Start the new year differently: intentions, not resolutions, on a yoga retreat
On 1 January many people decide to change everything — and by February everyday life is back. A few quiet days in the mountains, with yoga and meditation, offer another way into the new year: not with resolutions, but with an intention.
Why resolutions often do not last
Resolutions are usually goals with pressure attached: more exercise, less phone, ten kilos lighter. They tend to be made in the rush of the holidays and are based on what we think we should be. When everyday life returns, the inner connection is missing.
What makes an intention different
An intention (Sanskrit: sankalpa) describes an attitude, not an achievement. Instead of “I will do yoga every day”, perhaps: “I want to treat my body more kindly.” Actions can follow — but they serve the attitude, not the other way round. An intention may be small, and it should feel right when you say it out loud.
Journaling questions
- What gave me strength last year?
- What do I not want to take into the new year?
- When did I last feel fully alive?
- How do I want to feel at the end of the new year?
- Which small habit would carry me there?
Why the mountains help
Distance changes the view. When you step out of everyday life for a few days, move, eat well and grow quiet, you hear voices that had become faint. That is why retreats often begin with a circle in which everyone sets an intention for the days ahead.
The New Year retreat at Hotel Balance
From 1 to 3 January 2027 we are at Hotel Balance in Les Granges above Salvan in Valais — a house from 1891 at more than 1,000 metres that has cooked organic and vegetarian since 1984, with a natural pool, a sauna and hiking trails at the door. There is yoga and meditation every day, time for winter walks — and a secret guest: a band whose name we will reveal only shortly before.
After the retreat: keeping the intention alive
- Write your intention on a card and put it where you see it every day
- Repeat it at the end of a short morning meditation
- Look back at the end of each month: where did I live by it?
Frequently asked questions
What is a sankalpa?
In the yogic tradition, a sankalpa is an intention or inner resolve, often phrased as a short sentence in the present tense.
When is the New Year retreat?
From 1 to 3 January 2027 at Hotel Balance in Les Granges (Salvan, Valais).
Who is the secret guest?
A band — we will reveal the name only shortly before the retreat.