Yoga on the Mountain - exercise and enjoyment amid alpine pastures

There's been no escaping yoga in recent years - and now I'm coming round to it too. But I'm sure of one thing: yoga is here to stay. Larissa Pichler, sports scientist, nutritionist and yoga teacher, agrees. This year, she is launching a yoga programme and has come up with something very special for the summer.

I first came into contact with yoga when I was at school, in my final year (A-level year😉). During a project week, traditional PE lessons were replaced with a yoga class. I was a little disappointed that this course replaced my beloved dodgeball game for a week. And also a little sceptical, because I thought I wasn't the type for ‘such weird contortions’. Or so I thought. Because yoga is much more than just exercise. You get to know yourself, concentrate on your breathing and become more aware of your body through various exercises. This was also true the day after the first yoga session, when you suddenly felt sore muscles in completely new places. After this project week, I had to admit to myself that yoga is actually a really cool thing (and a perfect complement to the exhausting and heated dodgeball 😉).

But enough about me. Larissa Pichler is the yoga expert here. She came across the Indian teaching - by chance - while studying sport and exercise science. It enabled her to find a balance between the pressure to perform and the physical and mental challenges. "Yoga taught me mindfulness, self-care and a conscious approach to my body. It's exactly this feeling that I want to pass on in my classes: being mindful of yourself, respecting your limits and harmonising body and mind," says Larissa. I immediately think of hiking - the steady walking and movement in nature often trigger exactly that. Larissa must have thought the same thing and combined hiking together, a yoga session with a view and a hearty breakfast on the mountain pasture - the concept of ‘yoga on the mountain’ was born. An ideal way to take a short break from everyday life or to spend your holiday in an even more relaxed way.

So what can we expect from ‘Yoga on the Mountain’? It's important to note that the yoga event takes place twice, once on 19th July at the Moosalm and once on 30th August at the Reitlehenalm. "If you want, you can hike up to the mountain pasture* with me and other participants from the monte popolo lift car park. Once at the top, there is a yoga session and afterwards we enjoy a healthy breakfast on the alpine pasture," explains Larissa. Alternatively, the mountain pastures can also be reached by car. Anyone who would like to join the hike should meet at the monte popolo valley station on 19th July (Moosalm) at 7:55 am and on 30th August (Reitlehenalm) at 7:25 am. The yoga session starts at 9:00 am - mats are already available on site.

For all those who are now really in the mood for yoga and want to join in outside of the two events: since July 2025, there has been yoga by the lake every Wednesday at 6:30 am. Yoga-loving early risers get a gentle start to the day with a session that provides plenty of energy and serenity first thing in the morning. And for those who prefer to treat themselves to some ‘me-time’ in the evening, there is a yoga session every Monday at 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm at CO52 in Eben im Pongau. You can find more information about this and all yoga offers, including the ‘Yoga on the Mountain’ events, here.

photo credits: TVB Eben - Pfuner, Larissa Pichler, Reitlehenalm, Jos Geerts