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

Beautiful place for healthy accommodations for all your needs. Very pleasant proprietors and…read morerelaxing atmosphere.

Had my first massage @ Namaste 919 the begining of March and could not have been more pleased. You…read moreare greeted with a very warm pleasant feeling. The staff are incredibly friendly and make you feel comfortable right away. The massage was Amazing..........so enjoyable that I am going back tonite and have extended it to a 90 minute. Can't wait to try the Yoga!

This ashram acknowledges that yoga pretty much requires abstaining from violence in all parts of…read morelife, including your food. Refreshing. It is a philosophy and spiritual practice, not an exercise technique. = We met up with a group of friends to try the new cafe, Food4All, and ended up getting an in-depth tour from the ashram's founder. An ashram (in case you don't know) is a residential facility for spiritual learning. This one recently opened in the former BCIU buildings on this land, and oh how lucky the neighborhood is to have this foundation move in. They are making the building sustainable, practice zero-waste techniques, and are surrounding the buildings with organic farms. The ashram moved to Berks from Toms River NJ and is open to all, for dining, classes, internships, volunteering, and training, even an advanced certification in yoga therapy. YT can be applied to any workplace to help both the employees and leaders as well as the clients/patiehnts/customers. What a good idea for staff training. The cafe is all-organic and vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free, mostly vegan actually. We had quiche, pancakes, salad, roasted veggies, and breads in a lovely bright dining area with lots of chai tea (made with coconut milk) and light. There are some innovative yoga classes here, for example, using swings, but they make it all sound welcoming to beginners. What a glorious use of two old school buildings which have been transformed into an open, bright, spacious retreat with many uses.

I have had numerous experiences at this ashram. The atmosphere is sheer LOVE & PEACE!!!…read more I enjoy the calm, non-judgemental atmosphere, as well as the nourishment of body, mind, soul!!! The 'Pay-what-you-can' caf-e-teria is beyond "yummy" ! ! ! Worth the trip, from ANYWHERE!!!!!

Deerfield Spa is just what I need. I have been here a couple of times before and this place never…read moredisappoints. It is cozy and cute with an excellent staff and all nice people. It is nestled in the Pocono Mountains...with beautiful views every where you look. They offer hiking, yoga, ti chi, weight lifting classes, boxing classes, pool classes, aerobic classes and stretch classes along with pampering services. The food is amazing and they have an outside pool. I can't wait to come back...it maybe next month.

A hidden treasure in the Poconos. We had read and researched many Destination spas and are thrilled…read morewe found Deerfield just 2 1/2 hours away. This place is clean and rustic. Our room in the annex is fantastic. We love the feel of the Poconos. The dress attire here is chill and comfort. There are 2 gyms so be sure to bring plenty of exercise clothes. The all inclusive food are served portion controlled, healthy and delicious.

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.

Why go through life with all the stress of the world on your shoulders when you can practice TM and…read morefeel better? Carole and Joe are the kindest people you could ever meet and they really want to help you live a better life. I couldn't recommend this program or Carole and Joe enough. They really do care and TM really does work if you practice it.

'Pure awesomeness' is how I'd describe the experience. Kirt and Laura are the perfect pair; kind,…read morecompassionate and knowledgeable without a hint of pretension. If you're looking to take an inner journey...look no further...

From the owner: The "Sound Bath" immerses you in the soothing frequencies of Crystal Singing Bowls, the Flower of…read moreLife Gong, Planetary Chakra drums, lightly guided imagery, aromatherapy, and high vibration Kundalini Crystals. People experience such things as being able to meditate, pain relief, and finding intuitive guidance.

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..