Obergurgl / Hotel The Crystal

YOGA, MEDITATION AND POETRY

The sun glitters through the tops of the trees, the waves crash gently onto the pebble beach and the soft breeze wafts past the end of your nose. I experience all of this in the new yoga pavilion on the private beach at Hotel Lemongarden, from which the beauty of the natural surroundings can now be appreciated all the more intensely. A programme for the first yoga retreats at the Lemongarden has been put together with the help of Ben Rakidzija. The yoga teacher practises Silent Flow, a free interpretation of Hatha yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Yin yoga and Qigong. There are also fascia training exercises and other forms of movement. But why make it silent? All of the classes take place in silence and so offer the opportunity to really be at one with yourself, no matter whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi. Ben Rakidzija isn’t just a trained yoga teacher. He is also an educated philosopher and historian, composes prose and poems and organises the Lit.Eu literature festival in Opatija, which authors Marie Gamillscheg, Markus Orths and Franzobel have all attended. “The aim of my lessons is to promote a strong body and a clear mind. Every class is different, every day is new. I don’t force my students and try to find a balance between strength and relaxation,” says Ben, who in the evenings doesn’t need much encouragement to share stories about his many yoga experiences.

Between the morning and evening yoga sessions and a refreshing dip in the sea, it makes sense to spend plenty of time in the private spa. Guests can enjoy the Finnish sauna made out of cedar, a steam room boasting a combination of light and aromatherapy with lavender, lemon, lime and orchid fragrances, and an experience shower. Those who haven’t yet laid on one of the ergonomically designed, blue illuminated AlphaSphere loungers really must. Developed by the Viennese artist known as SHA, the lounger transports users into a trance-like state thanks to a sea of tiny vibrations, gentle electronic sounds and changing coloured lighting inspired by chromotherapy. Afterwards, you feel as though you have been in

another world, where everything is beautiful and pink. Luckily it is still beautiful when you come round, only now it’s not pink but turquoise.

It’s recommended that you stumble your way straight to a Lemongarden aromatherapy session and enjoy a relaxing massage on a lounger using lemon and orange essential oils. In this deeply relaxed state you go to yoga again, then curl up in bed afterwards with the blissful realisation that the next day you will wake up feeling just as good as when you went to sleep. Whoever can’t make the Lemongarden yoga retreats in May should absolutely book them for September!

MENEGHETTI WINE HOTEL & WINERY

BALE | ISTRIA | CROATIA

Nature meets luxury

Located amidst untouched nature – in Istria, Croatia’s largest peninsula and most developed tourist region – Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery offers luxury and unique privacy, sophistication and elegance in its architecture. Wooden beams and floors, modern and antique furniture that evoke the atmosphere of the past enhanced with modern amenities, create the perfect setting for an ideal vacation. Meneghetti is a true beauty made of century-old stone, evoking respect towards the tradition of its region. Elegance to the last detail

Like any real paradise on Earth, this place is hard to find. Magic only happens off the beaten path. One of them leads to Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery. To find it, you need to explore the hidden paths, turn your journey into an adventure - it is worth every effort. That way, the journey becomes the destination. Once you reach it, you will find a perfect blend of luxury accommodation including villas and residences with private pools, rooms & suites, gastronomy including 2 restaurants, 1 recommended by the Michelin guide, and lush nature including 12 hectareas of vineyards and olive groves as well as a private beach area with a beach club.