I came to cultivate my Buddha mind! What a thrill…read more Kadam Donna and Gen Chogyop teachings " Source of Happiness & Goodness"! I love the teachings, the couscous and property is absolutely blissful!!!

Peaceful and inspiring, the Kadampa Temple is one of the most beautiful meditation spaces in the…read moreUnited States. There are plenty of walking paths and the cafe (and coffee) is excellent and the people there are very friendly and welcoming. I drove 6 hours from Boston to visit and it was definitely worth the trip. Highly recommended!!

Wild Soul is such an inviting studio, the teachers and regulars who practice here are very friendly…read moreand add a great deal to the environment all together. I come and visit out from California anytime I'm out there as much as I can to do some yoga, and it's one of my absolute favorite places to practice at. If you happen to be in the area, I highly recommend you go check them out sometime. They have a vast variety of classes fit for just about any level, or if you're simply looking for a place to come in to meditate and relax, this is a great place to be. Really looking forward to coming out and visiting soon again!

The reiki 1 course offered at the center was a wonderful experience. Kathleen and Bob are…read moreexperienced, full of knowledge and great to learn from. I really enjoyed the time I spent learning about reiki with them. I highly recommend an in person learning experience to really feel the energy flow as well as the opportunity to practice. Having instructors there to guide you through the process, answer your questions and help you process the different ways energy flows and feels really helped be understand flowing energy on a deeper level. Time spent at the center is relaxing, welcoming and re-energizing.

An amazing place to learn, grow and heal. Debra and Linda have been instrumental in helping me…read moreunderstand and navigate my life's scenarios, feelings, and personal needs to create a happier, more fulfilling well-being. I highly recommend for anyone who may be seeking support in stress management, life coaching, and finding true happiness within oneself.

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."

I'm a NYC resident and BCM has become my home away from home where I go to unplug and visit myself…read more Words can't describe the experience of living even for a short time among people (the sisters and brothers) who are 100% committed to their belief in the practices of mindfulness, meditation and veganism and living it 365 days a year. "Healing," "transformational" come to mind. It's an oasis of sanity where the monastic residents (and many of the visitors) "walk the talk."

I went full Yogi this weekend on a 2 day retreat at the Himalayan Institute and it was ohmazing…read more 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.

At first this place can seem a bit intimidating. Upon check in, you do not receive a room key. The…read morelevel 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..

I havent gone for classes for reiki or yoga, but the tea is amazing!! The room is so peaceful and…read morebeautifully decorated. I didnt even realize we were there for 2.5 hours! The crystal shop is gorgeous. Definitely could shop around there for hours too! Can't wait to go back!

The yoga classes are exceptional for the area. I attend Carissa's classes every Tuesday and Friday…read moremornings. She seems to have the only yoga within 15 miles that is sacred and meditative. No hecklers and gigglers- you know what I mean. I have lost 35 pounds since the beginning of the year. Though I don't think was was just a few hours a week of yoga, I do beleive that I am grounded during the week and not stressed. I found that when I skip classes, life is a bit more hectic. so, yeah, yoga. This is the best in the area.

I took the TM course with Alice recently and it was an amazing experience…read more Just after a few short days i am already noticing changes in myself. Alice is a very nice lady and everything is explained throughly throughout the time with her. Highly recommended

I started TM a couple of weeks ago. It has already made a…read moreprofound difference in my daily life. Check it out, it will be one of the best decisions of your life.