Burren Yoga Retreat
county galway, ireland
Friendly wellness, yoga and meditation breaks by the expansive Atlantic Ocean
Based in a UNESCO Geopark on the west coast of Ireland, overlooking the wild Atlantic Ocean, Burren Yoga Retreat offers wellness, yoga and meditation breaks, led by a stable of renowned, trusted teachers. Founded by David Brocklebank in 1999, it’s a space where you can explore the limestone hills, karst pavements and coastline of The Burren, take part in a dynamic programme of yoga, make new friends and feast on nutritious vegetarian food prepared by talented chefs. You’ll return rested and re-energised, with renewed zest.
our Reviewer karen hockney says:
‘Niamh led us through challenging four-minute-long hip openers of yin, a mash up of yoga and Pilates (hence yogalates), and energetic ashtanga, always circling back to the downward and upward dogs of vinyasa flow. Her gentle encouragement and tiny tweaks got me elongating my poses and stretches further than I thought possible, generating the most serene high’
Queen of Retreats says:
‘This is a true haven where you can recharge, try out different types of yoga and dial up your practice. Don’t miss the daily two-hour guided hikes along the exceptional coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way and the dramatic limestone hills of Mullaghmore and Abbey Hill (hiking shoes are a must). Be sure to experience a bracing cold-water sea dip when the beachside sauna truck is in residence! If you’re flying in, take advantage of the reduced taxi fare from Shannon airport and Galway bus and train stations’
Experiences
Set-date weekend and week-long retreats run from January through to December, with one yoga teacher per retreat. You’ll practise a mix of energetic yoga across two or three morning, teatime and evening sessions – some days that’s two hours, others it’s more than four hours.
Yoga styles taught include hatha and hatha flow, restorative yoga, ashtanga, Bikram, yin, kundalini, yogalates, vinyasa flow and Sivananda yoga. There are also breath-led yoga breaks, yoga nidra immersions and yoga bootcamps. All 14 teachers teach meditation. Classes are suitable for complete beginners and advanced yogis alike.
Each day, there is a full schedule, consisting of yoga and meditation, and a guided outing into the hills or by the sea. However, you can opt out at any time if you just want to chill out, relax or sleep.
Organised outings are a favourite among guests. Enjoy guided walks into The Burren Hills and by the sea with an experienced guide or go sea swimming – there’s a choice of local beaches. You might enjoy a leisurely swim at the local lake four miles away. You can go surfing and kayaking and on boat trips to the Cliffs of Moher.
Facials, and hot stone and Swedish massages are available to book as extras. The retreat has an excellent roster of talented local therapists – the Skinician vegan facial is a favourite.
Spaces
The centre is set on two-acre site four miles from the sea and at the foot of the Burren Hills, famous for their rocky landscape and thousands of archeological sites. Surrounded by nature, there are only four houses within a 1km radius of you. The nearest village is Kinvara, a picturesque seaside village.
The retreat consists of two separate buildings next to each other – a smaller bungalow is 20 years old and houses budget accommodation, while a larger building, built in 2021, accommodates en-suite bedrooms and a dining room, which is a comfortable hub for breakfast and supper.
The pièce de résistance is the 85 sq m first floor yoga studio, which has numerous, auto-controlled skylights, enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and ceiling-mounted infra-red and acoustic panels, making it a state-of-the-art practice space with breathtaking views of the Burren hills. There are also two massage suites.
Relax in the first-floor lounge, which is also a peaceful reading room, and the only place where you can access the Wi-Fi. Or head out into nature, where there are plenty of quiet spots.
In the newer building, there are three single bedrooms, three twin rooms, two super king rooms and two triple bedrooms – all are en-suite. Bedrooms are spacious with underfloor heating, electric blinds, and triple-glazed picture-frame windows. Each room has a writing desk and has pictures of Burren scenery on the walls. Bathrooms have oversized, wet-room style showers. Budget accommodation is warm, cosy and spotlessly clean, and includes two twins and three singles, which share two shower rooms.
Sustenance
The ethos is healthy and wholesome vegetarian cuisine, using 90 per cent organic ingredients sourced from local suppliers and a nearby farm, with options to cater to vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, coeliac and lactose-intolerant dietary needs.
Breakfast is served buffet-style, offering a selection of cereal, porridge, soy and dairy yoghurt, fruits of the forest berry coulis, granola, oat-free seed and nut mix, boiled eggs, cheese, fresh fruit and freshly baked porridge bread and banana bread (gluten-free versions are also available). Lunch is often taken in the villages of Kinvarra, Ballyvaughan and Flaggy Shore, which are bursting with delicious lobster shacks, seafood restaurants and cafes.
Chef Claire Conway cooks up a storm at supper, serving a wide variety of dishes including smoked tofu and roasted turnip curry, alongside wholemeal rice with star anise, bay leaf, mint and lime, as well as chickpea falafels, roasted sweet potato and turnip mash with smoked pecans, beetroot soy yoghurt dressing, maple and mustard roasted parsnips, and roasted hispi cabbage with harissa and walnut dukka.
Snacks and treats are confined to a healthy homemade dessert each evening; orchard cake with apple, pear, buckwheat flour and maple syrup accompanied by coconut cream custard is a clear favourite, closely followed by a raw salted caramel tart, orange and almond flour cake with orange infused yoghurt and a raw cocoa, Medjool date and biscuit slice.
Breakfast drinks include orange juice, plant-based and dairy milks, and herbal tea and coffee, which is available throughout the day, while at night, filtered water from the retreat’s own 160-foot deep well accompanies the supper buffet. The retreat is alcohol-free.
