5.0
Verified
return to the heart
I had another wonderful weekend retreat with Irina Devi at Menla - one of my favorite retreat places !
Woman's Strength and Ancestors Retreat for Women
Cameron's Staff Pick
Top Rated
Woman's Strength and Ancestors Retreat for Women
4.8056 reviews
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
November 6 - 8, 2026
About this Retreat
Over 12 years of experience teaching meditation
Facilitator for international and national retreats
B.A. Harvard College, Romance Languages and Literatures
Certification Stanford Medical School, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Pedagogy of Compassion
J.D. Harvard Law School
MTS Harvard Divinity School, Theology Degree
New York City Bar Well-Being Committee Member
Faculty at Loyola University Chicago
Elizabeth, JD, MTS is a meditation teacher, facilitator, scholar, theologian, lawyer, writer, and published poet who holds three Harvard degrees, speaks five languages, and has designed over thirty different programs for happiness, energy, connection, and resilience.
She holds three Harvard degrees, speaks five languages, has lived in seven countries, and has taught over 10,000 people resilience, mental strength, and happiness. Elizabeth also studied neuroscience at Stanford Medical School and brings brain science to every program she designs and facilitates.
Her past experience includes working as an Investment Funds attorney at Sidley Austin, human rights work at the United Nations, and investigations for the New York Attorney General’s Office.
She has taught at Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, the Library of Congress, The Carlyle Group, Deutsche Bank, the New York Appellate Court, and top law firms and financial institutions.
Elizabeth enjoys facilitating retreats worldwide, helping organizations build a more compassionate culture everyday and helping individuals find their own unique path to happiness.
This work is the greatest privilege of her life.
Larisa Forman has been practicing yoga for 20+ years and teaching in the Boston area for over 10 years. Larisa leads workshops and immersions both nationally and internationally, leads a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training at The Yoga Loft, is a frequent presenter at The Nantucket Yoga Festival, and her yoga class was chosen as a part of "The ideal wellness day in Boston" by Well+Good.
Larisa is a yoga innovator blending the deeply traditional with the latest developments in fitness science, combining the Western obsession with the physical body and the Eastern approach to the Mind/Body/Spirit connection. Larisa received her 200H with PranaVayu Yoga founder David Magone in Boston and her 500H with her beloved guru Sri Dharma Mittra in NYC. Larisa is a Sanskrit enthusiast and loves meditation. Sharing these ancient techniques with the modern-day practitioner brings her tremendous joy :)
Details of this retreat
This autumn, you are invited to connect to ancestors and your female strength in new, deeper ways.
The goal of the retreat is to come away feeling all the support of your female line. We'll also access inner calm and build a community of women.
Elizabeth Pyjov (15 years of experience teaching these practices) will facilitate and Larisa Forman (voted best yoga teacher in Boston) will teach a very gentle mindful movement session each day.
Come for the meditation and ancestors practices, stay for the forest walks and nourishing food, and end up sending compassion to all those who went before you! You'll leave the retreat feeling energized, peaceful and authentic.
What to look forward to:
Ancestors practices that empower you
Meditation
Practicing gentle yoga
Taking forest walks
Lighting candles for our ancestors
Reaching new levels of acceptance
Getting incredible strength from the past
Healing the family tree
Growing in compassion
Enjoying each other’s company
Eating three healthy meals a day
Cultivating self-compassion
Accessing deep relaxation
Schedule:
Friday, November 6 (Check-in Day)
3 pm Arrive, check in, and explore the property
3:30 - 5 pm First yoga and mindful movement practice
5 - 6 pm Official welcome session and introduction to the retreat and each other
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Candlelit ancestors practice and survey of ancestors practices across traditions
Saturday, November 7
7 - 8 am Gentle yoga, stretching and movement practice
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30 am Woman's Strength practices
11:30 am - 12:30 pm Free time to visit the vintage country barn or move your body in the fitness facility. Perhaps time alone to meditate, nap, create, or journal
12:30 - 1:30 pmLunch
2 - 3:30 pm Optional group hike or time for spa treatments
3:30 - 6 pm Ancestors meditation practice: healing the family tree
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 8 pm Gentle 25-minute yoga practice for excellent sleep
Sunday, November 8
7 - 8 am Gentle stretching and movement practice
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 - 11 am Time to pack and check-out
10:15 am - 12:30 pm: Last practice for gathering strength from you family line.
Meditation on how to access centeredness and inner peace through ancestors practices.
Talk on how to access the strength of our ancestors.
We'll end with a formal retreat closing.
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch and Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
The goal of the retreat is to come away feeling all the support of your female line. We'll also access inner calm and build a community of women.
Elizabeth Pyjov (15 years of experience teaching these practices) will facilitate and Larisa Forman (voted best yoga teacher in Boston) will teach a very gentle mindful movement session each day.
Come for the meditation and ancestors practices, stay for the forest walks and nourishing food, and end up sending compassion to all those who went before you! You'll leave the retreat feeling energized, peaceful and authentic.
What to look forward to:
Ancestors practices that empower you
Meditation
Practicing gentle yoga
Taking forest walks
Lighting candles for our ancestors
Reaching new levels of acceptance
Getting incredible strength from the past
Healing the family tree
Growing in compassion
Enjoying each other’s company
Eating three healthy meals a day
Cultivating self-compassion
Accessing deep relaxation
Schedule:
Friday, November 6 (Check-in Day)
3 pm Arrive, check in, and explore the property
3:30 - 5 pm First yoga and mindful movement practice
5 - 6 pm Official welcome session and introduction to the retreat and each other
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Candlelit ancestors practice and survey of ancestors practices across traditions
Saturday, November 7
7 - 8 am Gentle yoga, stretching and movement practice
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30 am Woman's Strength practices
11:30 am - 12:30 pm Free time to visit the vintage country barn or move your body in the fitness facility. Perhaps time alone to meditate, nap, create, or journal
12:30 - 1:30 pmLunch
2 - 3:30 pm Optional group hike or time for spa treatments
3:30 - 6 pm Ancestors meditation practice: healing the family tree
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 8 pm Gentle 25-minute yoga practice for excellent sleep
Sunday, November 8
7 - 8 am Gentle stretching and movement practice
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 - 11 am Time to pack and check-out
10:15 am - 12:30 pm: Last practice for gathering strength from you family line.
Meditation on how to access centeredness and inner peace through ancestors practices.
Talk on how to access the strength of our ancestors.
We'll end with a formal retreat closing.
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch and Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
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.
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.
