I went full Yogi this weekend on a 2 day retreat at the Himalayan Institute and it was ohmazing. The institute hosts lots of yoga and meditation retreats of different lengths and price points which you can sign up for on their website. The one I chose was $250 for Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. There are several types of accomodations you can choose from, ranging from single beds in a shared bathroom to a lovely 2 bedroom 2 level cottage with a pullout couch and kitchenette and lots of teas. We stayed at a cottage and really liked it. We saw some giant cockroaches by the dorm rooms, so don't come expecting the Four Seasons here. The wifi is spotty in the rooms and basically everywhere except the cafe. Meals are served for only limited times during the day (about an hour and a half) - buffet style and you put your used plates/ bowl/ cutlery into large bins after. For lunch and dinner there are usually a few soups, a main dish (for example baba ganoush and pita, quinoa salad), some rice or grains, a salad bar, some fruit, and an assortment of breads (including a gluten free bread) and everything is vegetarian. For breakfast there was oatmeal and some other grains, yogurt, fruit, a delicious tofu scramble, hard boiled eggs, and a smoothie.The food is surprisingly good and filling but I don't know that I could eat it for more than a few days. Meals are $30 a day which you reserve when you book your accommodation. There is also a black tea and decaf tea always available so bring a travel mug! There is a beautiful new shrine open almost 24 hours for quiet meditation. There is also a sanctuary in the shrine which is open for only an hour before breakfast and dinner. There are small blankets you can grab to sit on and chairs around the altar. If you're feeling like a warrior and want to practice tree pose on a tree, you can take one of the 5 hiking trails around the area. Red is very well marked, blue is well marked until it's not and then you just turn right, walk through 2 holes in fences and you're at a beautiful waterfall! Green is well marked for half of it (around a cute pond) and then you might get lost in the woods (or maybe that's just me). There were a few other trails we didn't get to check out but the reception area has a map with the routes and estimated times. There are daily Hatha yoga classes at the institute that you can attend, a cute cafe, and a great gift shop with awesome clothes, books, jewelery, everything a yogi could ever want! There's also a chocolate factory with daily tours (and samples!) We loved the lemon ginger chocolate. Right next to the chocolate factory is a place called Sound of Music Hill which has beautiful views. You can also book massages (1hr for $80) which is a really great price and very relaxing. There is a small playground for kids too. If you are looking to deepen your yoga practice and get away for a weekend and enjoy nature, unplug, and stay in one place all weekend where you don't have to make any decisions, I can't recommend this place enough. read more

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At first this place can seem a bit intimidating. Upon check in, you do not receive a room key. The level with rooms are all "Whisper Zones" and it's a been dark and Recently attended a yoga retreat here for a weekend and had a great experience.. everything was very clean, food was good, although not a ton of options and sometimes not enough of a good thing but I'm not complaining. It is what it is. The small cafe within served up some wonderful teas, lattes and green juices. Over all, every one I encountered were helpful and kind.. read more

The yoga teachers here are excellent. If you are local, you can drop in for a class for $10. I wish that they offered a monthly membership. The Pure Rejuvenate center also offers a free Kieran class every Wednesday at 7:30 pm. I have not used their other services but they are intriguing and I have heard wonderful things from my neighbors. Locals also are invited to hike the trails and enjoy the property, tour Moka Origins on Saturday, and stop in for lunch at the institute. I like that HI stays connected to our community. This is my first retreat and I will be back for more. I love the variety of programs offered. If you are a local then you can attend retreats as a commuter if you don't want to stay overnight and save money on accommodations. read more

I attended for the New Year's Eve retreat (Tantric Alchemy). I did not benefit from this particular program and would not recommend it, unless you are already familiar with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait's teaching style. I, unfortunately, did not find him to be a good teacher. Aside from the program, the facility, food, grounds, and people are wonderful. I'd return for the hiking trails and food alone! :) I stayed in the 9 bunk bed women's dorm and was very comfortable. The shared bathroom/showers were clean and there was never a wait, even on this sold-out weekend. I was a bit intimidated to enter the "shrine" but it's just a meditation room. Coffee is not served but is available for purchase at the cafe, which opens at 8 am. There is complimentary water, black tea, and non-caffeinated tea. I'll say it again, the all vegetarian food is wonderful! I was never hungry between meal times. Tips: bring your own pillow (the one provided is very thin), there are no shoes allowed in the teaching spaces, bring sturdy shoes for hiking, and bring your own reusable water bottle. If in the dorm, bring a sleep mask and use a sleep/white noise app on your phone with earbuds. read more

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A Calming, Soothing Escape with delicious food! As a Yoga Teacher I love coming here to recharge!

It's a very special place. I've come to HI for New Year's retreat, and it's been one of my best New Year's eves (and I can compare it to all night parties at a Russian restaurant on Brighton Beach; artsy warehouse parties in the Gowanus; salsa clubs, you name it. The philosophy is clear, accessible and "real"; the staff are thoughtful and kind; the food is vegetarian and has a nice homemade feel to it. I've stayed in a double with a sink, and it was fine. Next time I'd bring my own pillow. Communal bathrooms are on the same floor, and they were spotless clean. The yoga classes include breathwork, meditation and very thorough, precise instruction. I wish I were here in the summer or early fall! read more

Nature and surroundings are wonderful. The foliage is beautiful and intensely red, orange and yellow in the fall. Very delightful! I wouldn't characterize the insides the same way. If you need a good mattress to sleep on, this is not the place. if you need good food this again may not be the place for you. The sanitation is not quite there either. Employees were forced to spray Glade throughout the place to mask the sewage odors in the lobby and rooms. It's a charitable organization and it's wonderful that they help the community of people in need. But don't sell the rooms $250 per night! It's an outrageous cost for what it offers. Ask me for a donation instead. read more

Beautiful, peaceful retreat center nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos! Friendly staff, knowledgeable teachers, very welcoming.

I wish I could give HI a glowing report, that was not my experience though. I signed up for a year long retreat of which I had hoped to do a great deal of healing. I never got the chance to do that. I adored my fellow retreatents and staff. Made wonderful friends, good solid people work there. What went wrong for me, I do not know if I will ever find out. I was given no clue, no warning, no explanation. I find that incredibly irresponsible on their part. I signed up for a year, moved my entire life there and was just getting settled and finding my place in HI. My bosses said they really liked me, I always was on time if not early. I know folks attending the retreat also liked me a lot, they thought I was a great fit. So that is what is so confusing. Positive feed back coming from many. Then the director and I had a meeting about a month after I got there. Asked me how it was going for me. I said its wonderful, great. He said well we are ending your contract. Your not a good fit for us. You will be out by the end of the month. I am in shock, as I said before no warning no explanation. No room to grow or a chance to right what ever wrong I had done. Just 'your not a good fit ' The Institute is a place that teaches compassion, forgiveness, letting go of ego. My hope and wish is that they learn to walk what they teach. That request goes to the higher staff. I do not know who all was involved in the decision of kicking me out. But I hope you read this and take to heart. Give a much clearer description of your "fit" your current description gave me the impression I was a "fit". Give a warning of when things are not going right for HI and the participant. Give a real reason of why its not working. 32 hour work week is reasonable amount of work/trade. Your 40 work week allows very little time to be a participant in many things. Look to other retreat centers as to how they have made it work wonderfully for them. Please do not over cook the vegis. I am not a fan of over cooked kale, or green beans, broccoli. A steam/cold plunge room would add a whole lot to the spa Buy new beds for the place yours are really horrible. Good luck and many blessings Namaste read more