5.0
Verified
return to the heart
I had another wonderful weekend retreat with Irina Devi at Menla - one of my favorite retreat places !
UPLIFT Festival
Cameron's Staff Pick
Last Chance
Top Rated
UPLIFT Festival
4.8056 reviews
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
July 24 - 26, 2026
About this Retreat
Tasha Blank is a celebrated international DJ, somatic practitioner, teacher and founder The Get Down, The Drop, Body Language and global leadership academy PhDJ.
A student of somatic healing, shadow work, story and ceremony, her nervous system-based approach to transformation through movement is a wild invitation into your most powerful expression.
She’s known for liberating hips in New York City’s most legendary clubs, the world’s wildest festivals, and museums, churches, helipads, boats, roving desert ships, forests and mountaintops everywhere.
Instagram
Soundcloud
Website
PhDJ
DJ Michael V is the creator, producer and headlining DJ for Primal Disco and Medicine Disco, PHAT House, No Place Like House, and is the co-creator of The Audacity!. His debut as a DJ in 2022 was at House of Yes in Brooklyn, NY and has been serving NYC
and the upstate area regularly. Outside of NY, Michael has played in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, the UK, and Paris.
Michael’s events have been talked about as: “the most diverse crowds...” “the safest dance floors...” “a fresh culture of authenticity, irreverence, and heart-open spirit”
Trained by world renowned DJ, Tasha Blank, Michael uses house, disco, funk and organic music to formulate sets and environments that have people screaming, sweating, laughing, shaking, and breaking (the rules that keep folks small at the clubs).
He is a former competitive gymnast, dancer, and choreographer; If you l are looking for some beats to flip and twist out to, this is your man.
Michael is a lover of gatherings where folx get to be EVERYTHING they are. He is found punctuating his parties with cues on the mic to inspire expression and pulling in parts of people that have been asleep.
He is currently a coach for the Powerhouse DJ School (PhDJ) and a high end audio resource for event producers and DJ’s in the Hudson Valley.
Learn More About Medicine Disco
The Yoga House was founded in Kingston, New York in 2011 with a foundational belief that the practice of yoga should be enjoyable and foster community. A belief that has carried over through a change of ownership, a global pandemic, new locations and in
our hope for the future.
Creating and maintaining a fully inclusive space is at the forefront of The 'House ethos. Joyce is originally from Queens, NY and is first-generation Filipino-American. Amy currently resides in Kingston and is a proud wife and mother of a queer family. Being a
BIPOC/LGBTQIA+ owned business provides us a lens through which we strive to program a wide variety of classes, contribute to the community, and provide access to teachers who are diverse and welcoming to all.
Joining us at Uplift will be owners Joyce San Pedro & Amy Reed, as well as Alex Tse, Jenny Papo, & Olga Choedron. Each brings an incredible element & individuality to Uplift.
Learn More About The Yoga House
Reggie Hubbard is a dedicated mindfulness and yoga practitioner, who also teaches from time to time. He has done many things, but is most proud of being a caring human, a stroke survivor, teacher/wisdom steward, strategist, organizer, spiritual advisor, minister of sound and devoted seeker of truth, compassion, health, well-being and justice for all.
Adopting yogic discipline and commitment to peace practice has helped him navigate visceral anger, deep grief and other complicated emotions. He teaches all walks of life through wisdom, asana, meditation and sound to help nurture commitment to personal peace as a foundation, rather than an afterthought.
Learn More About Reggie Hubbard
Chynna Dee Andrada is a holistic practitioner, nurse, educator and cacao researcher, blending science and spirituality through a range of healing modalities with cacao at the heart of her work as a therapeutic ally. Walking the Q’ero lineage, she honors indigenous knowledge and connection to nature in her life as a spiritual guide and eternal student. Her journey is marked by a dedication to personal growth and a profound respect for the interconnectedness of nature, mind, body, and spirit. Within her practice she orchestrates immersive retreats, workshops, training, and provides sacred spaces for communal exploration and healing. Chynna Dee is the visionary of SAGE - cacao, spirit, self
Learn More About Sage Cacao
Ben's practice is based on the wisdom of the body to find it's way back to health. He strives through conscious touch, to create space and awareness of the body in its present state. This consciousness eases you to move toward wellness. In your focused attention, each moment becomes an opportunity to understand your body and unite with your deeper self.
Ben is the founder of HND + TMPL Massage Therapy, a NYS licensed massage therapist and educator, a sound practitioner, and a former GYROTONIC instructor.
Rose Stoller is a New York based multidisciplinary artist, vocalist, and songwriter. Sometimes whimsical, romantic, often somber or daring. In her original music, she is a delicate songwriter who merges an influence of contemporary jazz, R&B, Laurel Canyon folk rock, Brazilian Popular Music, and ambient soundscapes into a corner of her own. After focusing on theater in high school, Rose pursued Jazz Vocal Performance in college. Graduate of LaGuardia High School’s famed Drama Department, Rose participates in theater and music respectively, and interdisciplinary pieces such as Ragnar Kjartansson’s “Romantic Songs of the Patriarchy” at The Guggenheim Museum in NYC. She was featured in 2017 and 2018’s Jazz In The Valley festival in Poughkeepsie, New York. “Live at Guava” out now, and “gone to flower demos” in early 2026.
Join Rose for a restorative evening concert / sing along la la la la
Learn More About Rose Stoller
Pamela Lyn is a RYT-500 yoga instructor, sound & energy practitioner, & dance educator & choreographer, who believes movement is medicine. With a BFA in Dance, an MA in Education, Reiki & sound certifications, and over two decades of teaching and creating, Pamela weaves dance, yoga, and sound into pathways of connection & joy.
Her deepest calling is community. Pamela founded Uplift as a space where people can come together in love, feel safe to express themselves, and discover the joy of belonging. She envisions Uplift as more than a weekend. It is a reminder that the inspiration, connection, & freedom we cultivate & feel here can be manifested in our everyday lives.
Uplift is a place we can co-create together to inspire peace & joyfulness. A space where friends will be made for a weekend or a lifetime. A place that feels like the most beautiful, grounded, & perfect landing for all. An experience everyone can share in that energizes, inspires, & elevates. Uplift is our home, & it’s a home that is filled with love, positivity, & joyfulness.
Learn More About Pamela Kalechofsky
B.K.S. Iyengar wrote that health “is a state of complete equilibrium of body, mind and spirit.” With this intention, Amy bases her yoga and wellness offerings. Understanding the importance of integrating all aspects of oneself to achieve true wellness, Amy’s classes, retreats, and workshops are highly customized, dynamic, and comprehensive–students can choose from a variety of yoga options, including free- style vinyasa, yin, restorative, gentle, beginner, and pair each with meditation, pranayama, biomechanical and postural alignment assessments, and integrative wellness coaching. Amy’s passion lies in making wellness universal and rooted in deepening, both oneself and within one’s community. The result: A rich and invigorating experience designed to maximize holistic health and endure long after the student leaves class.
But what is most compelling about Amy is her warmth and sincerity. With a near- tangible appetite for self-study and a gentle sense of humor, Amy immediately makes those around her feel welcomed, valued, and inspired to action. She is as accessible to her students as are her classes. This fosters a safe and encouraging environment where students are moved to approach their individual practices with a light-hearted and self-accepting point of view.
How you do anything is how you do everything.
Yoga has helped me approach anything and everything with a calmer spirit, a more open heart, and a quieter mind. I’ve been practicing for almost 20 years, having found yoga while on vacation. The seed was planted, and as soon as I returned home I immediately started studying as much as possible, with as many different teachers I could find. I completed my RYT 200-hour training in 2017 at Hudson River Yoga and my 500-hour with Heart & Bones Yoga in 2022.
I firmly believe that change is not only good, but necessary. My practice has changed a lot over the years. I used to enjoy a rigorous practice, but my body now enjoys slower, thoughtful movement. As my practice has changed, so has my perspective, and that change is reflected in how I teach. I teach for all levels, all ages and a variety of classes: Beginner, Ashtanga Primary, Yin & Restorative, Chair Yoga, Yoga Sculpt, Yoga for Seniors, and Pilates.
Yoga should be accessible for anyone and everyone who wants to practice. It’s as simple as - if you can breathe, you can practice. Yoga is for every body, and while I may not be the teacher for everybody, I hope that you find the practice for yourself, and yourself in your practice.
Alex (she/her/they/them) is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki II practitioner and movement instructor. Born, raised and currently based in the Hudson Valley, Alex acknowledges the unceded Munsee Lenape land they walk and serve upon.
As a graduate of Pacific College of Health + Science, she incorporates Traditional Chinese Medicine with her knowledge of Western science, along with her studies of Ayurveda, Community Herbalism, and Aromatherapy. Alex teach Pilates and various styles of Yoga that include Vinyasa, Restorative, Yin and Prenatal/Postpartum.
Alex has been consistently practicing yoga and meditation since 2013. Though her practice has shifted over the years, it has been a home base that she can always return to, and she hopes to help others cultivate rituals and routines that honor this commitment to self-preservation. Alex strives to meet her students where they are at, and teaches from a trauma-informed perspective, bringing these ancient practices to communities and individuals in search of healing, connection, and liberation.
Jenny started practicing yoga in 2018, when she enrolled in a month-long Intro to Yoga course at the Sivananda Vedanta Center in NYC, and she has enjoyed deepening her practice ever since! She completed her first 200-hour YTT with Lila Flow in 2020 and completed a Yoga and Social Justice course with Shanna Small in 2021. Jenny’s yoga practice on and off the mat has helped her find joy in her life, and she aims to provide a joyful experience for her students. She loves connecting with and learning from new people, and is so happy to be a part of The Yoga House community!
Olga Choedron’s path began in Russia and unfolded across continents, eventually bringing her to the Hudson Valley in 2013. Since the late 1990s, she has walked the contemplative path, studying and practicing yoga and meditation under the guidance of Tibetan and Western Buddhist masters. Her journey has taken her to India and Nepal, where she immersed herself in Buddhist and Ayurvedic traditions devoted to awakening, purification, and the harmonious integration of mind and body.
Certified in alignment-based Vinyasa yoga through Hudson River Yoga and Vitality Yoga Flow (2017, 2019), Olga weaves together the wisdom of many lineages. Her teaching is inspired by hatha, vinyasa, restorative, Kundalini, and yoga conditioning, infused with the quiet depth of Buddhist mindfulness and meditative inquiry. Each class is an invitation to listen—to breath, to sensation, to the subtle conversation between body, mind, and spirit.
Olga’s teaching is rooted in the belief that yoga is a living practice, one that extends far beyond the mat. Through thoughtfully crafted asana sequences and conscious breathing, she guides students to cultivate strength and ease in the physical body while opening space for emotional balance, mental clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose, belonging, peace, and joy. Her offerings are both grounding and expansive, encouraging practitioners to carry awareness into the rhythms of everyday life.
Off the mat, Olga serves as an ENL teacher in an elementary school. She finds nourishment in gardening, hiking, biking, traveling, and sharing time with family and friends—simple, sacred practices that continue to shape her teaching and her life.
Sheniqua Trotman is a professional singer, song leader, and the founder of Elevated Expression, a community singing and vocal wellness practice that helps people reconnect with themselves through voice, breath, rhythm, and joyful expression. With over 15 years of experience as a performer and facilitator, she creates welcoming spaces where people of all musical backgrounds can experience the healing power of singing together.
Drawing from community singing, nervous system regulation, somatic practices, and vocal empowerment, Sheniqua's work invites participants to move beyond perfection and into authentic expression. Her goal is to help people remember that every voice belongs and that singing can be a powerful pathway to connection, confidence, and collective healing.
Website: https://www.elevatedexpression.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_elevatedexpression
Details of this retreat
UPLIFT is a joyful and deeply embodied festival mindfully curated to inspire connection with community and self through Ecstatic Dance, Yoga, Sound Baths, Cacao Ceremony, Song Circle, Bonfire Sing-Alongs, Somatic & Wisdom Workshops, & more!
Guided by an extraordinary team of facilitators, this sacred weekend is a living reminder that what we create together isn’t an escape from life, it is life.
Join us for a magical 3 days and 2 nights of movement, music, connection, and soul- filled celebration. It’s a time to awaken your joy, open your heart, and feel fully alive and embodied!
Uplift Your Body. Uplift Your Heart. Uplift the Collective.
For more information visit: www.TheUpliftFestival.com
Schedule
Friday, July 24, 2026
3 - 4 pm Arrival and Check-in
4 - 5:30 pm Creation Lab with Pamela Kalechofsky & Amy Reed
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 8:30 pm Opening & Cacao Ceremony with Chynna Dee Andrada
8:30 - 10 pm Ecstatic Dance with Tasha Blank
10 - 11 pm Sound Journey with Ben Brown
Saturday, July 25, 2026
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 am Root, Rise, & Reiki with The Yoga House OR Forest Bathing with Ben Brown
10:45 am - 12 pm Pathways to the Heart with Alex Tse OR OR Flow for Vitality: Breathwork, Lymphatic Drainage & Joint Mobility with Olga Choedron
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3:15 pm Sound as a Spiritual Practice with Reggie Hubbard
3:30 - 4:30 pm Play Lab with Pamela Kalechofsky & friends OR Plant Bath with Chynna Dee Andrada
4:45 - 5:30 pm Peppy Pilates with Jenny Papo OR Meditation & Motion with Joyce San Pedro
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 10 pm Medicine Disco with Michael V & Tasha Blank
10 pm - 12 am Bonfire & Sing-Alongs with Rose Stoller
Sunday, July 26, 2026
7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:15 am The Sacred Self with Amy Reed
10:30 am - 12 pm Song Circle with Sheniqua Trotman
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 3:30 pm Closing Dance with Tasha Blank, Michael V
* Please note that this schedule is subject to change.
* Click to Read Class Descriptions
Guided by an extraordinary team of facilitators, this sacred weekend is a living reminder that what we create together isn’t an escape from life, it is life.
Join us for a magical 3 days and 2 nights of movement, music, connection, and soul- filled celebration. It’s a time to awaken your joy, open your heart, and feel fully alive and embodied!
Uplift Your Body. Uplift Your Heart. Uplift the Collective.
For more information visit: www.TheUpliftFestival.com
Schedule
Friday, July 24, 2026
3 - 4 pm Arrival and Check-in
4 - 5:30 pm Creation Lab with Pamela Kalechofsky & Amy Reed
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 8:30 pm Opening & Cacao Ceremony with Chynna Dee Andrada
8:30 - 10 pm Ecstatic Dance with Tasha Blank
10 - 11 pm Sound Journey with Ben Brown
Saturday, July 25, 2026
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 am Root, Rise, & Reiki with The Yoga House OR Forest Bathing with Ben Brown
10:45 am - 12 pm Pathways to the Heart with Alex Tse OR OR Flow for Vitality: Breathwork, Lymphatic Drainage & Joint Mobility with Olga Choedron
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3:15 pm Sound as a Spiritual Practice with Reggie Hubbard
3:30 - 4:30 pm Play Lab with Pamela Kalechofsky & friends OR Plant Bath with Chynna Dee Andrada
4:45 - 5:30 pm Peppy Pilates with Jenny Papo OR Meditation & Motion with Joyce San Pedro
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 10 pm Medicine Disco with Michael V & Tasha Blank
10 pm - 12 am Bonfire & Sing-Alongs with Rose Stoller
Sunday, July 26, 2026
7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:15 am The Sacred Self with Amy Reed
10:30 am - 12 pm Song Circle with Sheniqua Trotman
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 3:30 pm Closing Dance with Tasha Blank, Michael V
* Please note that this schedule is subject to change.
* Click to Read Class Descriptions
Getting Here
Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Accommodation
Deluxe King
Deluxe King Room with King Bed and Private Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This Space is not ADA compliant.
Deluxe King Rooms are Available only in Kathmandu House
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Deluxe Queen
Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers.
Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Deluxe Double (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Size Beds and Private Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Private Bathrooms are Located in the Lhasa Inn
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Standard Single - Shared Bath
Menla Private Queen Room with Queen Bed and Shared Bathroom
Public Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant
Private Queen Rooms with Shared Bathroom are Available in Thimpu House, Panther Cottage and Potala House
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Beds and Shared Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath
Standard Premium Single Room with a Queen or Full Bed and Shared Bathroom
Up to 10 guests share two large bathrooms. Each bathroom has two shower stalls and two toilets.
A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room
Phone Access Available in Upper Level Of Conference Center. All calls are free of charge
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
Economy Single - Shared Bath
Standard Single Room with a Twin Bed and Shared Bathroom
Bathroom is Shared with One to Six Other Guests on Your Floor.
A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)
Standard Double with Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
The bathroom is Shared with other rooms on the same floor.
High-speed Wi-Fi is available in the room.
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
* Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed)
* This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others
Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room)
Standard Quad Room with Quad Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.
High speed Wi-Fi is available in the room.
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
* Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed)
* This booking is for one bed in a quad shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others.
Camping
Camping
Campers Have Access to Bathrooms with Showers in Lower Level of Conference Center.
Menla Has Six Wooden Camping Platforms by the Pantherkill Stream (First Come First Serve). If All Platforms are Full or You Prefer Not to Use One, There is Also Camping Space in a Small Field by the Stream.
Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.
Phone and High Speed Wi-Fi Available in Upstairs of the Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Commuter
Commuters
Menla Encourages Members of the Community to Participate in Our Wonderful Programs!
Includes Meals, Public Phone, Public Computer, and Wi-Fi Internet Available in Lhasa Inn.
Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.
Customer Reviews
Verified
5.0
Verified
Impeccable kitchen...beautiful surroundings
The lovely girl who cleaned my room, Amy, literally MADE my entire trip. She was so kind.
The scenery is magnificent, the landscape supreme, the food was AMAZING, cleanliness was top notch.
Everybody at Menla was extremely helpful and nice, with the exception of one person who shall remain nameless.
The scenery is magnificent, the landscape supreme, the food was AMAZING, cleanliness was top notch.
Everybody at Menla was extremely helpful and nice, with the exception of one person who shall remain nameless.
4.0
Verified
This is a special place
I attended Menla for a Therapist Ketamine retreat. There were approximately 35 attendees and 8-10 faculty. The buildings and the grounds are stunning and do what they set out to do..... force you to relax! The conference center offered so much space and ability for smaller groups to break out. I was fortunate enough to stay in a deluxe room which had stunning and peaceful decor and a very comfortable bed.
The Menla staff was welcoming and helpful.
I was disappointed with the meals. I live in the SF Bay area and am fortunate to have access to very high quality and thoughtful vegetarian food. I found the meals to be Okay but not delicious. I should mention that our group didn't have breakfast. I did appreciate the creative beverage offerings and constant access to fresh fruit - the apples were yummy!
The Menla staff was welcoming and helpful.
I was disappointed with the meals. I live in the SF Bay area and am fortunate to have access to very high quality and thoughtful vegetarian food. I found the meals to be Okay but not delicious. I should mention that our group didn't have breakfast. I did appreciate the creative beverage offerings and constant access to fresh fruit - the apples were yummy!
3.0
Verified
Nice place, kind staff, pricey, food was not good, not enough
The cabin was comfortable, and the shared areas were nice. The food, however, was extremely limited—mostly beans and vegetables, essentially a $2 meal with no meat or chicken. After one hour of being served, most of the food was gone and not replenished, so arriving around 1 p.m. meant finding almost nothing left. Beans can also trigger gas and discomfort, and the Indian dishes were too spicy, causing bloating. For the price of the stay, the meals felt inadequate.
Staff should wait until meetings are finished before moving items or making accommodations. The trail signs were also confusing and unclear; improving them would make a big difference.
Staff should wait until meetings are finished before moving items or making accommodations. The trail signs were also confusing and unclear; improving them would make a big difference.
5.0
Verified
Breathing in the Heart of Nature
I've visited the center twice, in June 2025 and June 2026, and both times I found it restful, peaceful, and a place to feel at one with nature, with many opportunities to swim, walk, and hike without leaving the center. It's a great place for meditation, reflection, care, and nourishing food. I had a spa session with Nitty, a Reiki practitioner with over 30 years of experience, and it was better than expected. While there, I saw many animals and birds, and a woman using the Cornell University bird app was able to identify 37 species in one sitting on the patio of the main building. The staff is very friendly, and the spa center with a swimming pool is the most luxuriously built of all the buildings. The biggest luxury I've found in Menla is silence.
