Yoga is a popular way to exercise, gain more flexibility, and refocus your mind. Classes range from hot yoga, where you sweat it out while doing your downward facing dogs, to goat yoga, where you might end up with a goat on your back while you're trying your seated forward bend.

Sometimes, you need a little bit more to get the most out of your yoga practice. If you've been thinking about splurging on a yoga retreat so you can truly focus on your health and wellbeing, here is everything you need to know about these retreats.

It lets you disconnect from technology

Technology is a necessary part of our lives. Most of us can't go through a day at work without interacting with technology, and we need our phones and computers to stay connected with those we love.

Unfortunately it's easy to tip over the edge from using technology for our own good, and getting swallowed up in it. Sometimes a technology detox is the best possible thing for our health, and it's a lot harder to do that when you're in the thick of temptation.

Many yoga retreats allow you to step away from technology, and give you the refreshing break that you need.

Surrounds you with positive energy

To say the least, most of us lead very stressful lives. When deadlines are tight and work hours are long, it's hard enough to keep a positive attitude. It gets even harder when the team surrounding you are just as uptight and stressed as you are.

Stress is contagious, and even if we felt fine going into a day at work to begin with, being around snappy, tense people can give us the same exact feelings of dread.

The good news is that positive energy can be spread around just as easily as negative energy. When you visit a yoga retreat, you are joining like minded people filled with hope, ready for healing, and ready to share those feelings with you.

It gives you a reason to travel (or not)

There's no reason not to travel, but if you need one, why not give that trip to Bali some purpose? Visiting far away places can help you distance you from the problems in life, and help you rest and heal in an environment that is both spectacularly beautiful and comfortable to be in.

If you don't want to travel far, you may be surprised to find yoga retreats just a few hours from where you live, giving you the opportunity to travel without the carbon footprint. Often these local ones are just as beautiful, and feel just as isolated, but they're still close to home.

There's no wrong reason to go on a yoga retreat, and dozens why joining dozens of other yogis in focusing on your asanas as well as your mind. If you are looking for rest, healing, and a mental health checkup, a yoga retreat could be the ideal choice for you.