10 Yoga Vacations for Your Bucket List

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The experience of traveling to a place that is deeply rooted in the tradition of yoga is certainly unique. While it makes sense to start your yoga vacation in India, you can find authenticity in all sorts of places, including places like New York City and the Rocky Mountains that offer insight into the world of yoga. Eight limbsThe following are 10 places to include on your yoga travel list.

1. Rishikesh and the Ganges River Valley | India

If you intend to go on a yoga pilgrimage, Rishikesh is an inspired place to start. Known as the “birthplace of yoga,” this spiritual town is nestled in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains along the sacred Ganges River in northern India. Legend has it that a famous saint came to the river to practice penance and was accepted by the Hindu god Vishnu. Rishikesh is filled with ashrams and temples that pay tribute to various gods and goddesses, as well as plenty of yoga classes and workshops.

stay in the garden Phool Chatti Ashram (from $321 for a 7-day program with vegetarian meals) Known for the calming components of their retreats. Or get pampered here Anand in the Himalayas (from $825/night), which is located on the 100-acre Maharaja Palace Estate. This luxury spa resort is famous for its Ayurvedic spa and wellness treatments, yoga and meditation classes, and organic cuisine. Intrepid Travel's 13-Day Mountains and Mysteries Itinerary (from $1,279) includes visits to the ancient temples of Old Delhi and the Dalai Lama's serene hospice before finishing the trip by setting up camp along the Ganges River in Rishikesh.

2. Mysuru (Mysore), India

Yoga is believed to have been in existence for over 5,000 years. Ashtanga Yoga Although established in Mysore, it was not always part of the city's identity. In the 1930s, the Maharaja of Mysore attempted to revive ancient traditions such as yoga and krishnamacharyaNow known as the “Father of Modern Yoga,” he promoted the notion that yoga promoted health. Krishnamacharya began studying ancient texts in the Mysore Palace Library and discovered Ashtanga, which he adapted to include the gymnastic-like postures for which the style is now known.

“A visit to Mysore is a seeker's journey that places your sadhana on a solid foundation of tradition,” says Kino McGregorwho wrote The power of Ashtanga yoga“There's something that's hard to describe, a feeling, a sense of transcendence, something very intense that happens in Mysore. It's like every day you're peeling back a layer of yourself and your heart is opening up to more surrender, more authenticity.” In addition to immersing yourself in yoga, she suggests visiting Chamundi Hill and its stunning temple, just outside Mysore, to get a better understanding of Ayurveda. Dexit Health Clinic and Research CentreAnd be sure to raise and feed a cow or two.

3. Pune, India

Just as Mysore is synonymous with Ashtanga Yoga, Pune is the hometown of Iyengar Yoga. One of Krishnamacharya's disciples, BKS Iyengar, was asked to spread the study of yoga in Pune at the age of 18. Once in Pune, the young yogi not only shared his knowledge, but he also adapted the practice using props such as chairs and ropes to assist limited students and thus make the therapeutic benefits of the practice more accessible. Almost 40 years after his arrival in Pune, he opened a yoga center to study yoga. Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute In 1975.

“The institute feels like a time capsule,” says Carrie Owerko, senior intermediate Iyengar teacher in New York City. “It still seems somewhat untouched by the hustle and bustle that surrounds it.” The marble-floored asana halls are equipped with ceiling and wall ropes, wooden supports and a formidable stage for a teacher to instruct. “It's a place for practice and study,” she adds. “It's not a place for a yoga vacation. It's not an ashram. It's an institute, a school for people who are self-sufficient, hardworking and dedicated to the practice and study of Iyengar yoga.”

Located about 90 miles east of Mumbai, Pune also has the 300-year-old Chaturshringi Temple of the deity of Pune and the picturesque Parvati Hill. For a shorter trip, head 200 miles northeast of Pune to check out the UNESCO site. Ajanta CavesThe prayer halls and monasteries within the caves are filled with religious art dating back to the 5th century AD.

4. New York City

Rubin Art Museum A haven of peace in New York City's vibrant Chelsea neighborhood. Unlike other art spaces in the city, this six-floor museum is not only home to some of the most iconic Himalayan art exhibitions, but it's also a hub for world-renowned scholars and yoga thinkers who teach seminars and workshops (many of which are free) that connect contemporary fields like neuroscience and technology to the ancient practice of yoga and meditation. The gift shop alone is a gem, stocked with colorful vintage silk sari shawls, sculptures, and even gifts for young yogis, like the eccentric Ganesh ji's habit of eating sweets Story book.

After the museum, make your way to Divya's Kitchen This restaurant is located on the Lower East Side, devotional center, It takes a global approach to Ayurvedic cuisine, featuring comforting dishes like vegetable curries and lasagna.

5. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is not only one of the most beautiful places in the US, it's also one of the most mystical. Native Americans consider it a sacred place for healing and spiritual renewal. It's known for its energy vortexes (there are four main ones, but you may see smaller pockets of energy around juniper trees), plenty of crystal shops, and aura readings, as well as rejuvenating and medicinal spa treatments. Nature-lovers can sign up for guided yoga hikes and vortex tours Ombase Sedona Adventureswhich also offers a plethora of classes, workshops, and retreats. Red Rock Country is also home to the annual festival Sedona Yoga Festival Which includes leading yoga teachers, legends and influencers.

We recommend staying at one of the spa-focused properties to make the most of Sedona’s unique atmosphere. Amara Resort & Spa (from $210 per night), which offers complimentary yoga classes to guests, is also known for treatments such as chakra balancing and custom oil-infused massages that aim to detoxify and harness the area's spiritual energy. Five-star hotel Enchantment Resort (from $549 per night) Located in Boynton Canyon, one of the vortex hotspots. It offers dozens of weekly activities like meditation classes and epicurean experiences, as well as access to luxury Mii Amo SpaDesigned to harness the valley's natural energy, making it particularly suitable for unique treatments such as the Intuitive Massage.

6. Hariharalaya, Cambodia

Named after the Cambodian interpretation of Harihara, a Hindu deity who embodies the attributes of Shiva and Vishnu, Hariharalaya has been known as the Vedic capital of Cambodia since 800-1000 A.D. This small village, located just 10 miles and a 30-minute tuk tuk ride from Siem Reap, also has a small village. Hariharalaya Retreat Center (Starting at $740 for a 6-day retreat with vegetarian meals and activities). The center hosts about 40 retreats each year that focus on integral yoga, meditation, and conscious living.

“It's not just a physical thing, it's too much “It's about working on incorporating yoga into your daily life,” says Anna Strahs Watts, a yoga instructor in Richmond, Virginia, who spent 3 months at Hariharalaya last autumn. “That's what sets Hariharalaya apart from other places. The idea isn't to just come for a week and go away; it's about creating new habits to change your life.” Unlike other places, this remote village recently got electricity, meaning you won't be connected to Wi-Fi, making it a prime spot for a digital detox. The retreat is less than a mile from the center Bakong Templewhich represent mythical creatures in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. And, of course, no trip to Southeast Asia would be complete without a stop at Angkor Wat, the world's largest archaeological temple site.

7. Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health | Stockbridge, Massachusetts

You don’t have to come to India to increase your knowledge about yoga and Ayurveda. Kripalu Yoga & Health Center in the Berkshires (from $199/night including meals and activities) offers the most comprehensive programs, retreats, and workshops in North America. Located on a 150-acre sanctuary in western Massachusetts, the campus hosts hundreds of events each year and caters to visitors of all levels.

A newbie can get a taste of Kripalu with a day pass, while an experienced practitioner may want to enroll in teacher training or intensive workshops with some of yoga's brightest minds, such as Rodney Yee And Dharma MitraWhatever your schedule, we highly recommend incorporating one of their Ayurvedic treatments (such as prana-restoration Abhyanga massage) will make your stay even better.

8. Shambhala Mountain Center | Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

think about Shambhala Mountain Center (accommodations from $278 per night) is one of those places with a reset button. Located 8,000 feet above sea level in the northern Colorado Rockies, about 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins, the alpine setting of this 600-acre property is worthy of a visit alone. Not to mention a host of special events and yoga and meditation options for a day or weekend trip.

Hike the property's 8 miles of trails or visit the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, a unique destination in the Colorado wilderness. The 108-foot-tall stupa is said to promote health, harmony, peace, and freedom, as well as bring blessings to those who visit the sacred Buddhist structure.

9. Ubud, Bali

Linked to Hindu spirituality, Ubud (which actually means “healing”) has always been a hub for holistic healers. There are a variety of accommodation options available. Bali Silent Retreat for Prayer and Meditation (from $40 per night) is ideal for yogis looking for a more structured stay filled with meditation, yoga classes and full-moon fire rituals.

At the other end of the spectrum, brilliantly adjusted Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve (from $1,584 per night) has a meditation temple, yoga studio and vitality pool. The property also organizes guided tours to sacred places, such as the 11th-century rock temples of Gunung Kawi and Tirta Empul, the Hindu-Balinese water temple and waterfalls famous for their use in purification rituals. Plus, there's no shortage of spa treatments – Balinese acupressure massage Tamarind Spa at Murni Houses And Bali Botanica Ayurvedic chakra massages are just something to try.

10. Chopra Health Retreat at Sivana Resort | Carefree, Arizona

Deepak ChopraCo-founder and board-certified physician, helped create a modern sanctuary for this ancient practice by incorporating the Vedic science of mind, body, and spirit into contemporary integrative medicine and personal growth. Chopra Health Retreats,

In addition to traditional yoga and meditation sessions, the retreat offers seminars, workshops, as well as a unique Chopra Health Program (starting at $6,850 for 5 days, all-inclusive), which combines classic yoga with self-care activities like journaling, nature walks, and Ayurvedic consultations.

This article has been updated. Originally published January 31, 2017.