The retreat runs from 22 to 26 May 2026: four nights at the vigilius mountain resort and three full days of programme in between arrival and departure. The group follows a different theme each day, and the sessions connect from one day to the next rather than standing alone.

Mornings belong to Giovanni. He's a personal trainer who mixes strength training with mobility and flexibility work, and he uses breathing and meditative elements inside the workouts rather than saving them for later. Expect to be pushed physically: his sessions are built to test strength and coordination, then pull your attention back to how you're breathing and what your body is doing. Sessions can happen indoors or outside on the mountain, and they're scaled for different fitness levels.

Afternoons are led by Kornelia, who grew up in South Tyrol and has spent more than 25 years working in holistic and naturopathic bodywork. Her sessions are slower and more inward: body awareness, breath and simple ritual, aimed at letting go of stress and habits that wear you down. Each afternoon ends with what the leaders call a 'Psychedelic Breath' session, an intense breathwork practice using breathing alone. Evenings finish with a guided meditation and time to take stock of the day.

The pairing is what sets this apart from a typical yoga or wellness week. Most retreats lean one way, either hard training or quiet reflection. Here you get a proper workout in the morning and somatic work in the afternoon, from two leaders with different backgrounds, and you're encouraged to lean toward whichever side suits you more.

The setting does a lot of the work. vigilius sits at 1,500 metres above the town of Lana, near Merano, and the only way up is the cable car. There's no traffic, the views run across the Adige valley, and trails head off into the forest from the resort itself. Between sessions you can hike, swim in the infinity pool, or sit in the sauna.

Getting there is straightforward: fly into Bolzano (there are direct flights from several German cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf) or take the train to Bolzano, then a short transfer to the cable-car valley station in Lana.

What's included

- 4 nights at the vigilius mountain resort - Double room for single occupancy - Daily breakfast - Daily three-course dinner - 3 full days of programme - Daily movement and fitness sessions - Daily somatic sessions - Daily breathwork sessions - Evening meditation and reflection - Access to spa with infinity pool, steam bath and sauna - Direct access to hiking trails from the resort

What's not included

- Flights or train travel to Bolzano - Transfer from Bolzano to the Lana cable-car station - Lunch (if not on a full-board plan) - Drinks outside meals - Spa treatments and massages - Travel insurance - Personal expenses

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