Yoga & Writing Retreat

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Yoga & Writing Retreat

Yoga & Writing Retreat

June 19—21, 2026

Nourish your soul with a weekend full of yoga postures and writing. The overall purpose is to take some time for yourself and tap into your inner wisdom and find that amazing wellspring of creative energy flowing from within you. Yoga helps to calm the body and mind so that we can listen and tap into our creative spirit, capture it and put it down in writing.

We’ll begin each day with a yoga practice to awaken and energize body and mind. This helps to open our creative energy channels. We’ll also practice meditation to be sensitive and listen to our intuitive mind. Then, we’ll explore writing exercises and prompts and listen to writing excerpts including Natalie Goldberg’s book Writing Down the Bones.

We’ll also practice Yoga Nidra (sleep yoga) as a technique to lower our brainwaves and calm the mind to reflect within our internal landscape. A relaxed, unhurried, and uninhibited mind is the best time to practice writing. All channels are open for listening and receiving when we are guided by our innermost, authentic self.

This retreat is perfect for beginners, established writers, and published authors, or if you are just looking for a creative weekend retreat. Bring a beautiful journal or bring a simple notebook, your style is your choice. Most importantly, bring your favorite writing utensils. It should feel comfortable like golden ribbons flowing across wheat fields.

Writing is a sacred practice to acknowledge ourselves, our loved ones, our ancestors, and the natural world. We write to heal. We write to identify images, memories, feelings. We write to find our smallest, deepest voice within. And it’s this internal and sometimes intuitive voice that leaves a deep impact on our psyche which can lead to more freedom, expression, and discovery of ourselves and the world around us.

Jayne Bernasconi

Jayne holds a Masters of Arts in Dance Education from Columbia University and is an E-RYT-500. She’s been a leader in the field of post-modern dance and yoga for more than 38 years and has been seen flying through the air throughout the country with her aerial dance company, Air Dance Bernasconi. Jayne loves to write as cre...
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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 19—21, 2026
Duration
3 days, 2 nights

$239 per person + accommodations
Register Now

Registration

Dates
Friday, June 19, 2026 @ 4:00 pmSunday, June 21, 2026 @ 12:00 pm
Tuition
$239 per person + accommodations
Register Now
Need Help?
$239 per person + accommodations

2-Part Registration

This is a private event at the Himalayan Institute Retreat Center.

Registration requires two steps:

1

Pay your tuition and register directly with the Host.

Register Now
2

Book your accommodations directly with the Himalayan Institute.

Book a Room

Planning to stay off-campus? Call Guest Services at (570) 253-5551 to learn more about a Commuter Pass.