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Experiences that will change your life.

Our philosophy

International Yoga is rooted in the belief that world travel and yoga have the power to transform. Since 2008 we’ve combined the best yoga teachers with some of the most compelling global destinations for truly unforgettable and life-changing journeys. Breaking away from our everyday routines and delving deeper into our practice in a new environment allows us to return home recharged, with a renewed zeal for the quality of our lives back home along with a richer understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

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our teachers

International Yoga is privileged to support some of the most experienced and well respected yoga teachers in the industry. Our faculty, many of whom have 20+ years of teaching experience and with whom we have been collaborating for over a decade, bring a wealth of knowledge and unique perspective to the retreats they lead. Devoted to providing their students the richest experiences, IY manages all of the many details that go into creating meaningful and successful retreats from start to finish so that teachers can focus on what they love: teaching!

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our Destinations

Finding the perfect retreat location is like finding a needle in a haystack. IY has combed the globe for the most compelling destinations, combining luxury accommodations with thoroughly unique cultural excursions. We have forged long lasting partnerships in locations like India, Bali, and Mexico working with the same teams for over a decade. This, along with our tried and true, quality properties ensures a smooth and meaningful travel experience from start to finish. 

 

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Michelle Fliegauf

Michelle Fliegauf
Michelle founded International Yoga in 2008 -- the first yoga retreat management company to market - out of her love for yoga and travel and their power to transform. Her work has always drawn from the deep cultural learning, personal growth and global connection experienced while backpacking and cycling across 75 countries and 7 continents. After over a decade of managing an adventure travel company and multiple yoga studios, Michelle saw an organic opportunity to combine her love of travel and yoga to launch International Yoga.  She has spent the last 20 years in the adventure-travel field and for 13 years has had the honor to manage retreats for many senior teachers as well as being the preferred retreat management company for YogaWorks, the largest yoga studio cooperative in the US. Michelle earned a degree in International Relations, speaks four languages, and has been a presenter at the Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco, New York, Miami, and San Diego.  She is currently overseeing IY’s post-pandemic evolution with an increased focus on DEI in yoga wellness travel and partnerships with environmentally and socially responsible overseas partners. She lives at the beach in San Francisco with her husband and two young sons.  

 

 

 

 

 

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Years

20 years working in adventure travel, a lifetime of enjoying travel

Speaks

German, French, Spanish, Swiss-German

Favorite Destination

India, Hawaii, Cuba

Merrisa Dolin

Merrisa Dolin

Merrisa comes to International Yoga with a background in yoga, tourism and event planning, and has directed operations for several companies in the yoga industry, including YogaWorks. Merrisa has completed over 1000 hours of teacher training and leads regular yoga classes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Having earned a Bachelor's degree in Tourism & Recreation, her mission is to help people enjoy their lives more fully through travel, yoga and adventure. Her love for travel began at an early age when she traveled to Mexico to build homes for families in need. This experience pushed her out of her comfort zone and allowed her to see the world from an entirely new perspective. While she enjoys traveling in luxury, her true passion lies in witnessing the unveiled culture of a society. She firmly believes that everyone should take time to travel in order to see, taste, and feel all that this world has to offer. Merrisa looks forward to helping you embark on the journey of a lifetime! 

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Role with IY

Sales & Operations Director

Favorite Destination

Peru, Bali, or anywhere in the wilderness

Favorite Yoga Pose

Ardha Chandrasana (Half-Moon Pose) 

Fiona O'Neill

Fiona O'Neill

Fiona comes to International Yoga with a passion for movement, design, and travel. Growing up, she spent summers visiting family in Ireland. This sparked her interest in experiencing the diverse beauty of the world at a young age. Her journey with yoga began after a decade of professional dance training. She studied with master teachers in New York before moving across the country to California. Now a yoga teacher herself, she leads regular classes at studios in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a degree in communication and media and many years of experience working behind the scenes in the yoga industry, Fiona is dedicated to connecting people with ideas and tools for transformation — yoga and travel happen to be two of her favorite ways! When she's not designing retreat itineraries and writing our newsletters, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and two beagles!

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Role with IY

Marketing Communications Manager

Favorite Destination

Ireland, Iceland, Peru

Favorite Yoga Pose

Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)

FAQ

How long ago was International Yoga founded?

International Yoga was created in 2008 out of the belief that yoga and travel have the power to transform.

What hours are you open?

We are typically available from 9am to 5pm PST, Monday to Friday, and available on the weekends for any pressing matters.

What is included in the trip price?

The trip price includes all accommodations for the duration of the trip, breakfast, taxes, and most cultural excursions (if applicable). It will often included private airport transfers and other meals as well. Some things that are typically not included are airfare, gratuities, alcohol, and travel insurance.

When do I arrive or depart on a retreat?

The dates for our retreats indicate the arrival and departure dates of the trip. For example, if a trip runs from January 1st to January 8th, you would schedule your flight to arrive on the 1st and depart on the 8th. That said, we highly recommend arriving a day earlier whenever possible so that you can rest from your travels and adapt to any time changes before the actual retreat begins. Retreats typically begin in the late afternoon on the first day, and end the morning of the last day (exceptions may apply).

Does International Yoga book airfare?

Our expertise is in organizing all of the logistics on the ground, from the moment you arrive until you depart. We do not book airfare for you, but can recommend reputable travel agents to assist you, and always ask that you send us your itinerary to review before you purchase it. Please be sure to read the fine print about any restrictions on your ticket. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

How do I register?

You can register at any time via our registration page. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot on most retreats (some trips may require a $1000 deposit) The final balance is due approximately 00 to 100 days before the start date of the retreat. A detailed confirmation email will be sent to you upon registration, with lots of helpful information to prepare for your trip ahead!

What kind of payments do you accept?

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, check, and cash are all accepted.

What is your payment and cancellation policy?

A non-refundable deposit of $500 (or $1000 for select trips) is required to hold your space. Final balances are due anywhere from 60 to 100 days prior to the start date of the trip. All payments are non-refundable after the final balance due date. All cancellation requests must be received in writing to [email protected] We recommend you purchase travel insurance in case of cancellation due to weather, personal injury, political or environmental events, or any other unforeseen circumstance. Payments are non-transferable to another guest.

If I am traveling alone, will you match me with a roommate?

We will do our very best to match you with another traveler of the same gender, if this is your preference. If we are unable to find you a roommate, however, a single supplement fee will apply.

Do you recommend travel insurance?

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your trip to cover any unexpected event that may delay or interrupt your travel. While there are a broad range of companies and policies to choose from, we recommend finding a plan that offers "cancel for any reason" travel insurance.

 
 

Testimonials

Joan Hyman, Teacher
International Yoga is awesome! Great with communication & totally on it with getting stuff done. They execute high quality to retreats and do the work of researching and finding locals on the ground to help. I have learned a ton working with IY and trust them handling my retreats.
 
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Sarah Ezrin, Teacher

I have known International Yoga for many years now! I first started to work with IY as a client and their retreats were always seamless, even to places like India! As a teacher, I began to work with IY, because of the unique itineraries and locations, but mostly because of Michelle! I feel incredibly supported every step of the way. IY is not a company I work with, but friends and collaborators!

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Erika Trice, Teacher
I love working with IY doing retreats as they provide so much support before, during and after the retreat. IY is organized and handles all of the small details that would distract me from doing my job which is to lead a really good yoga retreat. They are not only great with me as the teacher/leader but all of the students feel so supported and cared for as well.
 
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Laura Burkhart, Teacher
You can never go wrong with an International Yoga Retreat. They are so well organized and the retreat locations are stunning! Also, Michelle and Stephanie are extremely easy and a joy to work with.
 
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Trina Altman, Teacher

Leading a retreat through International Yoga was a wonderful experience for me. Michelle and Stephanie are the ultimate professionals. They supported me through every step of the process and were an absolute pleasure to work with. They are organized and on top of every last detail. To top it all off, their follow-up process after the retreat was so thorough that I understand why everything at IY runs like a well-oiled machine. I am looking forward to working with them again and again!

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Jeanne Heileman, Teacher

I have had nothing but positive, supportive expeirences with International Yoga. I find their approach to negotiations, communication and all aspects of establishing a retreat to be fair and respectful. In my years of working with Michelle, I have learned so much through her generosity and abundant attitude. They care about the students, the teacher and the location hosts. She has established long-term relationships with many location guides which is priceless. I highly recommend a trip through IY, you are treated wonderfully.

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