Words by Cordelia Brabbs
Photo by Charley Smith
Surf Goddess Retreats, Bali
The retreats take place in the coastal village of Canggu, on the South-West coast of Bali, with small groups of eight women per trip. Surf tuition caters to all levels of ability, with morning and evening yoga classes and a massage also included. The Yoga is a blend of Hatha, Bikram, Iyengar, Kundalini and Tantra.
Dates: April – October
Price: From $1880 (£1080 / 1550 euros)
Contact: www.surfgoddessretreats.com / [email protected]
Kelea Surf Spa, Hawaii/Costa Rica
Hatha and Ashtanga yoga sessions will get you limbered up for surfing on the Hawaiian waves or on the Costa Rican coast. Pamper your aching post-surf muscles with a massage, body wrap or hot stone treatment in the spa, or stretch them some more on a nature trek.
Dates: Costa Rica, November – March; Hawaii, March-April
Price: From $1475 (£848 / 1215 euros)
Contact: www.keleasurfspa.com / [email protected]
Neilson Yoga Week, Greece
Head for Neilson’s Beachplus resort ‘The Retreat’ in Sivota, for a week of morning Ashtanga and evening Hatha yoga sessions. Instructor Diane Lee has Olympic athletes amongst her private clients, so is well-equipped to help you stretch out the muscles you use in the other sports available – sailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, mountain-biking and tennis.
Dates: May and October
Price: £799 (1145 euros) all-inclusive
Contact: www.neilson.co.uk / 0870 333 3356
Beyond Retreats, various locations
Beyond run a variety of sports yoga holidays, including skiing and yoga breaks in March and April. The Mind & Body programme includes confidence-building sessions and mountain-guiding on the slopes, with yoga tuition back in the chalet.
Dates: March – April
Price: From £1600 (2295 euros)
Contact: www.beyondretreats.co.uk / 020 7226 4044
Swell Women, Hawaii
Based in Maui, the Swell Women day starts with yoga, followed by surfing tuition, then a yoga flow hour at lunch. Spend the afternoon checking your performance in a video analysis session, having a massage or heading out on a hike, before hitting the waves again for a sunset surf session. Each day you’ll be given a ‘surfboard yoga pose of the day’ to practice in the water while you’re waiting for the next set to roll in.
Dates: April – November
Price: From $2100 (£1208 / 1732 euros)
Contact: www.swellwomen.com / [email protected]
Yoga in Italy, Umbria
Accommodation is in a farmhouse with a saltwater swimming pool, ensuite rooms and views across the Umbrian landscape. Two challenging yoga sessions a day with Mariarosa Zanconato will leave you fit and flexible, and the organic vegetarian food will help you feel even healthier.
Dates: 12 – 18 August (other locations at different dates)
Price: 710 euros (£495)
Contact: www.yogainitaly.it / [email protected]
Huzur Vadisi, Turkey
Built around an old farmstead and surrounded by pine forest on the Turquoise coast, this peaceful retreat runs summer yoga courses where guests sleep in luxury yurts.
Price: Courses start from around £350 per person, full-board, though if you can find 11 friends you can rent the whole thing from £3,900 a week.
Contact: 00 90 252 644 0008 or www.huzurvadisi.com
Do-it-yourself DVDs:
- Yoga for Sport: £15 / 21 euros www.sun-power-yoga.com
- Yoga for Surfers I, II and III: $19.95 / £11.50 / 16.50 euros each, www.yogaforsurfers.com
- Yoga Conditioning for Athletes: £12.99 / 18.50 euros, www.gaiamdirect.co.uk
- Yoga for Boardsports: $19.95 / £11.50 / 16.50 euros, www.yogaforsurfers.com
