RADIATING 2027: The Light of the Compassionate Heart
With Krishna Das, Nina Rao, Arjun Bruggeman, Lea Garnier, Michele Loew, Paul Bloom, John Campbell and Nena Thurman
December 27, 2026 - January 1, 2027
As we enter the Year of the Fire Goat, we are invited to cultivate compassionate courage and heartfelt connection. This year’s energy encourages us to lead with kindness, embrace our authentic nature, and welcome the year ahead with purpose, harmony, and joy.
Join friends of Tibet House US | Menla for an 19-year tradition as our community gathers in the magical valley of the Medicine Buddha to celebrate the New Year. Over five inspiring days, we’ll practice, pray, and play together through teachings, yoga, breathwork, astrology, meditation, devotional chanting, and more. Together, we’ll release old patterns, set meaningful intentions, and begin 2027 with open hearts and renewed inspiration.
The retreat opens with an unforgettable kirtan experience featuring Krishna Das, Nina Rao, and crew. Throughout the week, Michele Loew and John Campbell will lead daily morning yoga, Paul Bloom will offer afternoon Qi Gong, and Arjun Bruggeman will guide an immersive rhythmic sound experience. Krishna Das, Nina Rao and Nena Thurman will also share additional kirtan sessions and participate in engaging conversations throughout the retreat.
Returning this year, master astrologer and astronomer Alexander Mallon will present his Astrological Forecast for 2027, offering practical insights into the celestial influences shaping the year ahead, along with chart-reading sessions and consultations.
On New Year’s Eve, we’ll gather for our beloved annual sound bath with Woodstock’s Sage Academy of Sound, followed by our festive countdown celebration at the Nalanda Conference Center with music, refreshments, dancing, and community.
This year’s special guest Nena Thurman will be offering wisdom and inspiration throughout the afternoon sessions
Together, we’ll recharge, reflect, and welcome 2027 with creativity, compassion, and a shared commitment to building a more joyful world.
Additional guests will be announced soon!
We encourage you to register early, as space is limited.
Schedule
Sunday, December 27
- 3 – 8 pm Arrival & Check-in
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Welcome with Lynn Schauwecker & Kirtan with Krishna Das, Nina Rao & Friends
Monday, December 28
- 7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Asanas with Michele Loew
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 9:15 – 10:45 am TBD
- 11 am – 12:30 pm Prayers for the Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Tara with Nina
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Astrology Consultations, Relaxation, etc
- 1:45 – 3:15 pm Qi Gong with Paul Bloom
- 2 – 3:30 pm Rhythmic Sound Journey with Arjun Bruggeman
- 4 – 5:30 pm Afternoon Teaching with Nena Thurman & Guest
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Kirtan with Krishna Das, Nina Rao & Friends
Tuesday, December 29
- 7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Asanas with John Campbell
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Class with Michele Loew
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Astrology Consultations, Relaxation, etc
- 1:45 – 3:15 pm Qi Gong with Paul Bloom
- 4 – 5:30 pm Afternoon Class with Krishna Das
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Kirtan with Krishna Das, Nina Rao & Friends
Wednesday, December 30
- 7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Asanas with John Campbell
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm Morning Class TBD
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Astrology Consultations, Relaxation, etc
- 1:45 – 3:15 pm Qi Gong with Paul Bloom
- 4 – 5:30 pm Afternoon Class Nena Thurman
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm 2026 Astrology Forecast with Alexander Mallon
Thursday, December 31
- 7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Asanas with John Campbell
- 8 – 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am – 12 pm “Magic Hat” Public Astrological Chart Readings with Alexander Mallon
- 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
- 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Treatments, Astrology Consultations, Relaxation, etc
- 1:45 – 3:15 pm Qi Gong with Paul Bloom
- 4 – 5:30 pm Afternoon Class TBD
- 6 – 7:30 pm Special New Year’s Dinner
- 8 – 9:30 pm Group Sound Bath with Sage Academy of Sound
- 10 – 1 am New Year’s Countdown and Celebration Dance Party
Friday, January 1
- 7 – 11 am Check out of Guest Rooms
- 7 – 8:30 am Qi Gong with Paul
- 8 am – 7 pm 108 Hanuman Chalisas with Nina Rao, KD & Friends: All Day from Tibet House US in NYC (virtual offering)
- 8:30 – 9:30 am Vajrayoga Asanas with John Campbell
- 10 am -12:30 pm Brunch & Departure
- 1:30 – 4:30 pm Individual Astrology Consultation with Alexander Mallon by Appointment
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change.
About the Leaders
Krishna Das
Krishna Das is a Grammy-nominated chant artist and has sung with people all around the world for over 35 years. His music offers the practice of chanting mantras– mostly in the Indian tradition, with some Buddhist and Gospel infusions. By sharing his life experiences on the path in his book Chants of a Lifetime, and workshops with people […]
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Nina Rao
Nina Rao learned traditional chants from her grandfather in a village in south India when she was nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. For many years Nina has been Krishna Das business manager and assistant, and accompanies him musically. In […]
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Arjun Bruggeman
Arjun Bruggeman, world percussionist, drummer, composer and session recording artist, is highly acclaimed for his unique hybrid of East-meets-West rhythms. For the past decade, he's toured with Krishna Das worldwide and has recorded and performed with artists such as John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Brian Jackson, Jason Mraz, Belinda Carlisle, Jon Anderson, Colman Barks, Robert Bly, […]
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Lea Garnier
Lea Garnier has worked in the healing arts for over 25 years and is an established practitioner in the field. She is the Director of Sage Academy of Sound in Woodstock, NY which she founded in 2007. She is an Upledger trained Craniosacral Therapist, practicing since 1990. She is a certified yoga instructor trained in the […]
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Michele Loew
Michele Loew is an international yoga teacher & practitioner of Hatha & Tibetan Yogas & the co-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 […]
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Paul Bloom
Paul studied Chinese philosophy and history at Harvard and Columbia Universities. He has studied and practiced Classical Qigong with Kwan Sai-hung for over 30 years; Zen Buddhism with Roshi Joan Halifax, Roshi Enkyo O’Hara and Sensei Kazuaki Tanahashi; and Tibetan Buddhism with Professor Robert Thurman and Gelek Rinpoche. Paul has led Qigong workshops at the […]
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John Campbell
John Campbell is a Dharma and yoga teacher, Mysore yoga school graduate, initiate of senior Tibetan Lamas, and graduate of Columbia University Buddhist Studies. He is a senior Certified teacher in the Ashtanga Yoga lineage of southern India, and a practitioner-teacher of Tibetan internal yogas. A scholar of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, he received a PhD in […]
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Nena Thurman
Nena is the Executive Chairwoman of Tibet House US in NYC and its Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in the Catskills. She was a successful fashion model in the 1950s and ’60s before becoming a psychotherapist. She has been married to Robert Thurman for over 50 years, and together they have raised four children, including […]
Learn more about Nena ThurmanCategories : Menla Retreat (all retreats), Menla THUS