Autumnal Awakening Yoga Retreat
Description
Set against the quiet grandeur of New York’s high peaks, this retreat invites you to settle into the gentle pace of autumn through daily yoga, seasonal meals, and the peaceful atmosphere of a mountain sanctuary. Whether you’re longing for a deep reset, fresh inspiration, or simply time to breathe, it offers a grounding blend of nature and community to help you reconnect with your inner rhythm.
“From the moment I arrived, I felt a sense of joy and peace. The schedule was perfectly curated to blend invigoration with relaxation. Each morning began with a serene meditation, followed by fun creative yoga flows. The restorative and yoga nidra classes included soothing sound baths and ‘head tucks’ to help everyone sink deeply into relaxation. The meditative hike, the delicious food, the nourishing conversations all allowed me to feel refreshed, centered, and full of gratitude. I highly recommend a retreat with Vicki and Megan for anyone looking for a holistic, transformative getaway!”
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
As summer’s energy softens, autumn draws us inward. This retreat creates space to step away from the pressures of daily life, slow down, restore your energy, and reconnect with what matters most. It is an invitation to align with the season’s natural rhythm, reflect deeply, and rediscover clarity, steadiness, and your own inner light before winter arrives.
Nurturing Your Body
Seasonal Vegetarian Cuisine: Enjoy three chef-prepared meals each day, with nourishing vegetarian and vegan dishes made from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
Mindful Eating: Meals are served in a serene dining hall, often shared with the resident community in an atmosphere of quiet reflection.
Daily Practice & Reflection
Morning Meditation & Yoga: Begin each day with sun salutations and guided meditation as the light rises over the high peaks.
Restorative & Evening Practices: Ease into the evening with gentle restorative yoga, Yoga Nidra, and healing sound baths designed to calm the nervous system.
Sharing & Journaling: Join intimate sharing circles and dedicated journaling time to process your experience and set intentions for the months ahead.
Release & Gratitude: Throughout the weekend, practices centered on letting go and cultivating gratitude will be woven into the program.
Connection with Nature
Nature Bathing & Hiking: Spend time across 90 acres of private forest, with guided nature walks and forest bathing experiences among the Catskills’ peak fall colors.
Exploration: Wander wooded trails or head to nearby mountain paths for sweeping valley views.
A Sanctuary of Stillness
Digital Detox: To support deep rest, guest rooms do not include internet, telephones, or televisions.
Serene Amenities: Between sessions, enjoy quiet time in the extensive spiritual library or meditate among the outdoor statues and pavilions.
Come experience a sanctuary where turning leaves and mountain air support a deep return to balance. Your journey toward inner peace and seasonal alignment begins in the Catskills.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
- Group journaling and dharma talk session
- Daily guided meditations
- Walking meditation through the wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna
- Group hike to explore cliffs and scenic trails with breathtaking views
- Kintsugi: Beauty in the Brokenness art project
- Evening relaxation with yoga nidra, restorative yoga, and a sound bath
- Delicious all-vegetarian meals with organic, local ingredients
- Option to extend your stay on Personal Retreat
- Extensive library of dharma books
OPEN TO ALL
The program is open to participants with prior yoga experience. Classes are offered for all levels, with options for advancement.
SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
Thursday, October 29
- 3:00-4:00 PM: Check in
- 4:30-6:00 PM: Welcome Circle
- 60-minute Yoga Practice
- 6:00-7:00 PM: Dinner
- 8:00-9:00 PM: Restorative Yoga
- 10:00 PM: Lights out
Friday, October 30
- 7:00-8:00 AM: Morning Sun Salutations and Meditation
- 8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00-11:30 PM: Guided Walking Meditation and Gratitude Practice
- 12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00-3:00 PM: Free Time: hike, read, rest
- 3:00-4:00 PM: Dharma talk, Meditation, Journaling
- 4:00-5:15 PM: 75-minute Gratitude Yoga Practice
- 6:00-7:00 PM: Dinner
- 8:00-9:00 PM: Restorative Yoga
- 10:00 PM: Lights Out
Saturday, October 31
- 7:00-8:00 AM: Morning Sun Salutations and Meditation
- 8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00-10:30 AM: Free Time
- 10:30 AM-12:00 PM: 90-minute Halloween-Inspired Yoga Practice
- 12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00-3:00 PM: Free Time: hike, read, rest
- 3:00-5:00 PM: Breathwork, Meditation, and Restorative Yoga
- 6:00-7:00 PM: Dinner
- 8:00-9:00 PM: Yoga Nidra & Sound Bath
- 10:00 PM: Lights Out
Sunday, November 1
- 7:00-8:00 AM: Morning Sun Salutations and Meditation
- 8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast
- 9:00-10:30 AM: Free Time: hike, read, rest, pack
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: 75-minute Yoga Practice
- Closing Circle
- 12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00 PM: Checkout and Departure
Teachers
Megan Martino, RYT-500
Megan was first introduced to yoga by her mother at a young age. After years of practicing alongside her, she began developing her own yoga and meditation practice in college. She completed a 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at the Yoga Center of Columbia in 2022 and a 300-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training with Jason Crandell in 2024. Megan is also a certified Y12SR (Yoga of 12-Step Recovery) Peer Support Guide, Certified Sound Healer, and Power Pilates Mat Pilates Instructor. Her teaching philosophy centers on cultivating strength, resilience, and peace in both body and mind through proper alignment and steady practice.
Vicki Bannister, E-RYT-200
Yoga has been part of Vicki Bannister’s life for more than 20 years. In 2009, she completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program at the Yoga Center of Columbia. She later deepened her studies through an extensive Yoga Immersion program in 2010 and an Ayurveda Immersion program in 2019. Vicki enjoys weaving these connected principles into her own practice and sharing them with her students. In her classes, she offers alignment-based yoga guided by the breath to support a stronger, healthier body-mind connection.
Event Schedule
Oct 29 - Nov 1, 2026
3 day event
Daily Schedule:
Accommodation Options
Private Room: Couple
This registration fee is for two people. This comfortable room has one double bed, and may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. With ample room for meditation, it features a desk and small table suitable for a meditation object. All rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, coverlets, and towels, as well as a meditation cushion and zabuton. The room shares a bath with one or two other rooms. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total meals for a couple room); there is also a tea station on each hall.
Junior Suite: Single
These large rooms have one double bed, a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day; there is also an in-room tea station.
Junior Suite: Couple
This reservation fee is for two people and includes three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total for a couple). This large room has one double bed, which may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. In addition, it has a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire.
Teachers
Introduced to yoga early in life by her mother, Megan developed a deep appreciation for the practice from a young age. Over time, what began as a shared family experience evolved into her own dedicated path, and by college she was actively building a personal yoga and meditation practice. In 2022, she completed a 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at...
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With more than 20 years of personal yoga practice, Vicki Bannister brings depth, experience, and a thoughtful approach to every class she teaches. After completing her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program in 2009 at the Yoga Center of Columbia, she went on to study yoga philosophy through an intensive Yoga Immersion program in 2010, followed by an Ayurveda Immersion program...
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191 Cragsmoor Rd, Pine Bush, NY 12566, USA
Pine Bush