One-Day Yoga & Hike Retreat in the Forest

Last Saturday, we headed towards Moutier, right at the edge of the canton of the Jura. Our goal: to reach the top of a local mountain and come back down through one of my favorite forests, in the hills where I grew up.

Leaving from Zürich, the train was packed. We managed to find a spot to sit. My partner, who came along to take pictures of the tour, said to me: “I wonder what it was like 100 years ago, to go somewhere and be surrounded by fewer people. What must it have felt like to really have space...”

Then we arrived in Moutier, a small town frozen in time, almost unchanged for the past 30 years. Every time I go back, it feels like stepping into a parallel universe where time no longer applies.

We headed deep into the forest. Spring was in full bloom. A lush green surrounded us. During the hike, we hardly came across anyone. The forest was calm. The sound of insects and birds filled our ears. The meadows were bursting with yellow flowers, wild purple orchids, and even gentians.

On the way down, one of the participants told me: “This is amazing. It’s so beautiful and there’s no one here.” That’s exactly what I aim for in my hikes — to find stunning places that are off the tourist radar and far from the usual trails. It feels so good to truly reconnect with nature and disconnect from everything else.

Practicing yoga in such wild and peaceful landscapes allows us to deeply relax. The sounds of birds and insects are hypnotic. The view of an endless ocean of green forests creates a feeling of space within. And then, there is the power of the trees around us — they release chemical compounds that calm our nervous system. In aromatherapy, we learn that trees help us feel grounded while also opening the heart chakra.

It just goes to show — sometimes you don’t need to go far or travel back in time to find calm and spaciousness…

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

See you soon,

Nastassja