and meditation retreats offer you tools to take home that can help you
grow, both inside and outside. This experience can inspire people to find
more satisfaction in their lives if they stay consistent with the practices.What The Research Says about Wellness Travel
A groundbreaking study in complementary and alternative medicine
from the University of California San Francisco, Harvard Medical
School, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai sheds more
light on what makes wellness travel distinct. Originally published in
Translational Psychology, a group of researchers analyzed blood sam-
ples of 94 healthy women ages 30-60 separated into two groups. There
was a control group consisting of non-meditating women randomly se-
lected to enjoy their vacation at the La Costa Resort in La Jolla, Cali-
fornia, and a group of novice and experienced meditators who were
instructed in mantra meditation and yoga at The Chopra Center led by
Dr. Deepak Chopra’s instructors. To maintain consistency between the
groups, both were fed a similar Ayurvedic, anti-inflammatory diet and
had similar, comparable lodging and accommodations.
The results? Both groups showed positive gene activity in their blood
samples for specific markers related to cellular health and aging. This
was measured by their regulation of the stress response, telomerase
activity, and amyloid beta (AB) metabolism. The greatest biochemical
changes between the groups were related to measurements of stress and
immune function. Novice meditators showed fewer symptoms of de-
pression and less signs of stress for a longer period of time following the
structured retreat compared to the vacationers. The regular meditators
showed the greatest improvements in antiviral and immune function ac-
tivity of all groups; they also showed the most significant increase in pe-
ripheral blood mononuclear cell telomerase post-retreat. This measure-
ment is predictive of decreases in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and
certain cancers. Overall, the study led the researchers to differentiate
between what they referred to as “the vacation effect” versus the more
powerful “meditation effect” found on retreat.Other studies have shown similar findings. A June 2017 study published
in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that after a three-month yoga
and meditation retreat, people showed increases in Brain-Derived Neu-
rotophic Factor (BDNF) and the cortisol awakening response. These are
markers that signify the reduction of anxiety and depression. People also
experienced decreases in inflammatory processes due to higher levels of
the anti-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-10. A 2016 study published
in the Journal for Psychosomatic Research made the following conclusion,
“Meditation retreats are moderately to largely effective in reducing depres-
sion, anxiety, stress and in ameliorating the quality of life of participants.”
According to current scientific research, the right kind of vacation can
be good for your health. What’s the right kind? Well, a Yoga or medita-
tion retreat, of course!Types of Retreat-Goers in the yoga world
There appear to be several tourism-based yoga and meditation arche-
types. These include: The Dedicated Yoga and Meditation Tourist, The
Corporate Yoga Tourist, The Religious Yoga Tourist, The Ashram
Yoga Tourist, and The Medical Yoga Tourist.The Dedicated Yoga and Meditation Tourist
This traveler is interested in detoxing from the constant bombardment
of the digital world. They’re seeking to dial down the intensity of world-
ly commitments (especially if they have kids). At the same time, they’re
seeking new and improved lifestyle patterns that lead to less stress and
more ease. Often, this traveler wants to set aside their established iden-
tity in order to re-invent themselves. They may choose an instructor or
studio-led retreat for 3 to 7 days. This category is also for the traditional
yoga festival-goer.
Destinations include Bhakti Fest, Wanderlust Festivals, One Love
Fest, Esalen in Big Sur, Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa
Rica, or a retreat with their yoga teacher to a beautiful location like
Hawaii, Mexico, Chile, or Bali.Courtesy of Hawaii Yoga Festival