#34 w-report goes retreating in South Tyrol
The Ultimate Mountain Cure - a bespoke Yoga Retreat with "Magic Maria" in SEPTEMBER at a picture-perfect alpine inn organized by one of the Ws. Plus: more handpicked wellness escapes
The first yoga retreat that w-report is organizing naturally combines a few things that we love: South Tyrol; the mountains; a special, family-run boutique hotel; and yoga & meditation with our friend Maria Schönhofer, who lived in Berlin after 10 years in Paris and now resides in Piedmont with her family. If you don't know her yet, you can read w-report #4 Making A Move or listen to the Our House podcast (in German!) with Maria, that Antje recorded a while ago at her new home Casina Marole.
The idea for the retreat was born this past January at the Parkhotel Mondschein in Bolzano, the very weekend when the SALON South Tyrol edition was being celebrated. The year was still young, resolutions were being made, and the morning after the dinner party we practiced yoga with Maria and manifested a retreat in the mountains. And now, it’s finally coming together. A long weekend in SEPTEMBER — far away from the urban hustle and bustle - to fuel our batteries in nature, check in with ourselves and gather our holistic energies to get through the dark season. All I can say - because I’ve done it many times: Winter in Berlin IS coming and the struggle is real. You can never prepare for it too early.
Yoga retreats are so relative to each individual person. In general, they stand and fall first and foremost with the teacher. Then with the location and of course the dynamic of the group should not be underestimated. I love Maria's calm voice (she grew up on a farm in Bavaria and rolls the R in the most charming way). She also speaks French, Italian and some Spanish (her husband is Mexican), but she’ll teach in English. I adore her mixture of lived spirituality and a thoroughly challenging practice, which she always tailors to the people in the group. She created her own formula and it works! I call her Magic Maria (she’e also a Wellness Coordinator at Orsolina 28).
We’ll be a small group of ten participants. Maria is an experienced teacher who knows what she’s doing and yes, I’m at that point in my life where I appreciate gentle authority. Just as I liked Maria straight away, I was immediately taken with the hotelier Stefania Grüner, who runs the Golden Rose Karthaus in Vinschgau. The village of Karthaus, surrounded by larch forest and the three-thousand-metre peaks of the Schnalstal Valley, is a magnetic place of power. Stefania and Paul Grüner take this into account in their “Small Luxury” hotel, with natural materials, muted colors and an open-air sauna world that is still heated with fire and wood. Together we dreamed up a long retreat weekend filled with Yoga, hikes, swimming (there’s a pool and I’ll teach a complimentary freestyle class) and lots of healthy, delicious South Tyrolean cuisine.
AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH RETREAT
DATE: September 24 to 28, 2025 - four nights - Wednesday to Sunday - Transfer from Bolzano. We’ll be meeting at Parkhotel Mondschein for lunch, followed by an organized transfer to our Hotel which is a one hour car ride.
LOCATION: 2 nights x Hotel Goldene Rose Karthaus, 2 nights x Schöne Aussicht Shelter (it’s a car & gondola ride plus a hike to the Schatzhütte on 2845 Meter - our luggage will be taken care of, no worries!)
TEACHER & PROGRAM: Maria Schönhoefer will teach 2 Yoga classes per day (activating & restorative). We will be doing daily hikes together and all lunches & dinners are inclusive. We will also hike together to the artwork “Our Glacial Perspectives” by Olafur Eliasson, which is installed high up on the Grawand summit in the Schnalstal Glacier. Well, it’s much more than a hike - it is a sensory and intellectual journey, an opportunity to connect with nature, history and current ecological challenges.
PRICE: 996 Euro per person, everything included except the journey to and from Bolzano. (For the Berliners: there’s an outbound flight on Wed, the 24th at 11:10am and return flight from Bolzano on the 28th of September at 3pm). You can book optional (amazing!) massages.
If I have triggered your curiosity, write to me for more information: mail@antjewewer.de I look forward to answering all your questions or simply register! Places are limited to 10 and if I know one thing for sure: South Tyrol is always a good idea as is Yoga with magic Maria.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
RETREATING IN BRANDENBURG There’s a new weekend getaway in Bad Saarow . The former Seepalais Hotel by the lake got revamped and it now called nook society and offers a complety new (& very chill ) vibe. Antje did recently a Swim Retreat at Nook and loved the place. Other retreats coming up such as The Wim Hof Method Fundamentals (taught by Noah Eubanks and Wim'Hof’s daughter Laura) in August or the Sacred Fire Jivamukti Retreat with Martyna Febre in October.
SWIM & YOGA There’s a Swimstories Retreat with Ute Ressler coming up in Felanitx, Mallora 29.09.-4.10.2025. We haven’t stayed at the Hotel, so have a look for yourself: Hotel Aumallia.
RÜGEN RADIANCE with the experienced yoga teacher Kristin Rübesamen (who invented Yoga Hikes) at Kornspeicher Mauritz (17-20 September).
NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET: I’ve never been to her retreats, but I love Maria Prizkat’s Yang into Yin class at Ōhia in Berlin. She’s a NSR-Retreat with Yoga, Sound Bath, Psychedelic Breath and Detox Food in a beautiful place in the Uckermark (11-14 September).
A FAMILY VACATION COMPLETE WITH THERAPIST For rich families only but still, a compelling idea as per a recent article in WSJ.
WISE WOMEN RETREAT One of the W’s all time favorite magic place is Sterrekopje in South Africa. This winter they will host one of their much coveted Wise Women retreats from 29 November - 5 December.
ONE TO WATCH Our amazing friend Philomena will be helping to organize retreats at one of the most beautiful properties in Egypt: Al Moudira in Luxor. We will make sure to mention once the retreats are announced.
THE BEACH During deep winter in Berlin I dream of doing a juice fast and yoga retreat at The Sanctuary on the island of Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand.
BLISS & STARS Another great friend, the well-traveled Eliza Bailey, recently highly recommended the silent retreats at this off-the-grid spot in South Africa.
EAT WELL BUT -ACCEPT ALL COOKIES!
WW