Yoga opportunities from around the world - Workaway

Workaway yoga and wellness projects

Holistic, wellness, yoga, meditation… If these words awaken something in your soul, you’re probably in the right place. 

Workaway lists hundreds of wellness work exchange projects (with a big emphasis on yoga!). Farms, hostels, retreats, and community centres globally need open-minded, open-hearted volunteers.

What are wellness projects?

Let’s start with what we mean by ‘wellness’. It describes any daily practice (habits and activities) that promotes better physical and mental health. Some acts are as simple as improving sleep quality and hydration. 

Here are some other examples of wellness practices:

• Spending time in nature
• Increased movement
• Active transportation e.g. walking or cycling
• In-person socialising
• Eating healthy e.g. clean, plant-based diets
• Meditation and breathwork
• Practising gratitude
• Various therapies e.g. music, art, massage, and animal
• Traditional medicine e.g. Chinese medicine, Reiki, and herbal

There are so many others! Wellness projects usually incorporate one or multiple practices. Yoga combines physical movement with breathwork and meditation so it’s one of the most popular wellness activities. Many Workaway hosts run yoga retreats, studios, hostels offering yoga classes, or even opportunities to incorporate these practices into their daily lives.

Many wellness projects are in scenic rural locations, but not all. Some are multi-purpose centres too. You might find yourself volunteering on an organic farm that also hosts wellness retreats. There are work exchange opportunities on surf camps, vegan homesteads, eco-glamping sites, and crafting community centres. No two are alike!

Don’t worry if you don’t have a yoga certification or experience as a reiki healer. While some hosts are looking for qualified travelling experts, many need general helpers. This could include helping around the retreats such as DIY, or light gardening. Workawayers can even create digital content to help promote wellness projects.

However, it helps if you have an interest in wellness. Hosts of wellness and yoga projects often prefer to host like-minded yoga bunnies to join in with daily practices. You’re more likely to make friends, enjoy your stay, and feel part of the community.

Why volunteer for yoga or wellness projects with Workaway?

There are so many benefits to volunteering for a yoga/wellness project through Workaway. We have over 50,000 work exchange opportunities listed in over 160 countries on the site at any one time. We’ve been connecting global travellers with worldwide hosts since 2002, so we’ve got a tried-and-tested system in place. 

Here are some other reasons why you should volunteer through Workaway:

• Safety - We understand that many travellers may have concerns about accepting a wellness project that involves staying in a host’s home, a remote location, or a new country with a different language. That’s why the safety of our global volunteers is our main priority. You can feel at ease when jetting off on these incredible, life-changing adventures because we’ve got your back. We offer 24-hour support via email or live chat, emergency help support and child protection guidelines. We also encourage our community to leave detailed reviews for both hosts and Workawayers with each profile being manually screened by our team before publishing. These steps ensure only those with genuine intention use Workaway, for a cultural exchange that’s safe, inclusive, and fun.
• Low cost, high impact - Workaway does not charge expensive agency fees for every project. Volunteers only pay one annual, nominal fee to create a profile on Workaway. This allows you unlimited opportunities to contact hosts and take part in as many work exchanges as you like for that year. This fee means only those who are genuinely committed to our mission join the site. It also allows us to fund our team (of actual humans) who are ready to help make your travel dreams a reality.
• Global membership - Your Workaway membership doesn’t restrict you to volunteering in a handful of countries. You can find inner and outer peace in dozens of countries across the globe.
• Huge range of projects - You won’t just see one type of wellness project on Workaway. There are as many different projects as there are hosts! Whether instructing yoga in a retreat in India or growing produce for a vegan retreat in Portugal, we can connect you to the hosts offering those wellness projects.
• Best way to learn a language - Downloading apps, watching movies, finding a pen pal, signing up for classes… There are so many ways you can pick up a new language. However, no method of language learning is as effective as immersion! Living in a country and surrounding yourself with native speakers who are happy to help you with your language-learning journey is priceless.
• Join solo, as a couple, or as a family - Workaway has wellness project opportunities for all types of travellers! You’ll be able to find projects welcoming solo travellers, couples or friends, and even families. And if you’d prefer to travel in a pair or group but are currently solo, you can find a travel buddy through Workaway! You don’t all have to be wellness experts, either. Many hosts are looking for multiple Workawayers for different tasks. For example, if a wellness retreat is seeking a social media guru to promote their centre, chances are they need volunteers who love cooking too.
• Community - There are more ways to meet travellers through Workaway than just other volunteers on your work exchange. Use our community map to find and meet up with other Workaway members currently nearby. If no one is close (which might happen if you’re volunteering in the mountains of Peru!) then you can attend a Workawayers meetup or event in your next destination.

Benefits of a yoga/wellness project work exchange abroad

Volunteering on a yoga/wellness project offers many benefits that go beyond the positive impact you are making for the host and the local community. There’s a lot for you to gain too! Here are just some of the most rewarding advantages of volunteering on a Workaway wellness project:

• Continue your wellness practice - Cramped hostel dorms are not the best places for practising yoga. Busy city parks are no substitute for the remote countryside and not ideal places for creating sound baths. Volunteering for a wellness project means you’ll likely have the space and facilities you need to continue your practice. Many yoga retreats allow Workawayers to attend some of the classes too.
• Increase your skills and experience - Do you want to become a full-time yoga teacher or set up your own retreats one day? Volunteering is the perfect way to gain a behind-the-scenes insight into a business that you could not get otherwise. You can add practical experience to your CV/resumé on a budget without giving up your travel dreams.
• Meet like-minded people - It’s easy to meet other travellers in hostel dorms and on walking tours. But what about travellers and locals who care as much about wellness as you? It’s much tougher! Volunteering for a wellness project is the best way to meet people interested in similar activities to you so you can make close, lasting connections.
• Learn from other wellness enthusiasts - You might already be an expert with meditation, but what about breathwork? If you’re already a qualified acupuncturist, learning more about traditional Chinese medicine might be something that interests you. By volunteering for a wellness project, you can try new wellness experiences. You can teach others about your expertise too!

What type of wellness projects can you get involved with?

As mentioned, most hosts advertise yoga-related opportunities on Workaway. However, there are plenty of other types of wellness work exchanges. Here are some examples of Workaway projects in different wellness project sub-categories. Many include multiple wellness activities, so check out each profile to find out exactly what they offer.

Yoga

Workaway projects that include yoga can take place in a variety of settings from remote retreats to hostels to farms. Help could include leading yoga workshops, assisting or maintaining/setting up the spaces. You could even be a useful pair of hands in a pairs’ workshop with an odd number of participants! Retreats also often need general helpers.

• Run social media or teach yoga at a retreat in Kampot, Cambodia
• Teach yoga at a forest hostel in David, Panama
• Instruct yoga at a vegan farm school in Guatape, Colombia

Meditation

Where yoga leads, meditation often follows. The two go hand-in-hand. Experienced volunteers could lead breath workshops and guided meditation sessions. Ashrams, other religious organisations and meditation centres around the world are looking for helpers in either classes or behind-the-scenes. There are often opportunities for social media gurus and enthusiastic all-rounders in housekeeping and DIY.

• Build eco-structures or run social media at an ashram in Haryana, India
• Help at a non-profit meditation centre in the Scottish Highlands, UK
• Join a yoga and meditation modern-day ashram in Mixco, Guatemala

Food/Gardening

Unsurprisingly, yoga and wellness Workaway hosts care deeply about the food that they and their guests consume. Many retreat centres have their own organic vegetable garden and some even have a farm. If you’re interested in gardening or food preparation, a yoga retreat may be a perfect fit. Most (if not all) retreat centres will hire chefs, so they may be looking for volunteers to be kitchen assistants. Those interested in holistic nutrition and farming may also find a great opportunity at a wellness centre, yoga retreat or commune.

• Maintain an organic vegetable garden at a retreat centre in Ariege, France
• Assist an organic farm and yoga retreat centre near Valencia, Spain
• Volunteer on an organic family farm and spiritual centre in Sardinia, Italy

Holistic Healing

Workaway hosts are diverse, creative opportunities. Wellness projects go way beyond eating and exercise! Massage therapy, art therapy, mindfullness coaching, and aromatherapy are all types of holistic healing that some Workaway hosts embrace. Find opportunities at community spas, communes, and with local healers. Again, you don’t need to be an expert in one type of healing and not all hosts are looking for teachers or instructors. Just an interest goes a long way with applying for housekeeping, DIY or marketing at holistic healing centres.

• Massage therapy and other roles at a wellness spa in Izmir, Turkey
• Lead art classes at a commune in Rishikesh, India
• Run social media or wellness activities with a holistic healer in Wardha, India

Miscellaneous

It’s difficult to divide some wellness projects on the Workaway hosts lists into neat boxes. It’s not what wellness is about, after all! Some pet sanctuaries lead animal therapy sessions, for example. There are a few community centres with all-vegetarian, organic, or vegan menus. Some hosts are completely open to volunteers leading wellness sessions on whatever type of healing or therapy you specialise in. If you are interested in energy healing or reflexology or ecotherapy, why not type it into the keyword box and see which hosts pop up?

• Help out on a nature, animal, and holistic retreat in Tuscany, Italy
• Lend a hand at a vegan community centre in Malapascua Island, the Philippines
• Lead wellness sessions at a five-acre retreat property in Ojochal, Costa Rica

What skills do volunteers on wellness projects need?

Every Workawayer who applies for a wellness project on Workaway needs to have some experience and interest in wellness. But no Workaway host is expecting trained healers or yoga instructors.

You usually do not need a degree or official qualifications in any wellness practice. So, don’t exaggerate your skills and talent because there is often no need. The following soft skills are just as important on a wellness project:

• Compassion and empathy - Many people who take part in a wellness project are beginners. Few people can perfect the downward dog yoga pose on day one, let alone the boat pose! Having compassion and empathy for your fellow Workawayers and everyone you interact with is essential.
• Patience and understanding - You will likely be working with and helping people from diverse backgrounds with different native languages. Being patient and understanding of people from a different culture will go a long way.
• Open-mindedness - Never tried hot yoga before? Usually a meat eater but your Workaway project serves only plant-based meals? Give it a try! There are so many ways to achieve wellness that you are likely to experience something new. The more open you are to new practices, the better your overall experience.
• Team players - Unless you are volunteering on a micro island or in a lighthouse (unlikely), your Workaway opportunity will involve working with other people. You will interact with a host/supervisor and potentially fellow Workawayers, other employees, guests, and/or members of the public. Work hard, listen to everyone, and help solve problems as a team and you’ll easily make friends!

How long does a wellness project last with Workaway?

Workaway hosts welcome Workawayers for as little as a week to several months. Shorter opportunities are usually offered by hosts who need volunteers for retreats that have a set timeframe. These work exchanges are ideal if you would really like to take part in a work exchange but don’t have much free time.

Longer wellness projects (over one month) are available. Eco-hostels, community centres, surf camps, and farms almost always need assistance. These opportunities offer many benefits. It often takes a week or two to settle into a new place. You develop deeper connections with the people you’re working with and the local community the longer you are there. 

You can filter your search using the dates you are travelling plus your minimum stay criteria. Simply add these to the ‘availability’ filter before you hit search. You can also tick the ‘last minute host’ option if you’re searching for a yoga or wellness project at short notice.

Are yoga/wellness project opportunities open to all ages?

Yes, of course (as long as you are over 18 to join as a Workaway member)! You do not have to fulfil the idyllic image of a 20-something, uber-flexible yogi with dreadlocks and a washboard stomach. Wellness is for everyone and everybody, and most of our Workaway wellness project hosts agree with this philosophy.

Hosts are looking for experience and enthusiasm for wellness above everything else. Chances are that the older you are, the more experience you have with living well!

Of course, some Workaway project hosts might have fitness requirements if they need volunteers for light construction. Building canvas tents for temporary outdoor yoga studios, for example, is very different from practising yoga. Only sign up for work exchanges where you fit the brief. Apart from that, don’t let your age stop you from applying; the worst thing hosts can say is, ‘No, thank you’. 

We truly believe it is never too late for a gap year and that Workaway can benefit any age – not just students. In fact, we have volunteers who swapped retirement for a lifetime of adventures, another who completed their first Workaway aged 55 and empty nesters whose gap year turned into eight years of adventures!

How to find the perfect yoga/wellness project on Workaway

Now you know about the types of global yoga/wellness project opportunities available through Workaway, you might be wondering how to get started. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to join and search our extensive host list to find the right wellness projects for you.

Step 1: Join Workaway. Start by signing up for a membership. Remember, you can sign up solo, as a couple or even as a family. Each sign-up will also add a tree to the Workaway forest. Then it’s time to perfect your profile using our top tips to make it stand out from the crowd.

Step 2: Find a host. Your perfect art project opportunity is just a few clicks away thanks to our detailed search options that let you filter for the ultimate match. While you can simply filter by a particular area and make your way through the entire host list, there are a couple of different methods to help you save time. These include:

• Filter by ‘yoga and wellness’ host type - Some Workaway opportunities overlap with other host types. For example, a hostel looking for a muralist would overlap ‘hostel’ opportunities with ‘art projects’. Schools seeking an arts counsellor for a summer camp would overlap ‘teaching projects’ with art. Since you know you’d like to find yoga and wellness-related hosts, you can pick that filter.
• Filter by country - If you have a specific destination in mind, type the location in the ‘enter country or location’ box. We encourage you to be open to multiple destinations when searching for a Workaway. The perfect opportunity could be right next door!
• Filter by keyword - There’s no point in scrolling through painting projects if you’re a saxophonist. Type a keyword to help narrow your search in the ‘search by keyword’ box. You can also insert other keywords to help you in your search. For example, if you’re a Spanish speaker you can type ‘Spanish’ in the keyword box.

You can use multiple filters at once to help you find the ideal yoga/wellness project quickly. 

Step 3: Contact hosts. Once you have found a few hosts, you can add them to your favourites list and send them a message. We recommend personalising your introduction message. Don’t be lazy with copy and paste! Reference specific sections of the host’s profile so they know you’ve read it in full. Explain why you want to visit and volunteer and the tasks you can help with.

Step 4: Pack your bags! Once you and your host have agreed on dates, projects and expectations, it’s time to pack the essentials, book travel insurance and start your art project! If you’re a little apprehensive, we’ve also put together our top tips for your first Workaway to put your mind at ease.

Volunteering on a yoga/wellness project doesn’t just allow you to travel cheaply and fulfil your passions. You can genuinely help improve the lives of the local community too. Don’t put off embarking on such a life-changing adventure any longer! Search the host list and choose the best yoga or wellness project abroad for you.