Cameron's Staff Pick

Rhythms of Balance: Handpan & Yoga Immersion Experience

Name: Rhythms of Balance: Handpan & Yoga Immersion Experience
Start: 2025-04-03
End: 2025-04-06
Location: Menla
Rating: 4.5

4.502 reviews

375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

April 3 - 6, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Marina

Nikolay

Marina Sobol

Marina is a Handpan musician, sonstress ,Voice Journey® Facilitator, Registered Nurse and a Functional Medicine Health Coach The Handpan instrument has profoundly transformed Marina’s life. From the moment she first held it, she knew she would become a lifelong student of this art form. Since then, Marina has organized numerous handpan workshops and retreats in New York. Marina is one of the founders of the Handpan NYC Community - a place where teachers, artists, and enthusiasts can experience a world of handpan events, workshops, and community gatherings since 2016. Medicine music has highly influenced Marina's handpan musical journey. She weaves her voice into her compositions, incorporating songs from various traditions and backgrounds. Marina is excited to bring the art of handpan to Menla, and is looking forward to sharing its magic with the community

Nikolay Ignatyev

Nikolay is a dynamic yoga instructor with over a decade of experience, known for his detailed approach. He excels in guiding students through yoga with a focus on balance, strength, and ease.The classes are thoughtfully crafted to blend foundational poses with advanced movements, all while emphasizing mindful breathing and precise technique. Nikolay’s journey into yoga was deeply influenced by his academic background in philosophy and religion from Hunter College, where he earned a double major. His studies in mystical traditions sparked a profound interest in meditation and internal exploration, ultimately guiding him to the practice of yoga. He trained under Sri Dharma Mittra for his 200-hour certification and continued his studies with Jhon Tamayo at Atmananda Yoga Sequence for his 500-hour certification. Since starting his teaching career in 2011, Nikolay has remained inspired by the practice and its potential for well-being.

Details of this retreat

Discover a transformative experience with Marina Sobol and Nikolay Igantyev in this 4-day yoga and handpan retreat.

The retreat's central themes are alignment and rhythm. To bring these to life, Marina and Nikolay utilize two specific modalities that intricately and beautifully intertwine with each other: yoga and the handpan.

Yoga serves as a pathway to physical and inner alignment, enhancing your practice through breath, movement, and meditation. Meanwhile, the handpan provides a gentle soundscape for immersion and serves as a medium for creative expression through the study of the instrument.

Throughout the retreat, Nikolay will lead two daily yoga sessions suitable for all levels, focusing on graceful and precise movement through a variety of sequences. Each class integrates meditation and breathing techniques, building from fundamental practices to more complex variations. With over a decade of experience, Nikolay emphasizes the balance of stability and ease, a concept central to yoga.
An integral component of the retreat is the handpan workshop designed for those encountering the instrument for the first time.
Marina will guide us through the history of the handpan, tracing its evolution from its origins to the art form it is today.

Participants learn how to approach the instrument and bring its sound to life through proper technique, starting with simple playing patterns and advancing to collaborative group play.

Handpans are celebrated worldwide for their unique sound and versatility, but each is handmade, making them time-consuming and costly to acquire. This retreat offers a unique opportunity to explore the instrument, as handpans will be provided for your use.

Join Marina and Nikolay for a 4-day immersion where yoga and handpan come together to create a unique journey of relaxation, alignment and the exploration of your musical potential.

Schedule

Thursday, April 3

3 - 5 pm Arrival and Check-In
5 - 6 pm Welcome Circle and Introduction to the Retreat
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Gentle Yoga & Relaxation with Handpan Music

Friday, April 4

7 - 8 am Morning Yoga and Meditation
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Handpan Introduction Workshop with Marina
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 4 pm Personal Time/ Nature Walk
4 - 5:30 pm Yoga Workshop: Building Foundation
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Meditation & Handpan Performance

Saturday, April 5

7 - 8 am Morning Yoga Flow
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Handpan Techniques: Bringing Sound to Life
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 4 pm Personal Time/Nature walk
4 - 5:30 pm Yoga Workshop: Moving with Precision
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Voice Journey Practice

Sunday, April 6

7 - 8 am Sunrise Yoga & Meditation
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 11 am Personal Time / Pack Up
11 am - 12:30 pm Handpan Play & Closing Circle
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 3 pm Departure (Spa and outdoors if possible to extend the time on the premises)

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.

Getting Here

Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

Accommodation

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)

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.

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

4.50 out of 5.0 average rating

Anonymous • Oct 03, 2023

4.0

Verified

Weekend retreat stay

The property is on a beautiful, peaceful location.
Nature is all around and sometimes a little too close but you are literally surrounded by woods.

The food was really good and I liked the buffet style and fruit basket.

The gift shop although small had a nice selection of items and I purchased a few fun items.

Since the dining area was on the opposite side of the site from the convention center, a lot of students drove back and forth on the property. I chose the walking paths to get around.

Marie • Apr 18, 2022

5.0