Phoenicia, NY: RADIATING 2027: The Light of the Compassionate Heart

This five-day yoga and meditation retreat at Menla Mountain Retreat & Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York, welcomes the New Year with kirtan, yoga, pranayama, Qi Gong, astrology and teachings. Led by Krishna Das, Nina Rao and Nena Thurman, with yoga teachers Michele Loew and John Campbell and astrologer Alexander Mallon, it is for anyone who wants to cross into the year in a community of practice rather than a crowd. It is an annual gathering in the Catskills, now in its nineteenth year, held in what the organizers call the valley of the Medicine Buddha.

The theme this year is compassionate courage and heartfelt connection, as the Year of the Fire Goat begins. The retreat is hosted by friends of Tibet House US | Menla, and registration is limited, so early sign-up is encouraged. An online option exists for those who cannot attend in person.

What to Expect

The week opens with a kirtan evening featuring Krishna Das, Nina Rao and their musicians. From there the days follow a steady rhythm of practice and conversation. Michele Loew and John Campbell lead morning yoga each day, and Paul Bloom offers Qi Gong in the afternoon. Arjun Bruggeman guides an immersive rhythmic sound experience. Krishna Das, Nina Rao and Nena Thurman return for further kirtan sessions and join in conversations with the group. Nena Thurman, this year's special guest, shares wisdom and inspiration through the afternoon sessions.

Alexander Mallon returns with his Astrological Forecast for the coming year, a look at the celestial influences shaping it, along with chart-reading sessions and consultations.

On New Year's Eve the community gathers for a sound bath with Woodstock's Sage Academy of Sound. A countdown celebration follows at the Nalanda Conference Center, with music, refreshments and dancing. The teachings, breathwork, meditation and devotional chanting through the week are meant to help people release old patterns, set intentions and begin the year with an open heart. Additional guests are still to be announced.

About Krishna Das

Krishna Das was born Jeffrey Kagel in 1947 and is among the best-known voices in devotional music and kirtan. His path began in New York City in the 1970s, where he was drawn to the teachings of the Indian guru Neem Karoli Baba. After a trip to India, where he immersed himself in bhakti yoga, he returned to the United States and began sharing that experience through call-and-response chanting that blends traditional Indian melodies with Western musical influences. That blend has made the old practice of chanting approachable for many people who had never encountered it.

The Setting

Menla Mountain Retreat & Dewa Spa sits at 375 Pantherkill Road in Phoenicia, in New York's Catskill Mountains. The retreat gathers in this quiet valley, with the New Year's Eve celebration held at the Nalanda Conference Center.

Before You Go

This page covers in-person attendance. A separate registration is available for those who wish to take part online. Because space is limited, registering early is wise.