It was one of those golden autumn days. The forecast for our hiking and yoga week at the Potsdamer Hütte had been mixed, but there is always at least one radiant day in the mountains that makes up for the moody ones. And yet, even the slightly rainy, cloudy days hold their own charm, days when you can commune with the weather’s mood and turn inward.

Our last hiking day was not one of those quiet, introspective days. Quite the opposite. The sun returned in full strength, pushing the autumn colours to their peak brilliance. This late in the season, the alpine huts are less crowded, their summer rush is over, and only a handful of hikers venture into the Alps. At first, a few trekkers passed us on their way to the next hut, but soon we had the high alpine pastures to ourselves, steadily making our way toward the peak. The stillness of the trail spread through the group, and we walked long stretches in silence, each of us settling into our own thoughts and enjoying the almost meditative quiet.

No wonder the summit came sooner than expected. We lingered there, soaking up the views, gazing into the distance, even indulging in a little snooze, what a luxury. It is the kind of time so often missing in our everyday lives. Everything happens in such a rush that we lose those moments when there is nothing to do but simply be in the here and now. In the mountains, with no mobile reception, no news trickling in, and no distractions waiting on our phones, presence becomes effortless.

At the beginning of the trip, I made a conscious choice to put my phone aside, checking it only a few times for the weather. At first, the habit tugged at me, the impulse to reach for it, to scroll or check messages. But as the days passed, something shifted. My mind cleared, the noise of constant updates faded, and in its place a deep sense of focus and clarity returned.

The ridge walk to the second peak felt like strolling across a balcony with sweeping views in every direction. These are the kinds of moments you try to lock into memory, to bring home and call upon when everyday life begins to feel overwhelming. At the second peak, a guided meditation felt like the most natural thing: silence, vast horizons, a circle of kind and likeminded people. A space to return to the purest way of seeing oneself. A place to let go, to manifest, to recharge, and to descend with fresh vision. A lightness that lingers long after.

The day closed in the hut’s yoga shala with a deeply nourishing yin session, stretching our tired muscles and melting away tightness. I practice yoga regularly, usually two to three classes a week if time allows, but I never find the same headspace that the mountains open up for me. A yoga practice held in wild silence, surrounded by nature, feels more powerful than twenty sessions in the valley.

As Mie and I reflected on our week of yoga and hiking at the Potsdamer Hütte, we realized how much the experience had given us as well. Only two guests had signed up, but I was eager to go ahead with the tour, because I deeply believe in the power of combining hiking and yoga. This trip was simple, we did not cover vast distances or climb the highest peaks, yet what mattered most were the quiet moments of yoga and meditation. Those, I believe, gave our guests the deepest sense of peace and fulfilment.

In August I led my first hiking and yoga weekend by myself: teaching yoga to my guests for the very first time and sharing my first mantras on the ukulele on the side. It felt both exciting and humbling to finally step into this role, and I was deeply touched by the openness and trust of the group. That weekend marked the beginning of a new chapter for me.

Yoga has been my steady foundation for the past fifteen years, carrying me through times of stress, change, and transition. More recently, I have begun to rediscover the joy that singing and music brought me as a child. This spring I participated in my second yoga teacher training and taught myself to play the ukulele.

Hence, I want to focus even more on the healing power of being outdoors and in nature. Therefore, I signed up for a Coaching Training next spring. On my future yoga and hiking trips I want to weave professional tools from it into my hiking experiences through moments of reflection in nature, simple practices for grounding and calm, and small impulses that strengthen inner resources. My aim is that guests not only find peace in the mountains but also take concrete tools home with them to meet everyday stress with more clarity and resilience.