5.0
Verified
Beautiful setting
Much less rustic than I expected, great food, beautiful surroundings!
Meditation Without Expectations™ Immersion
Cameron's Staff Pick
Top Rated
Meditation Without Expectations™ Immersion
4.8582 reviews
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
April 28 - May 2, 2027
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Dr. Annie Weisbrod is a Buddhist teacher, intuitive healer, lifestyle medicine coach, and multidisciplinary scientist with more than 30 years of experience teaching and practicing meditation, yoga, movement, and contemplative traditions. Her teaching draws from Buddhist and Vedanta lineages, as well as neuroscience, psychology, and her experience as a scientist and healer.
Annie created Meditation Without Expectations™ to help people discover a way of practicing that is both deeply personal and sustainable. Since 2020, the program has reached thousands of people in more than 30 countries, with research demonstrating increased mindfulness, resilience, and empathy, along with reduced stress.
Her approach is intuitive, experiential, compassionate, and often playful. Rather than asking students to fit themselves into a particular method, Annie invites them to become curious about their own experience—to listen more deeply to the body, heart, mind, and spirit and discover what helps them become more present, peaceful, and fully alive.
Her intention is simple: to help each person reconnect with the remarkable human being they already are, uncover their own capacity for wisdom and well-being, and carry that awareness into how they live and contribute to the world.
Learn more about Annie, her global programs, and Meditation Without Expectations™ at www.annieweisbrod.com.
Details of this retreat
Connect without expectations about how that “should” happen or how you “should” be.
Meditation Without Expectations™ integrates ancient practices with modern discoveries in physiology, adult learning, and behavioral psychology. Published research on the 8-week program has demonstrated reduced stress and increased resilience, empathy, and mindfulness. The approach is structured while allowing freedom to explore.
Dr. Annie Weisbrod has supported thousands of people across 30+ countries through this program. This 4.5-day intensive allows us to go deeper, developing your capacity to be aware, listen to, and better understand the communications of your body, emotions, and intuition/spirit. Through experimentation and reflection, you may discover which practices, environments, and ways of paying attention best support your inner and outer life—and why.
We explore meditation as something embodied and intuitive, rather than rigid or performative. You will have opportunities to experiment, ask questions, reflect, share, and notice what genuinely resonates with you.
Whether you are an experienced meditator, new to meditation, or have struggled to find a practice that feels natural and sustainable, this immersion offers an opportunity to let go of striving, perfectionism, and preconceived ideas about how meditation “should” be or feel—or even the idea that meditation is simply a technique.
Instead, we play with the practices, reflect and discuss, and learn to listen deeply to our own experience—through body, heart, mind, and spirit – which guides how to live life well.
The intention is not to become a better meditator. It is to become more deeply aware of yourself. You may leave with renewed clarity, stronger connection, and discoveries and practices that genuinely support your well-being and inner life.
What to Expect
Daily Meditation & Breathwork. We use a progressive sequence of practices, including deep breathing/pranayamas, 20+ Senses, mantra, R.A.I.N., Metta, Naikan, Tonglen, and open monitoring.
Silence & Stillness. With optional periods of silence, you choose how much to practice, from 4 up to 9 hours each day.
Movement & Embodiment. Walking meditation, yoga, forest bathing, and time to hike or other exercise in the mountain forest sanctuary.
Reflection & Facilitated Discussion. Explore self, ego, identity, cognitive patterns, emotional resilience, and inner experiences through reflection and dialogue. It feels safe and participants become friends.
Intuitive Energy Healing. Energy-based practices and attunements are part of our daily exploration of embodied awareness and well-being.
Rest & Restore. Enjoy nourishing meals, spa amenities, quiet spaces, and time to unwind in Menla’s magical setting.
Come curious and exactly as you are. Discover what happens when you let go of expectations and begin to listen—to the remarkable human being you already are and to our impressive living world.
Schedule:
Wednesday, April 28
Day 1 – Settle In
12 - 3 pm Arrival & Check-In
3:30 - 5:30 pm Introduction, breathing 1 + 2, 5-senses, walking meditations
6 - 7 pm Dinner: Mindful eating with 5-senses practice
7:15 - 8:15 pm Evening Practice: Breathing 3, 20+ senses meditations
8:20 - 9:00 pm Optional - Silent practice, energy healing (grounding)
Thursday, April 29
Day 2 – Deepen Awareness
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 am Morning Practice: Breathing 4, counting and mantra meditations, related archetypes
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga (pranayama, asana)
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon Practice: Recognizing distortions, meditation
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or restorative exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 8: 15 pm Evening Practice: Metaphors and R.A.I.N. meditation
8:20 -9 pm Optional - Silent practice, energy healing (heart)
Friday, April 30
Day 3 – Expand Compassion & Awareness
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 amMorning Practice: Breathing 5 + 6, Metta meditations
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon practice: Open monitoring meditation, forest bathing
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or Restorative Exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Practice – Breathing 7, Tonglen, energy healing
Saturday, May 1
Day 4 – Day of Silence
8 - 9 am Silent Breakfast
9:15 -10:30 am Morning Practice: Breathing, chanting, Naikan
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Silent Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon Practice: Seated and walking meditations
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or Restorative Exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Silent Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Practice: Breathing, meditation, energy healing (governing vessel, chakra clearing)
Sunday, May 2
Day 5 – Integration
8 - 9 am Silent Breakfast & check-out
9:15 - 11:15 am Morning Practice: Breathing, chanting, seated, walking meditations
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Integration – Reflections, Meditation in daily life
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
Meditation Without Expectations™ integrates ancient practices with modern discoveries in physiology, adult learning, and behavioral psychology. Published research on the 8-week program has demonstrated reduced stress and increased resilience, empathy, and mindfulness. The approach is structured while allowing freedom to explore.
Dr. Annie Weisbrod has supported thousands of people across 30+ countries through this program. This 4.5-day intensive allows us to go deeper, developing your capacity to be aware, listen to, and better understand the communications of your body, emotions, and intuition/spirit. Through experimentation and reflection, you may discover which practices, environments, and ways of paying attention best support your inner and outer life—and why.
We explore meditation as something embodied and intuitive, rather than rigid or performative. You will have opportunities to experiment, ask questions, reflect, share, and notice what genuinely resonates with you.
Whether you are an experienced meditator, new to meditation, or have struggled to find a practice that feels natural and sustainable, this immersion offers an opportunity to let go of striving, perfectionism, and preconceived ideas about how meditation “should” be or feel—or even the idea that meditation is simply a technique.
Instead, we play with the practices, reflect and discuss, and learn to listen deeply to our own experience—through body, heart, mind, and spirit – which guides how to live life well.
The intention is not to become a better meditator. It is to become more deeply aware of yourself. You may leave with renewed clarity, stronger connection, and discoveries and practices that genuinely support your well-being and inner life.
What to Expect
Daily Meditation & Breathwork. We use a progressive sequence of practices, including deep breathing/pranayamas, 20+ Senses, mantra, R.A.I.N., Metta, Naikan, Tonglen, and open monitoring.
Silence & Stillness. With optional periods of silence, you choose how much to practice, from 4 up to 9 hours each day.
Movement & Embodiment. Walking meditation, yoga, forest bathing, and time to hike or other exercise in the mountain forest sanctuary.
Reflection & Facilitated Discussion. Explore self, ego, identity, cognitive patterns, emotional resilience, and inner experiences through reflection and dialogue. It feels safe and participants become friends.
Intuitive Energy Healing. Energy-based practices and attunements are part of our daily exploration of embodied awareness and well-being.
Rest & Restore. Enjoy nourishing meals, spa amenities, quiet spaces, and time to unwind in Menla’s magical setting.
Come curious and exactly as you are. Discover what happens when you let go of expectations and begin to listen—to the remarkable human being you already are and to our impressive living world.
Schedule:
Wednesday, April 28
Day 1 – Settle In
12 - 3 pm Arrival & Check-In
3:30 - 5:30 pm Introduction, breathing 1 + 2, 5-senses, walking meditations
6 - 7 pm Dinner: Mindful eating with 5-senses practice
7:15 - 8:15 pm Evening Practice: Breathing 3, 20+ senses meditations
8:20 - 9:00 pm Optional - Silent practice, energy healing (grounding)
Thursday, April 29
Day 2 – Deepen Awareness
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 am Morning Practice: Breathing 4, counting and mantra meditations, related archetypes
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga (pranayama, asana)
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon Practice: Recognizing distortions, meditation
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or restorative exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 8: 15 pm Evening Practice: Metaphors and R.A.I.N. meditation
8:20 -9 pm Optional - Silent practice, energy healing (heart)
Friday, April 30
Day 3 – Expand Compassion & Awareness
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 amMorning Practice: Breathing 5 + 6, Metta meditations
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon practice: Open monitoring meditation, forest bathing
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or Restorative Exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Practice – Breathing 7, Tonglen, energy healing
Saturday, May 1
Day 4 – Day of Silence
8 - 9 am Silent Breakfast
9:15 -10:30 am Morning Practice: Breathing, chanting, Naikan
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Silent Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon Practice: Seated and walking meditations
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or Restorative Exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Silent Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Practice: Breathing, meditation, energy healing (governing vessel, chakra clearing)
Sunday, May 2
Day 5 – Integration
8 - 9 am Silent Breakfast & check-out
9:15 - 11:15 am Morning Practice: Breathing, chanting, seated, walking meditations
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Integration – Reflections, Meditation in daily life
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & 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 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
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
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
Customer Reviews
Verified
5.0
Verified
Our Destiny Lies in Our Origins Retreat
The staff was very kind. The food was delicious. My room and bed were very clean. The grounds are lovely to walk. I wished I would have booked an extra day to enjoy the walking paths, indoor and outdoor meditation areas, and book a massage.
5.0
Verified
Exquisite
While I can't speak to the accommodations for multi-room occupancy, my time in a private room with a stream outside my window allowed me to quickly settle into stillness and inner connection. Greeted by wild turkeys, deer and rabbits, the abundant expression of forests, waterways and mountains provided opportunity for deepening into the natural world in all of its abundance. The crisp air and even an afternoon rainbow added to the ambience and invitation to relax and breathe. The food was delicious, varied and healthy; the staff friendly and present to our needs; the public spaces filled with beauty augmented by extraordinary photography, sacred tapestries and clean design. The single "caveat" is to be aware that ability to walk on uneven ground and to navigate steps (or make arrangements for assistance) might be critical for your full, unfettered enjoyment of your time there. I hope a return visit is in my future. Robin H.
5.0
Verified
Wonderful
The staff are friendly, polite, helpful and genuinely kind. Food is outstanding. Facilities are clean and comfortable. The setting is gorgeous: full of flowers and trees , ringed by mountains, with a river, waterfalls and a pond.
This was our third time there, and we’ve loved it each time.
This was our third time there, and we’ve loved it each time.
5.0
Verified
Breathtaking, every moment
I loved every moment being at menla. I stayed in dragon 5 and even with 4 other people there, 2 of which strangers at first, it was my home away from home. The food was AMAZING and the serenity unmatched. I especially loved all the creeks and rivers running through the property. The birds and deer were beautiful sources of happiness throughout the day. Every member of staff was beyond friendly and a joy to interact with. Thank you thank you thank you!!
Last Chance
