Mandalas, Malas, and Moon Meditations

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Mandalas, Malas, and Moon Meditations

A Creative Retreat

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

Mandalas, Malas, and Moon Meditations

A Creative Retreat
November 10—12, 2017

Registration for this event has closed

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

Program Calendar

Ready to unplug for a weekend? Join Mandala Moon Yoga founder Dena Beratta for a spiritually rich and restorative weekend of yoga and meditation, delicious and nourishing vegetarian food, and the therapeutic use of mandalas.

Mandalas

A mandala is a design that radiates from a central and unifying center—a sacred circle. Yoga is a practice designed to help us connect with our own core and become established in our essential nature. Connecting the two is a natural fit.

A simple translation for the Sanskrit word mandala is “circle.” Some Sanskrit experts might also point out that if broken down into syllables, a mandala is an essence (manda) container (la). A mandala is symbolically so much more than a simple circle. It’s a tool for healing, a meditation practice, and a work of art. It is a symbol of wholeness.

We’ll be exploring mandalas through color and symbols to get a clearer picture of what is going on in our own psyches. Additionally, we’ll use our mandalas as a meditation tool.

Malas

We’ll spend time practicing japa meditation, a form of meditation using mala beads as a counting tool (much like a rosary) to recite or chant mantra, usually 108 times. Bring your mala if you have one, but don’t worry if you don’t have one—we’ll have some loaners!

Moon Meditations

It wouldn’t be a Mandala Moon event without some moon salutations. Much of our yoga practice, like our lives, is spent in doing, accomplishing, and striving. Sun salutations, a sequence of yoga postures common in many yoga classes, are strong and heating. This is in-line with cultural pressures and, in terms of yogic philosophy, our more solar and masculine energies. Our moon, or feminine side, connects us with our cooling, calming, and nurturing nature. And who in this culture doesn’t need a bit more of that energy in their life?

Registration Information

Retreat tuition is payable directly to Mandala Moon Yoga. Tuition cost is $199. Sign up by October 15 for the early-bird discount and pay only $149.

Room and board is payable directly to the Himalayan Institute. There are many accommodation options. Please reserve your room through the Institute as early as possible.

Dena Beratta

Dena Beratta, E-RYT 500, is the founder and director of Mandala Moon Yoga LLC in Marcellus, New York, and co-owner of Slate Hill Wellness LLC. She teaches, leads workshops and trainings, and manages the yoga studio and wellness center that she owns with her husband. In addition, she teaches yoga as an adjunct professor in t...
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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
November 10—12, 2017
Duration
3 days, 2 nights

$199 per person + accommodations

Registration

Dates
Friday, November 10, 2017Sunday, November 12, 2017
Tuition
$199 per person + accommodations
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