Cameron's Staff Pick

Top Rated

Meditation Without Expectations™ Immersion

Name: Meditation Without Expectations™ Immersion
Start: 2027-04-28
End: 2027-05-02
Location: Menla
Rating: 4.81

4.81106 reviews

Phoenicia, NY 12464, USA

April 28 - May 2, 2027

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Annie

Details of this retreat

Connect without expectations about how that “should” happen or how you “should” be.

Meditation Without Expectations™ integrates ancient practices with modern discoveries in physiology, adult learning, and behavioral psychology. Published research on the 8-week program has demonstrated reduced stress and increased resilience, empathy, and mindfulness. The approach is structured while allowing freedom to explore.

Dr. Annie Weisbrod has supported thousands of people across 30+ countries through this program. This 4.5-day intensive allows us to go deeper, developing your capacity to be aware, listen to, and better understand the communications of your body, emotions, and intuition/spirit. Through experimentation and reflection, you may discover which practices, environments, and ways of paying attention best support your inner and outer life—and why.

We explore meditation as something embodied and intuitive, rather than rigid or performative. You will have opportunities to experiment, ask questions, reflect, share, and notice what genuinely resonates with you.

Whether you are an experienced meditator, new to meditation, or have struggled to find a practice that feels natural and sustainable, this immersion offers an opportunity to let go of striving, perfectionism, and preconceived ideas about how meditation “should” be or feel—or even the idea that meditation is simply a technique.

Instead, we play with the practices, reflect and discuss, and learn to listen deeply to our own experience—through body, heart, mind, and spirit – which guides how to live life well.

The intention is not to become a better meditator. It is to become more deeply aware of yourself. You may leave with renewed clarity, stronger connection, and discoveries and practices that genuinely support your well-being and inner life.

What to Expect

Daily Meditation & Breathwork. We use a progressive sequence of practices, including deep breathing/pranayamas, 20+ Senses, mantra, R.A.I.N., Metta, Naikan, Tonglen, and open monitoring.
Silence & Stillness. With optional periods of silence, you choose how much to practice, from 4 up to 9 hours each day.
Movement & Embodiment. Walking meditation, yoga, forest bathing, and time to hike or other exercise in the mountain forest sanctuary.
Reflection & Facilitated Discussion. Explore self, ego, identity, cognitive patterns, emotional resilience, and inner experiences through reflection and dialogue. It feels safe and participants become friends.
Intuitive Energy Healing. Energy-based practices and attunements are part of our daily exploration of embodied awareness and well-being.
Rest & Restore. Enjoy nourishing meals, spa amenities, quiet spaces, and time to unwind in Menla’s magical setting.

Come curious and exactly as you are. Discover what happens when you let go of expectations and begin to listen—to the remarkable human being you already are and to our impressive living world.

Schedule:

Wednesday, April 28
Day 1 – Settle In

12 - 3 pm Arrival & Check-In
3:30 - 5:30 pm Introduction, breathing 1 + 2, 5-senses, walking meditations
6 - 7 pm Dinner: Mindful eating with 5-senses practice
7:15 - 8:15 pm Evening Practice: Breathing 3, 20+ senses meditations
8:20 - 9:00 pm Optional - Silent practice, energy healing (grounding)

Thursday, April 29
Day 2 – Deepen Awareness

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 am Morning Practice: Breathing 4, counting and mantra meditations, related archetypes
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga (pranayama, asana)
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon Practice: Recognizing distortions, meditation
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or restorative exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 8: 15 pm Evening Practice: Metaphors and R.A.I.N. meditation
8:20 -9 pm Optional - Silent practice, energy healing (heart)

Friday, April 30
Day 3 – Expand Compassion & Awareness

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 10:30 amMorning Practice: Breathing 5 + 6, Metta meditations
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon practice: Open monitoring meditation, forest bathing
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or Restorative Exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Practice – Breathing 7, Tonglen, energy healing

Saturday, May 1
Day 4 – Day of Silence

8 - 9 am Silent Breakfast
9:15 -10:30 am Morning Practice: Breathing, chanting, Naikan
10:30 - 11:30 am Optional – Mixed-level yoga
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Optional - Silent practice
12:30 - 1:30 pm Silent Lunch
1:45 - 3 pm Afternoon Practice: Seated and walking meditations
3 - 5:30 pm Nature & Embodiment: Active or Restorative Exercise on your own
6 - 7 pm Silent Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Practice: Breathing, meditation, energy healing (governing vessel, chakra clearing)

Sunday, May 2
Day 5 – Integration

8 - 9 am Silent Breakfast & check-out
9:15 - 11:15 am Morning Practice: Breathing, chanting, seated, walking meditations
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Integration – Reflections, Meditation in daily life
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note this schedule is subject to change.

Getting Here

Menla, Phoenicia, NY 12464, USA

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

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

4.81 out of 5.0 average rating

Anonymous • Oct 28, 2026

5.0

Verified

5 Stars for an Incredible Weekend!

We had a fantastic time at the Autumn Reset yoga retreat at Menla in October! The grounds are beautiful, the trails are perfect, the food was incredible, and the yoga space was stunning. The staff was super attentive and helpful. Our only feedback for next time is to be more timely with the bus pick-up (one of the other students waited at the bus stop for 25 minutes) and we wish there were some comfy indoor spaces to read and enjoy down time that weren't just the dining hall tables. Overall an A+ weekend and can't wait to do it again - we will be back!!! Thank you Menla!

Anonymous • Oct 27, 2026

2.0

Verified

Beautiful but…

I do love the setting & atmosphere at Menla. There’s magic in the air. After 2 previous visits where I stayed in Dragon (which was dumpy) I paid more this time around for Naranda. It was a lovely room, much nicer than Dragon. There is a tiny mirror in an awkward inaccessible place. A larger mirror in a more accessible place would be appreciated. The bathroom stalls could use improvement! One does not lock at all and the way the doors are designed makes it impossible to know whether to push or pull them and they slam loudly when they shut, jarringly so. This could be easily fixed! The showers are extremely small and it’s very easy to freeze or scald yourself if your elbow accidentally hits the temperature lever. The coffee is TERRIBLE! I had a glimpse of the bag and it’s NOT organic or fair trade which is what we are lead to believe. The food is mostly delicious but inconsistent. On our last evening the risotto was extremely undercooked and sometimes things ran out. Lastly, another retreat was happening at the same time and several of my colleagues had no place to sit to eat their dinner as all the seats were taken. No bueno!

Dominique • Oct 24, 2026

5.0

Verified

Let’s Talk about appropriation

My stay at Menla was beautiful as the center itself, staff and guest are just lovely. The scenery and energy is amazing. Craig (fire keeper) and Jill (water pourer ) supported by Ericka ( song keeper) sweat lodge is legitimate and wonderful.

However , I attended the Wisdom Warrior retreat more than once , where the leader Kareema should get one star or less. She uses names like Iylana Vanzant and others big named people to demonstrate her so called authority in knowing what she is doing. Turns out Iylana and her had a falling out.

She pretends to be oh so spiritual when all she does is appropriate. When you go to her retreats she’s expects you to work like setting up etc. She poorly plans the retreat and actually it really is not much of a retreat because her co-partner also had a falling out with Kareema and she did most of the retreat prior where it was fine much better.

Kareema picking up the coordinating , designing and more of the retreat herself demonstrated just how much she does not know what she’s doing. Total incompetence.

Furthermore she throws tantrums when she do not go her way and she is perceived by me to be manipulative and verbally and emotionally abusive. Especially when her poorly planned retreat gets someone sick. She has no saftey measures in place and no one available to support her in necessary situations . Her retreats from my experience is Not a safe space at all.

She’s about to make a professional documentary using yet another persons skills for her credit, on the wisdom warriors where it will be used to mislead people on how experienced she is and what a “Queen” she thinks she is personally.

During the retreat she actually told a head staff what she wanted and that she was going to get other staff to do it because this lead staff told her no.

I felt Menla deserves 5 stars itself but wisdom warrior retreat is a façade meaning, I felt I should state the facts as I see them so people do not blindly believe the documentary or any publicity she used to collect peoples money. That’s what she’s really about cash to cash business so she doesn’t have to claim it probably ?

Anonymous • Oct 23, 2026

2.0

Verified

Not very embodied

Although the description of this retreat emphasized an experiential focus, the first evening and subsequent morning sessions were nearly all theory, with lots of verbalization of concepts, with very little actual body & sensation focus. There were a guided meditation & a body scan, and a brief intro to qigong, but no exercises to facilitate somatic awareness & discernment. And the didactic material was scattered, lots of seemingly random spiritual axioms and theories put forth, some anecdotes, and an incomplete (without any actual experience occurring) description of how to recognize and deal with “incompleted” feelings or emotions, the basis for this theory of (somehow) completing them, and living a sane, happy & fulfilled life.. Instead, it sounds to me like a lot of tumbling around with and coming to some compromise for control with our ego…and again, the sessions were nearly all theoretical, intellectual. Where’s the body? I wondered, and withdrew from the workshop after the first session of the second day, finding the material & presentation not worthwhile.

Robert • Oct 22, 2026

5.0

Verified

Beautiful & Restful

Menla is quiet, beautiful and restful. The staff are warm and on their task - calm, focused and helpful, in the background, making it all happen in their caring, focused way. It’s a gorgeous valley location with walking paths between buildings. Facilities are elegantly simple and well designed. Food is tasty, plentiful and simple. Highly recommend.

Meditation Without Expectations™ Immersion

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Annie Weisbrod

Details of this retreat

Getting Here