Sivananda Yoga Retreat in the Kitzbühel Alps

A typical day starts at 6:00 am with meditation or a silent walk, mantra chanting and a short lecture. The first asana and pranayama class runs 8:00–9:30 am. Brunch is at 10:00 am — dal, cereals, vegetables, salads, homemade bread and butter, jam, cheese and fruit. From 11:00 am you're free: sauna in the organic sauna at Hotel Pointner, a walk, or an excursion. There's a snack and tea on the seminar house terrace at 1:00 pm. The second asana and pranayama class is 4:00–5:30 pm. Dinner (soup, main, dessert) is at 6:00 pm, then evening meditation or a silent walk, chanting and a talk from 8:00–9:30 pm.

The daily routine shifts day to day, but the two-class structure holds. Classes are taught by experienced Sivananda teachers, and the programme is designed so beginners and regular practitioners can be in the same room — modifications are given for both.

What sets this apart from a generic yoga holiday is the setting and the setup. The outdoor yoga platform looks straight at the Kitzbühel Alps, and the seminar house runs guided silent hikes to favourite spots around Reith in both summer and winter. You're not bussed anywhere: meadows, forests and mountains start at the door. The partnership with Hotel Pointner means you can also use the organic sauna between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm when the seminar house isn't running a programme.

If you're staying at Hotel Pointner as a private guest, you can book individual classes on site — 8:00–9:30 am or 4:00–5:00 pm — without committing to a full retreat. That makes this usable as a yoga add-on to a normal Kitzbühel holiday. For those who want the full thing, the complete retreat package runs through the seminar house website, and the four-week Sivananda yoga teacher training is offered on the same site for people who want to teach.

There's a small yoga boutique in the seminar house with books, music, accessories and other bits. It's not a resort with a spa menu and a cocktail bar — it's a working yoga centre with a set daily rhythm, simple vegetarian food and a lot of quiet.

What's included

- Two yoga classes a day (asana and pranayama) - Morning and evening meditation or silent walk - Mantra chanting - Lectures and talks - Vegetarian brunch and evening meal - Tea and water throughout the day - Access to the organic sauna at Hotel Pointner (when the seminar house is not running a programme) - Guided silent hikes around Reith - Access to the outdoor yoga platform

What's not included

- Travel to and from Reith near Kitzbühel - Airport or train station transfers - Accommodation at Hotel Pointner (booked separately unless part of a package) - Additional meals, snacks and drinks outside the two daily meals - Excursions and off-site activities - Yoga boutique purchases - Travel insurance