Heart of Yoga Weekend: A Forest and River Wellness Escape in Brandenburg

The retreat is built around a daily rhythm that combines practice and rest. Each morning starts with yoga and meditation, usually in the on-site yoga shala. Afternoons include a second yoga session or a workshop, and evenings wind down with a talk or another meditation. Oren’s teaching style is gentle and adaptive. He’s certified by internationally known teachers like Richard Freeman and AG Mohan, and he’s spent time in Buddhist monasteries in East Asia, which comes through in the way he leads both movement and stillness.

What makes this retreat different from a standard yoga holiday is the amount of open time. The organisers deliberately don’t fill every hour. You’ll have long gaps in the middle of the day and the early evening to do what you like. Most people use it to walk in the surrounding forests or along the Havel, but the schedule is yours. There’s a meditation room and a small library on site, and the centre has lots of quiet corners where you can sit with a cup of tea and just be.

The food is a real highlight. All meals are vegetarian or vegan, made with fresh, seasonal, and mostly organic ingredients. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the communal dining area, and there’s tea and coffee throughout the day. The kitchen can handle allergies and other dietary needs if you tell them in advance.

The retreat starts on Thursday afternoon and finishes on Sunday around lunchtime. It’s a long weekend, not a full week, which makes it convenient if you can’t take much time off work. Most guests are in their thirties and forties, but there’s no age limit, and the group is normally somewhere between eight and fifteen people. It’s a friendly, low-key atmosphere where you can be as social or as private as you like.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation in your chosen room - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Snacks - Daily yoga and meditation classes - Daily pranayama (breathing) classes - Specialized workshops and evening talks - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Free parking - Wifi in the reception area

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights and other travel costs - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional activities not in the itinerary - Bed linen rental (€8 if you don't bring your own)