If you’re anything like me – someone who lives in a busy city, thrives on the buzz of it all, yet constantly feels the need to “switch off” – then you might also find the idea of relaxation – a sound bath, or going to a yin yoga class – incredibly appealing. In theory.
In practice, for me at least, it goes something like this: I’m sat cross-legged on the mat, eyes closed, trying to focus on my breath. Meanwhile, my brain jumps into overdrive, sprinting through my to-do list, rehashing yesterday’s conversations and whispering, “Come on, Pia, you’re here to relax — so, just relax?” Safe to say, I’ve never found a meditation or breathwork session that has actually left me feeling any calmer.
That is, until a recent trip helped my state of mind in totally unexpected ways. It started when I boarded a train in Munich, bound for the village of Adelboden, high in the Swiss Alps. As the landscape outside the window slowly changed, so did my state of mind. The air felt colder and cleaner on my face. The stations and platforms grew quieter and smaller. There was something so peaceful about sitting alone on that train, my suitcase tucked beside me, watching the snow-capped peaks inch closer. No notifications, no pressure, no one needing anything from me (immediately) – just stillness.
Adelboden isn’t a place that shouts for attention. Sitting between vast Alpine ridges, its charm lies in its simplicity and the sense of being tucked away from the rest of the world. Sure, it’s ski-smart, having hosted multiple Ski World Cups, and is one of the oldest resorts in the region. But it’s worlds removed from the gloss of its flashier counterparts like Gstaad or Zermatt. Here, life moves at a slower, more deliberate rhythm.
“Adelboden isn’t a place that shouts for attention. Sitting between vast Alpine ridges, its charm lies in its simplicity and the sense of being tucked away from the rest of the world. Here, life moves at a slower, more deliberate rhythm”
I’m staying at one of Adelboden’s newest hotels, The Brecon, which immediately feels like somewhere designed for a big, deep exhale. From the outside, it looks like a traditional Alpine lodge; all timber and glass framed by mountains. But step inside and you’ll find it’s something much more: a sanctuary of peace and quiet.
This isn’t the kind of hotel where you come to be entertained. “It’s somewhere for people who don’t want to be bothered,” hotelier Grant Maunder tells me. And he’s right. You can easily come alone, like I did, and no one will look twice. The whole place is built around that rare permission to disconnect. It’s adults-only (which, honestly, is a game-changer), no background noise and no televisions in the rooms. “You shouldn’t come to a landscape like this if you’re going to watch TV,” Grant says. He has a point.
The rooms are minimalist but warm, with soft lines, neutral tones and big windows that frame the mountains like living art. It feels more like staying in someone’s home than in a hotel – albeit that of someone with impeccable taste.
My first stop is the wellness area and sauna – a serene space suspended between earth and sky with large windows looking directly out onto the mountains. At first, I feel slightly exposed, as the glass stretches wide out into the open, the view almost too vast. But after a few minutes, I sit back and fully appreciate the snowy scene before me.
“When life is perpetually hurtling at a million miles an hour, making you feel as though you’re sprinting on a cosmopolitan hamster wheel, carving out pockets of stillness is more than a luxury; it’s essential”
While I could have happily stayed in that wellness centre until my return train ticket expired, it would be a shame to visit Adelboden and not get out into the mountains themselves. And when I do, I am realising that the most powerful part of being here in this landscape is the solitude. At one point, while skiing across a mountain path and looking out across the valley, I’m so overcome by a rare feeling of stillness that I got the closest I’ve been to being lost for words. It’s a far cry from any previous Alpine holiday I’ve been on; mostly spent chasing friends down the mountain in search of the next bar, never actually taking the time to look up and appreciate where I am. Here, it feels impossible not to pause to just breathe and take it all in.
I’m definitely not alone in my revelation that being in the mountains has a powerful calming effect. Studies have linked time spent in mountainous environments with improved mental health and lower levels of burnout, and even longer, healthier lives. Still, as a lifelong city dweller who thrives on the pace – and yes, the chaos – of London, the experience takes me utterly by surprise.
When life is perpetually hurtling at a million miles an hour, making you feel as though you’re sprinting on a cosmopolitan hamster wheel, carving out pockets of stillness is more than a luxury; it’s essential. And here, standing in the Swiss mountains breathing in the freshest air, it has reminded me of the importance of slowing down from time to time. I just needed to find the right place in which to do it.
I leave Adelboden reenergised and with a new aim of prioritising these kinds of trips where I can. And as for that sauna, I hope to find myself back there sooner than expected...
Rooms at The Beacon start from CHF 625 per night, inclusive of all food, drink and spa access.
