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The Intimacy Project: A Three-Retreat Journey with Emergence

Name: The Intimacy Project: A Three-Retreat Journey with Emergence
Start: 2026-11-19
End: 2026-11-22
Location: Menla
Rating: 4.84

4.8477 reviews

375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

November 19 - 22, 2026

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Melissa

Sanjay

Melissa Kaplan

Melissa Kaplan, MPA, AACEP, is a somatic practitioner and spiritual activist. She is a Senior Faculty member at the Institute of Core Energetics and Embodied Relationship Mentor based in New York City and Upstate New York. In her private practice with individuals, couples and groups, she believes that eros is the awakening force that transforms our defenses, our negative beliefs, distorted feelings, and disconnection from animism. Her group work is emergent, relational and emphasizes intimacy across difference. She works with trauma that is held in the body in order to increase our capacity for pleasure and ground in our true selves so that we may step into our most expansive and rooted emotional leadership. She teaches self-intimacy through body, spirit, emotion, and connection to land. Melissa is an alumna of Harvard Business School with a focus on Executive Leadership and holds a master’s degree in Public Administration. Melissa was an international CEO for more than a decade and brings her extensive cross-cultural experience into her practice. She is an author and graduate of the Orphan Wisdom School.

Sanjay K. Evran

Sanjay is Armenian, born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and currently lives in the Hudson Valley, New York. He is a Somatic Therapist in private practice since 2016. Trained in Bioenergetics and Core Energetics, both body-based psychotherapy modalities. He also trained at the Radical Aliveness Institute, which specializes in systemic complexity and group work. He is currently an Associate Faculty member and serves on the Ethics Committee at the Institute of Core Energetics in New York. He teaches internationally as a Junior Faculty Member at the Netherlands Institute of Core Energetics.

Details of this retreat

Intimacy on all levels — with self, with others, with all beings

Please follow this link for registration and an interview.

Sanjay and Melissa are launching the next level of their Emergence Group: The Intimacy Project. Three residential intensives in the Hudson Valley, NY, over a period of seven months. One committed group of humans who want to go deep into themselves, and with each other. Small group practices in between retreats to deepen the work and the connection between group members.

Intimacy = in-to-me-see. In our modern culture, the word intimacy is often associated with a romantic situation or couple. Sanjay and Melissa are using this word differently. To them, intimacy is the proximity you have in any given moment with your present-moment experience — with yourself, with any other person, and with the world that surrounds us. This is what they intend to cultivate, with a group of willing humans who want to know themselves and break through their own self-imposed barriers.

Returning again and again as a circle builds the trust needed to go to places unknown — exactly where something more true begins to emerge. As leaders, Sanjay and Melissa bring specific themes for the group to explore, staying responsive to where the group's own intelligence wants to go.

The group will draw on a rich toolkit to guide this exploration — Core Energetics, Radical Aliveness, Bioenergetics, Family Constellations, and Circling. Each modality offers its own doorway into presence: some work through the body, some through direct relational encounter, some through the ancestral patterns we carry from our families of origin. Together, they offer a full-spectrum practice for meeting what's real.

Schedule:

Thursday, November 19

3 - 6 pm Arrival, Check-In, and Registration
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9 pm Opening Session

Friday, November 20

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9 pm Participant Led Evening Activities (Optional)

Saturday, November 21

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9 pm Participant Led Evening Activities (Optional)

Sunday, November 22

7 - 11 am Check-Out of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 4 pm Final Session 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

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

Customer Reviews

4.84 out of 5.0 average rating

Deborah • Sep 02, 2026

5.0

Verified

Past life regression and sound healing

It was my first time here at Menela and it was wonderful. I love the energy of the land. The people are so nice. I Took advantage of the spa and had a relaxing and incredible massage. The retreat was amazing with Lisa and Alicia facilitating the weekend events. I recommend this oasis and gem in the Catskill area.. planning to return next year when Lisa Annise organizes her yearly women retreat. Great recharge to head back into September .

Lina • Sep 02, 2026

4.0

Verified

Lovely location with beautiful views and a peaceful feeling

I came as part of a retreat with a plus size wellness group and loved the Menla campus. The space felt peaceful and was so wonderfully green and bright. There were stars everywhere in the sky at night. Wild animals were everywhere - I saw bunnies, deer, turkeys, chipmunks, all sort of birds.

I loved being there, getting to feel connected to nature, and to catch up on reading.

There was food every day offered by Menla staff. Good quality, though very high fiber. Worth considering bringing a beano tablet with you.

Staff had some awkward moments. My group was definitely treated with the sense that we were a fat camp (we were not) and talks were very gendered, even though I am nonbinary I was lumped in with women and sacred womanhood talk.

The Spa was wonderful - big showers, the robes fit my plus size body, no one was weird about my body. I got a wonderful and super relaxing facial and I took a salt bath which was wonderful. The tub might not be well suited for a very tall person but I am 5'2 and so I fit perfectly fine.

We had a bonfire, which was so nice. They offered smores supplies. Loved it.

Overall a wonderful experience. I would love to come back.

Anonymous • Aug 30, 2026

5.0

Verified

Beautiful grounds filled with nature

A clean, well-run, peaceful place to stay with nature all around (birds, bunnies, deer, and more)

Glory • Aug 26, 2026

5.0

Verified

A beautiful place to disconnect and reconnect

Menla was the perfect setting for our women’s retreat. Surrounded by beautiful nature and so much peace, it gave us the space to slow down, disconnect from everyday responsibilities, and simply be present. I left feeling refreshed, grateful, and more connected to myself. Such a beautiful and special experience…. And the food was absolutely amazing!!

AMY • Aug 20, 2026

5.0

Verified

Energy Medicine retreat.

What struck me most about our Menla retreat was the energy of the LAND. Serenity. Peacefullness and sheer beauty of the place held me, and also, the natural wildlife.. abundant. Safe. Peaceful. The following important highlights was the loving preparation of beautiful food which of course supported our practice. I was in the Dragon living accomodation and found the surrounding forrest and trail access to be superb. I also enjoyed walking in the gardens and admiring all that was growing there.

The Intimacy Project: A Three-Retreat Journey with Emergence

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Melissa Kaplan

Sanjay K. Evran

Details of this retreat

Getting Here

Accommodation

Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath

Economy Single - Shared Bath

Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Past life regression and sound healing

Lovely location with beautiful views and a peaceful feeling

Beautiful grounds filled with nature

A beautiful place to disconnect and reconnect

Energy Medicine retreat.

Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath

Economy Single - Shared Bath

Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

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