The celebration of International Yoga Day coincides with the summer solstice in a month dedicated to everything wellness around the globe. Read on for suggestions on how and where your clients can transform body and soul.
Yoga at Its Source: Ananda in the Himalayas
Ananda in the Himalayas offers authentic yoga in its birthplace—the Himalayan foothills near Rishikesh, known as the Yoga Capital of the World. This destination provides yoga in its purest form, where this 5,000-year-old practice originated.
The resort’s yoga approach connects body, breath, mind and spirit through personalized programs guided by classical practices. Each guest receives individualized attention focusing on asana, pranayama, yogic relaxation, meditation and yoga therapy, all tailored to support specific wellness goals.
The signature Yogic Detox program integrates traditional cleansing techniques (Shatkriyas), asanas, pranayama and dietary modifications to address physical and energetic impurities. This comprehensive approach enhances metabolic efficiency while purifying the digestive and respiratory systems.
Ananda’s Holistic Yoga program draws from multiple branches including Hatha, Raja, Karma, Bhakti and Jnana Yoga. This integrated approach extends beyond physical postures to develop mental resilience and emotional well-being, creating a truly transformative experience for guests seeking healing, strength or spiritual growth.
The Dhyana program, grounded in Raja Yoga tradition, guides guests through progressively deeper meditation practices. Starting with sense withdrawal (pratyahara) and moving to focused concentration (dharana), participants ultimately experience deep meditation (dhyana). This program effectively releases deep-seated stress and expands consciousness for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
For more information, visit anandaspa.com.
Yoga in the Clouds: Hotel Belmar
Hotel Belmar in Monteverde, Costa Rica, has a distinctive yoga program set within the cloud forest canopy. The hotel’s signature wellness offerings operate year-round, centered around an open-air chalet with panoramic views of the forest. Daily morning sessions feature gentle vinyasa or Hatha-inspired flows, accompanied by the sounds of natural birdsong. The “Wellness in the Woods” experience takes practice into SAVIA, the hotel’s private cloud forest reserve, where guests practice among the trees.
Sunset sessions combine meditation with sound journeys, incorporating breathwork and healing vibrations as daylight fades. The wellness approach extends to nutrition through Farm-to-Body Nourishment featuring organic elixirs and plant-forward cuisine sourced directly from Finca Madre Tierra, the property’s carbon-neutral farm.
The hotel offers special programming in celebration of International Yoga Day. On June 21 at 8:00 a.m., instructor Arantza leads Sunrise Solstice Yoga, a collective sun salutation welcoming both the solstice and Yoga Day. Later that afternoon at 4:00 p.m., Con las Estrellas Brillando offers an ancestral roots concert celebrating World Music Day at the Tap Room & Beer Garden. The following morning, on June 22 at 9:00 a.m., a 90-minute sound bath and meditation experience led by Oscar Jimenez and Vale Sisa incorporates traditional instruments and deep breathwork.
For more information, visit hotelbelmar.net.
Artful Yoga: Hotel Matilda
Hotel Matilda in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, has partnered with respected yoga instructors Laila Kuri and Alejandro Trejo (Gauri Shankar) for a 2-day program coinciding with the summer solstice on June 21.
Festivities begin on Saturday, June 21, with a free, open-air yoga class in San Miguel’s historic main square, with the city’s pink neo-Gothic parish church as backdrop. Local lore suggests this plaza sits above a bed of quartz believed to emit positive energy, creating an especially powerful setting for yoga practice.
Following the public session, Hotel Matilda hosts a sound healing experience incorporating breathwork, meditation and kirtan led by Alejandro Trejo. This immersive session carries a recovery cost of $25 USD per person.
The celebration continues Sunday, June 22, with an exclusive Asana & Meditation class from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the hotel. Led by Laila Kuri, this intimate session allows participants to deepen their practice in an artistic setting, also priced at $25 USD.
For more information, visit hotelmatilda.com.
Forest Wellness: Dharana at Shillim
Dharana at Shillim is celebrating its first year as an ayurveda-led precision wellbeing sanctuary in India’s Sahyadri mountains. This retreat extends across 320 acres within a 2,500-acre restored forest, situated in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s 36 top biodiversity hotspots.
Located just a 2-3 hour drive from Mumbai and Pune, Dharana—named after the yogic concept of focused awareness—offers personalized wellness programs that integrate ancient wisdom with modern diagnostics and treatments. The sanctuary approaches healing as reconnection to self and nature rather than merely addressing symptoms.
The retreat operates through a Problem-Solution-Impact framework, creating individualized journeys aligned with guests’ specific needs. Their flagship long-stay programs include The Art of Detox, a science-backed Ayurvedic cleanse that resets gut function and eliminates cellular toxins. Rest & Revive targets chronic fatigue and sleep disruption through cellular rejuvenation techniques. The Mental Resilience Retreat combines neuroscience, breathwork and meditation to recalibrate the nervous system and enhance mental clarity.
For more information, visit dharanaretreat.com.
Mountain Wellness: Art of Living’s 2025 Speaker Series
The Art of Living Retreat Center in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains has announced its 2025 Speaker Series, featuring specialized wellness programs led by recognized experts across multiple disciplines.
The center’s summer schedule begins with Shiva Rea’s Rhythmic Vinyasa (July 8-20), a program rooted in Prana Vinyasa that connects participants to natural rhythms and sacred movement practices. August brings Super Sonic Yoga (August 8-10) with MC Yogi and DJ Taz, featuring a combination of vinyasa flow, live music, and guided meditation.
Fall programming begins with Martha Huggins and Molly Hollibaugh presenting The Zen Tangle Method (Sept. 25-28), a meditative drawing technique that reduces stress while enhancing focus. Katy Bowman follows with Dynamic Aging (Oct. 3-5), blending biomechanics with natural movement to improve physical alignment and long-term health.
October continues with Jai Dev Singh’s Life-Force Academy Immersion (Oct. 8-12), integrating Kundalini yoga with Ayurveda and Yogic Astrology to cultivate vitality and spiritual connection. New York Times bestselling author Jedidiah Jenkins leads Disconnect, Reconnect, and Write (Oct. 17-19), helping participants rediscover creativity through writing and nature immersion.
The series concludes with Jeff Warren’s Being Human Takes Practice (Nov. 14-16), a meditation retreat co-authored by the author of “Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics,” focusing on building sustainable mindfulness habits.
For more information, visit artoflivingretreatcenter.org.
