I'm writing this as a concerned parent after my daughter attended a 10-day Vipassana retreat at…read moreDhamma Dhara. Before attending, she was loving, connected, and in close contact with our family. After the retreat, there was an immediate and complete cutoff in communication with all of us--something entirely out of character and deeply painful. The staff were kind when I reached out, and I respect that many benefit from this practice. However, I don't believe there is enough awareness about how intense 10 days of silence and deep introspection can be, especially for someone already going through major life changes. When such a drastic shift happens so suddenly, it raises real concerns about vulnerability, influence, and lack of support during reintegration. Families should be aware and prepared for possible unexpected changes. If my daughter ever reads this: you are loved, missed, and always welcome back

I wish I knew about this 10 years ago even 20 it was intense, but so life-changing... So well…read moreorganized... The food was great even though I don't particularly like vegetarian vegan food. It was wonderful... And thankfully previous students had clean very well, and the place was spotless. I will go back and serve on a course... Try and get the time to go and do this. You will be thankful.

I recently started a Tai Chi class through the Tai Chi Center in Saratoga. It is an interesting…read moreway to learn about other cultures and how to deal with your own body's stress. Do I have stress? I didn't think I did until I joined this class and realized that I could relieve many muscle aches that are caused by stress. Who knew? The Center is located on Phila Street in a small building near Ben and Jerry's. Parking is plentiful in the public parking lot across the street. My friend and I have been lucky enough to find parking on the street near the building. Just a note: if you experience cold feet, wear clean / non-street shoes - I found the floor to be very cold.

From the owner: The Tai Chi Center offers many programs on Chinese energy work, meditation and internal martial…read morearts. Classes are offered for all levels and ages. There are ongoing classes, as well as, special workshops. All classes are taught in an open, relaxed environment.

It's difficult to find the words to describe AMI. A school? A philosophy? A community? The site is…read morea wonderful place where a philosophy is taught by the institute's founders within a community. There are classes in a variety of topics related to the study of yoga science and meditation, and opportunities for practicing it. All of this in the midst of the beauty of one of the founders' amazing artwork. The basic 6-week Learn to Meditate course is life-changing, though there is a shorter Saturday morning intro class, as well. Experience it yourself! Tonight I enjoyed one of the monthly Friday "Dinner & a Movie" evenings. A delicious catered vegetarian meal (this one Italian) and a film with discussion (this one "A Little Chaos," with Kate Winslet) with a nice group of people. Very enjoyable!!

American Meditation Institute is a wonderful place for learning meditation. I have been a student…read moreat the institute through distance learning and once a year conferences for the past three years. Learning to practice meditation using the teaching has transformed my life and lowered my stress levels significantly. I recommend that everyone at least take the beginning meditation course as a starting point. Meditation is good for everyone but it takes discipline and persistence. Being a part of the institute gives you support to keep learning and growing. Namaste!

So great to have yoga in Lake George. Aerial yoga is a great way to stretch and hanging in the…read morehammock during Shavasana was a heavenly floating experience. Only small glitch is registration. We have a few college kids (without credit cards) who can't easily preregister online. Good that you can leave a voice message to hold a spot. We'll surely be back!

I had been practicing yoga for many years, but Judy's Joy of Yoga studio is where I really fell in…read morelove with yoga! The studio is located in the downstairs level of the arcade building. Judy's classes use a lot of music, and she teaches a Kripalu style yoga that gets your energy moving evenly throughout your body. There is a close attention to the breath. I always leave her class feeling energized, balanced and relaxed at the same time, what a gift!

This Buddhist center is a wonderful place of learning, meditation and community. Unlike stated in…read morean earlier review it is not Zen. The center is Tendai, a Japanese Buddhist school that Zen developed from. Everybody is made welcome at the center. The sangha (community) has been a source of comfort and support to me in times of loss.​​

This is a really beautiful Zen center, with a very lovely evening meditation service (usually…read moreWednesday evenings) followed by a potluck dinner. They have special events, too. It is very low-key and welcoming, and the meditations are held in a beautiful converted old barn. Very nice atmosphere and beautiful Japanese-style ritual.

June 3, 2019 From Erin S.:…read more Such a welcoming atmosphere and an authentic yogic experience. They focus on the whole self, not just the "workout" philosophy that's taken over yoga in the Western world. Try the treatments as well as the classes. It's a truly transformative place where the instructors have a personal interest in the path of their students.

Beautiful space and Mel is an exceptional massage therapist!!! Booking on line was easy!read more