Last updated January 4, 2024
Say so long to a lackluster workout and relying on self-motivation to hit the gym. A fitness retreat is the solution to refocusing and revamping your approach to exercise while feeding your wanderlust, too.
Jump to:
- Eupepsia Wellness Center – Bland, Virginia
- The Ranch Malibu – Malibu, California
- Skyterra Wellness Retreat — Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
- Hilton Head Health – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa – Ainsworth, British Columbia
- Haley Farm Inn and Retreat Center – Oakland, Maryland
A fitness retreat may elicit feelings of high intensity, military style training and calf-aching hikes up rocky terrain.
The good news is, no matter your fitness level or focus area—yoga, nutrition, HIIT, strength training, cycling, calisthenics, etc.—there is a retreat for you.
Since growing in popularity, fitness retreats have cropped up across North America, home to some of the most breathtaking and expansive scenery.
The Benefits of a Fitness Retreat
We have six can’t-miss fitness retreats in North America to recommend. But first, let’s break down the benefits of embarking on a fitness retreat.
1. Develop New Skills
A fitness retreat is an excellent opportunity to acquire new skills and health-related techniques.
Retreat instructors are often highly-accredited in their field. And while learning from them, attendees are bound to gain valuable insight and knowledge to take their wellness to the next level.
Even if you regularly attend workout classes or follow online health gurus, retreat instructors are dedicated to working closely, often one-on-one with individuals to provide helpful, tailored information, and meet you where you are on your fitness journey.
A fitness retreat may also result in a newfound perspective on fitness: a view otherwise missed by approaching fitness the same each time.
2. Refresh and Refocus
The onus is on the individual to make fitness a top priority, but the responsibilities of everyday life make it very easy to neglect physical and mental well-being.
Even if wellness is top of mind, putting it on the back burner for long can open the door for excuses. This obviously makes it more difficult to get back into the swing of things.
A fitness retreat provides the opportunity to shift energy away from life’s stressors and onto what matters—your well-being.
With minimal distractions, clear purpose and structure, fitness retreats leave few other choices but to focus on mental and physical wellness.
Reengaging with your body and mind by participating in activities that bring you joy, while detoxing digitally, is a recipe for feeling refreshed and rejuvenated when stepping back into your daily grind.
3. Meet Like-Minded People
A fitness retreat is a great opportunity to connect with individuals that share similar interests. Although retreat attendees may have different reasons for being there, each individual embarks on the same journey and works toward a similar goal.
Plus, a fitness retreat takes bonding to the next level. Morale, motivation and camaraderie are often sky-high when individuals, all with the same goal, are in a positive, shared space.
Don’t be surprised to come away from a fitness retreat with life-long friends.
Our top fitness retreats in North America attract people from all over the globe. So you may just find yourself with a slew of fitness friends to follow online and motivate from afar.
Top Fitness Retreats in North America
Let’s dive into the top six fitness retreats in North America.
1. Eupepsia Wellness Center – Bland, Virginia
Eupepsia Wellness Center is a nationally-recognized wellness resort, located in the heart of Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains.
Characterized as a boutique wellness sanctuary, this retreat is highly specialized in fitness and recovery, focusing on conditioning, sports nutrition, sport performance development, and emotional and mental fitness.
The performance boosting retreat is founded on Ayurvedic principles and is designed for athletes to reach peak performance. Tailored offerings include body composition analysis, customized fitness plans, personal training sessions and more.
Functional training classes, group yoga, guided hikes, relaxation and recovery therapies span the list of additional opportunities and offerings at Eupepsia Wellness Center.
2. The Ranch Malibu – Malibu, California
Ready to take fitness intensity to the next level? The Ranch Malibu, located along California’s dreamy sunshine coast, is an award-winning luxury, fitness and wellness retreat.
The Ranch Malibu delivers a transformative and immersive health experience, focusing on weight loss and improving overall fitness. The program’s highlights consist of daily hikes, guided exercises and fitness classes, and delicious, locally sourced plant-based cuisine.
Don’t let the glamour of a luxury retreat fool you—The Ranch Malibu is not for the faint of heart. Expect to follow a strict and personalized regimen of diet and eight hours of daily exercise.
Anticipate going beyond your limits. Some attendees even claim their time at The Ranch Malibu to be “life-changing.”
The retreat is limited to 25 individuals per session. This ensures an intimate and personalized experience, where experts assess your progress and make adjustments for safe and sustainable results.
3. Skyterra Wellness Retreat | Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
We’re heading back over to the east coast of the U.S. to Skyterra Wellness Retreat in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. Skyterra Wellness Retreat is in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering a peaceful, nature-focused getaway.
Skyterra’s program also takes a tailored approach to wellness, offering meditation, hiking, and yoga sessions, along with cooking classes and lessons on mindful eating.
For jaw-dropping scenery, consider visiting Skyterra during the fall months (although be mindful of the busy peak season). Come fall, Pisgah’s forest is blanketed in an assortment of yellow, orange and red foliage.
4. Hilton Head Health – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Did someone say spa? Hilton Head Health is the epitome of rejuvenation. Located moments from the beaches and offering award-winning spa services, Hilton Head Health knows a thing or two about creating a relaxing experience.
Beyond their noteworthy spa services, Hilton Head Health offers personal training sessions for pilates, yoga, TRX and meditation, private cooking lessons and nutrition consultations, dance and aquatic instructions and more.
5. Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa – Ainsworth, British Columbia
Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa is an award-winning, all-inclusive, week-long retreat located in the village of Ainsworth Hot Springs.
The Mountain Trek Program incorporates daily hikes through British Columbia’s breathtaking terrain, sunrise yoga and a chef-inspired cuisine. The program has been thoughtfully designed to leave guests healthier, with increased energy, lower stress and newfound confidence.
Mountain Trek is not a sit by the pool, put cucumbers on your eyes and rest all day retreat. The program is for guests who dare to challenge the status quo, get outside and get a little dirty. This is the health reset you’ve been pining for.
6. Haley Farm Inn and Retreat Center – Oakland, Maryland
Grab your closest girlfriends and get packing for a fitness retreat at Haley Farm Inn Retreat Center, located in the sprawling hills of Western Maryland.
The all-inclusive retreat center is proximal to five stunning state parks and offers outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding. In the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowboarding are on offer.
Take the intensity down a notch, with the option of mind/body sessions like yoga and meditation, or crank it back up with the bikini bootcamp.
The weekend getaways are designed to be a relaxing and enjoyable bonding experience, focusing on health, well-being and relaxation.
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete ready to hike Maryland’s highest point, or looking to take it easy with an evening of wine and artist-led painting for a girls night in, Haley Farm’s retreats allow you to set the pace for everyone in your group to enjoy.
Fitness Retreats Are Good For You
Whether you’re looking to push your limits and improve your performance or decompress with sunshine and spa sessions, consider embarking on a fitness retreat—a vacation with a purpose.
No matter your wellness goals, fitness retreats help to equip you with the tools for exercising, nutrition and stress-management to live and sustain a healthier, more balanced life, long after the retreat ends and suitcases are packed away.
About Vacayou
At Vacayou [pronounced VACAY – YOU], we believe that travel has the power to change lives. The power to revive, rejuvenate and redirect your inner wellness warrior. And that’s why we’re here. Vacayou brings the world of wellness travel to you!
No matter how far or how adventurous, our team scours the globe to curate the best in wellness travel. But the booking process can often be time-consuming and complicated. We’ve made it much easier for you to search, discover, and book wellness and active vacations. With Vacayou’s Instant Book, your dream wellness getaway is now just one click away.
Start the trip of your lifetime today, with Vacayou. We are here to help create a healthier global community through wellness and active travel.
To keep up with the latest wellness trends and experiences, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
