Lifting the Gaze

With Cyndi Lee

August 5 - 9, 2026

Address: 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

  • Deluxe Queen – $2,320.00
  • Deluxe Double (Shared Room) – $1,996.00
  • Standard Single - Shared Bath – $2,060.00
  • Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room) – $1,912.00
  • Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room) – $1,828.00
  • Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath – $1,924.00
  • Economy Single - Shared Bath – $1,776.00
  • Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room) – $1,736.00
  • Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room) – $1,500.00
Register now
Register now

Lifting the Gaze is an opportunity to withdraw from the demands of your life and gather yourself together within the beauty of Menla and the warmth of community.

Traditionally, a spiritual retreat is a time to touch your mind and touch your heart. It offers you a concentrated period of practice to help you get familiar with who you are, as you are, right now.

Personal practice is never about being better or different. It is not about rejecting any part of you, no part of your body and no part of your mind, your emotions, your anger or your love. It’s about opening to the basic goodness that lives inside you right now.

We will use the tried and true practices of yoga and meditation to experience the traditional benefits of joy and ease.

MORNING SESSIONS will include silent meditation, a dharma talk, Q & A and sustainable yoga practice.

AFTERNOON PRACTICES will include pranayama, restorative yoga, group discussions and outdoor walking meditation

ONE EVENING SESSION will offer a silent guided meditation.

During the retreat you will

  • develop your mindfulness/shamatha practice,
  • strengthen your practice commitment by recognizing and relaxing your obstacles; and
  • gain the skills and awareness to bring your innate goodness into the rest of your life.

Together we will connect the dots between why we practice, how we practice, and the results of practice.

We will show up for ourselves and we will show up for each other…and we’ll make it fun!

All levels are welcome. Modifications will be offered to support those with injuries or physical limitations.

Schedule

Wednesday, August 5

  • 3 – 4:30 pm Arrival and Check -in
  • 5 – 6 pm Stretching and Restorative Yoga
  • 6 – 7 pm Dinner
  • 7:30 – 9 pm Welcome Gathering

Thursday, August 6

  • 8 – 9 am Breakfast
  • 9:30 am – 12:15 pm Morning Practice
  • 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
  • 1:30 – 3:30 pm Break
  • 3:30 – 4 pm Outdoor Walking Meditation
  • 4 – 5:45 pm Afternoon session
  • 6 – 7 pm Dinner

Friday, August 7

  • 8 – 9 am Breakfast
  • 9:30 am – 12:15 pm Morning Practice
  • 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
  • 1:30 – 3:30 pm Break
  • 3:30 – 4 pm Outdoor Walking Meditation
  • 4 – 5:45 pm Afternoon session
  • 6 – 7 pm Dinner

Saturday, August 8

  • 8 – 9 am Breakfast
  • 9:30 am – 12:15 pm Morning Practice
  • 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
  • 1:30 – 3:30 pm Break
  • 3:30 – 4 pm Outdoor Walking Meditation
  • 4 – 5:45 pm Afternoon session
  • 6 – 7 pm Dinner
  • 7:30 pm Silent Guided Meditation

Sunday, August 9

  • 8 – 9 am Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 12:15 pm Morning Practice
  • 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch and Departure

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.

About the Leader

Cyndi Lee

Cyndi Lee began practicing yoga and meditation when she went to college in 1972. She began teaching yoga in 1978 and at the behest of her root guru, the great Tibetan master, Gelek Rimpoche, she began teaching meditation in 1992. The first western female teacher to combine yoga and Tibetan Buddhism, Lee founded OM yoga […]

Learn more about Cyndi Lee

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