Unplug: A Mountain & Lake Yoga Retreat at Lake Tahoe

The retreat is built around two daily yoga sessions and a lot of open space in between. Mornings begin with a sunrise stretch and warm-up class with meditation, followed by breakfast at the resort. Daytime is given over to planned outings — hiking on the Heavenly Mountain trails, time at the beach, and a cruise on Lake Tahoe — or you can stay behind and do nothing at all. Afternoons hold workshops or free time, evenings start with a group dinner, and the day closes with an Urban Zen restorative class and meditation.

What separates this from a generic yoga week is the setting and the access. The Tahoe Ridge sits steps from the Heavenly Mountain Resort gondola, so the mountain hiking and the gondola ride are on the doorstep rather than a drive away. The property has indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, a spa, an on-site restaurant and a complimentary shuttle into town. The week also includes a hot springs, sauna and cold plunge day and a wine tasting evening, both off-site.

Joe Lee came to yoga in 2017 after a snowboarding injury, having spent four winters driving across the US and Canada chasing snow. He is a 500-hour Yoga Alliance-certified instructor and Level 2 Urban Zen Integrative Therapist with further study in anatomy, meditation and restorative yoga. Grace Kubecka has been teaching since 2006 and training teachers since 2012, and has studied with Baron Baptiste, Ana Forest, Jason Crandell and Tiffany Cruikshank. She is an experienced retreat leader and a keen skier.

Lake Tahoe itself does most of the work. The resort looks out over the Sierra Nevada and the lake below, and July days typically sit in the 80s Fahrenheit with nights in the 40s and 50s. The retreat is capped at a small group and pitched at all levels — classes are accessible with options offered, and no prior yoga experience is needed. Solo travellers are common; the single room options exist precisely for them, and the villa option lets you request who you share with or be matched up.

What's included

- 5 nights lodging at The Tahoe Ridge Resort - Daily breakfast and dinner - Transportation to and from Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and The Tahoe Ridge Resort - Daily yoga classes for warm-up and recovery - Guided meditation - Gondola ride and mountain hiking at Heavenly Mountain Resort - Lake Tahoe cruise - Yoga on the beach - Hot springs, sauna and cold plunge day - Wine tasting evening - Free time for relaxation and adventure - Goodie bag - All applicable taxes and fees

What's not included

- Airfare to and from Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) - Daily lunches - Alcoholic beverages with meals (except the planned wine tasting evening) - Optional add-on excursions (massage, lake rentals such as SUP boards, jet skis) - Spa services - Gratuities for resort staff or shuttle drivers - Travel insurance (highly recommended)