If the mountains are calling and you’re looking to connect with nature in a winter wonderland, why not marry your next snow-themed vacation with mindful yoga on a "snowga" retreat? Many people use snowga to stretch their muscles before skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing, and it’s also a great way to boost your mental and physical health while taking in your stunning snow-covered surroundings. Snowga is a great way to tone their muscles and improve balance, focus, and concentration, and heading off to a snowga retreat puts you in the company of like-minded "snow-gis" in superb snow-dusted settings around the globe...
British Columbia, commonly abbreviated as BC, is the westernmost province of Canada, sandwiched between the mighty Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. Whistler Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America, is surely the province’s best-known ski area, and its slopes hosted the skiers competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics. But with the Rocky Mountains marking its eastern extremity and the Coast Mountains shadowing its coastline, you can be sure there are plenty of locations with superb skiing and the option of joining a snowga retreat.
Big White is another fantastic ski and snowboard area in BC. It is Canada's favorite family-oriented ski resort and offers superb powder skiing. Soft powder is also perfect for a fun-filled snowga routine before hitting the slopes. Stretching out in soft snow removes any fear of losing one’s balance when striking a pose.
The Dolomites, also known as the Dolomite Mountains, are an iconic European mountain range in the northeastern corner of Italy, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. While the mountains are a center for mountain climbing, hiking, cycling, and BASE jumping during the summer, they are renowned for their excellent skiing and snowboarding conditions through the winter months.
With the Dolomites being only a couple of hours away by road, you can also pair your Dolomites snowga retreat with the exploration of the infamous North Italian city of Venice. Rich in culture and history, Venice is the perfect partner for your mindful winter retreat.
For a truly memorable snowga retreat, the town of Kirkenes, in the far north of Norway, is home to the Snowhotel Kirkenes, where you sleep in snow, walk on snow, and can even drive a snowmobile or a dogsled on snow. Their snowga programs incorporate movements that are inspired by local Sami myths and legends, and you can have the unforgettable experience of practicing snowga under the green hues of the Northern Lights.
The Arctic environment is the perfect location for expedition-style cross-country skiing, and limbering up and getting in tune with your environment with a snowga session is the perfect start to the day’s skiing.
The Rocky Mountains passing through Colorado provide the state with the perfect environment for wellness-boosting snowga retreats. Retreats feature yoga, breathwork, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, alongside downhill skiing and snowboarding too. With world-renowned slopes in stunning surroundings in Aspen and Vail, and several other top ski destinations, Colorado is a top destination to loosen up with a snowga session before hitting the slopes.
Farther south, the rugged San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado are well-known for having consistently good skiing conditions. The relaxed town of Durango and its nearby slopes have become one of the most popular skiing destinations in the world for group ski retreats, and it is a great place to check out for your next snowga retreat.
Jackson Hole Valley lies between the Gros Ventre and Teton mountain ranges in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Inhaling its crisp mountain air as you loosen up your hip flexors with morning Crescent Lunge poses is the perfect start to a day before you hit the cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in the majestic Grand Teton National Park.
The area’s majestic scenery has featured in Hollywood hits like Rocky IV, Dances with Wolves, and Django Unchained, and its unparalleled beauty is the perfect setting to unplug and unwind on your snowga retreat.
There’s nothing quite like a snowga session to warm up the muscles before hitting the slopes. Whether you’re planning to spend the day downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing, loosening up first will help you have a better day out on the snow. Snowga is accessible to all and can be as fun or as serious as you like. With a soft landing guaranteed, you can push yourself into new poses with little concern for losing your balance.
And with several stunning locations around the world offering snowga retreats, your next winter vacation just got a little bit easier to plan...