Our vacation-wanted ad: Have mat, will travel. Skip pedestrian sightseeing tours, questionable food, and creaky joints. Bring on sacred sights, built-in yoga friends, real nourishment, and communion with our mat twice a day. Oh, and move the needle of our life, por favor.
There are at least 108 reasons to embark on a yoga retreat. Instead of fleeting fun, take a deep dive where landscape and heart intersect. Cross your desert, row your boat, and chase your star—bookending the day in Downward Dog. Forget scrambling for a hotel gym or trying to translate “organic, gluten-free, vegetarian, and Ayurvedic” in another language. For yogis, getting away doesn’t get better than a yoga retreat.

But where to start? We scanned the yoga globe and scoped out 11 off-the-beaten-mat gems to spark your wanderlust. From Cuba to Costa Rica, Iceland to India, bathe in the forest, soak in the spring, sing with a villager, dance in the jungle, bow to the world’s wonders, or simply sit in silence. The choices are as infinite as yoga itself.

Yoga and Serenity on the Island of Ithaca, Greece

July 29–August 5, 2017 and August 5–12, 2017
Bow to the azure waters of this mythical island with little more than passing sailboats and grazing goats to distract you. Home to legendary hero Odysseus, some say this sleepy isle hasn’t changed much since Homer’s epic poem. Ithaca is, perhaps, the perfect place for yoga. There are only a few thousand permanent residents on the wild, jagged patch of land, and the elegant Itha108 Yoga Retreat & Creative Resort has no traffic to speak of. Seattle teacher Jodi Boone is leading two back-to-back retreats for sunbathing, stargazing yogis who want to step back in time. Start the day with meditation and an active Hatha practice from the wooden yoga platform, and wind down with yin and restorative from an indoor shala. In between, dive into the silvery waters of the Ionian Sea, get a Thai yoga massage, or cozy up in an Indian daybed on the veranda. The lodge is carved into a rocky hillside with a crisp white minimalism, every object handpicked with a globetrotter’s flair—Indian artifacts dotted around the stone fireplace, for instance. Indulge in mushroom polenta tarts and cinnamon-butter griddled peaches, all seasonal, organic fare straight from the island (or the one next door).

Learn more jodiboone.com
Read full article: http://www.yogajournal.com/slideshow/11-under-the-radar-yoga-retreats/#6

Yoga trips can change lives but finding the right one may sap your core strength before you’ve even started. Our picks – from Goa to Greece via Yorkshire – will make your quest more relaxing.

You can’t move for downward dog opportunities these days. The explosion of yoga in western countries means there’s a studio on every other street and such a variety of styles and options, that choosing a holiday or retreat can be overwhelming. So where to start? It makes sense to try a weekend away before committing to a whole week. One possibility is to choose a teacher you know or like the sound of and see if they’re running anything that suits. Or you could pick a venue you fancy and see what teachers are hosting holidays there. Think about what you want too – some combine yoga with other activities (maybe good for those with non-yogi partners), some are vegan, some don’t ban booze – it’s always worth asking before you book.

BEST FOR SUN
Hatha in Ithaca, Greece

Itha 108, Ithaca, Greece

International teachers lead different weeks between May and October at Itha108, a gorgeous island retreat just five minutes from the Ionian sea, where accommodation is split between a Venetian-style house and five Mongolian-style yurts. All levels will enjoy weeks with Laura Gilmore, director of Bristol City Yoga, who teaches two, two-hour long hatha yoga classes a day, the second being a restorative class. Fish is served for those who want it, alongside the veggie meals.
• From £925pp (in a yurt) sharing for 7 nights, 20 guests. Next runs 1-8 July, bristolcityyoga.co.uk B

Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jan/01/25-of-the-best-yoga-holidays-and-retreats

Australian designer and 
Qantas ambassador Marc Newson on the things that bring him the most joy.

1. WIM DELVOYE He’s a contemporary artist who does upholstered pigs [Usak, 2001, top left], and he tattooed some pigs once. He also makes gothic dump trucks.

2. ITHA108 I love this yoga retreat in Ithaca, Greece, which is run by my friend Ingrid Gottschalk and overlooks the sea.

3. RICHARD STEPNEY I see him for haircuts at Fourth Floor whenever I’m in London.

4. A WOODEN tanuki — a Japanese raccoon dog — is my most treasured household item. They are good luck. It just sits by the front door and looks at us.

5. OLIVE OIL The best souvenir I’ve brought home is a 15-litre can of fresh-pressed olive oil made on our land in Ithaca. It sounds exotic, but everyone does it there; it’s like mowing your lawn. It’s a lovely reminder of summer and we use it every day.

6. CLARIDGE’S in London is my favourite hotel.

7. SCOTT’S OR 34 in London are my favourite food spots. I also love Harry’s Café de Wheels pie 
van in Sydney — it’s a must-visit when I am home.

8. the LOUIS VUITTON SUITCASE that I designed. The suitcase is incredibly lightweight with an unparalleled large interior volume. This is due to the anodised aluminium extendable cane being relocated from inside the trunk to the outside, adding both structure and strength, as well as substantially increasing the all-important interior packing space. It also removes the awkward bumps and ridges normally associated with internal cane mechanisms.

9. MY GRAND PRIX BUGATTI I started to collect cars about four years ago. This is one of my favourites.

10. FOUNTAIN PENS I love fountain pens because they get used to you. The nib changes. They develop an angle according to your movement, which is why you should never lend your fountain pen to anyone else. I have designed two fountain pens — one for Hermès and one for Montblanc [left] — and 
I love writing with them.

Full article: http://www.vogue.com.au/vogue+living/design/galleries/marc+newsons+10+favourite+things,41344

August 2016 issue

Feature: Maggie Colvin

Photography: Robert Sanderson

http://roomenvy.co.uk

http://housetohome.co.uk/25beautifulhomes

“These luxurious escapes will help you achieve more than just a fine-tuned bod: PORTER seeks out the sanctuaries that also broaden your mind and recharge your soul, sending you home with newfound inner strength, clarity and contentment.”

Edited by Amy Wilson-Thomas