Past Retreats

Scroll down for all past retreats, beginning with the most recent.

Moroccan Adventure
November 2024

As one client put it, this is an epic roadtrip through Morocco. From the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, onward to Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara, the Atlas Mountains, and ending in Marrakech. Our merry band of travelers had the best time exploring this beautiful country full of kind people and diverse landscapes. We traveled on camels, ATVs, and hot air balloons. We sampled camel milk, ate numerous tagines, and danced around our desert campfire to live music. We met all the local cats, bought all the leather, and sipped all the mint tea. It was a total feast for the senses that will not soon be forgotten.

Yoga in the Hudson Valley
October 2024

Well, we did again: We had a fantastic fall weekend in upstate NY. :)
This group consisted of a lot of return retreaters and we had a blast. The weekend menu was based on Sicilian dishes like Pasta ala Norma and a most delicious caponata, all prepared by my lovely weekend retreat partner, Arlene. There was ample yoga, a visit to the local flea market, and wine tasting with gorgeous views of the Hudson River + fall foliage. Thanks to everyone for making it another wonderful Hudson Valley weekend.

Sensational Sicily
September-October 2024

Of all the places we’ve stayed on retreat, the wonderful people at Sicilian Spirit have become family. They are fun, charming, highly skilled, and bend over backwards (yoga pun intended) to ensure that we have the best stay. Enza, who calls herself a home cook, creates mouthwatering cuisine from farm fresh ingredients (I had to get her lemon cake recipe to make for my upcoming weekend retreat!). She also lead us in a fun cooking class! Agnese makes everything in the dining room run smoothly while also making everyone feel welcome with her charm + humor. The Baronessa, Miss Etta, keeps the whole place running with the greatest efficiency; it is her family home after all, going back to the 1600s. Everyone is so kind + welcoming and we can’t wait to go back! Join us for Sicily 2025.

Below are pics from our day trips to the beach town of Cefalu, the hilltop town of Agrigento + the Valley of the Temples, + Sicily’s capital, Palermo. James and I love working with local experts to create amazing adventures for you. We’re immensely grateful to all of our partners on the ground and all of our curious clients. Grazie mille!

Glorious Greece Retreat
June 2024

We had the most fun adventure in Paros, Greece! Our retreat was themed around ancient Greek mythology, with daily guided meditations and yoga based on a Greek god of the day. We had lots of down time to explore the island via taxi or dune buggy, or by simply strolling down the beach to our local beach bar. We chartered a boat for a fantastic trip around Paros + Antiparos with lots of jumping off the boat and swimming in the crystal clear Aegean Sea. We spent afternoons in Mykonos, Naoussa, and other small villages around Paros. We can’t wait to go back in 2025! Details here.

Yoga in the Hudson Valley
May 2024

What a wonderful spring weekend in upstate NY where the bright greens of new grass and leaves were in full chorus. The huge purple lilac bush in the yard was also in full blown and its sweet spring scent made it’s way over to the yoga deck during our morning practice. The weekend saw old and new friends connecting + sharing many meaningful conversations, lots of laughs, and a fun, spontaneous kitchen dance party. The weather was gorgeous on Saturday, so we went wine-tasting at our favorite vineyard that’s just 5 min from the house. A grand time was had by all!

Yoga in Mexico
February 2024

This year on Isla Holbox, we practiced putting the yoga sutras into practice on and off the mat. It was so fun to explore the sutras, including the yamas + niyamas, with this very thoughtful, kind, and brilliant group of yogis. We also had a lot of fun, went for long walks, ate delicious food, strolled into town, rested in beach chairs, and napped in hammocks. Isla Holbox is a truly special place that I look forward to returning to year after year.

Yoga in the Hudson Valley
October 2023

We had another great fall weekend retreat! The rain didn’t keep us down or dim our light. Immensely thankful to these yogis and my weekend retreat partner, Arlene Silver.

Moroccan Adventure
October 2023

Our first time back since before the pandemic and it was a joy to return to this enchanting country! I love working with my partners on the ground, and I love introducing people to the beauty, friendliness, history + culture of Morocco. This trip is a true journey through the country, driving many miles to visit some of its most beautiful + interesting places: Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara Desert, Air Ben Haddou, and Marrakech. We had a blast and met some real characters along the way, taking in the stunning architecture, the smell of spices in the markets, and the vibrant colors all across the landscape.

Sicily Adventure
August-September 2023

Of all the places we’ve stayed, the crew at Sicilian Spirit Retreat Center has become family. They are fun, charming, highly skilled, and bend over backwards (yoga pun intended) to ensure that we have the best stay. Nino creates mouthwatering cuisine from their farm fresh ingredients. Agnese makes our meals go smoothly and keeps everyone in stiches. Etta gets up early to make sure we have coffee + snacks before yoga and keeps the whole place running with the greatest efficiency. We truly can’t wait to go back!

We took day trips to the beach town of Cefalu, Agrigento + Valley of the Temples, and Palermo. James and I loved creating this adventure and love sharing it with our curious students each year. We’re immensely grateful to all of our partners on the ground and all our participants. Grazie mille!

Yoga in the Hudson Valley
June 2023

We could not have asked for a more beautiful June weekend upstate for Yoga in the Hudson Valley. From Storm King Art Center to our back deck, we took full advantage of the gorgeous weather and clear air. We practiced lots of yoga, ate healthy + delicious meals, and chatted into the night. I’m thankful to these yogis for putting their faith in us and to my weekend retreat partner, Arlene, for her friendship and for feeding us so well.

Colombia Adventure
April-May 2023

It was another adventure for the heart, soul, and senses! After touring and enjoying the sites, sounds, history and culture of Cartagena, we headed to the wild Caribbean coast at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It reset our nervous systems to be immersed in nature, practice yoga + meditation, and to learn from the Wiwa and Kogi people. We drove into the mountains to visit the Wiwa village and the local school; and participated in a Kogi ceremony on the beach. We also did a little hiking, a little swimming, and a little lazy river tubing.

Yoga in Mexico
February 2023

This is one of those retreats that students return to year after year. The warm sea invites you to linger. The humid air pulls moisture back into your skin. The bright sun infuses you with vitamin D and immediately lifts your mood and dispels your worries. Gratitude feels more easily accessible. I’m immensely thankful for these yogis and this place that helps put our nervous systems back in place.

Hudson Valley,
New York
October 2022

A fall weekend upstate is a dream. Between the way the light shines through the changing leaves and the light we were each cultivating within ourselves (our weekend theme!), the weekend felt radiant and bright. The crisp fall air was perfect for a flea market jaunt and winery visit. Sweater weather and house slippers were in full effect. So thankful for another joyful weekend upstate and for these stellar people.

Sicily Adventure
September 2022

We fell in love with Sicily and can’t wait to go back! Our home base was a 17th century converted farmhouse still owned by the same family. They worked tirelessly to make sure we had the best experience, food, and stay. Over the centuries, so many different cultures and people left their mark on Sicily. Because of this, you can visit Greek and Roman ruins, find lots of Arabic and Spanish architecture, and see how everything commingled into a uniquely beautiful place and culture. It was so fun to go on this adventure with these lovely yogis who were such a joyful, kind, and connected group. I have so much gratitude for them and this place.

Hudson Valley,
New York
May 2022

Twice a year we retreat to the Hudson Valley in NY for a weekend of yoga and camaraderie. We often visit the flea market and a local winery. There is never a shortage of laughter and good cheer. So thankful for these yogis and this path that brings us all together.

Colombia Adventure
April 2022

After 2 years of postponements due to the pandemic, our petite retreat was everything we could have wished for and more. It was wonderful to see Cartagena back to its vibrant and lively self and we so enjoyed the sites, art, food, and live music. Our 5 nights at the jungle beach immersed us in nature and introduced us to some of the wise local indigenous people. Traveling to the Wiwa village was a truly unique and special experience, where they allowed us to observe how they live and work, at one with mother nature.

Yoga in Mexico
February 2022

What a joy it was to be together in Holbox after 2+ years of a pandemic. It was almost surreal, but not quite. The sand between our toes and the warm salt water grounded us on the island and in our bodies. The smiles, the laughter, the connections resonated through the group reminding us that something greater was at work. We practiced heart opening yoga poses paired with heart opening journaling prompts + practices.

I’m still marinating in gratitude for these yogis and for joys large and small.

Hudson Valley,
New York
October 2021

Our retreat was 2 hours from NYC and the perfect way to dip our toes back in to small group retreating. The joy is not just in the yoga-ing, but in the gathering and connecting with fellow yogis. I especially love to witness everyone interacting and sharing and cracking each other up. Lots of time was spent around the huge kitchen island cooking and chatting. In our free time, we purused the local flea market and visited a local winery. It was the perfect fall weekend.

Yoga in Maine
October 2020

We safely gathered for a small group retreat surrounded by the gorgeous fall colors of southern Maine. Our house was a beautifully restored and modernized old colonial with a converted barn space for yoga classes. The friendliest house dogs made us feel right at home. As well as exploring the property and nearby sites, we spent time visiting the coast, from Ogunquit to Portsmouth, NH, and had a surf + turf lobster dinner to celebrate our togetherness.

Isla Holbox, Mexico
February 2020

Little did we know that this trip would be the last for a long time. We heard murmurs of the Covid-19 virus towards the end of the retreat, but we really had no idea what was to come. Needless to say, many of us were extremely grateful for the opportunity to have shared a wonderful week in Mexico before the world shut down. Some highlights of the 4th annual yoga retreat in Mexico below.

Moroccan Adventure
October 2019

Morocco is full of color: the blues of Chefchaouen, the blues & greens of Fes and Marrakech, the golden hues of the Sahara. The color doesn’t end there. We encountered many colorful souls along our journey through this enchanting Kindgom. From our local guides to our riad hosts, many of them have become friends over the years as we work together to create these unforgettable adventures. This was another wonderful trip with the loveliest people.

Yoga in the Mountains
Catskills, NY
June 2019

We changed it up for this upstate weekend retreat, moving from the lake to the mountains. Our house was in the woods surrounded by deep layers of that fresh green foliage of trees coming to life after a long winter. We cooked some delicious Moroccan dishes and the food was so scrumptious and abundant that one retreater suggested that the next retreat should be a “detox retreat”. Never! :) We practiced yoga on the large outside deck and went for a lovely hike to the impressive Kaaterskill Falls.

Isla Holbox, Mexico
Feb 23-March 2, 2019

This 3rd annual yoga retreat to Isla Holbox was wonderful. It is one of life’s great joys to bear witness to people truly connecting and there was a lot of that happening this year. Lots of layers were shed, in all the literal and figurative ways that can be interpreted. Was there skinny dipping while star gazing? I’m not going to say there wasn’t. Was there laughing through tears within the first 3 minutes of a 5 minute mindfulness exercise? There might be a wet towel somewhere with evidence. Did a student come back from retreat and tell me that she missed her roommate? That’s just a plain “yes”.

Yoga at the Lake
Athens, NY
Nov 9-11, 2018

This was our first time hosting YATL during the late Fall and it was wonderful. The crisp fall air did wonders for our city-dwelling souls and the maple trees in the yard were ablaze with color. We carried in wood and lit a fire in the fireplace every day and night and got all snuggly and cozy in our pajamas. We played a ruthless game of charades and ate some hearty meals including a delicious stew that called for juniper berries, which Arlene harvested from the bush just outside her kitchen door. Oh, and there was also yoga. :)

Moroccan Adventure & Yoga Retreat
October 2018

Markets and carpets.
Hammams and Imams.
Call to prayer and “Can I live here?.”
Ait Ben Haddou and goat head street food.
Camel babies and night market crazies.
Mint tea and tagine.
Morocco.
Morocco.
Morocco.
You enchantress and heart stealer.
Shookran. Saha. Merci. Gracias. Thank you.
From the very depths of our full hearts.

Yoga at the Lake
Athens, NY
June 8-11, 2018

At the lake we do lots of yoga and connect in other fun ways. We enjoy hearty breakfasts that we prepare together. Sunset becomes our dinner backdrop as we sip wine and share stories. We learn how a couple on retreat met and then share their joy as someone finds “their song” on the interwebs and the couple gets up and dances. We spontaneously try to learn to dance salsa after dinner and dry the clean dishes while twirling the dish towel and shaking our hips. This bi-annual YATL weekend is one that I look forward to as a teacher and savor as a human.

Isla Holbox, Mexico
Jan 27 - Feb 3, 2018

Yoga at the Lake
Athens, NY
Sept 30-Oct 1, 2017

Mindful.  Heart full.  Grateful.  Yoga at the Lake, Fall Edition, was another success if you measure success in connections made and strengthened between people.  These wonderful humans came together to move and meditate and breathe.  They assisted and encouraged each other through challenging yoga poses.  They chopped veggies and stirred pots and poured wine and mindfully devoured the most delicious chocolate tart lovingly made by one of their own, Eva.   They listened to each other and lingered over dinner and practiced being fully present.  #mindfulness

Yoga at the Lake
Athens, NY
June 9-11, 2017

Yoga at the Lake was pure joy!  These are the wonderful people who bonded over their love of yoga, good food and stimulating conversation.  We cooked together, drank together, paddled canoes and toasted marshmallows.  We also laughed so much it hurt.  So much love for these peeps:

Isla Holbox, Mexico
February 18-25, 2017

We spent a week on magical Isla Holbox, a 26-mile long slip of land just north of the Yucatan Peninsula, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean Sea.  With twice daily yoga and healthy local food, we slowed our pace to that of the locals, found hammocks for afternoon siestas and shed our socks and shoes and winter layers. We allowed our toes to sink into the sand and our breath to become steady and spacious.  We found peace and friendship and ease.

Colombia, South America
February 7-13, 2016

We spent 6 nights on this wild beach on the Caribbean Sea.

We slept in lovely bungalows and napped in hammocks on the beach.  We dined on healthy local food, sipped fresh juices, practiced yoga and meditation, and reconnected with nature.  We went horseback riding and drifted in inner tubes down the slow moving Rio Don Diego.  And we took part in a traditional blessing ceremony of the Kogi people, who are indigenous to these foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

We left with hearts full, souls nourished, and spirits replenished.

Additional past retreats:

• Catskills, NY: Oct 21-18, 2015: Yoga and Reiki with my friend and Reiki Master, James Bene.

• Panama: Feb 22-March 1, 2015 (with One Hundred Skies): three-toed sloths...and yoga! On the Island of Bocas del Toro.

• Catskills, NY: Oct 24-26, 2014: Yoga and Reiki with James Bene.

• Spain: May 17-24, 2014 (with One Hundred Skies): Our first retreat to Southern Spain, in the hills above Malaga.

• Belize: Feb 22-March 1, 2014 (with One Hundred Skies): This was the 5th year back on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize