If you are a Californian, curious about yoga but feel unsure about directly enrolling for a class, you’re not alone. A beginners yoga retreat California is the gentle way to get started. Yoga retreats are popping up all over the state—and for good reasons.
They provide a peaceful, supportive environment where beginners can learn without pressure or judgment. They give a great opportunity to take a break from daily stress and focus on yourself. With experienced instructors and beautiful places, a yoga retreat for beginners California lets you go at your own pace while building confidence and discovering yoga.
List of Beginners Yoga Retreat California
We share information about a few of the best yoga retreats in California that are good for beginners. You can check if their dates match your availability to join their path to your well-being.
Sivananda Yoga Farm
Website Link: https://sivanandayogafarm.org/
Imagine the effectiveness of your practice when you learn from an institute that is on a mission to teach the ancient yogic knowledge of health, peace, unity in diversity, and self realization.
Sivananda Yoga Farm in California is a calm and welcoming place to begin your practice. Nestled in the peaceful Sierra Nevada foothills, their beginner yoga retreat California is perfect for a newbie. There is no pressure given and no experience needed!
The routine at their retreat is simple and effective without being overwhelming. In the morning, you can practice meditation and chanting. Your yoga practice consists of gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, and deep relaxation. You can also nourish yourself with two wholesome, healthy vegetarian meals. That is the cherry on the top!
You’ll get to learn at your own pace with friendly teachers guiding you throughout. The natural setting—full of trees, open meadows, and the Yuba River—makes it easy to slow down and tune in.
You can try any one of their beginner retreat options on a weekend, without sparing extra time from your busy work life.
Sivananda’s California Yoga Retreats for Beginners
- Stress Relief Weekend – It is perfect if you simply want to unwind and recharge.
- Breathwork & Nature Weekend – Go for this one if you want to explore the power of your breath in a peaceful outdoor setting.
- Level 1 Yoga Course – This includes a very methodical teaching pattern. You can learn yoga step by step in a relaxed way.
Sagrada Wellness
Website Link: https://www.sagradawellness.com/
Sagrada Wellness is set in the peaceful hills of San Luis Obispo. It is a kind of place where you can exhale instantly. Didn’t understand? That means you are instantly at ease in the peaceful surroundings.
It was founded by Scott and Eva, a husband-and-wife duo who share a passion for wellness and simplicity. If you want to relax and reconnect with yourself and nature—you can try their yoga retreat for beginners California.
What makes Sagrada Yoga Retreats Special?
- Stunning Views: It’s set on a private hilltop. Imagine you’re surrounded by oak trees and rolling hills with endless skies. It’s heavenly beautiful!
- All-Inclusive Experience: Their retreats include yoga, homemade organic meals, nature walks, cozy stays, and much more.
- No Judgment Vibe: You can be yourself and practice at your own pace. Nobody judges you! Isn’t that the greatest relief?
List of Yoga Retreats From Sagrada
You can choose any of the following retreats. All their yoga retreats are less about doing more and more about being present!
- Yoga & Hiking Retreat
- Calm, Resilient & Wild (focused on nervous system healing)
- Living Inspired (focused on creativity and intention)
- Qi Gong & Hiking
- Weekend Warrior (quick reset)
- Holiday Retreats for Thanksgiving or New Year’s
Ananda Village Retreats
Website Link: https://www.ananda.org/
In the serene Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California, Ananda Village is a spiritual community where peace, simplicity, and joy guide daily life. It’s an ideal place to pause and breathe.
At the heart of the village is the Expanding Light Retreat, open to everyone—no matter your experience with yoga or meditation. You’ll find different ways to relax and grow with their multiple retreat options:
- Personal Retreats – It is conducted as per your own pace and includes yoga, guided meditations, nature walks, and nourishing vegetarian meals.
- Guided Retreats – This is your opportunity to dive into focused programs led by experienced Ananda teachers. These retreats are held according to different themes like healing, spiritual growth, and mindfulness.
- Meditation Retreats – If you want to learn and practice just the meditation, they have got you covered. They teach simple and effective techniques to find calm and clarity.
- Karma Yoga Ashram Program – They also have a Karma yoga-centered retreat. You can live in a community, serve daily, and grow spiritually. In exchange for helping out the ashrama with daily chores, you receive meals, lodging, and classes.
- Ananda Yoga Programs – These are gentle, heart-centered yoga retreats that include breathwork and affirmations to uplift your mind and body.
- Family Retreats – This is the most unique part of Ananda Yoga Retreats! They ensure your entire family’s well-being. They welcome kids and parents together for mindful activities, play, and quiet time.
Everything at Ananda—from the people to the food and the natural surroundings—supports inner peace and personal discovery. At their beginners yoga retreat California, you are assured to experience a way of life that stays with you long after you leave.
Vita Pura Yoga Retreats
Website Link: https://www.vitapurayoga.com/
If you want to find peace and purpose through yoga, just like Amber, the founder of Vita Pura Yoga, then you must try their retreat. They conduct yoga and hiking retreats to give the best possible boost to your mood and health. These retreats are all about slowing down, reconnecting, and immersing yourself in the peaceful environment of the California coast.
What To Expect From Their San Diego Retreats?
Movement & Nature
Imagine practicing yoga on the beach along with the rhythmic sound of the water waves. You get to learn in daily Hatha yoga sessions held right on the beach at La Jolla or Torrey Pines. There are also guided hikes through peaceful trails at Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Heart-Centered Practice
Since their teachings are rooted in traditional yoga, there is no pressure of performance. It’s an individual journey that includes heart-centered practices, mindful breathwork (pranayama), and guided meditations.
Luxury Meets Simplicity
Well, you don’t have to sacrifice your love for luxury in this retreat. You can stay at upscale locations like the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. There are many options of private rooms, sumptuous, delicious meals, and tranquil spaces for rest. All these are carefully designed for your deep relaxation and renewal.
What Makes Their Retreats Special?
- It’s a 3 or 5-day retreat with small and supportive groups.
- Teachers like Amber, Lance, and Siobhan personally guide each session.
- If you have been craving for me-time, you will get that time for journaling, forest bathing, and quiet reflection.
Many guests leave feeling lighter and truly transformed—often calling it “life-shifting”. If you’re looking for peace, presence, and a little Pacific breeze, Vita Pura’s beginner yoga retreat California is perfect for you.
Cal-a-Vie
Website Link: https://www.cal-a-vie.com/
Just an hour north of San Diego, Cal‑a‑Vie Health Spa feels like stepping into the French countryside—without leaving California. Tucked into 200 acres of lavender fields and olive groves, this retreat offers European charm meets laid-back coastal vibes.
Their Yoga Spa Retreat is famous for providing more than just yoga. They provide a full-body, mind, and soul reset. You get to practice daily yoga and meditation sessions in dreamy spots like a 400-year-old French chapel or outdoor pavilions. You can also choose from 120+ classes, including restorative yoga, aerial yoga, Pilates, TRX, and even face or aqua yoga. Their mindfulness practices are also creative, like sound baths, guided journaling, gratitude rituals, and love-letter yoga.
What’s Included in Their San Diego Retreat?
All-Inclusive Packages
Their packages are of 3, 4, or 7-nights and includes accommodations, meals, fitness classes, spa services, wellness practices, and workshops.
Daily Personalized Schedule
Would you not love to practice yoga if somebody meticulously crafts a practice tailored especially as per your personal goals? You can choose to sweat, rest, or both.
Special Facilities and Perks
If you can combine your favorite beauty treatment or massage along with your yoga, would it not be the most ideal thing? You can choose from Hot stone massages, Vichy wraps, facials, salon, and plunge pool access. Their nourishing, gourmet meals designed by a registered dietician make your entire detox worth it. Other activities like stargazing, meditation, and soul-soothing talks in the evenings make you build memories that you can cherish for your entire lifetime.
The Bottom Line
California has retreats that welcome you with open arms. From mountain hideaways and oceanfront escapes to spa-style indulgence and heart-centered healing, each retreat has something for beginners.
You can choose a retreat teaching one of your favorite yoga styles, or meditation retreats, or a retreat that focuses on cultivating inner wisdom or building restorative practices. There are multiple options to choose from. No need to be flexible or experienced — you just have to be open to slowing down, breathing deep, and giving yourself the care you deserve. So if you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start your yoga journey, this might be it. Choose quickly! Beginners yoga retreat California are conducted throughout the year.
