IGNITING 2026: Light the Fire of Joy through Compassion - Annual New Year’s Dharma, Pranayama, Yoga, Kirtan & Astrology Celebration

With Krishna Das, Nina Rao, Robert A.F. Thurman, Michele Loew, John Campbell, Paul Bloom, Alexander Mallon, Lea Garnier and Arjun Bruggeman

December 27, 2025 - January 1, 2026

Deluxe King – $3,205.00
Deluxe Queen – $2,600.00
Deluxe Double (Shared Room) – $2,245.00
Standard Single - Shared Bath – $2,360.00
Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room) – $2,090.00
Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room) – $1,985.00
Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath – $2,190.00
Economy Single - Shared Bath – $1,920.00
Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room) – $1,870.00
Economy Triple - Shared Bath (Shared Room) – $1,815.00
Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room) – $1,745.00
Commuter – $1,220.00

As we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, we are invited to light the fire of joy with compassion, harnessing this bold, transformative energy to move forward with purpose, heart, and fearless authenticity.

Join friends of Tibet House US | Menla for an 18-year tradition as our community gathers in person to ring in the New Year in the magical, secret valley of the Medicine Buddha. Over five inspiring days, we’ll practice, pray, and play together—through teachings, breathwork, yoga, astrology, devotional chanting, and more. Let’s release limiting patterns and set powerful intentions for manifesting our dreams for the year ahead—all while sharing in much-needed joy and celebration.

We kick off this year’s retreat with an unforgettable kirtan experience featuring Krishna Das, Nina Rao, and crew. Michele Loew will lead daily morning yoga sessions, and Paul Bloom will guide afternoon Qi Gong classes. Arjun Bruggeman will offer an afternoon of rhythmic sound. Krishna Das and Nina Rao will also offer additional kirtan and join several dynamic group conversations. Bob Thurman will share Dharma teachings alongside John Campbell—with more special guests to be announced soon!

Master astrologer and astronomer Alexander Mallon returns with his renowned Astrological Forecast for 2026, introducing the basics of reading a chart and offering insights into the energetic patterns shaping our personal and collective futures. He’ll also provide expert consultations and lead a group chart-reading session sure to inspire all but the most steadfast skeptics.

On New Year’s Eve, we’ll enjoy our beloved annual group sound bath with Woodstock’s Sage Academy of Sound—a powerful sonic meditation followed by a festive late-night celebration and countdown at the Nalanda Conference Center, complete with refreshments and community connection.

Together, we will recharge, reflect, and realign—ready to face the challenges of our time with fiery joy, clear vision, and compassionate action, manifesting the highest good for ourselves, our communities, and our world in 2026.

We encourage you to register early—space is limited!

THIS PAGE IS FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION. TO REGISTER FOR ONLINE/VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Schedule

Saturday, December 27

3 – 8 pm Arrival & Check-in
6 – 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Welcome with Lynn Schauwecker & Frank Segro, Kirtan with Krishna Das, Nina Rao & Friends

Sunday, December 28

7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Asanas with Michele Loew
8 – 9 am Breakfast
9:15 – 10:45 am Morning Class with Special Guest
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 Robert Thurman
6 – 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Kirtan with Krishna Das, Nina Rao & Friends

Monday, December 29

7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Asanas with Michele Loew
8 – 9 am Breakfast
10 am – 12 pm Morning Class with Special Guest
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 Robert Thurman and Krishna Das
6 – 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Kirtan with Krishna Das, Nina Rao & Friends

Tuesday, December 30

7 – 8 am Vajrayoga Asanas with Michele Loew
8 – 9 am Breakfast
10 am – 12 pm Morning 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 Robert Thurman & Special Guest
6 – 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm 2026 Astrology Forecast with Alexander Mallon

Wednesday, 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 with Robert Thurman & John Campbell
6 – 7:30 pm Special New Year’s Dinner
8 – 9:30 pm Group Sound Bath
10:30 pm – 12 am New Year‘s Meditation, Intention-Setting, Countdown and Celebration

Wednesday, 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
9:30 am Coffee, Tea and Danishes at the Conference Center
9:45 – 11:15 am Closing New Year’s Talk with Robert Thurman, John Campbell & Special Guest
11:30 – 1:30 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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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 […]

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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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John Campbell

John Campbell has been practicing yoga and meditation for over thirty years. In 2002 he became one of the few instructors worldwide to be recognized as a Certified Teacher by the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore in southern India. He currently runs the Vajra Yoga program for Tibet House in New York City. A […]

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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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Alexander Mallon

A celebrated astrologer and intuitive, Alexander Mallon has practiced for over 45 years, sharing his gifts with clientele spanning the globe, from NY to New Zealand. Alexander has been an avid telescope builder and amateur astronomer for nearly 50 years as well and incorporates his intimate knowledge of the sky and natural cycles into his […]

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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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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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Categories : Menla Retreat (all retreats), Menla THUS