6 Yoga Retreats to Help You Recover from a Bad Breakup

Heartbreak is brutal. It doesn’t matter who did the breaking up, the end of a big relationship is devastating. Your body feels like it’s going through withdrawal (there is a reason it’s called heartbreak, after all), motivation hits rock-bottom, and though your friends and family are sympathetic, no one really seems to get it. Add a family and divorce and you might also be looking at big financial and legal messes, all while trying to keep it together in front of the kids.

But, there is an upside: All those raw feelings and jarring shifts can provide a solid starting point for some serious growth. That’s why the weeks and months after a breakup is a prime time to embark on that yoga retreat you’ve been meaning to take.

See also Healing Heartbreak: A Yoga Practice to Get Through Grief

Yoga is a secret weapon for the heartbroken. Not only does your practice give you a happy-boosting workout, but it also emphasizes patience, flexibility, and mindfulness—all traits that come in handy when charting a new path forward. These six retreats combine those ideas with gorgeous locations and groups of soul sisters (plus pro counseling sessions, adventure, cleansing ceremonies, massages, and spiritual healers) to turn your breakup into a breakthrough.

6 Yoga Retreats Perfect for Heartbreak

Spreading Our Wings in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Georgia

When: April 26-28

The ladies who run Soul Nourish are some of most likeable (and real!) gals around. For proof, just read Spreading Our Wings’ co-host Mandy Roberts’ post on divorce. All those things you’re feeling? Yep, she can relate. Roberts also came out on the other side, and now she and Soul Nourish Retreats founder, Shari Fox, help other women do the same. The itinerary benefits from Fox’s experience as a certified enneagram teacher—the personality system has garnered a ton of recent buzz as a powerful tool for improving relationships. Fox will identify your enneagram type and teach you how to apply the findings in your day-to-day. When not engaged in workshops to tap into your intuition or doing guided energy work, days at the lush Elohee Retreat Center can be spent hiking trails on the site’s 200 acres, wading in front of a 100-foot waterfall, or taking in the views from your mountaintop cottage or campsite. Expect the mood to be decidedly light-hearted. “Joy is so often overlooked in the healing process,” Fox says. From $595, soulnourishretreats.com

See also 13 Yoga Retreats You Can Actually Afford

Gracefully Divorcing Retreat in Belize

When: April 10-14

The fallout of divorce extends beyond emotional trauma: There are legal battles and fees; the way you parent changes; and peripheral relationships are affected. You may have to move or enter the job market for the first time in years. Paulette Gloria Hardwood, a certified divorce coach and founder of Science + Soul Wellness yoga studio and spa in Belize, tackles it all in the Gracefully Divorcing Retreat. Between yoga classes—including SUP and aerial—guests get one-on-one time with experts, ranging from financial planners to career coaches. Over four days, Hardwood’s team will equip you with a game plan for whether you’re considering divorce, going through the process, or dealing with the aftermath. An Ayurvedic consultation along with healthy food and spa time, take care of your physical health, and cultural outings provide a dose of inspiration to shake you out of any rut. From $3,575, scienceandsoulwellness.com

See also 10 Best Women-Only Yoga Retreats Around the World

Abundant Being Retreat in Bali

When: January 20-26

If you’re looking for an Eat Pray Love-type of cure, Yogascapes has your back. Everything the brand does is clutch (think: cool instructors, culturally rich itineraries, and beautiful accommodations). The Abundant Being adventure focuses on the heart with Anusara-inspired teachings and activities that engage with the elements for a nature-enabled healing journey. Beyond the mat, therapy comes in the form of hikes to powerful locales like the sacred Mount Batur (a volcano you’ll summit at sunrise) and Tirta Empul, one of the biggest water temples in the country where you’ll go for a purification ritual. “To grow through heartbreak, part of what you need is an invitation into a safe and beautiful space that allows you to just be without the need to change it or fix it,” says Benjamin Crosky, Yogascapes’ co-founder.“Bali represents that invitation. It is a place of abundance, offering, healing, and acceptance—it holds you like a little baby without any expectations.” Basecamp is at Blue Karma, a design-forward lodge shaded with fronds and fruit trees in Ubud, a spiritual post that features prominently in Elizabeth Gilbert’s book. From $2,495, yogascapes.com

See also 9 India Yoga Retreats That Will Change Your Life

Accessing the Divine Feminine in Sedona, Arizona

When: November 16-18, March 22-24, October 25-27

A perspective shift can go a long way when you’re reeling from a traumatic life change. That’s why this SpiritQuest retreat emphasizes POV. Baking on its location in the middle of three vortexes (concentrated energy centers said to cultivate a sense of well-being and inspiration) in famously healing Sedona, founder Katherine Lash curates a mix of therapeutic activities—like ceremonies for releasing and receiving, breathwork, and Shamanic sound baths—and time spent in nature, so you can reassess. Clean house on emotional clutter and establish fresh intentions; go on meditative hikes to empower your vision; and wrap by learning how to carry on with purpose. “When we recognize the beauty and sacredness within us, we can see that we, too, are a part of the Divine,” Lash says. “And, when we tap into the Divine, we realize we are supported every step of the way and thus never alone.” Pro tip: Add an outdoor yoga class to your schedule, which can take place on the red rocks of a vortex site where the vibe is 100-percent chill. $695, retreatsinsedona.com

See also 22 Travel Essentials for Your Next Yoga Retreat

REI Adventures Patagonia Multisport in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

When: Various dates throughout year

Conquering something big is a sure-fire way to feel like a badass. And, feeling like a badass is a sure-fire way to affirm you are actually better off without him or her. This is where REI Adventures steps in. In the past few years, the outfitter has led the charge on getting women to tap into their special brand of awesomeness through heart-pumping outdoor recreation. On the Patagonia Multisport trip, guests jet off to Chile to run with wild horses, kayak around icebergs, bike through the gold-tinged pampas (grasslands), and take on challenging full-day hikes. People report feeling adequately small while standing at the base of the towering peaks, and that kind of humbling perspective is good for the newly single. Days at your off-the-grid dome hotel can start and end with yoga sessions in a bubble overlooking the scenery. Trips book out months in advance and the price tag runs steep, but those who are willing to plan are in for a life-changing experience. From $5,099, rei.com

See also 14 Beach Yoga Retreats in Paradise

Renew Breakup Bootcamp in Malibu, CA

When: Every 3 months; next retreat February 15-18

Renew Breakup Bootcamp deals with heartbreak from the inside-out. To wit: This retreat center is armed with a crack team of psychologists (because it’s easier to stop texting your ex when you understand why your brain compulsively tells you to check in), various spiritual healers (from hypnotists to tantra experts), nutrition and fitness gurus (you’ll love the endorphin boost), and certified yogis (to align chakras and lead Hatha sessions). You’ll walk away with tools for building healthier ties, starting with the relationship you have with yourself. Dreamy settings make Renew a perfect fit for creatives and aesthetes, but don’t book this for the Insta fodder. The hosts suggest you turn off your phone when you arrive in favor of connecting with the group of about 14 other heart warriors. From $1,595, renewbreakupbootcamp.com

See also From Breakup to Breakthrough: Healing Heartbreak on the Mat

About the Author
Stephanie Granada is a freelance writer and editor, who splits her time between Colorado, Miami, and NYC.