Need some fresh inspiration for your creative practice? This retreat weekend offers a full range of sensory experiences to help spark your imagination.

Join us Labor Day Weekend for 4 days / 3 nights of mindful excursions into the late summer woods, experiments with different mediums to refine your instincts and broaden your methods of self-expression, dreamy sound baths to open up new creative pathways, and meaningful human connection with fellow creators who want to tap into the joy of making things.

Creators of all skill levels are welcome! Whether you’re an experienced artist who needs fresh inspiration and conversation, a total newbie who’s never made art, or somewhere in between, you will find your people here.

So, pack a sketchbook, gather your favorite supplies, and step into our peaceful forest haven, where you can immerse yourself in creative expression and leave the to-do list behind.

Who is this retreat for?

This retreat is designed for people from all backgrounds to come together, experiment freely, and share a wide diversity of creative interests. There are limitless ways to define art and express creativity.

So, if you’re a curious, open-minded person who gets inspired by nature and enjoys exploring new ways of seeing and expressing yourself, you’ll fit right in!

Activities

Every activity is entirely optional! You can join us for any (or all) of the following:

• Expressive Art Sessions: Experiment with different mediums and techniques in a relaxed, judgment-free atmosphere. There’s no right or wrong here, just play, exploration, and seeing what wants to emerge.
• Nature-Inspired Art & Crafts: Take the forest inside by incorporating natural materials, colors, and the landscape around you into your creative work.
• Restorative Yoga with Essential Oils: Stretch and relax in restorative postures that relieve tension, while pleasant essential oils help you stay present in your body during the experience.
• Guided Sensory Forest Bathing: A mindfully guided walk in the woods. This sensory immersion practice helps you slow down, notice what’s around you, and bring that awareness back into your creative work.
• Sound Meditation with Live Instruments: Settle in on your back on a yoga mat and cushion, nestled underneath blankets, and let the healing sounds wash over you. Instead of words guiding you to meditate, you’ll have sounds to bring you deeper into a restorative experience. You’ll hear chimes, a gong, singing bowls, and other healing instruments played live. It’s the perfect way to end a day of creating, wandering, and connecting.
• Scenic Hike: We’ll take the beautiful purple trail loop together which leads to the top of the property, pause for photos at the gazebo, and soak in the landscape together.

Plus, lots of opportunities to connect with other creators. Share what you’re working on, swap ideas, and discover new sources of inspiration. There’s no pressure, just friendly creative conversation.

Amenities

During your time at the Himalayan Institute Retreat Center, you’ll have access to the following:

• Simple, comfortable, quiet accommodations conducive to a peaceful stay and conscious simplicity
• 3 delicious, nutritious, and hearty vegetarian or vegan meals daily
• Tea lounge with unlimited hot tea beverages
• Complimentary Internet access
• Complimentary daily morning or evening yoga classes
• Independent meditation time at the Sri Vidya Meditation Shrine
• 400-acre wooded campus of the Retreat Center, including 4 groomed forest trails, pond, pavilions, Sacred Grove Cafe, and more

You can also peruse the MarketPlace gift shop with an extensive collection of books, ayurveda products, yoga clothing, and gifts. Or, add on a massage or wellness service at the on-site PureRejuv Wellness Center!

Join us on your own or bring a friend

This retreat weekend is designed to be inclusive for people of all backgrounds.

If you’re new to the Himalayan Institute or have never attended a retreat before, this is a wonderful, welcoming introduction. You can explore creativity, mindfulness, and nature-immersion practices in a laid back environment with a supportive guide.

If you have a creative friend you’ve been wanting to introduce to the world of wellness retreats (or art) without intimidation or overwhelm, invite them to join you!