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 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..

Awakening NY is a precious place for healing in the middle of NY!…read more The first time I went there it was because of a workshop that was held in one of the spacious rooms there. As I walked through the crystal shop of the center, I sensed this lovely positive energy all around me, as if the shop and the crystals, everything, was taken care of with plenty of love. That memory of love and safety of that place stuck with me until some time later when I was going through some challenges in life and decided to have some energy work done on me. That's when I met Mariola for the first time -- for my first chakra cleanse in my life. What can I say? She is just an angel with healing gifts.. the session with her felt absolutely incredible and something needing to shift, did shift within me, with ease and with her help, changing my perspective on life in a profound way. Her loving care and energy rebalancing went very deep and I'm still immensely grateful for having found her. This experience with her has opened my eyes in many ways, and never would have I thought that later on I would have booked a "remote" session, my first ever, with her.. I was always soooo skeptical about such a thing! But I did, because I needed some support, I was not in the States, and I needed Mariola's healing touch on me again. The day before the session though I suddenly started feeling better, so when the session came about, I felt a bit embarrassed because a big chunk of what I was going through, had already lifted up, out of the blue. When I said that, Mariola lovingly laughed and said to me "my dear, of course it feels lifted, I was already working on you!" And that was just the beginning of my first remote session.. :) What I can say is, with all my honest heart, Awakening NY is a special place for healing, love and light. Mariola takes care of it by choosing every single healer and staff member who works there, and you can only feel surrounded by love and light as soon as you step in. If you ever wonder where to go and who to trust for a healing work, or a massage, or a workshop, be reassured that at Awakening NY the selection has already been done for you, and you can NOT, you really can NOT go wrong!

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!

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!!

A very serene and peaceful place. A place for meditation. They have a small temple for…read moreDakshinamurthy with an adjoining place for meditation and lectures. We came here in spring/ early summer and found the place with lush green vegetation all around. There were volunteers and students arriving for their youth camps. The staff were very friendly and welcoming! Amazing place to rewind.

Small temple .. it's more a place for meditation than deities .. we were in the meditation hall for…read moreabout 30 mins and it was amazing .. it's next to sharadhaambal temple.. hence you can have both visits in the same day . Be cognizant when you bring in kids to the meditation hall. If they make noise it will disturb others . Overall a peaceful experience

This wellness center is a very peaceful and serene place. You can join one of the scheduled…read moreprograms, or just have your own personal meditation and mindfulness retreats. The place is well kept, clean, and the staff pays attention to details and cares for the guests. Friendly and dedicated staff. The food which can be either vegetarian or vegan, is well made, tastes great, and several dishes to choose from each day. I would recommend this meditation retreat place for anyone looking to recharge their spiritual batteries, as well as find new insights in their spiritual journey.

I had a wonderful stay at Dharmakaya. Its a beautiful facility and campus. The staff was amazing…read moreand super hospitable. I loved the fresh farm to table vegetarian food. I hope to visit again in the not too distant future to check out their interesting yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, and meditation programs and nearby hiking trails. This is such a lovely refuge for rest, relaxation, serenity, contemplation, meditation, learning etc. Thank you!

I did not expect on a joyful but frantic day of Seva that it would be the catalyst for the…read moremonumental and soul touching exchange with such an awakened being, Joy. From the moment I locked eyes and words with, I knew I was in the presence of great guidance. Her uncanny ability to connect with divine timing has continued to inspire the opening of my mind and heart to a profound understanding of patience, trust, and faith. Our exchange has left an unforgettable mark on my soul's journey that I can always pick up from. Although she simply obeys what she is guided to channel, her heart never feels far on the receiving end; from the duty, she fulfills with her service as a beacon of light in my life and surely in those of others. Though I haven't had an official session, for me the session started when we met. Through my peaks and valleys of both finding and losing myself, the greatest difference came from receiving correspondence from her when I felt lost and unclear but was striving, spirited with resilience. It's been as if God and the many extensions of his energy are always watching over me, only empowering me to get lost enough in this constant unfolding to learn from my challenges and soar into tiers of ephemeral moments of clarity. I find myself filled with gratitude when I receive from her as she reminds me that even in my most difficult times my soul wants to serve, and this purpose planted in me carries me through, even when it's hands eludes me. Although this is not the end, I share now in hopes that my experience leads others to seek her. I won't question what about my soul has empowered her to see me worthy of her attention, I can only humbly accept from my narrow understanding that she is keeping me close to my highest self while I am blindly seeking and realizing my true self.

I've been working with Joy for years and nothing can compare with the experience of speaking with…read moreher, even for a short period. She speaks to my deepest sources of pain and addresses them all. Not everyone is meant to speak with her, but those that do are blessed. I'm so lucky to have her in my life.