Private Yoga, Detox & Wellness Retreat in La Palma, Canary Islands

Vidyamor sits on a quiet plot on La Palma, well away from the resort strips. The setup is deliberately small: one guest party at a time — solo travellers or couples — so the two hosts can give the whole day to whoever is there. You get your own guest lodge on the private grounds, an en-suite bathroom and a veranda, with the garden, the yoga meadow and the walking paths right outside. The lodge is offered free of charge as a gesture of hospitality, and the hosts are upfront that it isn't part of the paid service package.

There are three broad shapes to the retreat, and you pick one before you arrive. The detox version runs on therapeutic fasting — no solid food for stretches of the week, supported by juices, vegetable broths, herbal teas and supplements — combined with daily yoga and hands-on detox treatments. The wellness version pairs gentle yoga with massage and other treatments, with proper vegan meals served throughout. The intensive yoga version drops most of the therapy and puts the hours into practice instead, at whatever pace suits you. All three are adjustable: you can fast for part of the week and eat for the rest, add treatments, or move sessions around.

Yoga happens outside on the meadow, which is the standout feature of the property. It's a flat grassy area in the middle of the garden with an open view across the oasis and toward the hills. Classes are private — just you and the instructor — so the level is pitched exactly where you are, whether that's your first downward dog or a decade of practice. Sessions typically run 60–90 minutes and blend asana with breathing and some meditation. Because La Palma's climate is mild year-round, the outdoor setup works in every season.

What makes this different from a typical Canary Islands yoga retreat is the fasting and therapy side. Yamuna and Olay are trained therapists as well as yoga teachers, and the detox programme is a real one: enemas and colon hydrotherapy support, liver compresses, lymphatic massage, and close monitoring through the fast. You're not left to figure out a juice cleanse on your own. Reviews from returning guests specifically call out the personal supervision and the fact that the yoga is adapted to how you're feeling on a fasting day rather than run to a fixed script.

The location matters too. La Palma is small — about 40 minutes end-to-end — and the retreat is well placed for the island's best bits: the Caldera de Taburiente national park, the volcano route along the Cumbre Vieja, the laurel forests of Los Tilos, and the black-sand beaches at Puerto Naos and Tazacorte. The hosts will point you toward walks and swimming spots, and days off between sessions are easy to fill. Most guests fly into Santa Cruz de La Palma and either hire a car or arrange a transfer.

What's included

- Private guest lodge on the retreat grounds with en-suite bathroom and veranda (offered free of charge as hospitality, not part of the paid package) - Daily private yoga sessions on the outdoor meadow - Personalised programme agreed with you on arrival - Therapeutic fasting programme with juices, broths, herbal teas and supplements (detox option) - Vegan meals throughout the week (wellness and yoga options) - Detox treatments such as liver compresses, lymphatic massage and colon cleansing support (detox option) - Wellness massages and holistic treatments (wellness option) - Guided walks in the surrounding countryside - Ongoing supervision from two experienced therapists - Flexible start dates throughout the year - 10% discount on September and October retreats

What's not included

- Flights to and from La Palma - Airport transfers (can be arranged) - Car hire - Travel insurance - Additional treatments beyond your agreed programme - Personal expenses, souvenirs and meals out - Excursions off the property - Tips