5.0
Verified
return to the heart
I had another wonderful weekend retreat with Irina Devi at Menla - one of my favorite retreat places !
Tibetan Yoga Wellbeing: Heart Practices, Life-Force & Longevity
Cameron's Staff Pick
Top Rated
Tibetan Yoga Wellbeing: Heart Practices, Life-Force & Longevity
4.8056 reviews
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
November 12 - 15, 2026
About this Retreat
Alejandro Chaoul, PhD, is the Scholar and Founding Director of the Mind Body Spirit Institute at the Jung Center of Houston, where he brings Tibetan yogic practices for helping health-care professionals flourish by reducing stress and burnout, and improving health and resilience while nourishing the human spirit.
Since 1995, he has been teaching Tibetan meditation and Tibetan yogic practices under the auspices of the Ligmincha Institute in various parts of the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
Alejandro is also adjunct faculty in the Integrative Medicine Program, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where since 1999, he has conducted research using mind-body techniques with cancer patients, and gave group and individual meditation classes for cancer patients and their support system, as part of the Integrative Medicine Center. He also holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Texas Medical School’s McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, where he teaches medical students in the areas of spirituality, complementary and integrative medicine, and end of life care.
Alejandro Chaoul is the author of Chod Practice in the Bon Tradition and Tibetan Yoga for Health and Wellbeing, Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath & Mind, and has also published in the area of religion and medicine, medical anthropology, and the interface of spirituality and healing. He has recently been recognized as a Fellow at the Mind & Life Institute.
Mauricio Obón Dent, M.D. is Cardiology Director at Hospital Metropolitan in San José, Costa Rica. He was trained at the prestigious Texas Heart Institute, Baylor College of Medicine from 2006 – 2013. Dr. Obón is board certified in internal medicine, clinical echocardiography, and cardiology, as well as interventional cardiology, performing minimally invasive procedures in heart valve repair, heart attack treatment, and repair of cardiac pathologies. A fellow of the American College of Cardiology, his main research focus is structural heart disease, primary prevention, and longevity. Dr. Obón currently lives in Costa Rica with his wife and three children.
Details of this retreat
Menla, the Land of the Medicine Buddha, welcomes you to a four-day retreat exploring the sacred life-force practices of Tibetan Yoga (Tsa Lung Trul Khor), woven together with contemporary insights into heart health and longevity.
Through gentle movements, breath retention, and meditative awareness, these ancient practices invite you to experience the subtle body as a living mandala of channels and chakras. As the vital winds (prana, chi, or lung) begin to awaken and flow more freely, a deeper sense of vitality, balance, and inner spaciousness naturally emerges.
Guided by Alejandro and Mauricio, participants will learn and practice methods that nourish both body and mind while also exploring clinical research and real-world applications that bridge these timeless teachings with modern health science.
As Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche shares, these practices are “a wonderful support for all spiritual practitioners.”
All are welcome who wish to reconnect with the healing power of breath, movement, and awareness—and to cultivate greater well-being, clarity, and freedom.
Schedule:
Thursday, November 12
3 - 6 pm Arrival and Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Welcome Program
Friday, November 13
7 - 8 am Early Morning Program
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Program
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2 pm Break
2 - 5:30 pm Program
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Program
Saturday, November 14
7 - 8 am Early Morning Program
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Program
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2 pm Break
2 - 5:30 pm Program
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Program
Sunday, November 15
7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
7 - 8 am Early Morning Program
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Program
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
Through gentle movements, breath retention, and meditative awareness, these ancient practices invite you to experience the subtle body as a living mandala of channels and chakras. As the vital winds (prana, chi, or lung) begin to awaken and flow more freely, a deeper sense of vitality, balance, and inner spaciousness naturally emerges.
Guided by Alejandro and Mauricio, participants will learn and practice methods that nourish both body and mind while also exploring clinical research and real-world applications that bridge these timeless teachings with modern health science.
As Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche shares, these practices are “a wonderful support for all spiritual practitioners.”
All are welcome who wish to reconnect with the healing power of breath, movement, and awareness—and to cultivate greater well-being, clarity, and freedom.
Schedule:
Thursday, November 12
3 - 6 pm Arrival and Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Welcome Program
Friday, November 13
7 - 8 am Early Morning Program
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Program
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2 pm Break
2 - 5:30 pm Program
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Program
Saturday, November 14
7 - 8 am Early Morning Program
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Program
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2 pm Break
2 - 5:30 pm Program
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Program
Sunday, November 15
7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
7 - 8 am Early Morning Program
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Program
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
Getting Here
Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Accommodation
Deluxe King
Deluxe King Room with King Bed and Private Bathroom
Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Air Conditioning
This Space is not ADA compliant.
Deluxe King Rooms are Available only in Kathmandu House
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
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.
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.
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.
