Ashram Getaways From New York City
Looking for a weekend mini-vacation that focuses on the rigorously spiritual? While doing the communal dinner dishes and not speaking to anyone all weekend may not be our own personal idea of fun, we can see the appeal for overworked and over-stimulated city-dwellers looking for a more authentic experience for their disposable time and income. To that end, we’ve assembled some helpful links to get you started:
It seems Ashram getaways are becoming a “trend” for a certain segment of New Yorkers. We just stumbled across a Gawker post on “Ashram Getaways are the New Spa Getaways.”
Looking for a weekend mini-vacation that focuses on the rigorously spiritual? While doing the communal dinner dishes and not speaking to anyone all weekend may not be our own personal idea of fun, we can see the appeal for overworked and over-stimulated city-dwellers looking for a more authentic experience for their disposable time and income. To that end, we’ve assembled some helpful links to get you started:
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch, Woodbourne. This ashram, founded in 1976 on the principles of hatha yoga, offers four hours of yoga a day in this style. It also has special programs, including family weeks and juice fasting.
Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, Woodstock. The mornings here start at 5 AM with meditation and chanting followed on weekends by Buddhist teachings. In the afternoon, a similar schedule is repeated.
Ananda Ashram, Monroe. This retreat holds several kinds of yoga lasses, including hatha, anusara and vinyasa, and has a theater that shows dance performances and plays. Late risers will appreciate the 8 a.m. start time to most days.
Dai Bosatsu Zendo, Livingston Manor. Everyone is required to follow this Ashram’s 4:30 a.m. wake-up calls, work, practice and silence.
Zen Mountain Monastery, Mount Tremper. Guests can visit this 230-acre property on most Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings for an introduction to meditation and Buddhism. Standard weekend reatreats are also offered.
Blue Cliff Monastery, Pine Bush. A Vietnamese Buddhist monastery opened in summer ’07 in a converted conference center. The food is 100% vegan, and students and those 65 and older get a discount on overnight stays.
Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, Stone Ridge. Twice daily meditation sessions anchor the retreat schedule and yoga classes are offered on sutras or Vedantic scriptures. Four hours of unstructured time each day is built into the schedule.
