191 Cragsmoor Road Cragsmoor, New York 12566
Up to 25 in group
April 25 - 27, 2025
About this Retreat
Anna Winkler has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1989, when she certified with the Sivananda Yoga Organization, in both India and Canada. She served as a volunteer staff member there for 6 years, assisting in Yoga Teacher Training courses and modeling for 2 yoga books, among other things. Anna has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since 1997 (with Eddie Stern and other authorized teachers), and teaching Ashtanga since 2002. She has been studying and practicing Iyengar Yoga at Studio Yoga in Madison, NJ since 2007, where she received her second 500-hour teaching certificate. Anna teaches an Alignment Based Hatha Yoga class. Her Ashtanga classes are also alignment influenced. Anna has been teaching in the Maplewood, NJ area since 2001, and is the founder and director of Shakti Yoga & living arts (since 2005). Anna is also a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant.
John Henderson has studied Buddhist philosophy and practiced meditation for nearly 30 years. Since 2003 he has been a senior student of the Dharmakaya Center’s founder, Rimay master Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche.
John has applied the teachings in his professional life as a serial entrepreneur, leading both healthcare and real estate businesses, and as a board member of numerous not-for-profit organizations in the Northeast. He has been teaching at the Center since it opened in 2017, offering dozens of programs in person and online, as well as providing individual meditation guidance to our retreatants and our volunteers.
COMMENTS FROM FORMER STUDENTS
- "John models the attributes that I am always working on developing. Graciousness, patience, compassion. It's one thing to teach it, another to live it."
- “John was fantastic. His teaching has changed my life for the better.”
- “I absorbed more from John’s teachings than from any other Buddhist materials I’ve seen.”
- “I really enjoyed this experience – a weekend I will never forget which may have changed my view on a few things.”
- “John’s teachings were excellent. He provided very clear explanations and was generous with his time with answering questions.”
- “The balance of teaching/questions, contemplation and meditation practice was optimal. I have a much better understanding of the practice and its relevance in my life.”
- “John was wonderful. Full of warmth, wisdom and patience”
- “I feel calm and re-energized. I am excited to restart my personal practice and feel inspired to apply a number of new techniques that enrich my daily life.”
- “John is an excellent teacher. I really appreciated how he adjusted his planned presentation to accommodate our many questions”
GUIDED MEDITATIONS
(please click to link to the meditation)
Madalina Blanton is a Reiki Master Teacher, Family Constellation facilitator and spiritual artist with a practice based in Maplewood NJ. She has been certified as a Reiki Master Teacher and Spiritual Counselor after a 550 hours program at the Open Center in NY, taught by the late Margaret Ann Case.
After a successful career as a designer of children's books Madalina decided to dedicate her time to healing practices. Through her personal healing journey, she learned that lasting transformation happens when we bring awareness to all aspects of our being and fully engage our soul energy. She brings gentle care, compassion and deep attention to her clients, blending her knowledge of the visual arts, her passion for energy work, homeopathy and nutrition to help her clients and students reawaken their own source of creativity, expanded energy and ultimately their well-being.
www.soultoearthhealing.com
Bob Blanton has over 40 years of experience in the martial arts, 25 of which have been dedicated to the study and practice of Tai Chi and QiGong. For over 10 years Bob has devoted his time to a deeper study of the principals and forms of these arts. In addition to teaching private and group classes, he has participated in numerous demonstrations and competitions.
Kati has been involved with the healing arts for many years. She holds various certifications including Hatha Yoga Instructor, Yoga for Cancer Survivors, Ayurveda, Healing Touch, Reiki, and Sound Healing.
She completed her 200 hour Yoga certification in 2009 and continued her certifications with Yoga for Scoliosis, Principles of Restorative Yoga and Cancer Survivor Teacher Training. As her practice has developed, her appreciation has grown for the subtler qualities of yoga, including the spiritual aspects and stress management.
Kati met Master Teacher Suren Shreshta in 2007 and advanced her knowledge of sound healing. She is currently one of the Certified Teachers of the Atma Buti Sound and Vibrational School in Boulder, Co. The Tibetan Singing Bowls are an ancient art used in our current culture to support physical and mental relaxation. Kati has a successful practice in New Jersey and is honored to continue this Ancient Modality.
www.katiwalker.com
Details of this retreat
A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
Disconnect from your devices and reconnect with nature, the present moment, and your inner being. Five teachers guide you through a range of powerful practices—including shamata, yoga, walking meditation, guided compassion meditation, personal outdoor meditation, reiki, qi gong, and singing bowls. You will find yourself refreshed, recharged, and reconnected to yourself.
"This is my favorite program of the year. I leave completely re-energized."
"Each of the teachers were exceptional, accommodating, and extremely knowledgeable. Each one gave something precious to take home & carry with me—this weekend was such a gift."
BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: Do you know someone who would like this program, but hasn't been to the Center? Bring them, and you both get a 10% discount on your entire program package. For the discount to apply, there must be two reservations, at least one of whom has not taken a Dharmakaya Center class previously. At checkout, apply the Discount Code: BringAFriend. May not be combined with the Early Bird discount.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We are pleased to be able to offer partial scholarships for this program. Please apply here.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
During this restorative weekend you will engage in six distinctive, accessible meditation and yoga practices and their philosophical underpinnings. These practices each help build the resilience, openness and stability with which to move through daily life. The weekend includes teachings, discussion and practice, allowing us to explore how each form of meditation is helpful and how they complement each other.
Stillness Meditation: Linked to serenity, stillness meditation is designed to quiet an active mind by focusing on the breath, concentrating on a single topic, or practicing a centering meditation that helps release painful emotions and negative thought patterns.
Walking Meditation: In essence, walking meditation is an examination of time; we will use it to help root our awareness in the present moment.
Qigong: Using Hunyuan Qigong as a starting point, we will explore the use of mind-intent in the development, nurturing, gathering, moving and storing of Qi. We will also practice Zhanzhuang Gong, still standing meditation.
Reiki: Exploring meditative practices from the tradition of the Reiki System of Natural Healing, we will do a series of centering practices and breathing exercises to increase energy awareness and energy flow.
Tibetan Singing Bowls: Sound and vibration with Singing Bowls can be used to achieve deep relaxation, reduce stress and create a healthy flow of energy through the physical and etheric body.
Yoga: We will practice mindful movement, coordinated with the breath, followed by guided relaxation, in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of body and mind, and enjoy a deep sense of well-being.
Together these practices provide a strong mind-body foundation to help transform daily living.
When not in class, relax in the Center’s beautiful, tranquil environment. Enjoy the view from the patio, explore our woods trails, walk the labyrinth, curl up with a book in the library or contemplate the stars while sitting by the fire pit.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
Shamatha and guided meditations
Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
Extensive library of dharma books
Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna
Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
OPEN TO ALL
There are no prerequisites for this program. It is appropriate for meditators at all levels and the mindful movement can be completed at your own skill level.
SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
Friday, April 25
3:00 PM
Check in begins
6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner
7:30-9:00 PM
Welcome and Introduction
Gentle Guided Yoga
Saturday, April 26
7:00-8:00 AM
Morning Yoga
8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:30-10:30 AM
QiGong
10:30-11:00 AM
Free time
11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Meditation
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00-2:30 PM
Free time
2:30-3:30 PM
Reiki
3:30-4:00 PM
Free time
4:00-5:00 PM
Walking Meditation
6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner
7:30-8:45 PM
Tibetan Singing Bowls
Sunday, April 27
7:00-8:00 AM
Morning Yoga
8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:30-10:30 AM
Walking Meditation
10:30-11:00 AM
Free time
11:00-11:30 AM
Meditation and Reflection
11:30 AM-12:00 PM
Q&A
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Checkout and Departure
Verified
Last Chance
1 Space Remaining