Muddy recently returned from the inaugural Synergy The Retreat Show in Ibiza, where 220-plus people in the wellbeing industry from around the world converged to exchange ideas and chat trends. It’s fair to say that next year things are gearing up a level, so move over Wim Hof method, here’s what might be causing a buzz and flooding your Instagram feed over the next 12 months…

1 RESILIENCE RETREATS

Stepping out of your comfort zone, mentally and physically, is big news; think less lying by the pool with a pina colada, more running six miles a day up a mountain. Since the pandemic Run Wild Retreats has seen a rise in customers wanting holidays that push them mentally and physically, according to CEO Elinor Fish, who offers 25 mindful running retreats a year including a new one in Bhutan for 2023. 

Cynthia Wong, founder of Cynthia Travels, runs adventurous yoga retreats around the world, such as the first Maldives’ island-hopping yoga retreat aboard a boat which included ‘stepping out of your comfort zone’ activities like snorkelling with sharks.

Or how about The Spartan Spirit of Adventure programme at award-winning new retreat Euphoria in Greece? Designed to ‘celebrate your inner resilience in the style of warrior ancestors’ it takes inspiration from the ancient city of Sparta where the retreat is based, meaning you’ll be channeling your inner Spartan – though this is less fight to the death, more pushing your limits running, cycling, rock climbing and hiking to gain self-confidence, overcome challenges and reconnect with yourself and nature. 

Three-day Spartan Spirit of Adventure Retreat, half-board, including accommodation, activities and ten treatments such as an infrared sauna session, from £981pp.

2 ART YOGA  

Want to connect to your inner child? Best try a Primavera Yoga & Art Retreat, which includes covering your body in paint while moving through your asanas. Founder Aviv Hendler came up with the concept and says, “It feels amazing, sensual, encourages playfulness and connects to your second chakra”. And when you’re not writhing around in paint being your own masterpiece, you’ll be on a spiritual journey of breathwork and meditation. 

The next four-night Primavera retreat takes place in the Alps (15-19 Feb) at the Pineta Nature Resort & SPA, from £768pp including accommodation, breakfast, yoga classes, local herbal skincare class, local herbs and tea class, sauna class, cooking class and fire ceremony.

3 GAGA DANCING

You’re going to go gaga for Gaga. This dance craze has nothing to do with the pop star, but everything to do with health benefits, from strength-building to stress-relief – you literally dance your cares away. Developed by Israeli choreographer Ohad Nahrain as a ‘movement language’, it’s about messing with your neurotransmitters by continuously moving in a completely different way to normal; think wiggling your shoulders out of beat whilst shaking your head and rotating your pelvis. Looks silly, but sure feels good physically and mentally and that’s what counts, right?

Gaga in the Desert retreat takes place in the Moa Oasis 29-31 Dec, 2022, from £450pp, including meals, shared tented accommodation and classes; Or try a Siobhan Davies workshop in London from £12 per class.

4 CULTURAL IMMERSION

There’s a movement building for increased local inclusion within the yoga retreat world. Pioneers such as Souljourn Yoga founder Jordan Ashley, who raises awareness and funds for girls’ education in lesser economically developed countries, wants you to have life-changing experiences through the community you meet while you’re away, as well as from the yoga you practice. She says, “We co-design retreats with partner organisations on the ground by weaving in local practices of tradition, meditation and movement so that’s it’s a culturally contextual experience of equality, not hierarchy”. So whether it’s being involved in projects raising funds to educate and empower girls in places like Rwanda and Nicaragua, or trips to townships in Cape Town, you’ll be opening your mind as well as your heart. 

Cape Town Art & Yoga Retreat takes place 18-25 Feb, 2023, from £2740pp which includes a $300 donation to Lalela’s Female Empowerment Program the charity you’ll be volunteering with on retreat.  

5 PLANT MEDICINE

If you watched Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop team jet off to Jamaica to take magic mushrooms on Netflix during lockdown and were intrigued/tempted, this might be for you. Psychedelics are having a renaissance, in particular Psilocybin wellness for women under the guidance of therapists like Heather Lee, who runs Medicine Woman Retreats. She told Muddy this is about leading women deep into nature emergence: “When consumed mushrooms open our hearts and souls to a deeper perspective of ourselves, our lives, nature, and meaning. They help bring awakening, insight, and inner wisdom to those who journey.” Blimey. Book now though as Muddy’s heard there’s not mushroom on these retreats…

6 EMOTIONAL DETOX

Forget digital detoxing, 2023 is all about emotional detoxing according to Stella Photi, who knows a thing or two about retreat trends as founder of Wellbeing Escapes. She told Muddy, “I’ve seen many clients, post-pandemic, who are on the edge. People are realising our ‘keep calm and carry’ on culture is harmful, it’s not good to bury your emotions.” So where does she recommend emotionally detoxing? One of her tips is Shanti-Som in Spain, which offers great retreats for releasing and recharging, such as the Body & Soul Retreat where you’re encouraged to express your fears and concerns and discover how to regain control over your mind and soul.

Three-day Reboost Body & Soul Retreat, from £1206, which includes daily yoga, meditation, three healthy meals per day, reiki, spa treatments and life coaching sessions.