PROGRAMME

We take you on easy walks through the forest and other nature settings with guided activities to help open the senses (hearing, feeling, smelling, seeing, tasting). Those daily walks are guided by a Shinrin-Yoku Guide with more intensive days (3-4 hours) and some lighter days (1-2 hours). Only during extreme weather conditions, such as lightning or storm, an alternative programme is provided.

Shinrin-Yoku is suitable for any level of fitness but surefootedness is required.​​

Yoga and meditation are known for their health benefits (improving flexibility & balance, leaving us with a sharper mind and more resilience to stress). There are numerous practices but we introduce you to the ones you can easily practice on your own when returning home.

We start the day with a guided meditation before breakfast and round it off with a Yoga session before dinner. You can find yoga mats and equipment on site.

In addition to our daily practices you can join 2 workshops (CH): an introduction to (self-) hypnosis with Romain, during which you learn to communicate effectively with your unconscious mind to facilitate personal change. By the end of the week we invite you to join an interactive debate on transformation & change where we also discuss how to transform learned practices into our every-day life.

During your free time you are invited to be actively lazy at the lodge. If you prefer to remain active, there is so much to explore!

• sleeping outside under a million stars
• hiking
• making a camp-fire

We believe a balanced diet to be one of the best ways to contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, it can be a sustainable and delicious way of eating. We source our produce locally as much as possible and try to eat what is in the season.

• we mostly provide plant-based meals but also eat animal products, just very little
• we cook with fresh ingredients trying to avoid unnecessary food additives
• we invite you to an alcohol-free week with alternative ways to toast and celebrate
• ​hand picked mushrooms or herbs will be a staple in our kitchen

Our chef will share with you simple tricks and recipes, which you can easily adopt when returning home.

At SAANENWALD we try to foster diversity and consider the exchange of people of all kind of different backgrounds and ages enriching.
The programme is suitable for anyone, really. Solo travellers, friends, outdoor enthusiasts or city people. If you just need a break from everything, or are curious about the health benefits of Shinrin-Yoku, or if you seriously need to recover from a stressful past or disease - we are open to everyone and also offer an open ear at any time.

We believe in flourishing group dynamics and though many activities will be altogether, there will be plenty of 'lazing time' when you can relax or just read a book.

Reconnecting with nature and people means to disconnect sometimes. We ask you to leave your mobile devices in your rooms during the duration of the programme.

SAANENWALD is from 18 years onwards.

We will stay at the Saanewald Lodge for the programme in Switzerland and at a countryside lodge for the programme in Portugal.

SAANENWALD stands for tranquility, value of time, reconnection with nature and the possibility to share all this with a group of like-minded people in a natural and simple surrounding.

You will make your own bed every morning and sometimes we set the dining table together. Fancy chopping wood or build a bench for the campfire? We got the tools, so just ask for it.

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There is one general cleaning of your room in the middle of the week. Towel or linen replacement is available upon request for symbolic fee.