Awaken in body, mind and spirit with the arrival of Spring!
This 4 day yoga retreat will spark your natural joy, energy and aliveness.
Daily yoga, meditation, mindful nature walks and deep practice to explore
energy, mind-body-spirit intelligence and our inner source of joy.
Level: Some experience in yoga
Previous online retreats: Awakening Workshop Series – Zoom
My heart is filled with gratitude for the recent Awakening Workshop Series – all the amazing participants and of course the beautiful co-hosting with Lucie Minne. Thank you for joining us – stay tuned for future Zoom workshops! Namaste, Sandra
Participant experiences
“Just wanted to thank you both for the 3 workshops and giving us your time and enthusing us all so much. I’ve found myself looking forward to them more and more. So much to digest… I think I’ll be taking more time out to concentrate on it all… for which I am grateful to you both. Hopefully we’ll get a chance again for more. Again, thank you.” -Rachel
“I think it’s one of those times when you realise things come to you when you need them, when you’re ready. Because in this peculiar time, I’ve started walking down the lane watching Spring like I haven’t watched it for years. And I’m taking my time with that. And to be here today, and to listen to those poems and have that meditation, it’s just so relevant and so heartwarming. Thank you so much, it was beautiful.” – Jane
“Many thanks for the wonderful series of workshops which we so enjoyed. There are so many elements which we can take away with us and we shall keep listening, reading and practising – so beneficial in these difficult and challenging times. Thank you both again and, of course, Namaste,” – Lesley and Lee
“All that’s already been said! This is quite new to me, but I was able to take little snippets and remember, and hopefully to put them in my toolbox. Thank you very much, both of you. Brilliant.”
“Sandra you’ve got a lovely voice, it’s beautiful, and it makes you relax and really listen to what you said – and visualising as well. And that was so beautiful.” – Rachel
“Yes I can only just repeat what other people have said!
I didn’t have any difficulty relaxing – and I was concerned about that because at this time of day, normally it’s my most active time – and yet I’ve still managed to visualise exactly the place [you described] and it was amazing.”
“We really enjoyed the relaxation and the mindfulness as well as the yoga. I found the mindfulness was different from what we’ve practised before and it was absolutely amazing. […The visualization] just works so beautifully. I’ve had an amazing calm after the meditation. So amazing.”
“As these weeks have gone by, I’ve felt I’ve gone more and more deeply into my own process, and it’s definitely been feeling like my life has been supported by it.”
Unfortunately, the Awakening Retreat at Riederalp was cancelled due to Covid-19 measures and replaced by an online workshop series co-hosted with Lucie. To all participants, thank you so much for all 3 beautiful weekends together!
Do you long to deeply rejuvenate and reignite joy in your life?
This extended weekend includes 3 nights of lodging in single or shared rooms, nourishing vegetarian full board, twice daily yoga and meditation, breath and mind-body practices, deep relaxation with Yoga Nidra, and more. Allow yourself to reawaken your body intelligence, explore the flow of your energy, tap into your deep wisdom and enjoy the flow of experience.
The retreat resort is carefully chosen to support this inner experience. It is beautifully located on a hillside at the northern rim of the Alps, helping you reconnect with Nature and with your own calm and steady inner presence.
Where: Riederalp, Immenstadt (Germany)
When: Thursday, 7 – Sunday, 10 May 2020
Programme
All elements of the programme are harmoniously interwoven,
flowing through the day like a calm, powerful river of awareness
The new day begins in silence, with a guided meditation focused on the day’s theme. We explore themes like stability, focus, truthfulness and courage to be vulnerable and go deep, playfulness and the free expression of life; pure experience, joy and expansion. Breathing and visualisation exercises may be part of the meditation.
After meditation, let the nourishing vegetarian breakfast buffet energise you for the day ahead!
Weather permitting, we enjoy an easy guided nature walk with a focus on mindfulness and direct experience, joy and deep absorption. Alternatively we may explore these themes in the comfort of the light-flooded yoga room.
Wake up to your power with an invigorating yoga session! Find your focus, balance your mind, strengthen your nervous system, and uncover your own inner stability, equipoise and grace.
After yoga, a wholesome lunch buffet is served! Rewind and enjoy your free time to explore the beautiful area, read, meditate or rest.
The late afternoon offers a restorative yoga session to integrate the day’s learning deep into your body. Relax, rejuvenate and let go.
Dinner is again served as a delicious vegetarian buffet. There will be space to relish in each other’s presence and in the insights and breakthroughs of the day, before we move into evening silence.
Wind down with a deep return to your being through deep relaxation, with Yoga Nidra, deep energy work and meditation. As your tissue is allowed to relax fully, your sensitivity heightens, and you begin to develop a gentle awareness of subtle energy flows. This attentive awareness will bring deep restoration to your being as well as new depth to your practice.
This is a programme aimed to deep renewal. You commit to co-create a space filled with awareness, compassion and focused intention, where all of who we are is welcome. This safe retreat space supports profound insight, expanded experience, and possibly for deep-seated habits or blockages to finally move out of your being so that you may integrate and embody the wisdom they hold.
Our heartfelt aspiration is to help you return to everyday life with energy and expanded awareness, integrating your new insights and tools in helpful ways in your continued awakening journey.
Prerequisites
This retreat is suitable if you have some previous experience of yoga. An ability to take certain asanas is not a prerequisite – rather (and as originally intended), yoga helps us explore all the levels of our being (physical, emotional, thought, energy, wisdom, and deeper) together as a whole.
Language: English (Swedish or German are welcome in private Q&A and conversations).
You are, of course, warmly welcome to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns!
Typical Daily Schedule
Exact times/activities may change. Especially outdoor practice is subject to change based on group preferences for hikes and the weather. All sessions weave a thread of the day’s focus.
07:30 – 08:15 Morning meditation, pranayama
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast
10.00 – 11:00 Seminar or nature mindfulness practice
11:15 – 12:45 Yoga, invigorating
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
Free time to explore the area, meditate or rest
16:15 – 17:45 Yoga, restorative
18:00 Supper
20:00 – 20:45 Evening meditation, energy work or Yoga Nidra
In your free time, enjoy…
A refreshing nature walk; Riederalp is beautifully located on a hillside in the Nagelfluhkette nature reserve.
Or if you prefer, relish in a cup of tea in the garden…
Or sit down for study, reading or writing time in the library…
Wifi: Please note that Riederalp is a retreat center and does not offer wifi. If you are in need of internet connection during your stay, we suggest a hike to Immenstadt (locations with wifi will be available on site.)
Vegetarian full board
The vegetarian (near vegan) food is prepared with love and intention by the retreat staff, using local and seasonal ingredients where possible. Nourishing our bodies with wholesome food is an important element to support healing and transformation – while delicious taste is equally important to feel nourished within our inner experience!
Details and booking
When: Thursday, 7 May – Sunday, 10 May 2020
Please plan to arrive between 15.00 -16.00 on Thursday. Check-in is at 16.00, and the first session starts at 17.00; a restorative yoga meditation session, followed by our welcome supper and the first gentle evening meditation to wind down and release. The retreat finishes on Sunday after lunch, so you can plan your home journey from 14:00-16:00.
Location: Riederalp near Immenstadt, Allgäu, Germany
The retreat center offers single, 2-, 3- or 4-bed rooms, simple but very comfortable with wash basin and shared bathrooms. The lovely spacious yoga room, incl. yoga mats, meditation cushions, chairs and blankets (bring blocks or straps if you have!), is exclusively available for our use throughout the retreat (daytime). We also have access to a cozy library for quiet leisure time, as well as outdoor recreation areas. Note: Please state your preferred accommodation when booking. Sheets are not included in the price!
Getting there: The location is easily reached with train to Immenstadt (Bahnhof), see Deutsche Bahn. If coming with a car we suggest parking at Immenstadt Langzeitparkplatz P2 (well signposted throughout Immenstadt).
The closest airport is Memmingen (45′ by car), then Munich (2h). You may contact us if you need more help planning your trip.
Since Riederalp lies within a nature reserve, we will need to hike 30 minutes to the retreat center (easy). A common hike will be arranged.
You may alternatively take a taxi from Immenstadt (ca. 10 Euro):
AlpenTaxi 08323/7979, 08321/65858, 08321/1510
Taxi Böck 08321/4040
Hiking route to Riederalp
Close to the train station there is a pedestrian bridge crossing the train tracks. Cross the bridge and head left immediately after. Cross another bridge (called “Steigbachbrücke”) and follow the signs towards “Mittagbahn”. When you arrive at the lift station (Mittagbahn), follow the mountainside straight ahead (neither down- nor steeply uphill) until the path ends. Welcome to Riederalp! OpenStreetMap
Booking: Contact me with your contact information (address, email, phone number), preferred accommodation, a few sentences on your previous experience, and any other information we would need to know (allergy, disability etc.). You will be provided with payment details via email. The booking is complete with payment of the tuition fee (see below).
Min. number of guests: 14
Max. number of guests: 18
The Total Cost Consists of:
Tuition:
- 6 yoga sessions á 1-2h – invigorating and restorative
- 6 guided meditation sessions á ca. 1h, incl. Pranayama, Yoga Nidra and energy work
- 3 active practice sessions á 45′-2h, in the form of mindful walks or indoor exercises
- Space to ask questions and talk about your insights and obstacles with the group
- Possibility to ask for personal guidance from the teachers
Seminar Fee: 295 €
Seminar House Costs: from 204 €:
Including 3 nights in a shared room, shared bathroom, vegetarian full board, all-day access to yoga/meditation room equipped with mats and cushions, access to other day areas in and surrounding the retreat, incl. local tax
€ 204 in a 3- or 4-bed room
€ 219 in 2 bed room
€ 267 in single room
We warmly welcome you to join us in this deeply nourishing experience. Come as you are, allow the gentle guidance and the positive group energy help you re-align with the richness of experience and the joy in your life. Welcome to join the Sangha!
Contact me to book your spot!
Riederalp
A few impressions from the beautifully located retreat center in Allgäu, Germany.
Images used with permission from Seminarzentrum Riederalp.
Some of the rooms offered at Riederalp. All rooms are comfortable, simple and bright.
Single room 
Single room 
2 bed room 
2 bed room 
2 bed room 
Shared room 
Shared room 
Shared room (2+1 bed) 
Shared room (2+1 bed)
Scenery and hiking opportunities in the area around the retreat
Yoga teachers: Lucie Minne & Sandra Ehlers
Lucie’s extensive and diverse experience of yoga will guide you safely deeper into the experience of your body and being. Her flows, carefully crafted and compassionately tuned into the needs of the class, work to balance strength and flexibility, alertness and relaxation, effort and grace into an experience of harmonising wholeness. From this integrated space we begin to open up to the innate joy and peace at the source of our being.
Lucie Minne has explored the ancient art of yoga since the early 90’s. She is a certified hatha yoga teacher with a blend of traditional Sivananda, Kundalini, Iyengar, Scaravelli, Ashtanga and Vinyasa adding richness and flexibility to her flows. She teaches regular classes, one to one sessions and workshops in south Devon since 2002, and holds much appreciated retreats at Bala Brook at Dartmoor, England.
Sandra will guide you through meditation and mindfulness practice, sitting or in nature, to help you reconnect with your inner aliveness and depth of experience. She will also guide you through profound deep relaxation through Yoga Nidra, a deep letting go that allows your inner wisdom to emerge. Her meditation teaching style is soft, firm and calm, emphasising self-honesty, self-compassion, inner courage, and trust in your own experience and your ability to lean into joyful awareness.
Sandra Ehlers has been on the wisdom path of yoga for a decade, drawn by the big questions of life and the inner answers that only self-inquiry and deep meditation can provide. She is dedicated to helping students create a solid foundation for meditation to support their journey inward. Sandra is certified in the Akhanda Shakti tradition (RYT-200), originating from the Traditional Yoga of the Himalayan Masters. Read more…
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
We are delighted to share this profound experience with you!
Welcome! Namaste
