Are you looking for a short break with lasting positive effects ? Then you should try a yoga retreat . Even if you're not striving for complete enlightenment, an inner glow certainly doesn't hurt, and it's guaranteed to happen. Yogis know a lot about the positive influence of nature and feng shui on body, mind, and soul, and thus always seek out the most soothing environments for their retreats. The daily yoga exercises and healthy, organic (mostly vegetarian) cuisine will help you recharge in no time. And whether you're alone, with a friend or partner, or in a group, you're sure to meet interesting fellow travelers.

In this wonderful, updated guide, Angelika Taschen brings together the world's most exquisite and inspiring yoga retreats . Highlights include the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh , the birthplace of yoga, where the Beatles learned to meditate in the Maharishi's ashram in 1968 , and Yogamagic , an ecological retreat in Goa on the gentle Indian Ocean. Il Convento in Tuscany and Santa Maria del Sole in Apulia achieve an effortless balance between yoga and the pleasure-loving Italian way of life. In Big Sur, California, the Esalen Institute , a legendary destination of the New Age movement, offers over 500 workshops on yoga and more for the mind and body. While at Amansala in Tulum, Mexico, you can combine beach life and yoga classes in the most pleasant way. But why always travel far away when Schloss Elmau , with its daily Jivamukti classes and special courses, is so close, namely in Bavaria?