Yoga Retreat on a Budget: How to DIY a Retreat

I’ve fantasized about going on a yoga retreat for decades. 

Can you imagine it? Waking up at dawn to meditate and journal before a long yoga on the beach at some exotic location. Luxurious afternoon restorative yoga sessions with aroma therapy. Evenings spent exploring a new town and having dinner with new friends on their own voyage to find inner peace. 

And since this is my fantasy… There are also spa visits and naps.

This is going to be a reality for me one day. But today is not that day. The money isn’t there, and neither is the time.

But you don’t have to have an excess in your savings account (or worse, a willingness to max out your credit cards) to have a yoga retreat-like experience. 

With a little creativity, you can create your own experience in your own city or a nearby city of your choice. I did this recently when my kids went on their own trip. I had some alone time (the first I’ve had in many years!) and time off from work. It was the perfect opportunity to reinvigorate my yoga and meditation practice, catch up on rest and self-care, and truly savor the present moment in a way I don’t often get to in my daily life.

It was glorious. And it’s something I intend to do for myself again the next time I have time to myself.

How to DIY a yoga retreat (on a budget):

Make a loose itinerary. 

When I decided to do a DIY yoga retreat, I knew I’d have to make some plans or my “retreat” would risk turning into a week of chores and Netflix. On the other hand, one of the biggest benefits of being in charge of my own retreat is that I would have the ability to shift things to suit my energy levels, etc. 

So, I started with a loose list of things I wanted to do and made a itinerary. 

Here’s what it looked like:

Daily –

Bonus activities –

Choose a time frame.

This was easy for me. I wanted to get the most out of the time my kids were away. I had a long weekend to dedicate to my yoga retreat. But whether you have a week or just a free afternoon, decide when you’re retreating yourself (see what I did there?) and stick to it. 

Don’t skip out on your plans to accommodate someone else. I’ve done this SO many times through the years, especially when my kids were little, and I promise you it’s not worth it. 

Prioritize YOU and fiercely protect your time.

Choose a location + book it! 

I didn’t plan my retreat far in advance, so I decided to stay home. It was lovely.

But next time I think I’ll book an Airbnb in another city for my retreat. If you’re going to another city, I recommend researching yoga studios first and booking a place to stay within walking distance. 

Coming to Charleston, SC? Check out my yoga class schedule!

Take advantage of yoga studio intro offers.

Going to a studio for the first time? Most studios have intro offers or first-class free.

Now, I’m all about supporting yoga teachers and studios. But if you need to save money, you could absolutely take a yoga studio tour, take advantage of their “first class free” policy, and spend very little on classes! 

Get cash back with Ratuken. 

This is my favorite way to save money right now. Whatever you buy online you can get anywhere from 1-15% back later just by buying it through the Ratuken app. (I think of it as a bonus discount, and it’s a great way to save on things that rarely go on sale!)

So whether you’ve decided to treat yourself to a new pair of yoga pants, running shoes, or a sports bras for your retreat, you’re staying at a hotel, or you want to book a tour of the city you’re visiting, you can get cash back through Ratuken.

If you don’t already use Ratuken, sign up now! (If you use my link, we’ll both get $30! And you’ll get an extra 10% cash back on things you buy during the intro period. Woot!)

Redeem credit card points.

I recently saw a statistic that 25 percent of credit card rewards go unused. That’s crazy to me! Use your points to offset your retreat. 

(Plus, if you book your retreat on your card you’ll be earning points for your next retreat, too. Just make sure you pay that balance off every month because it’s never a smart move to pay interest!)