5.0
Verified
return to the heart
I had another wonderful weekend retreat with Irina Devi at Menla - one of my favorite retreat places !
Dragon Heart: A Women’s Retreat
Cameron's Staff Pick
Last Chance
Top Rated
Dragon Heart: A Women’s Retreat
4.8056 reviews
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Jul 16 - 19, 2026
About this Retreat
Alison Sinatra has been teaching yoga and facilitating healing retreats and spaces for women for over 25 years. Her work supports people in remembering their connection to Spirit.
Drawing on her studies with North and South American Indigenous traditions, Alison weaves prayer, ritual, embodiment, and lightheartedness into all that she offers.
She recently completed Dr. Gabor Maté’s year-long Compassionate Inquiry training, a deep immersion in trauma, addiction, somatic dialogue, and inner-child work. Alison is also a current student in The Portal, a six-month Gabor Maté–inspired program supporting pregnancy and postpartum through consciousness and trauma-informed care.
Lynn Schauwecker has spent more than 25 years immersed in healing paths rooted in Indigenous traditions and in collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities worldwide. Her work deepened in 2003 during her time in the Amazon rainforest, where she apprenticed with Grandmother Maria Alice Campos Freire of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers and trained in Florais da Amazônia, a system of Amazonian flower essences that supports emotional balance, spiritual insight, and energetic healing.
She is trained in Compassionate Inquiry, the trauma-informed therapeutic modality developed by Dr. Gabor Maté, and offers CI-based sessions alongside her work in somatic, spiritual, and nature-based traditions. For many years, Lynn has also led sweat lodges passed down to her by Native American elders.
In addition to her healing practice, Lynn has dedicated more than two decades to Tibet House US and currently serves as Managing Director of Menla Retreat & Dewa Spa. She is also the co-founder of the Floresta Project, a nonprofit supporting Amazonian Indigenous communities through cultural preservation, traditional healing practices, and sustainable, community-led initiatives.
Details of this retreat
Awaken the feminine witness. Ignite the sacred fire within.
Dragon Heart is an immersive women’s retreat dedicated to descending into the deepest chambers of the heart — where truth, instinct, and ancient feminine wisdom converge. In many traditions, the dragon is not a creature of fear, but a guardian of untapped power, the keeper of hidden realms, and the protector of the heart’s most sacred truths.
Here we call upon the Sacred Dragon as a guide, an ally, and a mirror — one whose fearsome gaze pierces illusion, dissolves old narratives, and invites us to stand in the unshakable truth of who we are. Through guided inquiry, ceremony, embodiment practices, breathwork, and circle work, we soften the layers of the self while awakening the fierce clarity that lives beneath.
This transformation is amplified by the land itself. Menla, long regarded for its potent healing energies, carries the presence of the Naga — ancient serpent-dragon beings connected to water, medicine, and unseen realms. Tibetan Masters and Indigenous elders who have visited Menla describe these Naga as protectors and guardians of profound esoteric wisdom. Throughout the retreat, we honor and attune to these subtle forces, inviting their guidance as we navigate our own inner landscapes.
We will also enter the sweat lodge, a sacred space of purification and prayer. Held by earth and fire, we shed what no longer serves, open the heart through humility and courage, and call forth the ancient knowing that has always lived within us.
Together, we explore how to hold softness and strength, stillness and power, tenderness and truth, allowing each to inform and transform the other.
Return with a renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and inner fire — connected to your Dragon Heart and supported by the women who walk beside you.
Schedule:
Thursday, July 16
3 - 5 pm Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Opening Circle
Friday, July 17
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30 am The Vessel (bowspring-inspired movement)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:00 pm Spa Appointments & Free Time (advanced booking recommended)
3 - 5:30 pm Inquiry & Breathwork Ceremony
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Night Forest Circle
Saturday, July 18
5:30/6 am Sweat Lodge
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4:30 pm Spa Appointments & Free Time (advanced booking recommended)
4:30 - 5:30 pm The Vessel (bowspring-inspired movement)
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Fire Ritual + Dance Celebration
Sunday, July 19
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Closing Ceremony
11 am Check-out from rooms
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
*Please note this schedule is subject to change any time.
Dragon Heart is an immersive women’s retreat dedicated to descending into the deepest chambers of the heart — where truth, instinct, and ancient feminine wisdom converge. In many traditions, the dragon is not a creature of fear, but a guardian of untapped power, the keeper of hidden realms, and the protector of the heart’s most sacred truths.
Here we call upon the Sacred Dragon as a guide, an ally, and a mirror — one whose fearsome gaze pierces illusion, dissolves old narratives, and invites us to stand in the unshakable truth of who we are. Through guided inquiry, ceremony, embodiment practices, breathwork, and circle work, we soften the layers of the self while awakening the fierce clarity that lives beneath.
This transformation is amplified by the land itself. Menla, long regarded for its potent healing energies, carries the presence of the Naga — ancient serpent-dragon beings connected to water, medicine, and unseen realms. Tibetan Masters and Indigenous elders who have visited Menla describe these Naga as protectors and guardians of profound esoteric wisdom. Throughout the retreat, we honor and attune to these subtle forces, inviting their guidance as we navigate our own inner landscapes.
We will also enter the sweat lodge, a sacred space of purification and prayer. Held by earth and fire, we shed what no longer serves, open the heart through humility and courage, and call forth the ancient knowing that has always lived within us.
Together, we explore how to hold softness and strength, stillness and power, tenderness and truth, allowing each to inform and transform the other.
Return with a renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and inner fire — connected to your Dragon Heart and supported by the women who walk beside you.
Schedule:
Thursday, July 16
3 - 5 pm Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Opening Circle
Friday, July 17
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30 am The Vessel (bowspring-inspired movement)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:00 pm Spa Appointments & Free Time (advanced booking recommended)
3 - 5:30 pm Inquiry & Breathwork Ceremony
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Night Forest Circle
Saturday, July 18
5:30/6 am Sweat Lodge
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4:30 pm Spa Appointments & Free Time (advanced booking recommended)
4:30 - 5:30 pm The Vessel (bowspring-inspired movement)
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Fire Ritual + Dance Celebration
Sunday, July 19
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Closing Ceremony
11 am Check-out from rooms
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
*Please note this schedule is subject to change any time.
Getting Here
Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Accommodation
Deluxe Queen
Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers.
Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Deluxe Double (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Size Beds and Private Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Private Bathrooms are Located in the Lhasa Inn
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Standard Single - Shared Bath
Menla Private Queen Room with Queen Bed and Shared Bathroom
Public Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant
Private Queen Rooms with Shared Bathroom are Available in Thimpu House, Panther Cottage and Potala House
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Beds and Shared Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room)
Deluxe Double Room with Two Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations.
Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.
Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath
Standard Premium Single Room with a Queen or Full Bed and Shared Bathroom
Up to 10 guests share two large bathrooms. Each bathroom has two shower stalls and two toilets.
A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room
Phone Access Available in Upper Level Of Conference Center. All calls are free of charge
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
Economy Single - Shared Bath
Standard Single Room with a Twin Bed and Shared Bathroom
Bathroom is Shared with One to Six Other Guests on Your Floor.
A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note rates include meals and accommodations.
Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)
Standard Double with Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
The bathroom is Shared with other rooms on the same floor.
High-speed Wi-Fi is available in the room.
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
* Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed)
* This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others
Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room)
Standard Quad Room with Quad Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom
Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.
High speed Wi-Fi is available in the room.
Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
* Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed)
* This booking is for one bed in a quad shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others.
Camping
Camping
Campers Have Access to Bathrooms with Showers in Lower Level of Conference Center.
Menla Has Six Wooden Camping Platforms by the Pantherkill Stream (First Come First Serve). If All Platforms are Full or You Prefer Not to Use One, There is Also Camping Space in a Small Field by the Stream.
Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.
Phone and High Speed Wi-Fi Available in Upstairs of the Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge.
This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant.
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
Commuter
Commuters
Menla Encourages Members of the Community to Participate in Our Wonderful Programs!
Includes Meals, Public Phone, Public Computer, and Wi-Fi Internet Available in Lhasa Inn.
Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.
Customer Reviews
Verified
5.0
Verified
Impeccable kitchen...beautiful surroundings
The lovely girl who cleaned my room, Amy, literally MADE my entire trip. She was so kind.
The scenery is magnificent, the landscape supreme, the food was AMAZING, cleanliness was top notch.
Everybody at Menla was extremely helpful and nice, with the exception of one person who shall remain nameless.
The scenery is magnificent, the landscape supreme, the food was AMAZING, cleanliness was top notch.
Everybody at Menla was extremely helpful and nice, with the exception of one person who shall remain nameless.
4.0
Verified
This is a special place
I attended Menla for a Therapist Ketamine retreat. There were approximately 35 attendees and 8-10 faculty. The buildings and the grounds are stunning and do what they set out to do..... force you to relax! The conference center offered so much space and ability for smaller groups to break out. I was fortunate enough to stay in a deluxe room which had stunning and peaceful decor and a very comfortable bed.
The Menla staff was welcoming and helpful.
I was disappointed with the meals. I live in the SF Bay area and am fortunate to have access to very high quality and thoughtful vegetarian food. I found the meals to be Okay but not delicious. I should mention that our group didn't have breakfast. I did appreciate the creative beverage offerings and constant access to fresh fruit - the apples were yummy!
The Menla staff was welcoming and helpful.
I was disappointed with the meals. I live in the SF Bay area and am fortunate to have access to very high quality and thoughtful vegetarian food. I found the meals to be Okay but not delicious. I should mention that our group didn't have breakfast. I did appreciate the creative beverage offerings and constant access to fresh fruit - the apples were yummy!
3.0
Verified
Nice place, kind staff, pricey, food was not good, not enough
The cabin was comfortable, and the shared areas were nice. The food, however, was extremely limited—mostly beans and vegetables, essentially a $2 meal with no meat or chicken. After one hour of being served, most of the food was gone and not replenished, so arriving around 1 p.m. meant finding almost nothing left. Beans can also trigger gas and discomfort, and the Indian dishes were too spicy, causing bloating. For the price of the stay, the meals felt inadequate.
Staff should wait until meetings are finished before moving items or making accommodations. The trail signs were also confusing and unclear; improving them would make a big difference.
Staff should wait until meetings are finished before moving items or making accommodations. The trail signs were also confusing and unclear; improving them would make a big difference.
5.0
Verified
Breathing in the Heart of Nature
I've visited the center twice, in June 2025 and June 2026, and both times I found it restful, peaceful, and a place to feel at one with nature, with many opportunities to swim, walk, and hike without leaving the center. It's a great place for meditation, reflection, care, and nourishing food. I had a spa session with Nitty, a Reiki practitioner with over 30 years of experience, and it was better than expected. While there, I saw many animals and birds, and a woman using the Cornell University bird app was able to identify 37 species in one sitting on the patio of the main building. The staff is very friendly, and the spa center with a swimming pool is the most luxuriously built of all the buildings. The biggest luxury I've found in Menla is silence.
