Volunteer and work exchange opportunities for yoga lovers
Here at Workaway you will find 1186 hosts and organisations for yoga and wellness volunteer work.
Low cost travel without having to pay expensive agency fees.
Here you will find 42 last minute opportunities for yoga and wellness from Hosts that have indicated that they require help immediately.
There are 12524 reviews for 977 Workaway hosts for Yoga and wellness help from Workaway members.
977 Hosts for Yoga and wellness were rated at least 4.9/5!
Registering as a Host
Registering as a host with workaway.info is completely free of charge.
Workaway.info has been set up to promote and encourage exchange and learning. Hosts on Workaway should be interested in cultural exchange and sharing experiences. They should be able to provide a welcoming friendly environment for visitors as well as offering accommodation and food.
Register to be a hostHolistic, 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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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:
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.
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!
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:
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.
