5.0
Verified
return to the heart
I had another wonderful weekend retreat with Irina Devi at Menla - one of my favorite retreat places !
Inner Knowing: Gentle Breathwork for Conscious Creative Living
Cameron's Staff Pick
Top Rated
Inner Knowing: Gentle Breathwork for Conscious Creative Living
4.8056 reviews
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
November 13 - 15, 2026
About this Retreat
I’m a Brooklyn-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Rebirthing Breathwork Mastery (RBM) Practitioner, Reiki Level 1 Practitioner and artist. I was first drawn to RBM while seeking tools to regulate my nervous system and show up more authentically and connectedly as a parent to my two young daughters.
With over 16 years of experience in social work, I deeply resonate with the gentle, agenda-free nature of RBM. Its respect for self-determination and personal sovereignty mirrors the core values of my clinical practice. Through this work, I experienced a profound personal transformation — rediscovering and rebirthing my creative self. Breath became a bridge back to my artistic roots, reigniting a flow of expression that had long been dormant.
I’m continually in awe of the co-creative, collective healing potential of RBM. It’s a powerful, conscious process that invites each of us back into alignment with our inner truth. I especially love sharing this work at Menla Retreat Center, where the alchemy of healing, nature, and community creates a truly magical container for integrated change.
I am a Rebirthing Breathwork Mastery (RBM) Practitioner, Health Coach, and Massage Therapist based in Brattleboro, Vermont. My background includes a BA in Sociology from Marlboro College, 10 years attending births as a doula, co-founder of a cooperatively owned Holistic Health Center, Health and Well-being Coach Training from Duke University, and 18 years as a professional massage therapist.
RBM showed up for me during a particularly difficult time in life. The combination of the stressors of an autoimmune condition, parenting challenges, midlife, and the realization that a change needed to be made in my professional career were all happening at once leading to a state of burnout, feeling stuck, and confusion about how to come out of it.
Through RBM, I have been able to access deep layers of held stress and unwind them with gentleness and self-knowledge; regain energy and excitement for life; expand my capacity for taking action and doing things differently; and feel back in creative flow. I am fascinated by RBM’s potential to heal our nervous systems, empower us to be free to choose in life, take inspired action, follow our authentic creative flow, and support our personal and collective evolution of consciousness.
Details of this retreat
“Breathwork is the process of revealing ourselves, to ourselves” ~ Rebirthing Breathwork Mastery founder Alakh Analda
What happens when you approach the deeper parts of yourself with curiosity? What becomes possible when you open to listening and allowing your inner knowing to guide you?
Join us for a weekend of exploration through Breathwork Mastery RBM - a tool for conscious creative living and deep connection with the inner self.
Breathwork Mastery RBM is a simple and profound practice of relating to life from a different perspective - as a conscious creator. This retreat offers gentle instruction and guidance through a highly supportive, non-forceful experience of conscious breathwork, where the psyche leads the way, not intensity. Over the course of the weekend, you'll participate in four breathwork sessions within an intimate, small group setting. Each session invites you to follow your breath as it naturally unfolds, honoring your inner wisdom without agenda, pressure, or performance.
Step by step, your breath and body will guide you toward the intentions you hold for the life you are creating with compassion, integration, and grace.
Participants often come to this work during times of transition or when they are ready to:
create change through an inner shift of consciousness
work with and resolve patterns in life
create new or deeper relationships with themselves and others
are seeking deeper authenticity, alignment, and self-knowing
explore new levels of creativity
Rebirthing Breathwork Mastery (RBM), a style of breathwork founded by Alakh Analda and passed down through Eleanor Mann, offers a profound tool for self-mastery and nervous system healing. RBM activates the parasympathetic nervous system through conscious, connected breathing to access spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical dimensions of the self. As you breathe, you gently clear imprints, rewrite old patterns, and awaken to your deeper truth. The collective experience of breathing in community amplifies this experience, and the very low facilitator to breather ratio allows for an optimal level of support.
This style of breathwork is safe for everyone - there are no contraindications.
You’ll enjoy two nights in a stunning, peaceful setting, nourished with organic, plant-based meals. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, and dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice through contacting Menla.
From previous participants:
"My experience with Amy and Libby’s RBM workshop was a wonderful lesson that breath work can be a gentle process while still being productive. Amy and Libby were so welcoming and made me feel comfortable the entire weekend. They showed us how we can learn from each others’ experiences through group discussion and a process of gentle reflection. We learned how to integrate this practice into our daily lives by opening up space and time through the breath - that it can be our very own "Practical Magic". The space at Menla was magical, and I am grateful for the weekend I had with our teachers and our group. …what I took from this workshop will be useful for the rest of my life. Thank you Amy and Libby!" -H.B.
"I went in blindly, not knowing what to expect, and was genuinely surprised by how gentle yet profoundly impactful the experience was. The breathwork itself felt simple, but also challenging at times, yet the results were deep, grounding, and transformative.
[Amy and Libby] created a space that felt safe, supportive, and empowering. What I appreciate most is leaving with practical tools I can consciously use every day to navigate thoughts, emotions, experiences, and challenges through my own breath and body awareness." -S.K.
Schedule:
Friday, November 13
3 - 6 pm Arrival and Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9 pm Intro to Rebirthing Breathwork Mastery and First Breathwork Session
Saturday, November 14
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 am - 12 pm Morning Breathwork Session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Breathwork Session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Rest and Relaxation
Sunday, November 15
7 - 8 am Checkout of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 am - 12 pm Morning Breathwork Session and Closing
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch and Departure
*Please note this schedule is subject to change.
What happens when you approach the deeper parts of yourself with curiosity? What becomes possible when you open to listening and allowing your inner knowing to guide you?
Join us for a weekend of exploration through Breathwork Mastery RBM - a tool for conscious creative living and deep connection with the inner self.
Breathwork Mastery RBM is a simple and profound practice of relating to life from a different perspective - as a conscious creator. This retreat offers gentle instruction and guidance through a highly supportive, non-forceful experience of conscious breathwork, where the psyche leads the way, not intensity. Over the course of the weekend, you'll participate in four breathwork sessions within an intimate, small group setting. Each session invites you to follow your breath as it naturally unfolds, honoring your inner wisdom without agenda, pressure, or performance.
Step by step, your breath and body will guide you toward the intentions you hold for the life you are creating with compassion, integration, and grace.
Participants often come to this work during times of transition or when they are ready to:
create change through an inner shift of consciousness
work with and resolve patterns in life
create new or deeper relationships with themselves and others
are seeking deeper authenticity, alignment, and self-knowing
explore new levels of creativity
Rebirthing Breathwork Mastery (RBM), a style of breathwork founded by Alakh Analda and passed down through Eleanor Mann, offers a profound tool for self-mastery and nervous system healing. RBM activates the parasympathetic nervous system through conscious, connected breathing to access spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical dimensions of the self. As you breathe, you gently clear imprints, rewrite old patterns, and awaken to your deeper truth. The collective experience of breathing in community amplifies this experience, and the very low facilitator to breather ratio allows for an optimal level of support.
This style of breathwork is safe for everyone - there are no contraindications.
You’ll enjoy two nights in a stunning, peaceful setting, nourished with organic, plant-based meals. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, and dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice through contacting Menla.
From previous participants:
"My experience with Amy and Libby’s RBM workshop was a wonderful lesson that breath work can be a gentle process while still being productive. Amy and Libby were so welcoming and made me feel comfortable the entire weekend. They showed us how we can learn from each others’ experiences through group discussion and a process of gentle reflection. We learned how to integrate this practice into our daily lives by opening up space and time through the breath - that it can be our very own "Practical Magic". The space at Menla was magical, and I am grateful for the weekend I had with our teachers and our group. …what I took from this workshop will be useful for the rest of my life. Thank you Amy and Libby!" -H.B.
"I went in blindly, not knowing what to expect, and was genuinely surprised by how gentle yet profoundly impactful the experience was. The breathwork itself felt simple, but also challenging at times, yet the results were deep, grounding, and transformative.
[Amy and Libby] created a space that felt safe, supportive, and empowering. What I appreciate most is leaving with practical tools I can consciously use every day to navigate thoughts, emotions, experiences, and challenges through my own breath and body awareness." -S.K.
Schedule:
Friday, November 13
3 - 6 pm Arrival and Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9 pm Intro to Rebirthing Breathwork Mastery and First Breathwork Session
Saturday, November 14
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 am - 12 pm Morning Breathwork Session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Breathwork Session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Rest and Relaxation
Sunday, November 15
7 - 8 am Checkout of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 am - 12 pm Morning Breathwork Session and Closing
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch and 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 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
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.
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.
