Programs
Menla Create-Your-Own Getaway
Build a custom escape vacation by choosing activities à la carte. Only two hours from New York City, Menla lies in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. De-stress on more than 300 acres of private wilderness. Unspoiled natural beauty adjoins state land, creating endless opportunities for wildlife spotting and discovering secret hideaways. Let fresh air, light, […]
Refuge Ceremony and Medicine Buddha Empowerment Free Thursday Commuter Option
With His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche and Robert A.F. Thurman
It is with great joy and honor that we announce that His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche has kindly accepted our invitation to teach at Menla during this North American 2024 tour! It is fitting that for his first visit to Menla “the Medicine Buddha” Retreat Center, Rinpoche will bless us with teachings […]
TUMMO FIRE AND HEART DROP YOGA RETREAT
With Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Robert A.F. Thurman, Michele Loew and Dr. James Bae DACM, E-RYT, C-IAYT
Yuthok Yonten Gonpo (ca. 1126-1202CE) is believed by Tibetans to be an emanation of the Medicine Buddha, and he translated/composed the Eight-Branch Deathless Essence—four Medicine Buddha Tantras that descended from Indian Mahayana Buddhism as the lost Buddhist version of what was known in India as the work of the famous Vāgbhaṭṭa. Yuthok travelled all over […]
Spring Awakening: Yoga and Writing Retreat
With Georgette Kaftan and Kerry Bray
Yoga, meditation, and breathwork are valuable tools to push past fear, doubt, insecurity, and also to help us explore joy and the miracles of life. Writing is a sacred practice to acknowledge ourselves, our loved ones, our ancestors, and the natural world. We move and write to heal. We move and write to explore personal […]
From Fire to Light: Completion Stage Yogas for Transforming Trauma into Fully Awakened Humanity
With Dr. Nida Chenagtsang and Joseph (Joe) Loizzo , M.D., Ph.D.
This in-person retreat introduces the embodied neuroscience and transformative arts of the completion stage of Unexcelled Tantric healing and explores how this powerful and accessible methodology can help catalyze and speed the dissolution of our habitual trauma body into our fully awakened, native humanity, at the individual, interpersonal, societal and planetary levels. After reviewing the […]
Dharma Moon Windhorse Retreat: Raising Power and Energy to Meet the Challenge of Living
With David Nichtern, Dr. Sará King and Larry Mermelstein
Life can often feel like an uphill battle. We go through our days managing work, relationships, health, kids, school, and "life admin", but by the end of the day, it can feel like our very life force has drained out of us. In Tibetan Buddhism, there is an ancient practice called lungta, or Windhorse. Its […]
Garden Volunteer Retreat
With Aaron 'Water' Piepszny
The garden, forest, and landscaping at Menla supports the enjoyment and nourishment of many beautiful, rare, and important pollinators, birds, and humans. Come exponentiate our stewardship of the glorious space that is the Menla ecosystem. We will create forest garden beds to increase water retention, build soil, and sequester carbon, weed the garden beds to focus […]
Emerge, Grow, and Bloom: An Alchemical Constellations Retreat
With Emily Blefeld, LICSW and Dan Cohen, PhD
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud became greater than the risk it took to blossom.” ~ Anais Nin The earth awakens after the dream of winter. Animals stir, buds swell, and spring’s expansive vibrant energy invites us to emerge, grow, and bloom in our one precious life. Do […]
The Fundamental Principles Of SoundHealing from the Ancient Shamanic Tradition to New Science: Followed by Tuning Fork Studies
With Lea Garnier and John Beaulieu, ND, PhD
TRAINING CERTIFICATION: Module 1 of 3 This certification program is spread over three weekend intensives equaling 100 hours of training with pioneers who will show you how to utilize a variety of Sound Healing techniques for your own practice as a Sound Healer. With a certificate of completion from Sage Academy of Sound, students will […]
Alchemical Constellations: The Space In Between
With Emily Blefeld, LICSW and Dan Cohen, PhD
Dan, Emily, and the Leadership Team welcome you to join us for a weekend of relaxation, play, ritual, systemic conversation, and connection at Menla after the public workshop and before the final ACT Training. We will informally be “hanging-out” in the field of everyday with whomever dares to follow us into the woods, splash in […]
Seeing with Your Heart: Alchemical Constellations Training and Facilitator Certification
With Emily Blefeld, LICSW and Dan Cohen, PhD
See with Your Heart. Live from Your Heart. Lead Through Your Heart. Emily Blefeld and Dan Cohen’s Seeing with Your Heart Alchemical Constellations Training and Facilitator Certification is designed for individuals ready to untie the tangled threads of past generational sorrows, free themselves to live into the possibilities of spontaneous creation, and expand their lives, […]
Volunteer Trailwork Weekend
With Michael G. Burbank
Long before Tibet House was gifted the 330-acre Menla property, an extensive web of hiking trails allowed guests to experience the magic, serenity, and natural splendor of our enchanted forest. With the help of intrepid volunteers over the years, we have restored several of the old trails on our property completely, and each year we […]
Devoted to Wisdom: Celebrating Buddhism & Bhakti Yoga
With Krishna Das, Robert A.F. Thurman and Nina Rao
Join internationally-acclaimed presenters, Krishna Das and Tenzin Bob Thurman, for a celebratory spring Catskills retreat at Menla, exploring the interplay of evolutionary action, wisdom, and loving devotion on the spiritual path. Drawing from their personal experiences with their gurus, their travels in India, and their wise devotion to ancient Indo-Tibetan spiritual teachings and practices, Krishna […]
GROW A NEW BODY: One week of healing, renewal and wisdom
With Alberto Villoldo Ph.D
Lay the foundation for a healthy body that ages slowly and joyfully by combining shamanic energy medicine with cutting-edge neuroscience and biology, detox strategies and power-plant foods you can use to switch on your cells' innate ability to regenerate and repair. Detoxifying your body and upgrading your brain The human body has become a toxic […]
Garden Volunteer Retreat
With Aaron 'Water' Piepszny
The garden, forest, and landscaping at Menla supports the enjoyment and nourishment of many beautiful, rare, and important pollinators, birds, and humans. Come exponentiate our stewardship of the glorious space that is the Menla ecosystem. We will create forest garden beds to increase water retention, build soil, and sequester carbon, weed the garden beds to focus […]
Friends of Fungi: a Hiking, Foraging, & Mushroom Cultivation Retreat
With John Michelotti, Erwin Karl, Gabriela D’Elia and Aubrey Carter
From the largest living organism in the world to the creation of soil, fungi play an essential role for life on earth. They have been recycling and helping to heal the planet for centuries. Now we can partner with fungi to improve our lives through appreciating the food and medicines this extraordinary kingdom has to […]
Finding Safety In Yourself & Others
With Luis Mojica
Safety comes from inside of our bodies. Think of all the times your environment was peaceful or you were around loving people, yet your body was still bracing or experiencing anxiety. There’s a good reason for this. When we have trauma and chronic stress, our bodies live in a state of bracing from remembered and […]
Refuge in the Nature of the Heart Retreat with Yoga, Mantra, and Music
With Nina Rao, Shamina Rao and Keli Lalita Reddy
Nina is so happy to be joined by her sister and yogini, Shamina and friend in practice and life, Keli Lalita --their wish is for this retreat to be restful and rejuvenating for all. Nina will share her long-standing kirtan (call-and-response chanting in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions) practice during the nightly kirtans. During the day, she will share other […]
Cultivating Joy: A Ketamine-assisted Mindfulness Retreat for Professionals
With Jayne Gumpel, LCSW, Seema Desai, MD, Rohini Kanniganti MD, MSPH, HMDC, Lisa Wang MD, Saundra Jain, MA, PsyD, LPC and David Gumpel M.A
Application Fee: $2850 plus housing and medical intake Join us at beautiful Menla in the Catskills! Welcome to Cultivating Joy ~ A Ketamine Assisted Mindfulness Retreat for professionals looking to cultivate and deepen their practice with groups through experiential education. This is a safe, structured retreat led by a staff of licensed and highly experienced […]
Sparks of Divinity: A Summer Solstice Iyengar Yoga Retreat
With Susan-Elena Esquivel
"It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity." — B.K.S. Iyengar. Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. What better time to get together to celebrate the source of all life—the life force energy within us—and to give thanks for the blessings that we are always receiving. […]
Show Up with Love: Nidra and Restorative Yoga
With Libby Nicholaou
Immerse yourself in a supportive environment held by nature and community, as you experience the benefits of restorative yoga and Nidra on this weekend retreat following the Summer Solstice. Restorative yoga is a practice of compassion. The nature of the practice – gentle, soft, supportive – reminds us how to gently care for ourselves. It […]
Foundations of Yoga Nidra: Five Day Immersion
With Tracee Stanley and Chanti Tacoronte-Perez
Experiential Practice and Retreat This immersion is an experiential deep dive into the foundations of Yoga Nidra as a technique. Supported by the wisdom of the subtle body, nature, and yogic philosophy, we will explore cosmic sleep as a path toward deep rest, spiritual awakening, and collective care. This course is available for CEU credits […]
God in the Bod: Experiencing the Majesty of You
With John Odlum, Siddiqa Salter and Cynthia J Olivera
Your body is the sacred home of your Soul. The most glorious, majestic energy of the Universe resides in you! And it is time to reclaim this truth, honor your God Codes and authentically express who you are. God in the Bod is a 3-day intensive that takes you on the powerful journey from head […]
13th Annual Sage Academy Summer SoundHealing Intensive
With Silvia Nakkach, M.A., MMT, Lea Garnier, Angell Deer, Katya Valomova and Scott Williams
In 2011 Sage Academy of Sound, located in Woodstock NY, created the 1st annual SoundHealing retreat intensive at Menla. After directly experiencing the healing benefits of sound, and dedicated to sharing this with others, the founders created a platform that would give sound pioneers a beautiful environment to share their knowledge, rest and explore. Thirteen […]
Ascending the Mystical Mountain: Sonic Tibetan Healing Journey
With Lama Lhanang Rinpoche, LARAAJI and Arji OceAnanda
This one-of-a-kind retreat weaves together ancient Tibetan teachings, practices and ceremonies with cutting-edge celestial trance music, therapeutic laughter, sound bath and “playshop” experiences, among other inspiring offerings. Master of the Tibetan Nyingma Longchen Nying-Thig lineage, Lama Lhanang Rinpoche teams up with pioneering ambient musicians and sound healers, Swami Laraaji NadaBrahmananda and Arji OceAnanda Cakouros for […]
Garden Volunteer Retreat
With Iquwah Bezuyen and Aaron 'Water' Piepszny
The garden, forest, and landscaping at Menla supports the enjoyment and nourishment of many beautiful, rare, and important pollinators, birds, and humans. Come exponentiate our stewardship of the glorious space that is the Menla ecosystem. We will create forest garden beds to increase water retention, build soil, and sequester carbon, weed the garden beds to focus […]
Rejuvenate & Rediscover: Women's Yoga & Workshop Retreat
With Samantha Demick, PMP, ICP, Kara Morelli CYT, 200 and Brittany Peo, MA, LMT
"Fresh air is as good for the mind as for the body. Nature always seems to be trying to talk to us as if she had some great secret to tell. And so she has." –John Lubbock Escape to the serene Catskills and rediscover yourself at our exclusive women's retreat. Nestled in the breathtaking glacial valley, the prestigious Menla Retreat Center […]
Eros, Alchemy, and the Shadow: Tantra Intensive
With Laura Carrotti
This intensive offers different ways of liberating blocked or repressed life force. When sexual energy flows, life flows, affecting not only our sexuality but our overall health and happiness. We will explore our relationship with our bodies, our sexuality, with our inner masculine and feminine aspects, as well as the repercussions that those relationships bring […]
Somatic Ecology: Embodying Sustainability
With Iquwah Bezuyen and Aaron 'Water' Piepszny
Your whole being is invited to open and hear the Earth speak. Utilizing the principles of sustainability as a guide, this weekend immersion will explore how our physical and energetic bodies can interface with the Earth, Self, and Other in a balanced, connected, and regenerative way. Forest bathing, mindfulness practices, and nature walks will accompany […]
The Feminine Flow: Past Life Regression, Sound Healing, Yoga & Meditation & Spiritual Painting
With Alica Fuks and Lisa Annese
Join Lisa Annese and Alica Fuks who will support and guide you to connect and embrace your divine feminine energy this summer. Learn how to flow with your spiritual soul and inner essence through love, grace, creation, gratitude, humility and trusting your intuition in a safe space, surrounded by the elements of nature, during your […]
Sacred Metals: Standing Gongs/Himalayan Singing Bowls, Bells & Shruti Songs
With Lea Garnier
TRAINING CERTIFICATION: Module 2 of 3 This certification program teaches how to utilize a variety of Sound Healing techniques for your own practice as a Sound Healer. With a certificate from The Sage Academy of Sound, students should be better equipped to serve as practitioners, specialists, volunteers, interns, or even as members of a multidisciplinary […]
Introduction to Vajrayoga: Summer Immersion
With Robert A.F. Thurman and Michele Loew
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 […]
The Deep Space Experience - Cosmic Forest: A sound, yoga and breathwork retreat
With John Minks, Billy Pinkerton and Anne Marie Miller
“A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of the body. It permeates the entire being, and according to its particular influence, either slows or quickens the rhythm of the blood circulation; it either awakens or soothes the nervous system” ― Hazrat Inayat Khan Are you ready […]
HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK® WORKSHOP: EXPLORING INTEGRATION OF EXPANDED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
With Dr. Laurane McGlynn, Jeffrey Warren and Yulia Meshoyrer
Supporting the synthesis of mind and body after experiencing an expanded state of consciousness. Opening the heart, strengthening the body, calming the mind and lifting the spirit. Holotropic Breathwork™ is a powerful experiential breathing process that allows for self-exploration and healing. With the eyes closed and lying on a mat, each person uses their own breath and […]
Cultivating Joy: A Ketamine-Assisted Mindfulness Retreat for Couples
With Jayne Gumpel, LCSW, David Gumpel M.A, Irina Linetskaya, MD, Donna Sorgen, LMHC,LPC and Daniel Zimmerman, M.D.
This is a safe, structured retreat led by a staff of licensed and highly experienced therapists and physicians in the beautiful Catskill Mountains at Menla Retreat and Spa. ~Meet at the intersection of science and spirituality~ This immersive experience empowers couples to explore the nuances of their relationship, including sexuality and intimacy, understand one another's […]
Somatic Buddhism: Embodying Ease
With Aaron 'Water' Piepszny and Michael G. Burbank
Immediate, actionable stress relief and emotional regulation are the major themes of this immersion. Rather than marathon meditation sessions, we will favor short bursts of depth explorations of breathing, relaxation, and awareness. We’ll then shorten this deep diving to access in-body ease with no preparation or planning, just choice, at any moment. We’ll explore the […]
Garden Volunteer Retreat
With Iquwah Bezuyen and Aaron 'Water' Piepszny
The garden, forest, and landscaping at Menla supports the enjoyment and nourishment of many beautiful, rare, and important pollinators, birds, and humans. Come exponentiate our stewardship of the glorious space that is the Menla ecosystem. We will create forest garden beds to increase water retention, build soil, and sequester carbon, weed the garden beds to focus […]
Know Your Own Mind: The Best of Buddhism and Psychotherapy
With Mark Epstein, M.D. and Robert A.F. Thurman
The interplay of Buddhism and Western psychology goes back at least a hundred years. The most spiritual of the world’s psychologies and the most psychological of the world’s religions, Buddhism teaches that the cultivation of self-awareness dispels ignorance about the nature of the self. By Freud’s time, much of the intelligentsia was at least marginally […]
Crystal Core Awareness with Crystal Bowls, Pyramids & Singing Crystal Consciousness
With Lea Garnier
TRAINING CERTIFICATION: Module 3 of 3 This certification program teaches how to utilize a variety of Sound Healing techniques for your own practice as a Sound Healer. With a certificate from The Sage Academy of Sound, students should be better equipped to serve as practitioners, specialists, volunteers, interns, or even as members of a multidisciplinary […]
The Life-Force Academy Immersion
With Jai Dev Singh
Life-Force Academy at Menla This is an in-person, multi-day immersive yoga retreat that will give you the energy, inspiration and momentum to live the life of creativity and purpose that you were designed for. Join Jai Dev Singh and the Life-Force Academy this fall at the majestic Menla Mountain Retreat in the Catskill Mountains of […]
Garden Volunteer Retreat
With Iquwah Bezuyen and Aaron 'Water' Piepszny
The garden, forest, and landscaping at Menla supports the enjoyment and nourishment of many beautiful, rare, and important pollinators, birds, and humans. Come exponentiate our stewardship of the glorious space that is the Menla ecosystem. We will create forest garden beds to increase water retention, build soil, and sequester carbon, weed the garden beds to focus […]
Dark Retreat, Psychedelics, and Virtual Reality: Peril or Promise?
With Andrew Holecek and Robert A.F. Thurman
Dark retreat is one of the most transformative meditations ever devised. This ancient practice is making a comeback as celebrities proclaim its benefits. Darkness can unleash the power of the luminous mind, bring light to the world, and ironically provide an antidote to this Dark Age. Psychedelics are taking the globe by storm. Entheogens can […]
Balance Creation: A guided journey connecting mind, body, and spirit
With Sarah Ireland and Sille Ostergaard
Looking for a purposeful getaway stimulating your sense of balance and connection with yourself? Join us in the beautiful Catskills for a 3-day retreat led by yoga teacher and breathwork instructor Sarah Ireland and balance coach Sille Ostergaard. Together we specialize in turning imbalance into clarity and flow, guided by a holistic approach to mind, body and […]
Reclamation: A Writing, Intuition, and Mindfulness Retreat
With Michelle Cassandra Johnson
Reclamation is a body of work focused on how intuition can guide one in trusting their voice and story and a framework to support them in bringing their writing project to fruition. This retreat is an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in nature, move through mindfulness and contemplative practices to support you in deepening […]
Autumn Iyengar Yoga Retreat
With Eve Holbrook
Yoga ultimately teaches us to find a sense of retreat within ourselves where we can re-align and re-energize physically, mentally and emotionally regardless of our external circumstances. For many of us, this experience becomes more accessible and profound when we withdraw for an extended period of time from our usual routine and environment to a […]
13th Annual Sage Academy Autumn SoundHealing Intensive
With Joseph Schmidlin, Lea Garnier, Peter Blum, Jessica Caplan and Scott Williams
In 2011 Sage Academy of Sound, located in Woodstock NY, created the 1st annual SoundHealing retreat intensive at Menla. After directly experiencing the healing benefits of sound, and dedicated to sharing this with others, the founders created a platform that would give sound pioneers a beautiful environment to share their knowledge, rest and explore. Thirteen […]
Deepening Our Relationship to Practice: An exploration of Ashtanga, Yin & Chanting
With Bibi Lorenzetti and Alex Tse
Join Bibi Lorenzetti and Alex Tse for a 4-day practice retreat, pulling from the lineages of Ashtanga and Yin Yoga, along with Vedic and devotional chanting, in the magical land of Menla. We will spend our days immersed in the study and practice of yoga, rest, reflection and chanting. This retreat will focus the attention […]
Return to Radiance: Annual Women’s Retreat
With Connie Viglietti
Join Connie Vigleitti this fall to unleash your radiance and embody your essence. The fall season on the gorgeous grounds at Menla offers the perfect opportunity to slow down, tune in and let go. Nature cushions our release as the sisterhood holds our rising spirits and celebrates the return of our radiance. We reclaim our […]
OM TARA YOGA RETREAT
With Jacqueline Deflorio-Reid
Jacqui is honored and excited to lead Om Tara Yoga Studio’s 5th retreat at Menla. To retreat means to withdraw. Jacqui invites you to withdraw from your routine and possibly stressful lives, immerse yourself in nature while practicing yoga, pranayama and meditation. Embrace the deeper study of yoga through philosophy discussions and take home with […]
Being Love: Yoga & Meditation Retreat
With Gemma Farrell
Settle into the stillness of autumn with a weekend devoted to yoga, meditation, deep relaxation, and spiritual reflection. Our retreat invites us to open our hearts to the abundant love already present within us and to release the many ways in which we resist the inner calling to live from that place of pure presence. […]
Cultivating Joy: A Ketamine-assisted Mindfulness Retreat
With Jayne Gumpel, LCSW and David Gumpel M.A
Welcome to Cultivating Joy: a Ketamine-Assisted Mindfulness Retreat for inspired individuals looking to cultivate joy in everyday life. This is a safe, structured retreat led by a staff of licensed and highly-experienced therapists and physicians in the beautiful Catskill Mountains at Menla Retreat and Spa. ~Meet at the intersection of science and spirituality~ Participation in […]
Simplicity Yoga: A Yoga, Hiking & Sound Healing retreat
With Rosanne Ferraiuolo
Our goal on this retreat is to stimulate our senses to purge negative energies from our bodies and refill ourselves with the energy of natural healing, peace, and purpose. This retreat will incorporate yoga, meditation, reiki, and sound healing, with hiking in the mountains that pervade and surround Menla. During this retreat, you can expect […]
Soul Stories: A Holotropic Breathwork® & Past Life Regression Workshop
With Dr. Laurane McGlynn, Jeffrey Warren and John Stockberger
Take a journey into expanded states of consciousness. We invite you to join Dr. Laurane McGlynn, Jeffrey Warren and John Stockberger to experience the remarkable healing potential and therapeutic benefits of Holotropic Breathwork®, a powerful experiential breathing process that allows for self-exploration and healing. With the eyes closed and lying on a mat, each person […]
Building Posture From Awareness: Iyengar Yoga and Meditation
With Lucienne Vidah and Mitchell Owen
Lucienne Vidah and Mitchell Owen will lead seven sessions of asana and meditation respectively. Through asana the body becomes a firm, stable and intelligent structure, the breath moves freely and the brain can relax. When a posture is aligned, the mind naturally settles. The grounds are fertile to enter a meditative state. The meditative state […]
Tibetan Yoga for Health and Wellbeing
With Alejandro Chaoul, PhD
The distinctive Tibetan practice of yoga known as Tsalung Trulkhor combines breathwork, meditation, and physical movements. In this four day retreat, we will focus on the Tsalung movements from the Bön Magyu (Mother Tantra) and the Trulkhor movements from the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyu (Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung), as were used in clinical research […]
YOGIC LIFESTYLE RETREAT: Weekend Immersion into Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda & Nature
With Sue Bonanno
How do we create the conditions for optimal health and wellbeing in our intense modern-day lives? The ancient traditions of meditation, yoga and the sister science of Ayurveda offer practices that balance, heal and transform mind and body to up-level your health, reduce stress, strengthen your immune system and soothe your spirit. The best way […]
Igniting the Light Within: A Dharana & Dhyana Retreat
With Kacy Harnedy
Kacy created this retreat for the person looking to deepen their yogic practice, to unveil the aspects of this beautiful lifestyle, and to implement them into daily life. The practices you will learn are sure to help you deepen self connection, find stillness and learn to trust your inner guidance system Sample Schedule Thursday, December […]