Articles

Best Mountain Yoga Retreats

By Casey Coviello
October 31, 2014

White Lotus Foundation, Santa Barbara, California

Get serious about deepening your yoga practice with retreat founders -- and husband and wife team -- Tracey Rich and Ganga White. Their method is described as a "non-dogmatic teaching approach dedicated to helping students develop a well-balanced personal practice." White Lotus yoga encompasses several types of flowing practices with modifications for the novice and expert alike. The nonprofit foundation offers personal, weekend and week long getaways and full teacher training programs. You'll practice White Lotus Flows (hatha yoga) twice daily along with pranayama, meditation, and inquiry-based discussions, and might even get a chance to see renowned guest teachers, which have included Seane Corn, Saul David Raye and Steve Ross.

Get intimate with nature by lodging in one of the center's seven yurts, camping along the creek, or opt to stay in the loft which accommodates three people. But don't let the unassuming accommodations fool you, the retreat center has a private vegan chef, more than five styles of massage, and is only 20 minutes from Santa Barbara's high-class downtown area.