportation, accommodations, classes, and many meals are arranged for you.

Airfare usually isn't included in the price of a group trip. Depending on the location, expect a week-long yoga retreat to cost 0 to ,000 and up.

The advantage of joining a group is that you can simply mark your calendar, buy a flight, and the rest is taken care of, quite possibly by a yoga teacher whose classes you already know you will enjoy.

Plan a Shoestring Mexico Yoga Retreat

It doesn't take much to design your own yoga retreat. You simply need a place to practice, places to eat, and places to sleep. Many places have gardens or rooftops that would be the perfect places for your own practice, and some hostels and bed-and-breakfasts offer yoga on the daily menu.

As yoga has become more popular among Mexico's middle class and expatriates, many communities now have yoga studios with daily classes, much like the yoga centers back home. Independent teachers also offer classes - sometimes by donation - on the beach, in a park, or at a local community center.

A do-it-yourself retreat is the cheapest way to enjoy a yoga vacation, as lodging in Mexico can be as inexpensive as a night for a hut on the beach. You will also have the freedom to make your own itinerary, possibly staying at more than one location. It will take work, though, in finding your own meals, accommodation, transportation, and yoga studios.

No matter which option you choose -- visit a yoga resort, join a yoga tour, or design your own Mexico yoga vacation -- your retreat in Mexico can be fun, relaxing, and memorable.