"I've never done a retreat before. Will I feel out of place?

Not at all! Many participants attend solo and are new to retreats. Everything is designed to feel welcoming, gentle, and supportive. You are invited to participate as much or as little as feels good to you in the moment. This might look like a more reflective, quiet experience or you may end up connecting deeply with other like-minded women.

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"Do I have to participate in everything?"

Not at all. This weekend is about listening to and honoring yourself. You are always invited, but never required.

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"What if I'm 'not good' at yoga or meditation?"

There is nothing to be good at during this weekend. This experience is about rest, not performance. I will share gentle movement practices to support restoration, which involves sinking into easeful poses over a longer period of time and allowing yourself to be fully supported by the props.

 

During the guided meditations, nothing is required of you besides lying back, relaxing, and allowing yourself to receive the experience. Yoga Nidra isn’t about clearing your mind or doing anything perfectly. It’s a guided space to rest, especially if your mind tends to stay active. You may fall asleep during the practice, which is completely ok.

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"Why the Pocono Mountains?"

There is something about this area that is hard to fully explain, but easy to feel. ​

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The Pocono Mountains take their name from the Lenape language meaning "a stream between two mountains." It is a landscape shaped by forest, water, and open sky. People have long been drawn here when they need space, quiet, and a chance to rest.

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You may notice it as you arrive. Your breath softens, your shoulders begin to relax, and your mind starts to quiet without needing to force anything. This isn't a place that asks anything of you. It doesn't demand, rush, or overwhelm. Instead, it offers a sense of being held and supported by the environment itself.

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The sound of water moving, the stillness of the trees, the feeling of fresh air filling your lungs. These small moments begin to add up. Before you even realize it, your body starts to remember what it feels like to return to balance and rest. 

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There is a reason people have been coming to places like this for generations. Not to escape their lives, but to reconnect with themselves in a quieter, more grounded way. That is exactly what this space allows. 

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"Why the Himalayan Institute?"

When I stepped on campus during my first retreat, I was nervous about what to expect. I was pregnant and very new to yoga. I had recently transitioned careers and felt that I needed something in my life to help manage my stress and feeling of burnout but wasn't sure what exactly. Somehow, desperate searches on the internet let me to explore the campus's retreat calendar. 

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From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and included. Every cell of my body exhaled, and I felt as though I had been transported to a magical space. Once I arrived, there was nothing I needed to do besides allow myself to receive, which can be hard for people used to constantly doing for others.

 

The campus is not too large that you are overwhelmed or at risk of getting lost, but not too small that you feel that all eyes are on you. It is a beautiful balance of residents that reside on campus and people like me attending a retreat program. The environment is non-judgmental and you immediately feel that everyone is dedicated to the service of humanity. 

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The meals are delicious and you truly feel nourished physically and emotionally. During my first visit, I was nervous if I would be hungry and brought some emergency food, but it was not necessary at all. The dining experience was one of the highlights of my visit and I left with meal ideas I wanted to replicate at home.

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The property embodies the stunning landscape of the Pocono Mountains, which holds the magic of rest in its ancient soil, bark, streams, and air. Throughout the year, memories of leisurely walks around the pond and through the hiking trails enter my consciousness and I am momentarily brought back to that sense of ease.

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I love that after guided meditations at night; it is only a short walk back to your room as you crawl under your covers and drift into sleep versus taking a live class at a studio and having to fully return and drive back home. The accommodations are comfortable, tranquil, and very supportive of the restful experience I crave during a retreat. 

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The services at the Wellness Center are unlike anything I have found anywhere else and are an amazing addition to a relaxing weekend. I love that there are gazebos and quiet spaces nestled throughout the property to immerse yourself in nature, but also creature comforts that help make my experience feel supportive, like air-conditioning, indoor showers, coffee at the cafe, and local chocolate versus other locations that are further off the grid. 

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"Why this retreat?"

There are many types of retreats and locations around the world. For me, the answer to this question is a combination of a few things.

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First, I enjoy the reduced stress with traveling to the Himalayan Institute versus traveling somewhere that requires managing passports, Visas, layovers, exchanging currency, immunizations, etc. The comfort of knowing that I am traveling to an established retreat center that has comfortable, indoor housing accommodations and a community of people who are dedicated to supporting people like me looking to experience memories of a lifetime also helps reduce some anxiety while planning.

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A weekend retreat allows me to fit the experience into my life with ease versus trying to arrange for several weeks away. It allows for coverage for work, parents, kids, pets, sports, meals, or any of the other responsibilities that we artfully balance without having to create an elaborate binder to attempt to train someone else to fill our shoes for an extended period of time.

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I personally enjoy retreats that are designed for ladies like myself. I am able to share freely, if I so choose, with others who have had similar life experiences and can relate to what it is like to be in my shoes. There is a deeper level of comfort that I experience at a women's retreat versus other retreats. When I am able to connect with others who have things in common with myself, it allows the layers of vulnerability to soften and truly feel in community with souls who understand you.

 

I have also formed lifelong friendships at women's retreats and am comfortable extending the relationships once we return home, which may not be as natural or appropriate in a coed format. I can let reservations go and attend sessions in my pajamas with confidence, if that serves me in the moment. Although I have taken wonderful classes with some amazing gentlemen, I have a deep pull towards the energy that flows from a gathering of wholehearted women when participating in a recharge & restore retreat.

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The investment to participate was intentionally designed to be accessible versus reserved for the elite few. I have felt the cost physically and emotionally of ignoring the inner whispers to slow down and recharge. Like the story of the slowly boiled frog, when the heat continues to rise in tiny increments day by day, it can go almost unnoticed... until you stop and realize that you are not in a good place. I have personal experience with pressure that builds over time and the life changing moment when you enter a space where you can set your load down. My desire is to be able to share that gift with you as well.

 

Finally, I understand that rest is hard to access when you are elbow deep in life. Even when we want to slow down or our bodies are starting to force us to rest, there is always something else pulling for our attention. Responsibilities, decisions, and things to do that never stop (like the "what's for dinner" question that will extend to eternity, haha!).

 

This retreat offers something different. This is a dedicated space where you don't have to manage anything. Your time isn't spoken for, and you have the opportunity to fully settle.... sinking into complete relaxation while you receive resources to help extend that delicious experience after you leave campus.

 

My intention for you is to not just go on a weekend vacation, but to allow you the space for a transformation that will positively impact you physically, mentally, and emotionally so when you return home and pick up the responsibilities you temporarily sat down, they feel lighter and balanced with the pieces of yourself that perhaps were waiting to be restored.

 

If this is speaking to something within you...

If you’ve been feeling the need to slow down but haven’t given yourself permission yet, this may be your invitation.

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At this point you may be thinking... "Okay, I need this- How does pricing work?"

Retreats at the Himalayan Institute have are structured in two simple parts:

 

First, you book your accommodations directly through the campus using our reservation link. This allows you to select your room of choice and add on nights, if you so choose, without having to relay your preferences through a retreat host acting as a middleman. I liked the comfort this gave me in knowing that my room was secured and aligned with my preferences.

 

Your accommodation fee includes your room, food, and access to the campus. Rooms start at $129/night and there are shared and private rooms available. Room preferences are based on availability and do fill out, so I recommend booking as soon as you are able.

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Second, the tuition portion is paid directly to the retreat host to participate in your selected program during your time on campus.  The tuition varies based on the type of retreat, length of the program, if there are wellness services included, etc.

 

The tuition covers your full retreat experience including your sessions, materials, guided practices, dedicated program space, and everything relating to the retreat outside of the rooms and meals booked separately through the campus.

 

For the Recharge & Restore Women's retreat, the tuition payment is made securely through my website and is $299. Payment plans are available, if that feels supportive. 

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Once you step on campus, it is truly an all-inclusive experience and you never have to touch your purse (unless you decide to buy goodies from the gift shop, cafe, Moka Origins, or add on luxurious wellness services). Not having to think about additional costs or fees while I am on the retreat really helps allow my system to settle and for me to release more of the mental load that typically follows me throughout my week.

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"What if I have more questions?"

I love chatting about all things retreats and finding ways to sprinkle restoration into your life. I am happy to schedule a phone call, Zoom, or chat via email, text message, or Facebook Messenger.

 

Let me know your preferred method of choice and I am happy to personally connect to ensure your questions are answered. Contact me.