What Wellness Culture Left Out

What happens to a practice when it is lifted out of the tradition that shaped it? Yoga, mindfulness, fasting, and food purity now arrive packaged as wellness, yet each has deep religious roots. This in-person workshop in Rhinebeck, NY, invites you to step into the worlds that gave rise to these practices and to ask what was gained, and what was lost, along the way.

Led by religion scholar, yoga teacher, and author Liz Bucar, the weekend draws on her book Beyond Wellness. It is a thoughtful workshop for anyone who wants their practice grounded in historical awareness and ethical clarity. Held at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, it runs over three days, beginning on a Friday evening.

If you have ever wondered where your practice comes from, or felt a quiet unease about how it has been marketed, this gathering offers room to explore those questions with care. No background in religion is required.

What to Expect

The workshop combines storytelling, reflection, and conversation with embodied exploration. Liz Bucar traces how separating these practices from their sacred contexts changed their meanings and their power. You then bring that understanding into your own experience.

- Vivid stories about the religious histories behind yoga, mindfulness, fasting, and food purity
- Guided reflection and small-group conversation
- Gentle, accessible movement exercises
- A custom workbook for ongoing reflection
- A copy of Beyond Wellness, used throughout the workshop and yours to take home

You leave with practices to explore long after the weekend ends, and with the insight to shape your own practice with deeper intention, integrity, and awareness of the traditions it comes from. The workshop welcomes dedicated practitioners, yoga teachers, spiritual seekers, and wellness professionals alike.

About MC YOGI

MC YOGI is a musician who was born in San Francisco, California, and grew up immersed in a diverse cultural landscape that shaped his artistic journey. His early life was marked by a passion for graffiti art, which became a creative outlet and a means of self-expression. He found a home in hip-hop culture, which became a significant part of his identity and laid the groundwork for his later work in music and spirituality. Yoga entered his life during his teenage years and gave him a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him.

Venue & Logistics

The workshop takes place at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, NY. Tuition covers the workshop itself, and accommodations are booked separately. On-campus stays include meals and use of campus facilities and amenities, and a range of housing is offered, from cabin rooms to dorms and tent cabins. Some options ask guests to bring their own sheets and towels, so check the details for your chosen room. Those commuting can choose to stay off campus. Movement components are gentle and accessible, and Omega's registration team can advise on accessible rooms.