I'm so thankful for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh & for the dedicated practice by nuns, monks &…read morelay people at this monastery in the Catskills of NYS. I feel fortunate to live about 3 hours away on the south shore of Long Island so it's not too far to visit & take refuge in this safe sanctuary.

Sometimes you must get away from the chaos to hear the sound of your soul…read more This monastery is in the tradition of the teachings of the famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. I heard Thay speak almost ten years ago when I was in college on "mindful eating," and his teachings reverberated loudly with my beliefs. Life got busy and only recently have I found my way back to his teachings. I came here for a young adult Spring retreat and it has been one of the best experiences as of late. Despite having to wake up at 5:30 every morning for sitting meditation, I felt extremely rejuvenated and centered after spending a whole week here. If you spend time here (as in overnight), be prepared to eat vegan meals (which are very yummy and most of the dishes have an Vietnamese/Asian twist) and to have modest dorm-style accommodations. We were able to enjoy morning sitting meditations, dharma talks and discouses (Buddha's teachings), walking meditation, dharma sharing and deep relaxation. One of the things I enjoyed most about this retreat was "mindful eating." All meals are eaten in silence and you get to really think about food. Because I wasn't talking or distracted, I could truly taste my food and concentrate on it. I found myself eating less, but feeling more satisfied. Even though I didn't exercise as much at the monastery, I managed to shed a few pounds and I attribute it to the "mindful eating." You may think this is all hoky poky, but the New York Times recently did an article on "mindful eating," so there is some clout to what I am saying here. The monastery is also open on Thursdays and Sundays for "A Day of Mindfulness." So if the city and life is getting to you, this is a perfect getaway to get in touch with yourself and to feel more calm and relaxed. I leave you with this beautiful quote by Thay and hope you get to experience Blue Cliff for yourself! "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

DDRC is a rare meditation center that offers profound, authentic teachings of Buddhism in a setting…read moreand fashion that is accessible to those who may be unfamiliar. Thank you very much to all of the teachers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to give us a space for relaxation and training. The teachers at DDRC are monastics from Asia or trained lay practitioners who are experienced in using English to instruct western students. The design of their retreats are comfortable and forgiving while still providing adequate intensity to challenge and inspire growth. (Note for those familiar with meditation: the Chan school from which DDRC issues relentlessly focuses on meditative methods and the usage of the mind, and less on formal strictures and conventions. If you are familiar with retreats in the Zen style, you will probably adjust to the Chan approach quite quickly.) The facilities, especially the meditation hall, are beautiful and modern. The retreat center is located in the tranquil embrace of nature where one normally hears nothing but birdsong and the sound of flowing water, though it is still easily accessible by car. Highly recommended for both those new to meditation and advanced practitioners looking to go deeper.

The retreat was life-changing and the leader was excellent. I struggled with getting into…read moremeditation and this weekend really helped me develop meditation skills. The environment was beautiful and clean. The food was fabulous and healthy. Everything was even better than I expected.

I've been here twice now, the second time was last September for a retreat and finally got to try…read moreout the rock wall, zip-line, challenge courses. I'll be coming back again next September! Food is great, so much natural beauty to explore like the waterfall and 120 stairs, if you come here I highly recommend doing one of the retreats to get the most out of your experience. There's so much to learn from the masters here!

Great place if you are seeking healing. Staff is very experienced and all of the programs and 1;1…read moresessions are highly effective to help you relax, and clear your mind. Absolutely a hidden gem.

I highly recommend this retreat to anyone looking to disconnect from the demands of everyday life…read moreand reconnect with what truly matters. It provided the perfect environment to unplug, be present, and build meaningful connections with the people in my group. Beyond spending quality time with others, this retreat was an incredible opportunity to reconnect with myself. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, I found a renewed appreciation for the simple things and left feeling refreshed, grounded, and inspired. If you're looking for a place to recharge, deepen your relationships, and fall in love with yourself and nature all over again, this retreat is absolutely worth the experience.

Great place for a retreat. Food was good. I feel like this establishment is a bit much outdated…read more, beds are too small. And if you are placed in the back wing of the 2nd floor its a bit smelly, the rugs need serious cleaning or to be deodorize. Its smells terribly musty like that area is sort of forgotten. I did like the place but I want to be honest of what they should really tackle. And expeditiously update. The bed was also not comfy and I woke up feeling discombobulated The entire time I was there. I would love to visit again but Please update those rooms, the rugs need cleaning and the mattress needs SERIOUS upgrading. The staff is very very nice. The food was good . They had vegan options too. The scenery is breathtaking, the walks, the hike, the pool. The drive is beatiful too. Awesome!!!! Thank you!!!

Came here for the first time to experience a hypno-meditation in the salt cave. The cave was…read moreamazing! The pictures don't do it justice. What a beautiful space to relax and get grounded. The event was great. The staff was informative and attentive, especially knowing it was my first time. I was welcomed with some hot tea. Restrooms were clean. Gift shop has a lot of cool holistic stuff, like stones, salt (duh!), candles, teas, etc. I plan on coming back. I left feeling so refreshed!

The absolute best Yoga center I've ever been. they have a salt cave, sauna, oxygen, reiki and Iris,…read morethe owner and instructor who caters to your needs. The rooms are calm, clean and smell wonderful. She uses sound and different oils for calming and peace. I'm glad to be able to go there for relaxation and stretching/breathing when I need it. I reccommend it highely

This is a great place to learn about Buddhism and Nepal . I high recommend this place - it a great…read moreplace to start ones spiritual journey .

I love this wonderful Tibetan Center in Kingston, New York! It's an amazing place to learn about…read moreTibetan culture and Buddhism. Venerable Yeshi Rabgyal is an amazing guide. The pujas, Sunday classes, and meditations are wonderful. The gift store has many unique items from Katmandu, Nepal, and plenty of incense and other gifts. I would highly recommend a visit!

OH MY GOODNESS. I've been going to Mallory for reiki for…read moreover a year. I started going once a month and now go to her every couple months. Each session is better than the next and today's session topped everything. I've struggled with physical and mental health issues for majority of my life and have experienced low lows in my life- I've heard of reiki before but since going to her- my journey of healing has excelled all thanks to Mallory. She is the brightest light and a well of knowledge and am beyond blessed to have such amazing experiences each session. I guarantee if you have an hour session- you will feel weight lifted off of you spiritually, mentally, and physically. This girls talent, personality, and energy is everything someone would only dream to have as a client. Cannot wait to see her excel in her journey through her gifts

I received Reiki from Serenity Reiki during a combined sound bath and Reiki experience on numerous…read moreoccasions and I found it so rejuvenating and transformative. Mallory opened my root Chakra for me and channeled a divine energy of radiant pink love throughout my body allow my heart and mind to open to some difficult memories and then just as they swirled and ebbed and I found myself visually growing into an embodied being of light, she used her Reiki again and I felt all the trauma leaving my body replaced by divine healing and white light. She is also such a kind heart and creates such a safe space to trust her with yours. Definitely recommend.