When relieving stress and improving well-being is on the vacation to-do list, travelers to Hawaii are turning to yoga. Blessed by an idyllic natural environment, the Aloha State is tailor-made for this popular wellness travel activity.
Many Hawaii hotel spas incorporate yoga into their guest programs. Enhancing the inventory are freestanding retreats where visitors can spend multiple days focused on improving wellness. Following are five fine options for practicing yoga in Hawaii.
Anara Spa, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
Tapping the therapeutic qualities of its south Kauai location, Anara Spa invites guests to a beachside lawn for seaside sunrise yoga classes that are at once calming and energizing. The rest of the day, yoga sessions take place in the spa’s al fresco fitness hale with floor-to-ceiling views and doors that open to a garden, providing a refreshing cross breeze. Classes are complimentary with the Hyatt resort fee.
www.kauai.hyatt.com
Hawaii Island Retreat
On the north shore of Hawaii Island awaits this tranquil eco-boutique and spa billed as a “place of intentional peacefulness.” During their stay, guests can take individual yoga classes in an airy, ocean view studio. Or, they can time their trip with a thematic multi-day retreat that includes daily yoga, organic homemade meals, accommodations and time to savor the groves, gardens and trails of this 50-acre oasis.
www.hawaiiislandretreat.com
Lumeria Maui
Set in a renovated 1909 plantation estate, this six-acre, 24-room private sanctuary overlooks Maui’s spectacular north shore. Along with an extensive menu of yoga classes in a top-notch studio, guests can dabble in horticulture, meditation and aromatherapy. Clients can even take part in the daily harvest of ingredients for the property’s farm-to-table cuisine and for Lumeria’s detoxifying cleanse.
www.lumeriamaui.com
Nalu Kinetic Spa, Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu
The fitness center at this north shore hotel earns accolades thanks to its magically restorative setting. Classes capitalize on the peace and quiet of the spa’s special site by the sea. From beginners' yoga and basic classes to core, Vinyasa and Hatha yoga, the spa’s daily sessions help participants balance their bodies, sharpen their minds and go with the flow.
www.turtlebayresort.com
Spa Without Walls, Fairmont Orchid Hawaii, Hawaii Island
As the name implies, this health and wellness mecca draws its inspiration from the resort's magnificent natural surroundings. The freshness of the Kohala Coast landscape adds a cleansing effect to its outdoor classes, from stretching by the shore under coconut palms to floating on a weighted stand-up paddle board — truly a memorable vehicle for enjoying yoga in Hawaii.
www.fairmont.com/orchid-hawaii
