Top 8 Ski Resorts for Yogis

While there's nothing wrong with building your ski vacation around powder turns and spa treatments, we recognize that some of you may be interested in the health and wellness scenes in your vacation ski towns – specifically when it comes to yoga. Over the past ten years, mountain towns have grown considerably, and with the booming of four season restaurant, nightlife, and shopping scenes has come industry recognition that yogis, too, need their fitness fix on vacation. Fortunately, ski bums and outdoors enthusiasts who populate most ski townsalsokeep yoga in high demand. Whether you use it for the stretch, for the strength, or for the calming of the mind, you'll get your yoga fix when you visit these top resorts.

It's difficult to turn a corner in Whistler without spotting a hip yoga studio or legging-clad yogini on her way to class. This world-class resort is chock full of studios that keep Whistler locals in tip top physical, mental, and spiritual shape. Amongst farm-to-table restaurants, award-winning ski terrain, and an outdoors that begs to be played in, yoga is a natural fit that complements the health and wellness trends that have exploded in the PNW these past several years. In the main village you'll find Yogacara Whistler, Yama Yoga, and a massive Lululemon store space; near Creekside are Jivamukti Yoga Whistler and Loka Yoga. Whistler's luxury hotels, like the Westin, offer classes in their private spaces. Check schedules for power vinyasa classes for a good morning sweat, and restorative or yin classes for an après stretch.

Don't Miss Après Flow at Yogacara to stretch and restore achy muscles from a day on the slopes.

With its buzzing social scene amongst old West charm, Park City gets big points for a destination ski vacation. The resort attracts skiers of all kinds, and is a favorite among families, couples, foodies, and yogis alike. Most downtown studios are community-oriented, and you'll find a nice balance between alignment-based classes and those for stretching and restoring after a few leg-burning days on Park City's extensive terrain. Studios like Yoga Kula Project offer hot classes for cold days, while centrally located spaces like The Shop Yoga Studio get big numbers for weekday après flows. There's also a Baptiste Institute off Prospector Ave.

Don't Miss SUP Yoga at the Homestead Crater, a one-of-a-kind yoga experience in a geothermal spring surrounded by 55 foot limestone walls.

With four separate ski areas and a posh downtown that comes to life with chic shops and delectable restaurants, Aspen is a prime Colorado ski vacation destination with class, character, and plenty of health and wellness activities. Aspen Snowmass – as well as the community – prides itself on working towards sustainable living, which includes green building, farm-to-table dining, and healthy living. It's no surprise that offerings like Mountain Top Yoga are a mainstay in the resort's scheduled activities, and the relatively small downtown boasts excellent private yoga studios. Arjuna Yoga offers hot classes as well as restorative flow classes in warmer temperatures, while Aspen Shakti Shala is a go-to for basics and private classes.

Don't Miss Mountaintop Yoga at the Sundeck Tuesday and Thursday mornings; the views are stunning, and the class just $5!

Classic, classy Vail is known as a not-to-be-skipped resort along the I-70 corridor in Colorado. With its European-style base village, abundant shops, and lively nightlife, it tends to attract those ski vacationers looking for luxury on and off the slopes. That high-end vibe also filters through hotel spas and wellness centers, as well as – you guessed it – the popular yoga studios in town. The Vail Vitality Center inside Vail Mountain Lodge is perhaps the best known, and boasts everything from weekly classes to weekend workshops to de-stressing guided meditations. Another favorite is Yoga on the Vine, a boutique studio offering sound bath healing and Ayurvedic consultations, as well as daily classes.

Don't Miss Yoga Nidra at the Vail Vitality Center: a deeply healing guided relaxation to relieve any stress that's tagged along with you from home.

The home of the world-famous Wanderlust Festival, Squaw Valley is chock full of yogis who live by their practices – with the help of gorgeous studios and high-caliber teachers. The yoga scene really kicks off each summer, when outdoor classes and festivals abound (Wanderlust, by the way, will take place in late July). In winter, there's still much to be enjoyed at the Wanderlust Yoga Studio, which headlines teachers like Sherry McConkey. In summer you'll find free yoga every Wednesday evening in The Village – accompanied by live music to boot!

Don't Miss Pre-Ski Flow Saturdays at Wanderlust Yoga Studio for the perfect warm-up before hitting the steeps of Squaw Valley.

In the charming (and still a bit wild) Jackson Hole, ski-bumming and getting one's stretch on in yoga class go hand-in-hand: just ask any of the resort locals who are quick to down their après beers in order to make it to the 6pm Vinyasa class downtown. Yoga studios started popping up in tiny Jackson about ten years ago, and now tourists and locals alike have their pick of about 5 main studios in the valley (plus private classes at big-name hotels). Teton Yoga Shala is hooked up with ropes for therapeutic hang-time after tram laps, while Inversion gets clients sweating with an array of hot classes.

New England locals head to Stowe for the quintessential New England skiing experience, and truth be told most are probably foregoing yoga class for rounds of craft microbrew at one of the charming après ski bars in town. But those seeking someshanti time on their ski getaways won't be disappointed: from Bikram classes to Ashtanga-based flow, Stowe offers a wide variety of classes across its main studios. Head to The Yoga Barn for Après Ski and Sport class and the occasional restorative workshop with aromatherapy. Bikram Stowe Yoga offers straight-forward Bikram classes every day of the week.

The demographic of Sun Valley contributes to therapeutic approaches to yoga, which is refreshing at a ski resort. Sun Valley is a place to go for an easy-going ski scene without the big-time glitz and glamour of some other western resorts, and the health and wellness scene follows step. Gather Yoga Studio offers a variety of classes, including barre, heated Vinyasa, and devotional yoga with kirtan. The Yoga Center Sun Valley, headed up by a mother-daughter duo, specializes in customized group yoga classes and yoga for athletes. Guests of the Lodge at Sun Valley can take free yoga classes in the spa's studio.

Don't Miss Gather's Snowga Yoga class, a specialized Vinyasa flow designed to build strength, stamina, and flexibility for skiers and riders.