3 Day Fall Reset: Come into Yourself Meditation Retreat in Cragsmoor, New York, USA
Meditation Retreat USA
Fall is often a time of new beginnings. Reset as you reconnect with nature, the present moment, and your inner being. Five teachers will guide you through a range of powerful practices - including stillness meditation, yoga, walking meditation, guided compassion meditation, personal outdoor meditation, Reiki, Qi gong, and singing bowls. You will find yourself refreshed, recharged, and ready for all the world brings.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Stillness meditation, yoga, Reiki, Qi gong, and singing bowls sessions
- Walking meditation, guided compassion meditation, and personal outdoor meditation
- Yoga and healing practices
- Interactive sessions with a question-and-answer period
- Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
- Extensive library of dharma books
- 2 nights accommodation on expansive wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna
- Delicious full-board vegetarian meals with locally-sourced ingredients
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Accommodation
Facilities
- Air-conditioned public areas
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Kitchen
- Lobby
- Lounge
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Yoga studio
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Library
Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing's two residence halls offer a simple, peaceful environment that will support your retreat experience. To maintain an atmosphere of calm, the rooms do not have televisions, telephones, or Internet access.
Rates include three gourmet vegetarian meals a day, organic and locally sourced when possible, as well as linens and housekeeping. Rooms may be shared by couples in a committed relationship.
Private room
These pleasant rooms have a double bed and ample room for practice. In addition to the bed and desk, each room has a meditation table, cushion, and zabuton. There is also a tea station at each hall. Bathrooms are shared between two or three rooms (for use by one person at a time).
Junior suite
With a double bed, private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator, and ample room for practice, the spacious Junior Suites are a haven from the outside world. In addition to the bed and desk, each room has a meditation table, cushion, and zabuton.
Facilities
Release your worries and let the busy world melt away as you soak in the beauty of nature. Across all seasons, Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing's 90 acres offer a place of peaceful refuge, a place of joy and healing.
Meditation hall
The center's light-drenched meditation hall is its primary venue for programs of all kinds - from pujas to teachings to yoga classes. Its soaring ceilings and clean aesthetic evoke a sense of wonder and tranquility.
Library
The cozy library, filled with texts on a range of spiritual topics, is the perfect space to relax between sessions, sit in front of the fire, or chat with a friend. It also has free Wi-Fi, a communal computer, and a comfortable desk.
Dining room
Savor healthy, seasonal, locally sourced vegetarian meals at Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing' sun-filled dining hall or on the adjacent outdoor patio. Coffee and tea are always available there, and many guests find it a convivial spot to gather.
Birch and oak halls
The gracious accommodations are designed with a clean, simple aesthetic, creating an environment of perfect calm.
Reception hall
The reception hall is the welcome center, the place where you will always find a warm greeting, a cup of tea, and a spot to relax in. In addition to the dining room, the building also houses Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing's store and offices.
Outdoor spaces
They have many spaces where guests gather outdoors, both during programs and when seeking solitude. Besides the fire pit, they relax on the dining patio, on the private terraces and balconies, outside Milarepa Hall, and overlooking the broad expanse of field in front of the reception hall.
Practice pavilion
Whether on your own or as part of a program, this outdoor space, tucked into the edge of the woods, is the perfect environment for outdoor meditation, movement practice, or a small group discussion. It is just steps away from the center courtyard, but it feels like it is a world away.
Outdoor meditation spots
The campus is dotted with statues of Buddha and other deities, as well as nature forms, offering numerous places for meditation and quiet contemplation.
Woods paths
Pathways winding through Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing's woods, around their ponds, and across campus offer opportunities to combine the spiritual benefits of kora with the health benefits of forest bathing.
Program
Event highlights
- Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
- Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
- Shamatha and guided meditations
- Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
- Extensive library of dharma books
- Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna
- Option to extend stay on personal retreat
Open to all
There are no prerequisites for this program. It is appropriate for meditators at all levels, and the mindful movement can be completed at your own skill level.
Program description
During this restorative weekend, you will engage in six distinctive, accessible meditation and yoga practices and their philosophical underpinnings. These practices each help build the resilience, openness, and stability with which to move through daily life.
The weekend includes teachings, discussion, and practice, allowing you to explore how each form of meditation is helpful and how they complement each other.
Stillness meditation
Linked to serenity, stillness meditation is designed to quiet an active mind by focusing on the breath, concentrating on a single topic, or practicing a centering meditation that helps release painful emotions and negative thought patterns.
Walking meditation
In essence, walking meditation is an examination of time; you will use it to help root your awareness in the present moment.
The Three Moment Method™
An accessible meditation technique for everyday use developed by Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche.
Qi gong
Using Hunyuan Qi gong as a starting point, you will explore the use of mind - intent in the development, nurturing, gathering, moving, and storing of qi. You will also practice Zhanzhuang Gong, a still-standing meditation.
Reiki
Exploring meditative practices from the tradition of the Reiki system of natural healing, you will do a series of centering practices and breathing exercises to increase energy awareness and energy flow.
Tibetan singing bowls
Sound and vibration of singing bowls can be used to achieve deep relaxation, reduce stress, and create a healthy flow of energy through the physical and etheric bodies.
Yoga
You will practice mindful movement, coordinated with the breath, followed by guided relaxation, in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of body and mind, and enjoy a deep sense of well-being.
Together, these practices provide a strong mind-body foundation to help transform daily living.
When not in class, relax in the center’s beautiful, tranquil environment. Enjoy the view from the patio or a nearby hike, curl up with a book at the library, or contemplate the stars while sitting by the fire pit.
Daily schedule (subject to change)
Friday
- 15:00 Check-in begins
- 18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
- 19:00 - 21:00 Welcome and Introduction
- Gentle guided yoga
Saturday
- 07:00 - 08:00 Morning yoga
- 08:00 - 09:00 Breakfast
- 09:30 - 10:15 Meditation
- 10:15 - 11:00 Free time
- 11:00 - 12:00 Qi gong
- 12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
- 13:00 - 14:30 Free time
- 14:30 - 15:30 Reiki
- 15:30 - 16:30 Woods walk
- 16:00 - 18:00 Meditation
- 18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:45 Tibetan singing bowls
Sunday
- 07:00 - 08:00 Morning yoga
- 08:00 - 09:00 Breakfast
- 09:30 - 10:30 Walking meditation
- 10:30 - 11:00 Free time
- 11:00 - 11:30 Meditation
- 11:30 - 12:00 Question and answer
- 12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
- 13:00 Checkout and departure
Instructors
John Henderson
John Henderson has been a meditator for over 20 years and a student of Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche's since 2003. He translates his practice into his work as a business professional and entrepreneur with a focus on healthcare-related enterprises.
Bob Blanton
Bob Blanton has over 40 years of experience in the martial arts, 25 of which have been dedicated to the study and practice of Tai Chi. For over 10 years, Bob has devoted his time to a deeper study of the principals and forms of this art. In addition to teaching private and group classes, he has participated in numerous demonstrations and competitions.
Madalina Blanton
Madalina Blanton is a Reiki master teacher, family constellation facilitator, and spiritual artist with a practice based in Maplewood NJ. She has been certified as a Reiki master teacher and spiritual counselor after a 550 hours program at the Open Center in NY, taught by the late Margaret Ann Case. After a successful career as a designer of children’s books, Madalina decided to dedicate her time to healing practices. Through her personal healing journey, she learned that lasting transformation happens when we bring awareness to all aspects of our being and fully engage your soul energy.
Kati Walker
Kati Walker was introduced to yoga as a teenager and loved the physical aspects of the discipline. As her practice developed, she appreciated the subtler qualities including the spiritual aspects and stress management. She completed her 200-hour certification in 2009 and continued her certifications with yoga for scoliosis, principles of Restorative yoga, and cancer survivor teacher training. Kati expanded into Ayurveda, healing touch, Reiki, and sound healing.
Dr. Zixun “Tedi” Zeng
Dr. Zixun “Tedi” Zeng is a board-certified clinical acupuncturist and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbalist in New Jersey. She specializes in women’s health and fertility, mental health and trauma recovery, pain management and sports medicine, cosmetic and facial acupuncture. She had won awards as a martial arts athlete in China and taught Tai Chi and Qigong in China and the U.S. in the past decade. Dr. Zeng received her M.B.B.S degree (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) from the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.
Location
Perched on a beautifully wooded hillside in the village of Cragsmoor, New York, this 90-acre campus is a world apart, a place to shed the intensity of modern life, and a place to find yourself. The design is intimate, elegant, and simple, with outdoor spaces for walking meditation and two terraces with lovely views of the woods.
Food
Eating farm-to-table
Ancient wisdom describes food as a source of prana, or life force. The Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing was founded on the premise that nourishing food is integral to wellbeing.
Their chefs are passionate about creating meals that are both flavorful and healthy. They use the freshest, most nutritious, least processed foods available; when possible, their ingredients are organic and locally sourced.
Menu and meal times
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in your accommodation fee. To promote good health, you will be served delicious, varied, nutritious vegetarian (and occasionally vegan) meals. Their menus do often include rennet-free cheese and non-fertilized eggs. They also use onions, garlic, and other alliums.
Although meal times may change according to events and programs, the schedule is generally:
- Breakfast - Served from 07:00 to 08:00; oatmeal or granola, eggs, yogurt, fruit, bread, milk, jam, and butter are generally available
- Lunch - Served at approximately 12:00 to 13:00
- Dinner - Served from 18:00 to 19:00
Special dietary needs
You will be asked about dietary concerns at registration. Your host will be careful to list ingredients next to each dish. Please read the labels to identify any potential food allergens. Although the school strives to include options for those with the most common food sensitivities - including dairy and gluten - many dishes include eggs, dairy, onions, nightshades, gluten, or nuts.
Their kitchen staff is also trained in safe food handling, including the prevention of cross-contamination. However, they do not have the facilities or resources to ensure that trace amounts of allergens are not present in their food.
Kindly also note that they cannot accommodate special diets or individual food likes and dislikes; please remember that the chef is preparing meals for a crowd.
Further, due to government restrictions, they cannot allow retreatants to bring their own food to cook or to keep in the kitchen or in their rooms.
Teas and snacks
Hot water and a selection of black and herbal teas (as well as a selection of dairy and plant-based milks and sweeteners) are available at the dining hall, and there are tea stations at the Birch and Oak Houses throughout the day. Please return your used cups to the residence hall tea stations when you are finished.
There is also always a bowl of fruit available at the dining hall. Sometimes, there are cookies, too.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Organic
What's included
- Teachings, discussion, and practice to explore forms of meditation
- Stillness meditation, walking meditation, Qi gong, Reiki, Tibetan singing bowls, and yoga sessions
- 2 nights accommodation with extensive library and wooded grounds
- Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally-sourced ingredients
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Newark Liberty International Airport
109 km
Transfer not provided
Stewart International Airport
29 km
Transfer not provided
LaGuardia Airport
107 km
Transfer not provided
John F. Kennedy International Airport
124 km
Transfer not provided
Driving directions
When you arrive at the center, drive up the hill to drop your luggage at the reception hall. Follow a staff member back down the hill to the lower parking lot. Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing will shuttle you back up to the reception hall where you’ll check in.
Arrival by plane
Please book your flight to arrive at Stewart International Airport (SWF), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). You can reach the venue by car rental or via train to Middletown, New York.
Arrival by car
Car rental, taxi, or Uber / Lyft are all good ways to get to the center. Approximate driving times are:
- New York City: 2 hours
- Philadelphia: 3 hours
- Boston: 4 hours
- Washington, DC: 5.5 hours
If you have an EV, Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing will be happy for you to charge it. They only ask for a 10 USD donation.
They also offer their guests a 5% discount at any Enterprise Rent-a-Car, whether you will be driving from New York City, an area airport, or one of the train stations listed below. Please use the discount code OSMB24A when making your reservation.
- Discount code: OSMB24A
Local car services
These services offer transportation from Stewart Airport, the Middletown, NY train station, or the bus stop in Ellenville, NY. Please check with individual companies for rates and restrictions. You may wish to book a taxi a day in advance.
- Uber
- Lyft
- Beacon: Economy Taxi Service
- Ellenville: Ellenville Taxi Service
- New Paltz: Green Taxi
- Middletown: Robin's Taxi
Arrival by train
From New York Penn Station:
- Take the New Jersey Transit to Middletown, New York, approximately a 30-minute drive from Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing.
- Buy a ticket to Middletown, NY (not Middletown, NJ). Find the New Jersey Transit (NJT) trains and use the self-service ticket machines; the ticket costs a little under 20 USD, and the journey takes around one hour and 40 minutes.
- Take a train from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction. This is just one stop towards your destination, Middletown, NY. Many trains from Penn Station go through Secaucus without stopping, so ask an attendant which of the listed trains will stop there.
- Take a train from Secaucus Junction to Middletown, NY. Transfer to the Main / Bergen / Port Jervis Line (on the map, it is the yellow Main Line) to Middletown, NY. This is a large station; please find an attendant who can point you in the right direction.
- From the Middletown train station, please take one of the car services listed above or rent a car; call ahead to get Enterprise to collect you at the station.
From Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Take the New Jersey Transit to Middletown, New York, approximately a 30-minute drive from Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing.
- Buy a ticket to Middletown, NY (not Middletown, NJ). Look for AirTrain signs. Before getting on the AirTrain, buy a ticket (about 25 USD) at a NJ Transit ticket vending machine. Choose the option for New Jersey Transit NJT Train, then choose the option for Middletown, NY (make sure that it says NY and not Middletown, New Jersey). This one ticket will be used for the AirTrain and other trains on your route (make sure to keep your ticket; the train attendants might not see that you will be going all the way to Middletown, NY and keep it unwittingly).
- Take the AirTrain to RailLink station (Newark International Train Station). The signs will say: "Next AirTrain Arriving in...etc." Your stop will be marked: RailLink station, not Newark International Train Station.
- Take a train to Secaucus Junction. At RailLink station (Newark International Train Station), get on the next available train heading to NY-Penn Station (please confirm that you have the right train; this can be confusing). Don't go all the way to the Penn, NY station. Get off the train at the second stop, Secaucus Junction.
- Take a train from Secaucus Junction to Middletown, NY. At Secaucus Junction, transfer to the Main / Bergen / Port Jervis Line (on the map, it is the yellow Main Line) to Middletown, NY. Be prepared to use your ticket again to enter the station. This is a large station and you will travel a distance to the track for your second train. Again, please find an attendant who can point you in the right direction.
- From the Middletown train station, please take one of the car services listed above or rent a car; call ahead to get Enterprise to collect you at the station.
Arrival by bus
There are two choices for bus travel from New York Port Authority to the Cragsmoor area; from either, you can continue to the center via one of the car services listed above.
- The Shortline Bus stops in Ellenville, New York, approximately a 15-minute drive from Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. This is the closer option, but it offers fewer travel times.
- The Trailways Bus stops in New Paltz, New York, approximately 40 minutes from the Center. There are more than 20 buses scheduled on most days.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.