Cameron's Staff Pick

Iyengar Yoga Winter Retreat: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space - An exploration of the elements through Yoga

Name: Iyengar Yoga Winter Retreat: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space - An exploration of the elements through Yoga
Start: 2025-02-14
End: 2025-02-17
Location: Menla
Rating: 4.5

4.502 reviews

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

February 14 - 17, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Michelle

Carolyn

Michelle LaRue

Michelle is a senior Iyengar Yoga teacher. She began her studies of this profound method in 1994, and has been teaching for over two decades. Michelle has made several trips to Pune, India, to study directly with the Iyengar family, and is committed to clearly communicating the teachings of BKS Iyengar. She is a core faculty member of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York, and is co-teacher of one of the Institute’s therapeutic Yoga classes. Michelle’s teaching is strong and precise, blending physically demanding asana work with clear verbal instruction. Her aim is to lead her students while allowing them to stay connected to their own experience. Her background as a dancer has given her insight into rhythm and movement, and how we connect with our bodies.

Carolyn Christie

Carolyn began studying Buddhism and Hatha yoga while living in Thailand, serving in the Peace Corps, 1987-89. She is dedicated to studying and practicing both yoga and Buddhism, specifically through Iyengar Yoga and with Tibetan Buddhists teachers. Carolyn has found and continues to explore how these two traditions inform and support each other. Carolyn is a senior Iyengar Yoga teacher at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in New York where she started teaching in 1995. Her teaching comes from a perspective that yoga is a liberative art and science. She aspires to help herself and others use these practices to reject self imprisonment and turn toward real freedom.

Details of this retreat

The five elements are the vital qualities which comprise our inner and outer worlds. Ancient Yogis, through their deep understanding of the elements, cultivated liberation of consciousness. They opened pathways for the transformation of embodied life, enabling practitioners to directly experience their role in nature’s subtle ecology, interconnected and alive.

As William Threfall said, "In every community in nature, each type of organism has its own specialized role to play in what is called an ecological niche."

Our body and minds exist in a matrix of subtle ecology.

The Iyengar Yoga lineage has a profound and multilayered approach to practicing with the elements. Inherently therapeutic, this approach to Yoga is naturally healing. At this time of year, when the Earth is dark and dormant, Carolyn and Michelle will lead you skilfully from the gross to subtle layers of your embodiment. You’ll experience your ability to bring in light and space. in a nourishing and illuminating series of classes.

We invite you to join us for this long weekend at Menla Mountain Retreat Center in Phoenicia, NY. Named after the Blue Medicine Buddha, Menla is the perfect place to delve into your yoga practice through this therapeutic, ecological approach.

Schedule

Friday February 14

3 pm Arrival and Check-in
4:15 - 5:45 pm Yoga Asana
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Yoga Discussion

Saturday February 15

7 - 8 am Pranayama
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:45 - 12 pm Asana
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 pm Break
4:15 - 5:45 pm Asana
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Talk

Sunday February 16

7 - 8 am Pranayama
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:45 - 12 pm Asana
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 pm Break
4:15 - 5:45 pm Asana
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Talk

Monday February 17

7 - 11 am Check out of rooms
7 - 8 am Pranayama
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:45 - 12 pm Asana
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note that the 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 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 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

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