Lifepath Retreat: Yoga, Ayurveda & Nature
Himalayan Institute Retreat Center Pocono Mountains, Honesdale, Pennsylvania
September 24-26, 2027
(friday evening through sunday afternoon)
Lifepath Retreat: Yoga, Ayurveda & Nature is approved for 10 Contact Continuing Education Credits through Yoga Alliance.
Join us on Lifepath Retreat: Yoga, Ayurveda & Nature at the beautiful Himalayan Institute Retreat Center in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Immerse yourself in the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda, mindful movement and meditation, the restorative experience of sound and stillness, and the quiet beauty of nature. Through yoga, qigong, and a mindful forest hike, discover opportunities to nurture balance, renew your energy, and reconnect with yourself in a peaceful and supportive setting.
Discover the Timeless Wisdom of Ayurveda
Explore the fascinating world of Ayurveda, an ancient science of life and natural healing whose wisdom remains remarkably relevant in our modern world. Rooted in the understanding that we are intimately connected to nature, Ayurveda teaches that the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space (ether)—are present in all of nature, including our own bodies and minds. These elements combine in unique ways to shape our individual constitution, influencing our physical characteristics, tendencies, and overall well-being. By understanding our natural constitution and recognizing signs of balance and imbalance, we can make more informed choices to support health, cultivate harmony, and live in greater alignment with nature's rhythms.
Through engaging lectures, discussions, and a questionnaire to explore your unique Ayurvedic constitution (dosha), you'll discover practical ways to bring this ancient wisdom into everyday life.
Ayurveda Topics Include:
Fundamentals of Ayurveda: Explore the five elements and the three doshas, and how they work together to influence our individual nature and well-being.
Understanding Your Ayurvedic Constitution: Discover your unique doshic makeup and gain insight into your natural strengths, characteristics, and tendencies.
Recognizing Imbalances: Learn signs & symptoms of Vata, Pitta, Kapha imbalances—and how to begin restoring harmony.
Nutrition for Balance: Explore the six tastes and Ayurvedic dietary principles that support your individual constitution and changing needs.
The Ayurveda Clock: Learn daily & seasonal rhythms, and about the stages of life from the lens of Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic Lifestyle Practices (Dinacharya): Learn simple, time-honored daily practices that nurture balance, support well-being, and help you live in greater harmony with nature.
Yoga: Mindful Movement & Inner Balance
Enjoy two yoga practices designed to nurture balance, presence, and well-being throughout your retreat. Friday evening, ease into the weekend with gentle yoga and meditation to release the tensions of the week, quiet the mind, and settle into a peaceful state of being. On Saturday, following our Ayurveda lecture, awaken your energy with a flowing, more invigorating yoga practice that harmonizes breath and movement, leaving you feeling refreshed, centered, and ready to enjoy the rest of the day's experiences.
Reconnect with the natural world on an optional mindful hike through the forested trails of the Himalayan Institute. Along the way, we’ll explore gentle qigong, yoga, and meditation practices to help you slow down, connect with your senses, and tap into nature’s wisdom. The trail follows the natural contours of the forest, with rocks, tree roots, a stream and a short ascent to navigate. Participants should feel comfortable walking on uneven woodland terrain. If you prefer to sit out the hike, you’re welcome to enjoy some peaceful time at the Retreat Center instead.
Saturday Evening: Candlelit Sound & Stillness Experience
Unwind from the day with a deeply restorative experience combining gentle movement, mindful breathing, and Yoga Nidra-inspired relaxation, followed by the soothing, meditative sounds of quartz crystal singing bowls. This calming practice invites you to release tension, settle into stillness, and nourish body, mind, and spirit through the restorative power of breath, guided relaxation, and healing sound.·
Sunday Morning Qigong: Cultivating Vitality & Inner Balance
Close your retreat with a rejuvenating Qigong practice, an ancient Chinese art of mindful movement, breath, and energy cultivation. Through gentle, flowing movements and focused awareness, we invite the body to soften, the breath to deepen, and the mind to settle. Rooted in the wisdom of traditional Chinese practices, Qigong offers a beautiful way to cultivate vitality, restore a sense of balance, and nurture the connection between body, mind, and spirit. Carry this renewed sense of presence and well-being with you as you return to the rhythms of daily life.
Lifepath Retreat offers a harmonious blend of Yoga, Ayurveda, mindful movement, and nature to nurture balance and vibrant well-being. In the peaceful beauty of the Pocono Mountains, take time to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and discover practices and insights to support greater harmony in body, mind, and spirit—long after the retreat ends.
Continue Your Ayurvedic Journey
Complimentary 20-Minute Zoom Follow-Up
Following the retreat, participants are invited to schedule a complimentary 20-minute individual Zoom session with Maria to revisit questions from our Ayurveda lectures and discussions. This is an opportunity to explore your personal observations, gain a greater understanding of your characteristics and tendencies associated with the three doshas, and discuss how Ayurvedic principles may relate to your everyday life.
This educational conversation is intended to support self-awareness and is not a formal determination of your Ayurvedic constitution or current imbalances.
Interested in Going Deeper?
The dosha questionnaire offered during the retreat is a wonderful introduction to the characteristics and tendencies associated with Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. For those wishing to understand their unique Ayurvedic makeup more fully, a comprehensive Initial Ayurvedic Consultation offers a much deeper exploration.
The process begins with an in-depth, 8-page questionnaire completed prior to our individual consultation. I carefully review and assess this information to help determine your underlying constitution (Prakriti), identify current imbalances (Vikriti), and evaluate the relative proportions of the three doshas. Following our consultation, you will receive a personalized Report of Findings with recommendations to support greater balance and well-being. As a special benefit for Lifepath Retreat participants, this comprehensive Ayurvedic Consultation is available at a discounted rate.
All Guests at the Himalayan Institute Retreat Center have access to the following amenities:
simple, comfortable, quiet accommodations conducive to a peaceful stay
3 delicious, nutritious, and hearty vegetarian or vegan meals daily
complimentary daily morning or evening yoga classes.
access to the Sri Vidya Meditation Shrine located at the heart of the Retreat Center’s campus.
a tour of MOKA Origins, a mission driven chocolate and coffee factory nestled on the Retreat Center’s campus.
Sacred Grove Cafe
Tea lounge with unlimited hot tea beverages
Complimentary Internet access
400-acre wooded campus of the Retreat Center, including sunset pond, sound of music hill, residential herb garden, forest pavilion
access to 4-groomed forested hiking trails, one in which ends at Tanner Falls
MarketPlace (books, ayurveda products, yoga clothing, gifts)
PureRejuv Wellness Center (for an add-on massage or wellness service)
Lifepath Retreat Investment: $400 per person
Accommodations
All HI rooms are intentionally designed with peace and simplicity in mind. Choose from:
Private Shared rooms (2-persons)
Private Single rooms (1-person)
Private suites
Guest house
Nightly rates start at $145. ensuring a restorative and comfortable stay amidst breathtaking surroundings~
All accommodation packages include delicious & nourishing vegetarian meals for the weekend.
Reserve your accommodations directly through the Himalayan Institute Retreat Center by phone at: (800)822-4547 ext.1. When reserving accommodations tell the receptionist you are registered for Lifepath Retreat: Yoga, Ayurveda & Nature.
Accommodation reservations may be made on-line here:
https://himalayaninstitute.org/event/lifepath-retreat-yoga-ayurveda-nature-sep-2027/
Lifepath Retreat: Yoga, Ayurveda & Nature
Reviews from past Lifepath Retreat participants:
~”I most appreciated the deeper dive into Ayurveda, appreciation for the science, opening my mind………” Anonymous
~”This (Ayurveda) was all relatively new to me. Maria did a wonderful job explaining things very clearly, which allowed me to understand the elements of nature within myself and changes I can make to guide me toward balance..” KM
~” I loved it!” LB
~”The pacing allowed time to enjoy retreat as well as all the facilities. Very interesting topic.” Anonymous
~”I personally loved Maria’s yoga classes. All aspects of the retreat were wonderful from the accommodations, the grounds, the peace & sense of family were all present!” Milly
~”Maria cultivates a very caring, open environment. It makes it very easy to have conversations & discussions.” Anonymous
~”Maria! so insightful, kind & wise. I really appreciated the balance and pace of the program.” Corinne
~ I loved the opportunity to receive education on the science of life. Thank you! Beautiful space! Maria is very knowledgeable about Ayurveda and maintained positive, creative conversation and interactions. Beautiful Yoga practices.” MY
~”Loved Maria and her guidance, her program structure, and her ability to hold a sacred and inclusive space while also teaching and listening to all voices.” Anonymous
~”. I was pleasantly surprised by the Ayurveda lectures. I enjoyed learning about Ayurveda and can see how it relates in my life. This new frame compliments my yoga and meditation practices. I also really enjoyed the qigong practice. “ ML
~”Maria is an excellent healer. Her energy & love are easy to absorb.” Anonymous
~”thourough presentation & discussion on Ayurveda. Maria is very knowledgeable. I also really enjoyed the mindful hike. “ Alyssa
~I most appreciated the variety of Lifepath Retreat- a mixture of yoga, learning, and being out in nature. “ TG
~”I was surprised by the level of interest I had in the topic of Ayurveda. Maria is a very calming presence and very open to discussion & questions.” TO
~”. I learned a lot about Ayurveda. The new information is inspiring me to make positive changes in my life. The information is personally relevant and seems to fit where I need to attend to. Thank you for your kind, gentle nature too! Thank you Maria!”. Anonymous
Lifepath Retreat: Yoga, Ayurveda & Nature: Mindful Hike on Red Trail
~”I most appreciated the ability to do yoga, meditate, hike and learn Ayurveda in a beautiful location.” Anonymous
~”I most appreciated the respect for where everyone is in their lifepath- a very come as you are environment~open & welcoming.” Tracy
~ “I most appreciated learning new information to bring a new lens to aspects and health in my life.” Anonymous
~ “Saturday evening Yoga Nidra was very peaceful and relaxing. The mindful hike was lovely. Thank you.” Anonymous
~”the program was well structured and well paced- information was clear-Maria did a wonderful job answering individual questions without allowing the group to go off on tangents.” Anonymous
~” I most appreciated the calm voice and pacing of the program provided by Maria. The location and setting were also very conducive to a peaceful retreat.” Anonymous
~”Maria’s calm nature was fantastic.” HS
~”I most appreciated learning about the life-science of Ayurveda and how it applies to my life.” MO
Presenter:
Maria Czechowski
Maria, OT, CAHC, E-RYT, YACEP, and Owner of Lifepath Yoga Center LLC, is a Nationally Board Certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Yoga Teacher and Occupational Therapist with Read More