Gather yourself for the Christmas season in the magnificent surroundings of the Italian Dolomites, where The Alpina Dolomites Gardena Health Lodge & Spa is offering Yoga Weeks from December 7 to 21. The six-day course provides a full introduction to the culture and practice of Yoga and instruction on how to apply a Yogic perspective to personal health and wellbeing.  The week includes a one-hour yoga session and a one-hour Ayurvedic massage each day and an introduction to Ayurveda (the science of life).

Peace and natural beauty sum up the environment at the Alpina Dolomites, and make it the ideal context for a yoga course delivering optimum results.  Near the village of Compatsch at an altitude of 1860m, the hotel overlooks the snowfields of Europe’s largest high Alpine plateau, the Alpe di Siusi, against a sensational backdrop of towering Dolomite peaks.  The hotel has been created to the highest sustainable standards and its design is in total harmony with the elemental mountain landscape.

Parking is free and guests enjoy unlimited access to the hotel’s outstanding spa, which has panoramic indoor and outdoor pools with massage loungers and jet-sprays, a variety of saunas, relaxation areas with water beds and loungers, a fully-equipped gym and beauty farm (wide variety of treatments available).  The hotel also has an indoor golf simulator, an outstanding restaurant, bar, cigar lounge and a mountain lounge with a spectacular panoramic terrace.

Yoga involves the use of postures, dynamic exercise (from Raja Yoga), breathing and relaxation techniques and meditation to bring harmony to body and soul.  The Alpina Dolomites course teaches guests to apply the fundamental Yogic principles to their everyday life, reinforcing inner strength, physical flexibility, a contented mind and reduced stress.  Knock-on beneficial effects include improved health, skin condition and body weight, achieved by applying the Yogic perspective to diet.