Six of the Best: Yoga, Fitness & Wellness Retreats in Ibiza. A Spring Reboot
Ibiza: an island synonymous with lively parties, crazy nights out and youthful abandonment. Now, while we may hold a special place in our hearts for these wild weekends, for those of us after something a little more indulgent, there’s a side less publicised to Ibiza.
Nestled away from the party strip are many idyllic hotels and spas, home to restorative wellness and fitness retreats. Explore the Spanish paradise in a different light (one that’s soft and accompanied by soothing sounds of the sea) and kick start a healthier lifestyle.
Atzaro
Unwind at Atzaro’s yoga retreat, located in the heart of Ibiza. Atzaro places emphasis on ‘agrotourism’, which means respecting the natural habitat whilst travelling. This ethos shines through in their idyllic setting. Hidden amongst beautiful orange tree gardens, the oasis is filled with the aromas of orange blossom, rosemary and lavender, providing the perfect sanctuary in which to unwind.
The retreat offers yoga, yogirate, and Pilates, as well as gym facilities and foods to feed the soul. Start the day with meditation in the Asian temple – an open space with plenty of natural light – and wind down the day in the spa. Daily classes take place throughout the retreat and Atzaro even provide training for yoga teachers!
Body:fit at 38 Degrees North
Body:fit is an intense, but carefully designed, fitness retreat that gets results fast. However, incorporated into the challenging schedule is plenty of time to immerse oneself in Ibiza’s culture.
The retreat has been running (as have their visitors) for five years now, and boy, is this a work out you won’t want a sick note for. Transform your body across a 3 night weekend, or 6 night week, with a selection of fat burning HIIT sessions, kettle bell workouts, methodology training, yoga, sunrise hikes and paddleboarding. If you’re not yet out of breath from reading that, there are also nutrition talks and motivational goal setting to transform the mind too. You’ll get pre and post body composition analysis, so you will really be able to see the changes.
Although breakfast and lunch are provided in this heavenly sea-view resort (we suggest eating outdoors so you can soak up the view), the retreat encourages you to spend your free evenings sampling the nearby restaurants and get a feel of the local area. Don’t worry – a list of recommended eateries provided!
Soulshine
A home away from home, Can Shui hosts Soulshine: the transformative wellness experience that nourishes body, mind and soul. Soulshine recognise that our generation live at 100mph – from work, to social, to travel – and provide an alternative, slower pace of life for the duration of the retreat.
Walk along rugged, secluded paths and reflect on unspoilt and isolated beaches. Rediscover yourself and the experiences that feed your soul, with laughter along the way.
The retreat includes different types of yoga classes, meditation and Pranayama (a breathing technique), which take place overlooking the sea. However, there are also indoor cinema spaces, Balinese gazebos, and relaxation areas nestled in pine trees, if you want time alone. With names like ‘Mediation Snug’ and ‘Zen Den’, you won’t want to leave this peaceful paradise.
Yogarosa
Follow your gut instinct (literally), and head to Yogarosa. Rosa Klein and Cornelia Povel host the detox retreat that promotes clean living.
Ayurvedic-Hawaiian colon cleansing is carried out by professionals at the retreat and uses selected herbs and minerals to heal and clean the intestinal organs from harmful toxins. Over the course of six days, visitors also take part in sound healing, meditation and consultations to support their bodies’ cleansing, and are also encouraged to eat well through cooking workshops and the five elements diet. The diet is amended by Cornelia for each attendee, in order to take account of any pre-existing medical conditions or intolerances to improve digestion. Thai massages, Reiki healing and Bio Resonance therapy are also available.
Boutique Yoga Detox With Ibiza Retreats
A magical retreat surrounded by breath-taking scenery; the Boutique Yoga Detox promotes a pleasurable and light atmosphere, really solidifying that health and wellbeing is not about deprivation.
Following an invigorating and empowering morning yoga session each day, visitors indulge in juices and fresh, organic brunches prepared by a private chef (a culinary genius who will also prepare two dinners during the retreat). As the detox is to encourage YOUR wellbeing, an Ibiza Retreats concierge is on hand to take care of your every need, and you’ll even receive a body treatment tailored specifically to your body. Visitors are encouraged to take part in the one-day juice detox too– natural fruit juices in tropical weather?! We won’t need much convincing…
The Body Camp
Putting fun into fitness again, The Body Camp runs week-long and two-week programmes (with treat days in between) full of nature walks, team games and even a music quiz! Traditional workouts, like weight training and body toning, are cushioned between less traditional activities, like superfood shots and circuits which makes for a pretty exciting retreat. And surrounded by beautiful beaches, luxury shopping and spas, you won’t be short on things today during your designated days off…
A heathier and happier lifestyle starts with “life blast” all over your body, so you drop excess weight, gain lean muscle, tone and detox. Then follows the habit changes, to create goals and gain a positive mind set you can maintain long after you’ve left the retreat.
Words: Tamsin Anderson