Some yoga vacations feel like a well-organized schedule. Others feel like a true arrival. Maybe you know the feeling: You arrive, roll out your mat, and wonder who will be teaching the yoga classes this time. You have nice encounters, a good practice, and a few intense days. And then? Departure. New group, new teacher, new faces. But what if the person guiding you through your morning sun salutations is also the hostess of the house?
What if your yoga teacher were also your constant companion on vacation—today, next year, and most likely on your next visit as well?
In this article, we introduce you to sustainable hotels where yoga is not just an “add-on,” but an integral part of the establishment. The hostesses are either owners, part of the family, or have been integral members of the team for many years—and they combine yoga, mindfulness, and hospitality.
This article is for you if you:
- Want to consciously integrate yoga into your vacation
- Are looking for retreats that are personal, quiet, and familiar
- Value consistency over constantly changing programs
- Prefer sustainable hotels where people stay—not rotate
- Are looking for inspiration for yoga vacations & retreat dates in 2026.
#1 Yoga vacation in the German countryside (teacher Maren Geisler-Okelmann)
If you’re planning a yoga holiday primarily because you want to relax, and are looking for a peaceful destination, we recommend the small village of Warpe. With just over 600 inhabitants, Warpe is somewhat remote and surrounded by some of the most beautiful natural and cultural landscapes in Lower Saxony. Here you will find a listed building dating from 1879, where the Okelmann family has been welcoming guests for four generations. The Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s exudes a special family atmosphere and a love of nature: you may find grandma’s old wardrobe in your room, the water is revitalised with Grander technology, and the hosts’ dogs provide an extra dose of warmth.
Today, sisters Maren and Kristin Okelmann run the eco-hotel together. Kristin specializes in North German cuisine, while Maren Geisler-Okelmann is in charge of the yoga program—a yoga teacher and hostess in one.
Maren is a trained yin yoga teacher and a 200-hour certified hatha and vinyasa yoga teacher (Yogimobil). She is also a sound massage therapist according to Peter Hess. Yoga retreats take place at Okelmann’s throughout the year and are supplemented by mini-retreats led by Maren. Hotel guests can also book private yoga lessons with her.
During our conversation, Maren explained that many people arrive with a clear desire:
“Most people long to relax and feel themselves again.”
Stress, a busy lifestyle, and physical ailments like back pain are common problems—yoga offers a gentle, personalized approach to addressing them. It’s not just about flexibility; it’s also about body awareness. She emphasizes that guests should “not compare, but feel.”
“Every retreat is something very special. Seeing the yogis refreshed and radiant after a relaxing weekend is a great gift.” – Hotel Okelmann‘s
#2 Yoga vacation in the Dolomites (instructor Marnie Spögler)
If you would like to combine your yoga retreat with spectacular natural scenery, the Seiser Alm in the Dolomites is the perfect destination. Perched at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel boasts mountain meadows, sweeping vistas and an atmosphere of tranquillity that fosters inner peace.
The hotel is run by brothers Alexander and Maximilian Spögler, who are the second generation of the family to do so. They have gradually transformed what used to be a classic mountain hotel right on the ski slopes into first a vegetarian art hotel and then a 100% vegan hotel offering fine dining and daily yoga classes.
Central to this concept is Marnie Spögler, Maximilian’s wife and a permanent member of the host family. Born in Canada, she has practised yoga for over 20 years and is certified by the Yoga Alliance (200 hours of Hatha Yoga and 200 hours of Somatic Embodiment Yoga).
As the resident yoga teacher, Marnie leads the yoga program at Paradiso— the daily yoga classes are included for all hotel guests. She is also the founder of Pure Yoga & Retreats, organizing alpine yoga and hiking retreats.
Her classes combine elements of Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative Yoga—inspired by nature and the rhythm of the mountains..
- Here you can find information about yoga at Paradiso Pure.Living.
#3 Yoga vacation in Switzerland (teacher Stefanie)
Yoga with a view of one of the world’s most famous mountains—just that alone sounds like a special experience. At the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, it becomes a reality. Perched high above the village with an unobstructed view of the Matterhorn, the boutique hotel offers a serene space for yoga.
Stefanie not only teaches yoga but is also part of the Anthamatten host family and an integral part of the already close-knit hotel team. She leads the yoga retreats and private classes at the Bella Vista, offering personalized attention to guests, whether they are new to yoga or have been practicing for a long time. “Even as an advanced practitioner, you can always learn something new,” she says with a smile. To her, yoga is much more than a physical practice.
„For me, yoga is a school of life that enables me to live in the here and now with gratitude, mindfulness, and awareness.“
Her training is diverse and international: Hatha Yoga (300 hours in India, 200 hours in Thailand), Yoga Therapy (India), Yoga Chakra Vinyasa (Nicaragua), Yin Yoga (with René Hug), and PreMom Yoga. Stefanie is also a certified Ayurveda Lifestyle Coach.
Another highlight of your yoga vacation is the light-filled yoga room with a direct view of the Matterhorn—a place that promotes both concentration and humility.
- Check out the dates for the 2026 yoga retreats at the Hotel Bella Vista
#4 Yoga retreat in Tyrol (teacher Laura Seyrling-Rieß)
The Hotel Klosterbräu, located in the Tyrolean vacation region of Seefeld, combines history, warmth, and modern retreat concepts. This five-star hotel is located within the walls of a 500-year-old monastery and has been operated by the Seyrling family for over 200 years. Nine family members currently work in various departments, shaping the atmosphere, offerings, and retreats with palpable dedication.
„It’s important to know that yoga retreats here are relaxed and not rushed.‘“, explains Daniel Wolf from the Hotel Klosterbräu.
Laura Seyrling-Rieß is part of the yoga team and a member of the host family. She is a trained Vinyasa Flow yoga instructor and manages the hotel’s spa and wellness area. In her YOU ARE YOUNIQUE retreats, she brings movement, music, and joy to the mat.
“It will be a mixture of dance, modern Inside Flow, and light to medium-difficulty Vinyasa Flow units,” Laura says of her concept. Here, yoga is understood as an expression of personality, not a rigid program. The retreats are aimed at slightly advanced or athletically coordinated individuals who want to reconnect with their bodies.
The hotel’s range of exercise activities is complemented by Pilates classes taught by Agnes Seyrling, a certified trainer and hostess. At Klosterbräu, yoga and exercise are more than just extras—they’re part of the family..
- Click here for the BE YOUNIQUE Retreat (March 12-15, 2026) and the rest of the yoga program
Yoga teachers who became like part of the family
Not every hotel has a yoga teacher who is part of the “biological” host family. Yet, there are hotels where people have become an integral and indispensable part of the establishment over many years, sometimes even decades. These individuals shape the atmosphere, rhythm, and attitude as much as the host family does.
One such person is yoga teacher Sonja Jakšić at the family-run, vegetarian eco-hotel Korinjak on the Croatian island of Iž. Yoga teacher Sonja Jakšić has been part of the hotel since its opening over 20 years ago. With her internationally recognized yoga training from 2000, she offers guests calm, grounding Hatha yoga classes suitable for all levels. Many of her classes take place outside, surrounded by pine trees, the sea, and silence. In this way yoga becomes a natural part of island life.
Yoga is also firmly anchored in the STURM team in Mellrichstadt, Bavaria. Susann Kind, a trained health scientist and yoga teacher, has been part of the team for years. In addition to regular yoga classes, guests can book private sessions. Kind’s work combines movement, body awareness, and health, aligning with the hotel’s calm, nature-loving orientation.
“Sustainability on a human level means: people stay, build something, and pass on knowledge—instead of constantly being replaced.” – Green Pearls®
What is your opinion? Do you also think it makes a difference if the yoga teacher is part of the host family?
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