Wunderschöne Landschaft, entspannendes und entspanntes, sehr ansprechendes Umfeld - alles sehr ästhetisch und die veganen Mahlzeiten sind ein Genuss für Auge und Gaumen.

Birgit H. / Stuttgart

Ein Ort zum Erholen, Wohlfühlen, Entspannen und Verlieben!

Sabine, B. / Stuttgart

The SOAMI Retreat Center is a fantastic source of inspiration. I felt very well looked after, save and uplifted by the experience and the beautiful landscape. 

o.A. / London

Die Tage bei Soami waren für mich wie Urlaub auf einer schönen grünen Insel und eine Reise wieder zu mir selbst.

Gabi, B. / Stuttgart

magnificent and inspiring….

Heike S./Stuttgart

In Soami kann man mehr erfahren, als nur Ruhe und Entspannung. Viele Faktoren, wie z.B. die Gastfreundschaft der Billers, das einzigartige Design der Häuser, die Schlichtheit und das asiatische Flair, das wunderbare vegane Essen… lassen den Alltag vollkommen zurücktreten, um zu sich selbst zu finden.

Ina K./Chemnitz

Soami ist ein Platz zum Ankommen und Wohlfühlen. Niemals zuvor habe ich so gesund - und das auch noch vegan - gegessen. Der einzigartige Blick auf den See und die schneebedeckten Berge im Hintergrund sind Bilder, die mich die nächsten Wochen begleiten werden. Soami - bis bald!

Silvio F./Chemnitz

“Put that in your blog,”  Hildegard whispered and giggled, moments after my crash landing on her deck.  It was the Monday evening Yoga class and we were all doing trying to balance on our hands.  I was pretty proud of my ability until I lost my balance and fell with all my weight onto the wooden floor, breaking the evening silence with the reverberating sound of 49 kilos landing in full force on a wooden terrace .

There is actually a lot to “put in my blog” and Hildegard’s comment reminded me it was high time I get around to doing it!!  It has been a month since I got back from my week in Mallorca.  Being away from home and work for a week left me with piles of “things to do” so high I  had to ask “Was I gone a month or just a week?”

But, my bruised knee from the fall is a reminder that I want to tell you all what an amazing difference I felt after having been trained physically and nutritionally by Hildegard and Werner in the months before my cycling camp.

The week before I left, Hildegard summoned me up for a final nutritional pep talk.  I was worried that the hotel food and the quick stops during the cycling day would throw me so off balance that I would be sick.

When I came into her Kitchen, she had the basics already lined up for me. Werner, who had been in Vienna, had sweetly done some extra shopping for me as all the items were not available here. My hotel room would have a kitchen, so it would make it easy for me to suppliment the hotel food.  She gave me oatmeal and brown rice and lentils to cook when I got there, pull out of the fridge and throw into the microwave when needed.  Boxes of cooked chestnuts would give me quick energy, Umoboshi plums to put in one of my water bottles would supply me with the sodium needed during our 4 -6 hour days on the bike.  Nuts, organic energy bars, instant miso soup and tea bags would all make it easier for me to stay of the right path. We talked about what I should and shouldn’t eat at the hotel buffet, she reminded me of the post ride stretches I MUST do and then the Billers sent me off, reassuring me that I would be “just fine”.

Well, on the second day of cycling where we rode over 120km, I wasn’t “just fine”.  I was great!  And I was amazed.  Last year I attended the same camp. Before going I had worked out religiously at the gym 3 days a week and clocked up hundreds of km on my bike.  This year, I was recovering from a major operation, had basically no road time on my bike and hadn’t been within 50 meters of my gym. But, I had gone faithfully to yoga class, changed my diet and been supported by visiting therapists of the center.  I didn’t feel a twinge of gastritis after being looked after by Elfriede Schneider and Monika Schneeweiss who supported me with her TCM diagnosis and proper drops to strengthen my weaknesses.

I found it hard to believe how much better I felt in comparison to the year before.  I was tired at the end of the days run, but I wasn’t beat. My legs, which I had massaged by my friend and great physiotherapist Anne Marshall each evening, weren’t half as tight as they had been last year after each ride and I never had a problems with stiffness or soreness despite the 550 km we rode during the week.

What I found most amazing was my heartbeat.  My average heartbeat was between 10-15 beats lower than before.  I could get out of my saddle and “dance up those hills” and not be out of gas at the top.  Two of my friends, Anne and Belinda, who I met last year at the camp and who joined me this year again were both amazed with my ability.  ”Have you been doing some secret training, Sarah?” they asked.  I felt so good.  These women, who live in England, are on their bikes constantly, all year and have years and years of experience in their pockets.  Last year they were kind enough to wait for me every day and offer me words of encouragement and advice.  This year I could keep up with them - except on the longest of climbs!

I didn’t use all the “rations” Hildegard packed for me.  The restaurant had decent oats which I warmed with boiling water and supplemented with dried fruits and nuts for breakfast.  The energy bars were great and a hit with all my friends (we did a lot of “bar trading” and tasting during the week).  The sweetness of the chestnuts became addictive and did give me the long energy reserve I needed before the ride as well as making a well deserved snack after a hard day in the saddle.  The only mistake I made was to throw some nuts into my jersey and nibble on them along the way.  Hard to digest, they made one sunny afternoon turn into a miserable one for me as I struggled to deal with stomach cramps for the last 60km home.  After that, I reserved nuts for before dinner, after coming back from the sauna. Dinners were no problem, there was always fresh fish, a rice dish and sauteed vegetables. 

Martin Birney, my coach at SportActive was happy with my progress, and just as surprised as I at my condition - as I had been warning him all winter that I would need a motor on my bike in order to keep up with the pack.

Thank you Hildegard, Werner and all the others who supported me during the last few months.  It has been a revelation to see how I have become more fit and healthy and I feel so thankful to experience that.

This is not the end of an interesting experiment rather the beginning of a new way of life.

Sarah Staber

PS.  My birthday at the Soami Center was out of this world.  Everyone who came were as thrilled as I.  It was the perfect way to start the second half of “my century”.

I had a magical stay at Soami. You have created a little piece of paradise in the most beautifull location. The attention to detail at the centre is so impressive and I loved the variety and ceativity of the food. Most important of all was the loving care that you both paid to our holiday; I`ve never know anything like it before but will certainly be back to experience your warmth again.

Janis, London

Soami is a magical place to recharge: scenic, friendly, delicous gourmet cuisine, ultra comfortable. My body and mind haven`t felt this happy in a long time. Thank you again for your great hospitality, it was a privilege to meet you all.

Helen, London