Create your own home yoga retreat and save yourself some money while enjoying some much-needed self care!

A yoga retreat can be a great way to give yourself a break from the hurries and worries of life and recharge your batteries. However, yoga retreats can also be quite expensive. Why not experience the rejuvenation and relaxation of a home yoga retreat instead – and save yourself a bundle?

Doing a home yoga retreat can give you most of the same benefits as you would receive if you paid for one – such as the opportunity to deepen your yoga practice, learning to meditate or improve your meditation practice, applying the lessons of yoga to your daily life, practicing mindfulness, learning to live in the moment, and more.

The biggest obstacle to creating your own home yoga retreat is likely to be the inability to disconnect. You must be disciplined, and commit to focusing on your self care and your yoga for the duration of the chosen period. Keep in mind that even if you can’t take time off work for a yoga retreat, you can still do your own weekend retreat that can be very beneficial. Just make sure to block off the time on your calendar and take steps to minimize distractions so you can really focus. Turn off your phone, log out of your email and social media, let any housemates know that you will not be available, and really take the time for yourself.

Here are 4 steps for creating your own home yoga retreat:

Step 1: Create a peaceful space

One of the things that make yoga retreats so alluring are the locations. They whisk you away to these stunning countries and house you in unbelievable spaces, but you don’t have to go thousands of miles across the world to find peace and tranquility. Before your at-home yoga retreat officially starts, create a designated space for your retreat. Do a brief clean of the space. Wash laundry. Do the dishes. De-clutter the area and put away anything that makes you think of work and responsibilities. Light candles or put up some peaceful pictures. Make a playlist to add to the atmosphere. Whatever makes the space feel magical to you and whatever helps you feel at ease is perfect.

Step 2: Practice, relax, rejuvenate, and reflect

Now that the space is ready and you’ve designated a set time for your retreat, it’s time to start enjoying it. If you are not confident in your home practice, you can find some great free yoga videos online or consider signing up for an online yoga conference. You can also purchase a yoga course that is designed to be used as a yoga retreat, which will provide you with a guided structure to follow – such as this one. Set your intentions for the retreat. What would you like to experience at the retreat? Why are you doing a retreat? Decide if you want this to be a retreat about pushing your boundaries and trying something new or a retreat for relaxing and nourishing your body. Then act accordingly and gather the resources to support your retreat intention.

Step 3: Nourish your mind, body, and soul

During the retreat, fuel your body by eating healthy. This is a great opportunity to try out a sattvic diet or just eat more yogi friendly foods. When you’re not practicing yoga asana, spend time journaling, reading, or meditating. Reflect on how the retreat is going. Notice what thoughts, feelings, and sensations arise throughout the day, and write about them in your journal.

Step 4: Integrate Back into Daily Life

Slowly integrate back into your daily life after your retreat. Plan ahead for this stage so there’s no need to rush. Think about what you’d like to take with you from the retreat and how you’d like to apply it to your life. Maybe you’d like to spend more time journaling or wind down for bed earlier. Whatever it is, be gentle with yourself as you re-enter the daily grind.

Read more at YogaBasics.com…