Poconos Writing & Wellness Retreat

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Poconos Writing & Wellness Retreat

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

Program Calendar
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Poconos Writing & Wellness Retreat

June 6—9, 2025
Judy Chow
With Judy Chow

Registration for this event has closed

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

Program Calendar

This 4-day retreat includes daily writing exercises & workshops, daily readings, daily meditations & journaling, a private 1:1 session, 9 meals, and a 3-night stay in a delightful retreat center on a 400-acre campus in the beautiful Pocono Mountains.

DAILY 45-MIN GUIDED MEDITATION & KNOW YOURSELF JOURNAL

For a healthy balance of body, mind, and soul, begin each day with Guided Meditation followed by self-exploration and clarity journaling in a complimentary copy of the Know Yourself Gratitude & Daily Dump Discovery Journal.

DAILY 2.5HR MORNING WRITING EXERCISES & WORKSHOP

Each morning session will start with a writing prompt for a writing exercise, followed by a group share for those who wish to read their work. You also have the option to workshop a writing piece at the retreat.

OPTIONAL WRITING WORKSHOP

You can submit a 3000-word writing piece for the workshop four weeks before the retreat. Your host will forward it to all the other attendees for their thorough reading and comments. At the retreat, your work will be discussed at a 30-min workshop, and afterward, written feedback will be shared with you either in hardcopy or by email.

ONE 30-MIN PRIVATE ONE-ON-ONE WORKSHOP SESSION

You have the option to meet with your host to focus individual attention on your specific writing questions, your workshop comments, or your writing projects and goals. You can build on the valuable input you heard in the group workshop and receive further guidance and insight into your work from your host. You will have the time and space to go deeper into your stories. This session can be scheduled during the retreat or afterward on Zoom.

DAILY 60-MIN EVENING READINGS & GROUP SHARES

Each evening at after-dinner readings, you are welcome to share and showcase what you have been working on during the retreat day or writing you had previously written or even published.

Judy Chow

Judy Chow started leading creative writing workshops over twenty years ago in Boston, MA, and she taught a memoir writing course as an adjunct instructor for Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, VA. Judy's work has appeared in The Sun Magazine since 2000. Stories include The Interpreter and contributions to The Sun'...
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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
June 6—9, 2025
Duration
4 days, 3 nights
Teachers

$699 per person + accommodations

Registration

Dates
Friday, June 6, 2025 @ 4:00 pmMonday, June 9, 2025 @ 12:00 pm
Tuition
$699 per person + accommodations
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