Celebrate Your Heart: A Journey of Courage and Faith

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Celebrate Your Heart: A Journey of Courage and Faith

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

Celebrate Your Heart: A Journey of Courage and Faith

February 7—9, 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 challenging times, the true nature and power of the heart can be obscured by the weight of doubt, fear, sorrow, and the distractions of daily life. Winter blues, endless scrolling, and the pressures of modern life leave the heart feeling heavy and burdened. But what if we could pause, reflect, and reclaim our heart’s sacred brilliance?

Through our intention, the practice of yoga and meditation, and faith in our courage, clarity, and compassion—we can rediscover the heart’s innate power to heal, transform, and inspire.

Join us in the serene embrace of nature and a supportive community of like-minded practitioners to celebrate your own heart and its profound ability to awaken joy, resilience, and love. Guided by ancient wisdom and timeless yoga practices, you’ll uncover the heart’s sacred grandeur and its limitless potential.

What to Expect:
  • Physical Yoga Practice: Strengthen and awaken your inner intelligence, releasing the grip of suffering.
  • Breathing & Pranayama: Reset your nervous system, reclaim your inner wealth, and restore faith in yourself.
  • Meditation: Cultivate inner stillness, clarity, and deep love.
  • Contemplative Practices: Reflect on sacred passages from the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, and Devi Mahatmyam.
  • Time for Stillness and Connection: Immerse in nature, joy, and the healing power of shared experiences.
Shari Friedrichsen Shari Friedrichsen

Supportive Guidance

Shari Friedrichsen, with 50+ years of yoga experience, is a key facilitator of the Himalayan Institute’s Vishoka Meditation programs. A student of the Himalayan Tradition for over 25 years, her teachings blend asana, pranayama, meditation, and breath awareness to nurture body, mind, heart, and soul.

Sri Vidya Shrine Sri Vidya Shrine

Sacred Space

The Sri Vidya Shrine serves as the spiritual heart of the Himalayan Institute campus. This spiritually-awakened sacred space is ideally suited to silent meditation and group spiritual practice, which has been a cornerstone of the Himalayan Tradition for thousands of years. The Sri Vidya Shrine is open to seekers from all spiritual traditions.

Himalayan Institute Main Center Himalayan Institute Main Center

Award-Winning Center

For over 50 years, our stunning 400-acre campus in the Poconos has been a gathering place for people from around the globe seeking inspiration, healing, and inner balance. USA Today recently honored us as the #1 Yoga Retreat Center in the nation. Come savor for yourself the goodness our campus and community provide.

Simple Dinner Simple Dinner

Nourishing Meals

Our nutritionally balanced vegetarian meals are consciously prepared with the intention to nourish body, mind, and spirit. Our three daily meals are designed to be easily digestible and to support a meditative lifestyle. Meals are a catalyst for community and deep nourishment.

Red Trail Hike Red Trail Hike

Rest in Nature

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos in North East Pennsylvania, the Himalayan Institute’s 400-acre park-like campus offers breathtaking views, scenic hiking trails, and peaceful spaces for reflection and contemplation. Walking is a favorite activity here, either on our groomed hiking trails or on our meandering paved roads.

Shirodhara Treatment Shirodhara Treatment

Wellness Center

Our Pure Rejuv Wellness Center offers integrative health services and therapeutic treatments designed for accelerated healing, disease prevention, and long-lasting vitality. Explore our many Massage Therapy services and book your appointment. The Shirodhara Treatment is our most popular service, and is an excellent way to allow your mind to arrive here fully.

Moka Chocolate Chip Cookie Moka Chocolate Chip Cookie

Treat Yourself

Our Himalayan Cafe offers the Institute’s signature chai tea, coffee, and homemade cookies and treats on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The Tea Lounge is open 24/7 for self-serve hot teas. The Moka Origins Factory, located on campus, is open daily from 9-4 and serves handcrafted, ethically sourced chocolate and coffee products. Free tours and tastings on Saturdays.

Shari Friedrichsen

Shari Friedrichsen has been teaching and studying yoga for more than 50 years and is a key facilitator of the Himalayan Institute's Vishoka Meditation Course and the Vishoka Meditation Teacher Training program. She conducts classes, seminars and trainings, nationally and internationally, sharing the Wisdom of the Himalayan...
See Full Bio and Upcoming Events

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
February 7—9, 2025
Duration
3 days, 2 nights

$229 per person + accommodations

Registration

Dates
Friday, February 7, 2025 @ 7:00 pmSunday, February 9, 2025 @ 12:30 pm
Tuition
$229 per person + accommodations
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