This weekend was my 2nd time attending a retreat here. I definitely recommend. This is an all…read moreinclusive experience with chef on property cooking all the meals, lots of tea, coffee and wine to drink. The property is quiet and beautifully set in the middle of pine trees. There is a schedule of activities to do but you are gently told to do what you want and take what you want from the retreat. I really enjoyed the yoga, meditation and making vision board. This is a unique experience because you meet the most amazing women and the sense of community was much needed.

Me and a girlfriend came here for a relaxing weekend retreat to spend time with each other and in…read morenature! The retreats leader was Keitha and we all loved her so much! We also got to meet Teresa at our retreat as well - she is the owner of the location. This is the perfect yoga/ relaxation retreat if you want to get away and recharge. There are multiple workshops and yoga classes and they also have a fun art and craft activities as well. It's a great place to meet other women, create friendships and bond in nature. It is located away from the city and is surrounded by trees. It is a very relaxing location. Shout out to Dana who gave the most amazing massage ever! Also a huge shout out to Angel as well who is the retreat chef. The food here was so tasty and fresh! I get food anxiety because I am vegetarian and I hate going places where I don't have anything to eat. This place has plenty of options for vegetarians and others with different dietary needs. My friend and I had so much fun here, I am so glad she found it and we were able to go together! I do wish they had some sort of charging station at the retreat as it would have been so helpful since the nearest one is about 30 miles away. All in all I would definitely recommend this retreat to others that are interested!

Meditation has been a rising phenomenon in the West, and I'm glad. We need it real badly here,…read moreespecially in these past handful of years. When did we start getting offended by the smallest things or assume that if people disagree with your opinions that they are your enemy? There's craving and gluttony at an all time high for the best experiences and foodz, thanks to IG and Yelp lol. Oh, and there's social media and tech addictions too, we're all living that to some extent. Which brings me to this serendipitous meditation center out in the middle of nowhere. Well, Kaufman isn't really too rural, but it definitely is a small town just 40 min E of Dallas that is isolated enough for this fascinating retreat. This Vipassana Siri (Southwest) center is extremely accommodating from all angles! First, you have a personal bathroom already in your room for your own peace of mind and privacy. S. N. Goenka-ji, the main Dhamma teacher, curated a pretty forgiving daily timetable to give students enough "rest" time between hour-long meditation sits. Lastly, there is also delish vegetarian food; it makes me want to come back and serve as kitchen staff just so I can make it for myself in the future! There were various gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan options, which they mark on their white board before every meal. If you have specific food restrictions, they can cater to your needs too. Just disconnecting from the real world for 11-ish days was a real treat, but also a fight, as the lack of mental stimulation was a bit too much at times. Personally, I loved how freeing and more in-control of my thoughts were after this retreat ended. I felt so much more at peace than before--which I already kinda was--but this little escape was definitely efficacious for quieting the mind. The center is sustained by donations from students who finished the 10-day course, so that others after them can comfortably use this facility for their own mental liberation. For anyone reading this, GO GO GO if you can find the days off. No matter how young or old you are, as long as you are ALIVE, you should strongly consider doing this course and learning the Dhamma. These teachings are all non-sectarian, even though it is based in Buddhism. The gist of it is that you are training your mind to be equanimous (objective, observing, non-reactive) with any external factors. That's a very tough thing to do as life is just one big ass ball of stress 24/7, huh?! So as you can see, this concept is definitely universal and very applicable to everyday life, moment-to-moment. I met people from all backgrounds and upbringings here, and can't wait to return to serve! If you want to be a better resident of this Earth, come take this course. You'll be and feel better on the other side. If you have any questions about this retreat, please don't hesitate to PM me~

The Texas Southwest Vipassana center is dedicated to teaching the dhamma. The teachings instruct…read morenot only on the conceptual level the universal law of change, but also helps students experience this truth through their own body. Although the teachings and techniques are based on Buddhist teachings, the technique is completely sectarian and can be practiced by all without any conflicts of faith. The ultimate goal is to help all people live a better life by sharing with them a technique to change their reaction-prone, emotional behavioral patterns that cause themselves and others suffering. The center itself is beautifully maintained and very serene. It is nestled in a remote area surrounded by open fields, towering trees and a lake. The female dorms each come with their own full bath; men have to share I believe. The food served is completely vegetarian but surprisingly satisfying and extremely delicious. The center is very safe and the assistant teachers and volunteer staff are always available for questions and concerns. For me, this was truly a life changing experience and I hope this review will encourage you to try it as well.

Amazing Retreat with wonderful amenities that is close to town without the city feel!read more

Everything we needed was at our finger tips.Very easy to work with. The beauty of this place is A…read morePlus

My son and several other students attended Camp Bethany this past week. The experience for the…read moreteens was lifechanging. They each professed that they had dedicated their lives to Christ. The teenagers also spoke how it was the first time in their lives they felt that race was not a factor and every one was treated equally. They teens said they were treated like young men. They stated the entire time of their trip they did not use their phone and did not desire it. They boys were also sadden when it was time for them to leave, they was afraid that they would go back to their old ways! Thank you Camp Bethany for making their experience at your camp site a milestone that they will never forget!

Needed a place for a quiet retreat. Called asking and they recommended The Creek Cabin. It was…read morePERFECT. They also have other larger guest houses. Very thoughtful amenities and willing to accommodate needs.

From the owner: In the heart of East Texas lies Agapo', where you can take full advantage of the great outdoors and…read moresmall town comfort to make your stay with us a memorable one. From fun amenities to event venues, we seek to provide you with the attention and relaxation you deserve. Featuring homey accommodations and an amazing atmosphere, we encourage you to explore our site to see what we have to offer. And please, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.

BeFree yoga is a friendly, clean yoga facility for all levels. The range of classes is perfect, and…read moreI appreciate the easy online scheduling option. For students, veterans, nurses, and teachers, there is a 10% discount. Also, the lavender towel at the end of each session is AMAZING. I highly recommend this studio.

I've been going to club Pilates in Tyler for about 6 months now. I did a free trial class and…read moreinstantly knew i wanted to sign up. I had a few different instructors and they're all good but Tara is great!!! I love her classes, she makes you work and helps you on your form. You get a great workout at club Pilates!

The classes and instructors at Club Pilates Tyler were great, but unfortunately, the billing…read morepractices and lack of communication completely ruined my experience. For nearly a month, I called two to three times every week trying to speak with a manager before my next membership payment was due. I could not log into the app to update the credit card on file, and I specifically asked them to stop attempting to process the automatic payment until someone could help me. Despite all of those calls, I never received meaningful help or a return call. Almost a week later, after I deposited money into that account to pay bills, the membership charge was pushed through and left me in a very difficult financial situation. I called multiple times afterward and even went to the studio in person asking for help, but nothing was resolved. They also processed an additional charge of approximately $20 just a few days before the monthly membership payment was taken. My mother also prepaid more than $400 for private sessions. Her health has significantly declined, and she has Parkinson's disease along with other medical issues, so she no longer feels Pilates is a good fit for her. She called repeatedly for weeks trying to speak with someone about transferring the prepaid amount to me, either toward my unlimited membership or so I could use the private sessions. After receiving no response, I obtained the phone number for the instructor who was supposed to work with her. My mother finally explained her health concerns and asked again about transferring the sessions. She was told the matter would be looked into, but she never heard back. Another major concern is that, even with an unlimited monthly membership, members can be charged approximately $15-$25 for missing a class. I understand having a cancellation policy, and I did not have an issue with the 12-hour cancellation requirement under normal circumstances. However, illnesses do not always provide 12 hours of notice. The studio understandably tells members not to attend when they or their children are sick, but members are still financially penalized for staying home. As a single mother who drives at least 30 minutes to attend classes and who has also been traveling to MD Anderson for medical care, there were occasional mornings when either my child was sick or I was physically unable to make it. These situations were not frequent, but I often felt pressured to attend while feeling unwell because I could not afford another charge on top of the monthly membership. I was also charged twice for a pair of socks purchased at the studio. I was told I would receive a credit, but that credit was never applied. Again, the instructors and the actual classes were wonderful. My negative review is based on the billing issues, the difficulty reaching management, the lack of follow-up and the inability to get problems resolved despite repeated calls and an in-person visit. I would not recommend signing a membership agreement here if you have children, health issues or any chance that you may need flexibility. Even keeping detailed records of your calls and charges does not help much when no one follows up and the issues still are not resolved.

If you want a to experience a massage that can help you with pain then you should see Krista Gabel…read moreat the Escape. She has the expertise that is necessary for those of us who need much more than a "feel good" massage. You will not be disappointed.

I recommend The Escape. The atmosphere is nice, & they offer a variety of great services. From…read moresomeone who's struggled with health issues, including Multiple Sclerosis, I've been to many, many massage therapists on a regular basis over the past 20 years. Krista Gabel is an excellent massage therapist. In fact, she's one of the two best I've ever been to.

We've been traveling to the area once or twice a year for the last 15 years or so, and finally…read moreFINALLY found a unicorn! Hidden in a strip mall (ok, maybe not hidden...we just never realized it was there), Mooreana's is a gem of spa with really lovely staff and fantastic massages. Priced right and easy to schedule. I will never NOT visit when I'm in Gun Barrel City ever again.

I went here with my mom as she had received a gift certificate for a massage. It was my first time…read moregetting a "real" massage though I have had chair massages before that were not very impressive. It was my mom's first time ever getting a professional massage & she was nervous, not knowing quite what to expect. Martha took the time to give her a tour of the facility & explain the process. Martha also put us at ease by chatting with us the whole time (AND she did a fantastic job of working out some of the knots on my back). I think she even went over the 30 minutes I was allotted but did not charge extra. Not only that but it was very inexpensive in the first place. We were charged about 1/2 of what I've seen other spas charge. Hooray for a relaxing & wonderful experience. I can't wait to return!