Introduction to Vajra Yoga: Summer Immersion
With Michele Loew and Robert A.F. Thurman
August 7 - 10, 2025
Join us for a weekend of yoga and inspiring meditations and dharma talks with Bob and Michele as we dive into the practices of Vajrayoga. Vajrayoga is Tibet House US’s school of yoga and Indian inner science, teaching the physical and meditative practices common to both Hatha and Buddhist traditions and designed to open your body to ultimate health, vitality, and inner freedom. Vajrayoga sets yogic practices within the context of deep spirituality, the principles of enlightenment, and it deepens an understanding of the scientific basis of being ethical, to be evolutionary skillful, compassionate, wise, and joyous.
In this retreat Michele will explore various practices from Hatha and Tibetan Yoga as a way to open your physical and subtle-body nervous systems in the context of our Vajrayoga school. All levels are welcome, and poses can all be modified to accommodate students with injuries or physical limitations. Bob will teach comparative Buddhist and classical Indian inner science, exploring Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga scriptures, and the sutras and tantras of the Buddha.
Each morning we will enjoy meditation, pranayama, and Tibetan healing yoga, and then a dharma talk with Robert Thurman after breakfast. The afternoons will be alignment-based Hatha Yoga. We will end each day with sleep meditation/yoga nidra for deep rest and healing. This will be a great opportunity to meet Bob and Michele prior to the start of their Fall Yoga School.
Beginning November 2025 we will start our comprehensive 300hr Yoga Alliance certification course (online/in-person). The 300hr course is perfect for those looking to go even deeper into the Buddha’s comprehensive inner science education, study of the Lamrim (stages of the path to enlightenment), meditation, yoga asana, and the comparative non-dual philosophies of India.
If you are looking for a Yoga Teacher Training course that brings in yoga and the meditative sciences from Buddhism and Classical Indian Yoga, this is the perfect course to take. The journey is deeply educational and spiritually transformational, while giving you the practical skills to support other students on their paths.
All levels of experience are welcome!
THIS PAGE IS FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION. TO REGISTER FOR ONLINE/VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE, PLEASE CLICK HERE
Schedule
Friday, August 7
- 3 – 6 pm Arrival & Check-in
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 – 9 Welcome Program
Saturday, August 8
- 7 – 8 am Meditation and Tibetan Yoga w/ Michele
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Philosophy & Dharma Talk w/ Bob
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free time for Dewa Spa Healing Treatments or Time in Nature
- 4 – 6 pm Yoga Asana Practice w/ Michele
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 – 9 pm Yoga Nidra w/ Michele
Sunday, August 9
- 7 – 8 am Meditation and Tibetan Yoga w/ Michele
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Philosophy & Dharma Talk w/ Bob
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free time for Dewa Spa Healing Treatments or Time in Nature
- 4 – 6 pm Yoga Asana Practice w/ Michele
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 – 9 pm Yoga Nidra w/ Michele
Monday, August 10
- 7 – 11 am Check-out of Rooms
- 7 – 8 am Meditation and Tibetan Yoga w/ Michele
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Philosophy & Dharma Talk w/ Bob
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.
About the Leaders

Michele Loew
Michele Loew is an international yoga teacher & practitioner of Hatha & Tibetan Yogas & the founding director of the Vajra Yoga School of Comparative Buddhist & Indic Yogic Studies where sheco-teaches with Professor Robert A.F. Thurman at Menla & abroad. She has taught, practiced, & studied avidly since 1998, and continues to run her […]
Learn more about Michele Loew
Robert A.F. Thurman
Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as co-founder and President of Tibet House US and it's Menla Retreat & Spa. A world-wide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, translator of Buddhist texts, and writer of popular Buddhist books. He recently has been awarded […]
Learn more about Robert A.F. ThurmanCategories : Menla Retreat (all retreats), Menla THUS, Vajra Yoga