The Five Toes of Sustainability

The toes play an important role in keeping us balanced in life. Without our toes, we would quickly become unbalanced. It is well known that travel has a significant impact on people, animals and nature. There are a few things that responsible travellers can do to ensure that the environment does not suffer.

Respect for nature is our future.

When choosing yoga hotels, it was important to me that BAREFOOT only showcases those that really deserve it. A BAREFOOT yoga hotel has to be more than just a place to roll out your mat. It makes me happy when I am on holiday and I have the feeling that I am supporting a good concept through my stay and not having a good time at the expense of others. The BAREFOOT brand should stand for a quality yoga holiday in harmony with the environment.

Fortunately, I discovered that the yoga spirit is contagious. Yoga and sustainability go together. I sought out excellent hoteliers and their concepts. My research was guided by these five pillars. Admittedly, not every hotel can tick every box. I prefer an honest commitment to some points to not starting at all. Unfortunately, I have not found a neutral, globally valid certification system. So my assessment is based on the statements and information provided on the website.

The five toes of sustainability:

Regional cuisine & use of organic products

A vegetarian cuisine without avocado. Products that, at best, come from the friendly farmer next door. The BAREFOOT hotels all score with imaginative cuisine, where the wooden spoon is wielded in harmony with the region and the season.

Careful use of resources

Running a hotel takes a lot of energy. Careful use of energy goes beyond the small sign in the bathroom about towel consumption. Saunas that don’t run all the time, natural ponds instead of swimming pools, well-insulated modern windows, even heat recovery systems – many BAREFOOT hotels go to great lengths to conserve resources.

Architecture in harmony with the landscape and the region

There are images that immediately come to mind when we think of the sins of building while on holiday. All too often, the interests of investors take precedence over those of the environment. Not so at BAREFOOT Hotels, where old buildings are renovated with love and dedication, materials are often sourced locally and the architecture reflects regional building methods and identities.

Social responsibility

Fair dealings with suppliers, catering and hotel employees who are offered a work-life balance, and local residents who are welcome guests in the restaurant and often enjoy special conditions in yoga. Just as yoga is about connecting the body, mind and spirit to a greater whole, BAREFOOT hotels are about building a sustainable bridge to society.

Protecting flora & fauna

Many hotels and yoga retreats offer guided walks in the surrounding area. Protecting animals and plants starts with your own perception of nature and, of course, with sharing knowledge.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa.