Chill out in the mountains this summer

Yoga is good, but with brunch it’s even better!

It’s no secret that practising yoga has many benefits for the body and mind. Releasing muscular tension, emptying the mind and reducing stress, and improving posture are all good reasons to try it!

And because the mountains and their wide-open spaces are the perfect place to unwind and relax, yoga is a key summer activity in the resorts. Many resorts offer yoga as close as possible to the summits (accessible by ski lift), at sunrise or sunset, for a unique experience surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

To make the experience even more special, some resorts are introducing new ways of offering real moments of sharing after the yoga session. This summer in the resorts, discover “Yoga-Brunch”!

• At Les 2 Alpes, the “Yoga&Breakfast” awaits you at Chalet Mounier every Sunday morning from 9.30am to 12.00pm.

• At Grand Tourmalet, you can find Yoga-Brunch with Agathe Abadie’s Yoga des Cimes at l’Étape du Berger. Find out more here.

Much more than a spa…

Another ‘chill out’ activity par excellence for summer mountain holidays: the spa! Who hasn’t dreamt of lounging in a jacuzzi with a breathtaking view of the peaks? Resorts all over France offer indoor and outdoor relaxation facilities, perfect for the season.

We’ve put together a small selection of the latest trends for you, for a different but just as enjoyable time!

Have you heard of the Head-Spa?

This trend we’re seeing everywhere is actually a wellness treatment from Japan, focusing on the scalp and hair. It combines cranial massage, drainage techniques and specific hair treatments. This ritual helps to stimulate blood circulation, eliminate tension and purify the scalp. It is often performed using essential oils or natural treatments. Ideal for a moment of deep relaxation!

You can find this treatment in the resort:

• “Si’belle Zen” in Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves: Mélanie from the Si’belle Zen institute has trained in this practice, which she offers to adults and children alike for a gentle moment of relaxation. Find out more here: https: //www.saintsorlindarves.com/soins-visage-et-corps

• “Y être APeisey” in Peisey-Vallandry: at Émilie Llorca’s new wellbeing centre, which offers a range of wellbeing services including sauna, hammam and massages, you’ll find the Japanese Head Spa – a new trend, still rare, which offers exceptional results by focusing on the upper body (head, arms, shoulders – hydrojets, jade comb, etc.). 59 Rue de la Chenalette, 73210 Peisey-Nancroix

When the spa becomes a true sensory experience, to escape far away without leaving the mountains :

• For a trip to India, head to Les Arcs 1800. Nama Springs is a unique spa in France, nestling in the heights of Arc 1800. Inspired by the magic of India, this wellness area offers a unique sensory experience, combining ancestral traditions and modern technology. Facilities include an ‘Ausgusstheatre’ sauna, a salt crystal sauna, an Indian hammam, an Epsom salt flotation pool and outdoor pools overlooking the slopes of Les Arcs. Massage cabins also offer treatments based on Indian Ayurvedic rituals.

A quiet but unusual atmosphere

While yoga and relaxing at the spa are popular ‘chill’ activities in the resorts, there are also some more unusual ideas for relaxing close to the summits.

The resorts are full of ideas to demonstrate once again all the possibilities that the mountains have to offer in summer. Here are a few activities to look out for this summer during your stay:

• Reconnecting with Mother Nature: a barefoot walk in Val Cenis

This outing, which takes place on the Petit Happiness trail, allows you to rediscover a range of forgotten sensations. The direct contact of the arch of the foot with the earth is a real pleasure, a source of regeneration and well-being. Thanks to Thierry, a mountain guide, participants learn how to walk ‘well’ barefoot, in full awareness, with grounding exercises and the discovery of other practices, such as self-massage of the feet, reflexology and acupressure. Every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30pm to 6pm, for €20/person.

• Floating yoga on a stand-up paddle board in Puy-Saint-Vincent

Yoga at the heart of the elements water and air, on a Stand Up Paddle board!

Work on proprioception, balance and sheathing, a different way of practising for new sensations… More info here.

• YOGAMASS’ in Valmorel

When massage goes hand in hand with yoga… nirvana is just around the corner. Kate and Valérie offer yoga and massage classes on the terrace of the high-altitude restaurant La vache orange. 360° panoramic views from Mont Blanc to the Maurienne valley. Quick access via the Lanchettes chairlift. For more information, click here.