Julia Ferguson is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance. She completed her 200-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa and Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in Portugal at Bend it like Buddha. Some of the courses she took include pranayama, meditation, adjustments and alignment, anatomy, and teaching methods. She learned many different breathing and mindfulness techniques, appropriate use of props, how and when to cue students, and how to sequence yoga flows. During this training, she also received an 8-hour Ayurveda Massage Training. Julia has since furthered her education by completing a 30-hour Yoga Nidra training, a 50-hour Yin Yoga training, and an 85-hour Pre- and Post-Natal Yoga training. She is looking forward to a journey to Bali this summer to learn even more and obtain her 300-hour yoga teacher training.
Julia has experience teaching both virtual and in-person classes. She has used Instagram Live, Zoom/Google Meet, and YouTube to teach virtually. She has taught in-person classes at SUNY Oneonta through the Intramurals Department, Om Sweet Om Yoga in Port Washington, NY, the PAL in Port Washington, NY, and The Plants Kitchen in Chester, NY. She is currently teaching group classes at Happy Buddha Yoga in Goshen, NY, leading private classes virtually and in-person in the Hudson Valley area, and teaching Goat Yoga at Totes Goats LLC in Warwick, NY.
Julia started seriously practicing yoga in 2016 when she went away to college. She found her best friend there who had already been practicing yoga for a number of years. This friendship helped her practice blossom and inspired her to want to share the beauty of yoga with others.
Outside of teaching yoga, Julia is an elementary school teacher. Teaching is something she has always known she has wanted to do. It is important to Julia to spread knowledge of all types, academic and wellness related. As a social person, connecting with beings from all over fulfills Julia and she is excited to spend time with new and familiar faces during her Bloom & Breathe spring yoga retreat.
Details of this retreat
Bloom & Breathe: A Spring Catskills Yoga Escape is a weekend invitation to slow down, soften, and reconnect. Set in the fresh, green stillness of the Catskills, this retreat offers space to step away from daily noise and return to your natural rhythm. As spring unfolds, you’ll be supported in doing the same—creating room for renewal, clarity, and ease.
Our days will be gently structured around nourishing practices for both body and mind. Energizing vinyasa yoga will help you build warmth and flow, while deeply restorative yin yoga and yoga nidra invite rest and release. Meditation and pranayama practices will guide you inward, cultivating presence and calm. Between sessions, we’ll explore the beauty of the land with peaceful hikes, breathing in crisp mountain air and grounding ourselves in nature.
Throughout the weekend, you’ll enjoy hearty, thoughtfully prepared vegetarian meals designed to nourish and satisfy, along with plenty of time to relax, reflect, and simply be. Whether you’re resting with a book, sharing quiet conversation, or soaking in the serenity of the surroundings, Bloom & Breathe offers a balanced blend of movement, stillness, and connection—an opportunity to leave feeling refreshed, rooted, and renewed.
Schedule:
Friday, April 17th
3 - 6 pm Arrival and Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 8 pm Welcome Circle and Meditation
8 - 9 pm Yoga Nidra
7 - 7:30 am Rise & Shine Pranayama and Meditation
7:30 - 8 am Check-out
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 - 10:30 am Hike
10:30 am - 12 pm Vinyasa Flow and Closing Circle
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change.
Getting Here
Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Accommodation
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
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
Customer Reviews
4.75 out of 5.0 average rating
5.0
Verified
An amazing experience, as always!
Menla impresses me year after year. The feeling is like none other. Spiritual, safe, calm, even when the outer world is chaos. The staff are not just friendly, but make Menla feel at home and the event seamless, no matter the weather or obstacles that seem to pop up. My members had an incredible experience. We will continue to come back year after year to host the retreat in this magical place!
5.0
Verified
An Awesome Retreat Experience for mind and body
I went into IGNITING 2026: Light the Fire of Joy through Compassion at the Menla Institute thinking it would be “nice.” It ended up being so much more than I expected - one of those retreats that leaves you feeling genuinely lighter, more grounded, and strangely energized in the best way.
Food: Truly ah-mazing. Since it was vegan and gluten-free, I was expecting it to be… fine. Instead, everything was full of flavor, thoughtfully prepared, and satisfying. And the desserts at dinner? Honestly, a highlight on their own.
Dr. Bob Thurman: The star of the show. Every one of us LOVED his talks. He’s wildly knowledgeable, sharp, and somehow manages to make profound teachings feel totally alive and accessible. Also: he is hilarious. We were completely locked in listening to him - equal parts learning and laughing.
Yoga (Michele Loew): I loved Michele’s classes. She guided the whole group through a beautiful sequence - warm-up, deep stretching, and meditation - in a way that felt supportive and skillful. Her Yoga Nidra was especially powerful, and having Arjun join for the sound bath made it even more immersive.
Krishna Das: Forever the best. He’s the reason we showed up - and he delivered that heart-opening magic he always does. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d also love Michele and Dr. Thurman. This retreat wasn’t just “Krishna Das + extras” - it felt like a complete, beautifully balanced experience.
Marina Abramović: What a soul. Hearing her story - where she came from, what she endured, and how she continues to transform - was deeply moving. She carries a kind of strength and honesty that makes you reflect on your own life in a meaningful way.
Gratitude: Special thanks to Piotr for the tech setup. He was fantastic - calm, capable, and it made everything run smoothly.
Overall, this retreat felt like a real New Year reset - a blend of dharma, movement, music, and reflection that actually lands in your body and your life. I left with more joy, more clarity, and a very full heart.
5.0
Verified
Delighted and Ignited!
Everything was wonderful. The lodging, (Eva's cabin), the amazing food, and especially, everyone who works there, soul food on every level. Michelle's yoga and yoga nidra were unexpected highlights for me. She is emobodied wisdom. Can't imagine this retreat without her. I loved yoga with John Campbell of course--it would be wonderful to have both!!! Like she could do morning and he could have afternoon offering? The yoga nidra and soundscape were very powerful and transformational. Of course, Bob Thurman is a delight and central. The kirtan was so nourishing and pure pleasure. I am just awed by the experience that was created. Divine abundance. The part that couldn't be "controlled" of course by Menla, is the other retreaters--and my fellow passengers were so wise, funny, earnest, kind, considerate, adult--exactly who would be drawn to such an event, at that time, as I had hoped. Did I mention how amazing Michelle is :-)?
5.0
Verified
Menla is a warm supportive space for personal growth and transformation
Everyone at Menla is devoted to provided a supportive space for personal growth. I am deeply grateful. And, the food is delicious.
5.0
Verified
Healty Place with nice peoples and magical nature. Rejouvinate and
Rejuvenating and restorative.Well equipped. Excellent food. Competent staff.
Select your options
Available Dates
April 17 - 19, 2026
Select a Room
Deluxe Double (Shared Room)
$903.00
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
$935.00
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
Economy Single - Shared Bath
$793.00
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)
$773.00
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
Cameron's Staff Pick
Verified
