Beginner’s Mind: Opening to Possibilities

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Beginner’s Mind: Opening to Possibilities

Registration for this event has closed

Check out our various upcoming programs—we're sure there's something to inspire you

Program Calendar
Registration Closed

Beginner’s Mind: Opening to Possibilities

October 24—26, 2025

Registration for this event has closed

Check out our various upcoming programs—we're sure there's something to inspire you

Program Calendar

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s there are few.
—Shunryu Suzuki-roshi

Join Karin Rossi, yoga therapist, educator, and trauma care worker, alongside Kevin Genjo LeBlanc, Zen Buddhist monk and teacher, for their 4th Annual Fall Retreat. Karin and Kevin create a warm, welcoming atmosphere filled with moments of both hearty laughter and deep poignancy.

This year’s theme, Beginner’s Mind, invites you to set aside everything you thought you knew about yoga and meditation and step into the space of not knowing, where the possibilities are many.

Daily gentle yoga practices and early morning meditation structure our day and include informative talks, moving readings, and open discussion.

This year, attendees will have the option to book an additional day, Thursday Oct. 23rd, for more intensive study with Karin or Kevin or both. For an additional fee, Karin will be offering 45-minute yoga therapy consultations, yoga nidra, or trauma care yoga. Kevin will work with attendees looking to learn more about the practice of zazen. Email Karin to find out more about this option – [email protected]

Weekend Highlights:
  • Silent Walking Meditation along the scenic trails
  • Saturday evening bonfire and toasting s’mores
  • Moka Origins chocolate and coffee tour
  • Optional wellness appointments at PureRejuv
  • Free time for contemplation or community

Discount pricing available until April 1st. Use CODE earlybird15

Karin Rossi

Karin Rossi is an educator, yoga therapist, and trauma care worker. She began practicing yoga in 1991 as a path to her own healing. She is the owner of Bee Mindful Wellness, a space for yoga, meditation, and workshops. Karin works one on one helping people who suffer with PTSD, chronic pain, dis-ease, illnesses, and addicti...
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Kevin Genjo LeBlanc

I have lived many lives in the 50 something years I've been alive…and each of them has been important. Some of them strange, some tragic and some so wild and wonderful, it almost doesn’t seem real…I got sober at 18 years old, so the 12 step way of life brought me out of those tragic times i mentioned as well as preparing me...
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Himalayan Institute Retreat Center

For more than fifty years, the Himalayan Institute’s Retreat Center has been a gathering place for people seeking inspiration and aspiring to restore inner balance. Home to a vibrant community of yogis, it’s a place for seekers wishing to study the ancient tradition of yoga and to deepen the connection between themselves and the world around them. Whether you visit for a weekend retreat, a personal getaway, or one of our longer-term programs, your visit to the Himalayan Institute will accelerate your personal journey of rejuvenation and transformation.
Free Wifi
400-Acre Campus
On-Site Cafe
Meditation Shrine
Wooded Hiking Trails
Pond with Kayaks
On-Site Wellness Center
Bonfires and Stargazing
Bookstore and Giftshop

Retreat Center Highlights

Sacred Space
The Sri Vidya Shrine is the spiritual heart of the Himalayan Institute. This sanctuary offers an ideal setting for silent meditation and group spiritual practice, a cornerstone of the Himalayan Tradition for thousands of years. Open to seekers of all backgrounds and traditions, the Shrine provides a serene, sacred space for meditation, quiet reflection, prayer, and contemplation.
Nourishing Meals
Our nutritionally balanced vegetarian meals are thoughtfully prepared to nourish body, mind, and spirit. Each of our three daily meals is designed to be easily digestible and to support a meditative lifestyle. Sharing meals here naturally fosters connection, offering both deep nourishment and a sense of community.
Loving Community
The Himalayan Institute welcomes people from all walks of life. With a blend of short-term guests, long-term visitors, and a vibrant residential community, the atmosphere here is warm, inviting, and rooted in kindness, generosity, and service. It’s a place where friendships form naturally, often becoming the kind of connections that feel like family, and last a lifetime.
Rest in Nature
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos, the Himalayan Institute’s 400-acre campus offers breathtaking views, scenic hiking trails, and quiet spaces for reflection and contemplation. Walking is a favorite activity, whether along our groomed trails or meandering paved roads, inviting both movement and mindful presence in nature.
Conscious Simplicity
At the Himalayan Institute, we embrace simplicity in all aspects of life, from our surroundings to our approach to yoga. By minimizing distractions, we create space to strengthen the inner self and quiet the mind. Guided by authenticity and grounded in philosophy rather than frills, we support a path of meaningful personal growth.
Treat Yourself
Our Himalayan Café serves the Institute’s signature chai, coffee, and homemade cookies and treats on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The 24/7 Tea Lounge offers a variety of herbal teas for anytime enjoyment. On campus, the MOKA Origins Factory is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering handcrafted, ethically sourced chocolate and coffee, with free tours and tastings on Saturdays.
Date
October 24—26, 2025
Duration
3 days, 2 nights
Teachers

$200 per person + accommodations Discount pricing available until April 1st. Use CODE earlybird15

Registration

Dates
Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 7:00 pmSunday, October 26, 2025 @ 12:00 pm
Tuition
$200 per person + accommodations
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