Annual calendar of activities and events
To give you a clear picture of what’s going on at Buchinger Wilhelmi all year round, we have put together an annual calendar of activities and events, sorted by subject.
2026 – At a glance
April
- 20. – 26.04.2026 • Sophrology Seminar: Feel Better – Live Better
May
- 11. – 16.05.2026 • Happiness Week
- 18. – 24.05.2026 • Seminar: Sunshine, Strengths and Upward Spirals
June
- 15. – 20. June 2026: The Longevity Science Week
July
- 12. – 19.07.2026 • Art Week: Summer Lights
- 20.07. – 02.08.2026 • Women’s Health Weeks – Strength, Clarity, and Hormonal Balance
August
- 17. – 21. August 2026 • Mindfulness Meditation Week
September
- 14. – 27.09.2026 • Semaines Francophones: The six pillars of a calm and healthy longevity
- 20. – 26.09.2026 • Sophrology Seminar: Feel Better – Live Better
- 27.09. – 04.10.2026 • Art Week: All about colours
October
- 05.– 09.10.2026 • The Longevity Science Week
November
- 02. – 15.11.2026 • Semaines Francophones: The six pillars of a calm and healthy longevity
- 16. – 20.11.2026 • Mindfulness Meditation Week
- 23. – 28.11.2026 • Theater Workshop
December
- 07. – 12.12.2026 • Yoga Transformation Retreat
- 20. – 27.12.2026 • Art Week: Celestial Inspiration
*All events are free of charge as part of our Buchinger Wilhelmi program.
Meditation and Ashwednesday Ritual
with Jesuit and Zen Master Niklaus Brantschen & Dr. Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo*
During Lent, learn how to meditate from the renowned Jesuit and Zen master Niklaus Brantschen.
Date
15 – 20 February 2026
Language
German & English
Semaines Francophones: The six pillars of a calm and healthy longevity
with Dr. Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo, Dr. Robin Mesnage & the Buchinger Wilhelmi team*
This year, our French-speaking guests will again be able to enjoy the Semaines Francophones. The events offered by our main speakers and the evening programme as well as several other activities in the course of the day will be held in French.
The theme of this year’s Semaines Francophones is dedicated to therapeutic fasting as an inherent human capacity and as a potential impulse for the medicine of the future. The human organism follows natural rhythms and requires periods of regeneration in order to remain healthy and balanced over time. Alongside sleep, movement, and mindful nutrition, fasting plays a central role.
At the heart of the programme are six essential pillars: balanced nutrition and fasting, physical activity and restorative sleep, a largely toxin free environment, and as a unifying element, emotional balance, inner orientation, and personal engagement.
During the French language weeks, these themes are presented in an accessible and interactive way. A particular focus is placed on therapeutic fasting as part of a holistic approach to health.
Dates
14 – 27 September 2026
2 – 15 November 2026
About the speaker
Dr. Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo, born in Geneva (Switzerland) in 1953, is the Senior Scientific Advisor of the research department she founded at Buchinger Wilhelmi in 2010 and led until 2024. Together with the new generation of directors, she is responsible for the medical concept of the two clinics (Überlingen and Marbella). To better pass on the family business to the next generation, her sons, she completed a Master’s degree in “Entrepreneurship for Family Business” in 2013. After studying medicine in Geneva and completing her doctoral thesis in Basel, she co-founded the “Medical Association for Fasting and Nutrition” in 1986 with colleagues. For many years, Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo has been committed to developing and scientifically documenting fasting in its medical, spiritual, and community dimensions.
With her team, she has developed international collaborations with other clinics, universities, and institutes (Charité in Berlin, CNRS in Strasbourg and Lyon/Saint-Étienne, ETH Zurich, and research centers in Milan, Paris, Thessaly, Los Angeles, and Geneva) and has published numerous scientific studies. Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo is also the president of the Maria Buchinger Foundation, which supports research in the field of therapeutic fasting. She is the author of the book “The Art of Fasting,” published in five languages. She discovered fasting at the age of 18 and has practiced it annually ever since. For more than 45 years, she has accompanied the annual fasting retreat organized within the Ecumenical Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland.
Dr. Robin Mesnage is the Scientific Director of the Buchinger Wilhelmi clinics and the successor to Dr. Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo. A highly sought-after speaker, he regularly presents at international scientific conferences. His research has resulted in more than 100 scientific publications, cited over 10,000 times.
Thanks to his work on the effects of pesticides and other contaminants on the gut microbiome, he is among the top 1% most cited scientists worldwide. He also works at the Department of Nutrition at King’s College London, where he conducted research for ten years.
Programme schedule: 1 – 14 November 2026
Monday, 14 September at 7:30 PM at Studio Larix – Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo:
“The six pillars of healthy longevity: a focus on fasting”
To live a long life while remaining physically and mentally agile, it is essential to respect the rhythms encoded in our genes. Let us rediscover the natural functions and inner attitudes that nourish youth, energy, and joy of living within us.
Tuesday, 15 September at 7:30 PM at the Pavilion – Dr. Robin Mesnage:
“The six pillars: inside and outside – eliminate contaminants!”
In less than a century, humans have created more than 300,000 contaminants. These substances generate oxidative stress in our cells and accelerate aging. Learn how to identify them and protect yourself effectively.
Monday, 21 September at 7:30 PM at Studio Larix – Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo:
“Intermittent fasting and prolonged fasting”
Our body is guided by two major natural rhythms: the 24-hour cycle and the cycle of the seasons. Let us relearn to live in harmony with day and night, as well as with seasonal variations throughout the year, in order to regain balance and strong immunity.
Thursday, 24 September at 7:30 PM at the Pavilion – Dr. Robin Mesnage:
“The mysteries of the gut microbiome”
We host within us a true “micro-zoo” composed of countless bacteria and microorganisms, particularly in our intestines. Let us learn to live in harmony with these tiny, invisible beings: they can support our health and well-being—or, on the contrary, make us dependent, anxious, and ill.
Friday, 25 September at 7:30 PM at Studio Larix – Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo:
“Prolonged fasting according to the Buchinger program”
Fasting takes time to reveal its full potential and depth. It particularly affects emotional balance, strengthens our spiritual fitness, and clarifies our life perspective. By helping us discern our own path, fasting invites us to move forward with confidence and commitment.
Programme schedule: 2 – 15 November 2026
Monday, 2 November at 7:30 PM at Studio Larix – Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo:
“The six pillars of healthy longevity: a focus on fasting”
To live a long life while remaining physically and mentally agile, it is essential to respect the rhythms encoded in our genes. Let us rediscover the natural functions and inner attitudes that nourish youth, energy, and joy of living within us.
Tuesday, 3 November at 7:30 PM at Studio Larix – Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo:
“Intermittent fasting and prolonged fasting”
Our body is guided by two major natural rhythms: the 24-hour cycle and the cycle of the seasons. Let us relearn to live in harmony with day and night, as well as with seasonal variations throughout the year, in order to regain balance and strong immunity.
Thursday, 5 November at 7:30 PM at the Pavilion – Dr. Robin Mesnage:
“The six pillars: inside and outside – eliminate contaminants!”
In less than a century, humans have created more than 300,000 contaminants. These substances generate oxidative stress in our cells and accelerate aging. Learn how to identify them and protect yourself effectively.
Monday, 9 November at 7:30 PM at Studio Larix – Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo:
“Prolonged fasting according to the Buchinger program”
Fasting takes time to reveal its full potential and depth. It particularly affects emotional balance, strengthens our spiritual fitness, and clarifies our life perspective. By helping us discern our own path, fasting invites us to move forward with confidence and commitment.
Wednesday, 11 November at 7:30 PM at Studio Larix – Dr. Wilhelmi de Toledo:
“Fasting: emotional balance, spiritual fitness, and commitment”
Fasting represents a profound metabolic transformation in the body. Once the genetic programs that enable us to live in a state of nutritional self-sufficiency are activated, we can enter a state of peaceful inner silence. Religions teach us how to explore this inner space and gain discernment and clarity regarding our life path.
Thursday, 12 November at 7:30 PM at the Pavilion – Dr. Robin Mesnage:
“The mysteries of the gut microbiome”
We host within us a true “micro-zoo” composed of countless bacteria and microorganisms, particularly in our intestines. Let us learn to live in harmony with these tiny, invisible beings: they can support our health and well-being—or, on the contrary, make us dependent, anxious, and ill.
Language
French
Mindfulness Meditation Week
with Lharampa Tenzin Kalden*
Lharampa Tenzin Kalden is a Buddhist monk and meditation instructor who teaches traditional mindfulness meditation methods and Tibetan Lu Jong yoga. Learn how to bring more mindfulness into your life and thoughts. Mindfulness meditation promotes mental harmony and physical health.
Dates
17 – 21 August 2026
16 – 20 November 2026
Further information
Practising mindfulness plays a central role in Buddhism. Being mindful means being in the present moment. According to Buddhist teachings, we are conscious of our emotions, thoughts and actions in the here and now. At every moment, our mind is alert and knows what impact our actions will have on others and on the environment. Mindfulness is considered a clear, neutral spirit that does not judge or appraise.
There are four aspects to mindfulness: mindfulness of one’s own body, one’s feelings, thoughts and actions. Those who practice mindfulness are aware at all times of samsara, the repetitive everlasting cycle of habit, and live their lives for the good of all sentient beings.
Mindfulness Meditation Week is run by Tenzin Kalden, who was born in Tibet and grew up in Europe. He became a monk at the age of 11 and studied at the Sera Monastic University in South India for 17 years, where he graduated in the five great sciences of Buddhism. He was awarded the title of Rabjampa and achieved the highest scholastic title of Lharampa. For 14 years, Lharampa Tenzin Kalden has organized training courses in Buddhist philosophy and psyschology, as well as meditation retreats in Europe.
Content of the mindfulness seminar:
- Meditation and Tibetan Lu Jong yoga for the five elements
- Mindfulness meditation and walking meditation
- Buddhist psychology for more harmony and health
- Healing mantras and chakra cleansing exercises derived from Tibetan Buddhism
- Meditation and exercises against stress and burnout
- Lecture: “Dealing with sorrowful emotions using exercises for mindfulness meditation”
- Lecture: “Buddhist philosophy as a basis for meditation”
- Lecture: “The therapeutic benefits of buddhist tantra
Languages
German & English
Art Weeks
with Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger*
Get creative at the Buchinger Wilhelmi Art Weeks! This is a unique opportunity to work in the art atelier under the guidance of independent artists Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger.
Four times a year, the Art Weeks offer guests at our clinic the chance to develop their artistic skills in an inspiring environment. The atelier is open for three hours a day during this time and has everything you need to explore your creative side at your own pace.
Dates
12 – 19 July 2026: Summer Lights
27 September – 04 October 2026: All about colours
20 – 27 December 2026: Celestial Inspiration
Programme schedule 'Summer Lights': 12 – 19 July 2026
Art Week “Summer Lights”
Our summer Art Week is dedicated to the inspiring concept of “Summer Lights” – a chance to immerse yourself in a world filled with colours, light and summer vibes. The focus of this week-long workshop is on the magic of light that reflects the splendour of summer. Participants can experiment with different media and bring their creative visions to life in the form of painting, drawing and collage.
“Summer Lights” is more than just a theme; it is an invitation to capture the warm, golden light moments of summer. Participants are encouraged to experiment with light and shade and express the vibrant colours of summer in their work. In the same way as fasting heightens the senses, the workshop is an opportunity to focus on the subtle details of light and shade and discover the nuances of summer that are often overlooked.
Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger will guide you through the week, share their knowledge and ensure that it fills you with new ideas and inspiration. The workshop gives you space for personal development and creative experimentation, so by the end of the week, you will have produced a collection of impressive images that reflect the special atmosphere of summer.
The atelier is open for 3 hours a day over 7 days.
The art instructors are Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger
Programme schedule 'All about colors': 27 September – 04 October 2026
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of colors and discover how colors affect us not only on canvas, but also within ourselves. Led by artists Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger, you can look forward to a creative week filled with colors, pigments, and experimentation with various painting and drawing techniques.
In keeping with the philosophy of Buchinger fasting, which renews the body through fasting, Art Week also offers a profound spiritual experience. In this creative space, you will have the opportunity to rediscover yourself, free your mind, and draw inspiration from the colors and shapes that emerge on canvas or paper in the studio.
Give your creativity new space and let the power of colors take you on a journey of renewal and inspiration.
The studio is open 7 days a week for 3 hours each day.
The art instructors are Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger.
Programme schedule 'Celestial Inspiration': 20 – 27 December 2026
In the special atmosphere of the Christmas season, we offer you the chance to take a spiritual and creative time out. Our “Celestial Inspirations” Art Week is ideal for anyone looking for inner calm, magic and new inspiration during this contemplative period. Look up at the skies and discover the beauty and secrets of the nighttime landscape, the blue hour and the celestial wonders. Be inspired by nature and the history of art, and find new perspectives for your creative journey.
Under the supervision of artists Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger, you can look forward to a week filled with experimenting and experiencing art. Explore the world of experimental printing, work with monotypes and discover new forms of expression through painting and drawing.
This Art Week gives you space for personal development and inner reflection and the opportunity to create your own art projects.
Experience a magical time of creative fulfilment and inner renewal – a journey to the stars that will enhance your art and lift your spirit.
The atelier is open for 3 hours a day over 7 days.
The art instructors are Joanna Klakla and Ursula Erchinger
Further information
The focus is on experimenting with different techniques and materials. The aim of the Art Weeks is to discover and foster your own personal artistic expression. Let yourself be guided by the artists’ inspiring ideas and develop your own creative works in a supportive and open atmosphere.
Immerse yourself in the world of art. Your creative journey begins here!
Buchinger Wilhelmi has a well-equipped atelier with a wide choice of materials for painting, drawing, modelling and printing. Outside of the Art Weeks, it is open twice a week for creative work and offers an inspiring environment to develop your own artistic ideas. Like fasting, doing art helps the mind and body to regenerate. It heightens the senses and opens the mind for inspiration and creative development. Let the unique combination of art and therapy inspire you!
INSTRUCTORS
The atelier is run by Joanna Klakla, an experienced artist and teacher. She studied art and art education at the University of National Education Commission in Krakow, Poland, and now lives and works as an independent artist and art teacher on Lake Constance. Her techniques include painting, woodcuts and collage. Under her guidance you will develop your creative skills and learn new techniques.
The second instructor at our atelier is Ursula Erchinger, an independent artist with a studio in Überlingen. She completed an academic degree in art and education and her work focuses on painting and drawing.
Use this unique opportunity to start your artistic journey in a professional and supportive environment!
Languages
German, English & French
Sophrology Seminar: Feel Better – Live Better
with Gaëlle Dehaze*
Discover sophrology, often described as the science of happiness. By gently training both body and mind, you can cultivate a deeper sense of calm and well-being. Through guided practice, you will learn to release tension in your personal and professional life, become more aware of positive emotions, and embrace them with gratitude. This process helps to strengthen inner balance and build greater confidence in the future, supporting a more harmonious and fulfilling way of living.
The talks, each accompanied by a tailored exercise, are structured to help you make progress every day by covering six themes: well-being and stress, breathing and serenity, releasing tension, somatizing the positive, a positive attitude toward the future, and positive recall of the past.
Dates
20 – 26 April 2026
20 – 26 September 2026
Language
German & French
Happiness Week
with Florence Servan-Schreiber*
Florence Servan-Schreiber is an author who lives and works in Paris. She holds workshops and lectures on positive psychology and the science of happiness. Learn how to craft your own happiness and mobilise your own “superpowers”!
Date
11 – 16 May 2026
Language
English & French
Sunshine, Strengths and Upward Spirals
with Saskia Fehr*
An empowering programme for more emotional wellbeing.
Through dynamic and interactive exercises, facilitated discussions, guided meditations and the supportive embrace of our group, you will embark on an exploration of your unique character strengths. Uncover the inherent gifts that empower you, and identify practical strategies to leverage them in your daily life, fostering a sustainable sense of well-being and flow.
Date
18 – 24 May 2026
Further information
With the help of Positive Psychology Interventions targeting forgiveness, gratitude, savouring and optimism we will lay the foundation for your sustained wellbeing. By cultivating a regular practice of experiencing positive emotions, we initiate a powerful upward spiral of well-being that extends far beyond your time at Buchinger Wilhelmi.
Also: Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercise (TRE®).
A series of physical exercises aimed at releasing the tension in the body caused by stress and trauma through a natural neurogenic trembling process. – max. 12 participants
About the facilitator
Saskia Fehr is a Positive Psychologist and Coach. With her passion for a good life, she integrates insights from the science of wellbeing with approaches from coaching, methods from body psychotherapy and teaching from various wisdom traditions in her practice as Coach and Trainer for Individuals and Organisations. In addition to her practice, she teaches Positive Psychology in a Master’s program and is pursuing a PhD in human flourishing and spiritual awakening. Personally, she considers herself a Dhamma student and practices Vipassana Meditation and Hatha Yoga.
Language
German & English
The Longevity Science Week
with the Buchinger Wilhelmi Science team*
Join us for an enlightening Science Week dedicated to the theme of “Therapeutic Fasting and the Microbiome.” Discover the profound connection between therapeutic fasting and the microbiome, the community of trillions of microorganisms living in and on our bodies.
At Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic, our expertise in therapeutic fasting stands out due to our commitment to scientific validation and evidence-based outcomes. We are the ONLY place that validates, tests and amplifies their own product scientifically and hence can almost guarantee certain outcomes. Our scientific team wants to share this with you by a series of engaging lectures, hands-on workshops, and interactive discussions with world-renowned experts in nutrition, fasting, and microbiome research.
Participants will have the unique opportunity to learn about the latest scientific advancements, explore personalized fasting protocols, and understand the pivotal role of the microbiome in health and disease. You will even be able to have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of scientific research by cultivating the microbes that live on their skin.
Dates
15 – 20 June 2026
05 – 09 October 2026
Programme schedule: 15. – 20.06.2026
Monday, 15 June, 8.00 p.m. • Evening lecture – The mysteries of the gut microbiome:
Our digestive tract is home to an incredible number of bacteria. The latest scientific findings about this microbial world are currently revolutionising medicine and opening up new therapeutic possibilities. / Dr Robin Mesnage
Tuesday, 16 June, 9.30 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. • The scientific department will be opened for visit:
Members of the science team will be welcoming you to answer your questions and explain you their work in the realisation of scientific studies.
Tuesday, 16 June, 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. • Microbial art workshop:
Join us for a unique microbiome art workshop where science meets creativity. Using real microscope images as inspiration, explore the vibrant ecosystem of the gut microbiome through collage and watercolor techniques. Let’s transform the unseen world within us into stunning visual art!
Wednesday, 17 June • Workshop:
How We Make DNA Visible (See weekly programme for times).
Friday, 19 June, 8.00 p.m. • Evening lecture –FastForward presentation on the study for a better understanding of the crucial phase after fasting:
The new research study ongoing in our clinic aims to study how to improve the food reintroduction and help our patients adopting a healthy lifestyle after fasting. Practical tips for a better blood sugar control and mindful eating will be offered. / Marie Knufinke
Saturday, 20 June, 8.00 p.m. • Evening lecture – Recent scientific discoveries about this microbial world are revolutionising medicine and opening up new therapeutic possibilities and scientific research at the Buchinger Wilhelmi clinics:
An overview of the major achievements of the scientific department to document the safety and therapeutic effects of the Buchinger Wilhelmi.
Programme schedule: 05. – 09.10.2026
Workshop: How We Make DNA Visible (See weekly programme for times).
Monday, 5 October, 7.30 p.m. • Evening lecture – Therapeutic Fasting and Women’s Health: Cycle Regulation and Peri to Menopausal Changes:
This scientific lecture presents current findings on the effects of therapeutic fasting on the female cycle as well as on peri and menopausal symptoms. It is based both on clinical data collected in our clinic and on international research findings, which are placed into a medical context. / Marie Knufinke
Tuesday, 6 October, 7.30 p.m. • Evening lecture – The mysteries of the gut microbiome:
Our digestive tract is home to an incredible number of bacteria. The latest scientific findings about this microbial world are currently revolutionising medicine and opening up new therapeutic possibilities. / Dr Robin Mesnage
Wednesday, 7 October • The scientific department will be opened for visit:
Members of the science team will be welcoming you to answer your questions and explain you their work in the realisation of scientific studies.
Wednesday, 7 October, 10,00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. • Microbial art workshop:
Join us for a unique microbiome art workshop where science meets creativity. Using real microscope images as inspiration, explore the vibrant ecosystem of the gut microbiome through collage and watercolor techniques. Let’s transform the unseen world within us into stunning visual art!
Friday, 9 October, 5.00 p.m. • Evening lecture – FastForward presentation on the study for a better understanding of the crucial phase after fasting:
The new research study ongoing in our clinic aims to study how to improve the food reintroduction and help our patients adopting a healthy lifestyle after fasting. Practical tips for a better blood sugar control and mindful eating will be offered. / Marie Knufinke
About the speaker
Dr. Robin Mesnage is the Scientific Director of the Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinics, where he leads research studies to scientifically document the effects of fasting and to integrate cutting-edge diagnostics into the therapeutic journey of patients. He also works in the Department of Nutrition at King’s College London, where he holds a research fellow position to investigate the role of the gut microbiome in the health benefits of plant foods. Additionally, he is a keynote speaker, regularly offering lectures on scientific topics, and has served as an expert on the regulation of human health effects of chemical pollutants for the French government and occasionally for the European Parliament. His research has resulted in the publication of over 100 scientific articles, cited more than 8,000 times. He is among the top 1 percent of cited scientists worldwide for his work on the health effects of pollution.
Language
English
Women’s Health Weeks – Strength, Clarity, and Hormonal Balance
with the Buchinger Wilhelmi team*
Two intensive weeks dedicated to women’s health, with a focus on hormones, menopause, and renewed vitality. You will receive medically grounded knowledge and practical guidance from female physicians and experts on pre-, peri-, and postmenopause, naturopathic approaches, and the possibilities and limitations of bioidentical hormone therapy. The program is complemented by emotional bodywork and hormone yoga, hormone-friendly nutrition, pelvic floor training, psychological guidance, and the latest studies on therapeutic fasting and the menstrual cycle.
An accompanying art workshop creates space for expression and integration. For women who want to meet themselves anew – clear, empowered, and connected.
Date
20 July – 2 August 2026
Further information
The focus is on hormones and menopause, from pre- through peri- to postmenopause. The program opens with an introductory lecture by Dr. Verena Buchinger, outlining the key themes of the week and providing a medical perspective on the interplay between hormones, the body, the psyche, and life stage. In the days that follow, medical lectures explore the physiological development of the female hormonal system and offer evidence-based perspectives on naturopathic approaches as well as the possibilities and limitations of bioidentical hormone therapy.
Running in parallel throughout the week, body oriented emotional work for hormonal health forms a common thread. In four consecutive workshop sessions, Wiebke Lehmann combines physical exercises including hormone yoga with emotional process work, addressing themes such as anger, shame, and guilt as resources for living feminine energy with greater clarity and strength. Complementing this, Birgit Bley offers practical guidance in a Hormone Food teaching kitchen, demonstrating how hormone friendly nutrition especially during peri and postmenopause can be integrated into everyday life, using high quality oils, medicinal herbs, and sustainable strategies. Movement is also firmly embedded in the program, including a focus on pelvic floor training, which is often particularly effective during fasting.
The psychological dimension of menopause is also addressed. Dr. Lisa Green, lead psychologist at the clinic, explains how this period of hormonal change can be seen as an opportunity for realignment. As maternal and nurturing hormonal patterns decline and social roles shift, many women discover new space to reconnect with their own needs, self care, and inner direction. The program is further enriched by current scientific insights. PhD Marie Knufinke presents the latest research findings on the relationship between therapeutic fasting, the female cycle, and peri and menopausal symptoms. The week concludes with an art workshop in the clinic’s art studio, offering a creative exploration of femininity and expression, and providing space to integrate the inner shifts that have been set in motion.
Language
English
Theatre Workshop
with Irina Brook*
Experience the joy of theatre and discover how much vitality and lightness can be found in simple exercises and playful exploration. Years of working with actors and non actors alike have shown how empowering and connecting basic theatre warm ups and creative exercises can be for people of all ages.
Look forward to a week of playfulness, curiosity and shared discovery. Through simple exercises, a safe and supportive space is created in which sensitivity and openness can grow and inhibitions can gradually dissolve.
There is nothing to fear. Embrace a journey of self discovery and experience the power of playing together. Especially welcome are those who consider themselves shy or believe they are not suited to theatre.
Dress code: comfortable clothing, barefoot.
Dates
23 – 28 November 2026
About the speaker
Irina Brook is an internationally acclaimed opera and theatre director known for her bold and innovative productions. Her work in opera has garnered attention at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, with recent highlights including her return to the Wiener Staatsoper for Don Pasquale and to Teatro alla Scala for La Rondine. She is set to make her Japanese opera debut with Carmen at the Tokyo Nikikai Opera. Brook’s opera career began with a successful debut directing Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte for the Nederlandse Reisopera.
She has since directed a diverse range of operatic works including Tchaikovsky’s Yevgeny Onegin at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Rossini’s La Cenerentola at Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Teatro Comunale di Bologna, and Verdi’s La traviata at Opéra de Lille and Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Other notable productions include Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at Deutsche Oper, and Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Wiener Staatsoper. Her work at Teatro alla Scala includes Die Sieben Todsünden & Mahagonny-Songspiel and Il matrimonio segreto. Born in Paris, Irina Brook grew up immersed in the arts, as the daughter of director Peter Brook and actress Natasha Parry.
She moved to New York at 16 to study acting with Stella Adler, making her stage debut in Off-Broadway productions before transitioning to directing. Her breakthrough as a director came in London in 1996 with Beast on the Moon, followed by several successful productions including Mrs Klein and All’s Well that Ends Well. Her French adaptation of Beast on the Moon, Une Bête sur la Lune, received critical acclaim and won five Molière Awards, including Best Director and Best Play. In 2003, she founded Irina’s Dream Theatre in Paris, through which she has toured globally with productions like Brecht’s Der gute Mensch von Sezuan, Marivaux’s L’Île des Esclaves, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Her work at major festivals includes the Salzburg Festival, Barbican Centre, Spoleto Festival, and her acclaimed production The Island Trilogy, which toured internationally. From 2014 to 2021, Brook served as the Director of the Théâtre National de Nice, where she continued to push artistic boundaries. In 2021, she was appointed Artist-in-Residence at Teatro Stabile del Veneto, where she premiered The House of Us, an interdisciplinary installation based on Hamlet.
She was also named Artist-in-Residence at Château d’Hardelot’s Elizabethan Globe Theatre in 2023. Brook’s contributions to theatre and opera have earned her numerous accolades, including the Chevalier and Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and most recently, in 2023, the Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Language
English
Yoga transformation retreat
with Gilbert Grimeau*
Experience the transformative power of yoga at Buchinger Wilhelmi!
The beginning of the year offers a good opportunity to reorganise your intuition and potential and to get new impulses for the spring. This intense yoga transformation retreat is your opportunity to do so.
Learn various meditation techniques and breathing exercises, explore your body awareness during yoga classes, and open up new horizons through mantra chanting and much more. It doesn’t matter how much yoga experience you have, as you can find your own intensity through the different levels.
We at Buchinger Wilhelmi want to offer you this particularly protected space for your retreat, your spiritual development, and your transformation. Fasting during the retreat can support you in your transformation, but is not mandatory.
Dates
07 – 12 December 2026
Further information
*Gilbert Grimeau is a yoga and meditation instructor. He has practised yoga for more than 23 years as a life philosophy. Gilbert started training as a yoga instructor in the Sivananda tradition 17 years ago. Following this, he completed further courses in modern styles like Anusara, Yin and Vinyasa yoga. His courses are designed to be integral, incorporating elements from various yoga styles. He learned and experienced meditation in various ashrams in Germany, India and South America. He is currently deepening his knowledge by training to become a yoga therapist.
Since 2021 he has been an Inspiration Coach at Buchinger Wilhelmi, where he offers our guests various meditation and yoga classes, breathing therapy classes and therapeutic dancing.
The following classes are planned:
Daily
7:30 – 8:10 a.m.: Pranayama – Peace Chanting
8:15 – 8:50 a.m.: Meditation
9:00 – 09:50 a.m.: Yoga Level I
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.: Yoga Level II
Monday, Tuesday, Friday:
5:15 – 6:30 p.m.: Yoga therapy (digestive system, heart, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system)
Saturday afternoon:
5:15 – 6.00 p.m.: Dance It Off (Embark on a journey through the elements and move intuitively to inspiring music. Without judgement, you develop your own, individual dance and activate your self-healing powers.)
Wednsday, Thursday, Saturday evening:
7:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Mantra yin yoga / Mantra meditation / Mantra with sound
Language
English
*All events are free of charge as part of our Buchinger Wilhelmi program.
