Join us at the serene setting of Beckoning Path for a journey of self-discovery as we embrace the tranquility of fall together.
Saturday Oct. 25th, 9am-3pm – Armonk, NY
Early Bird Discount until Oct. 8th, limited spots
Explore the depths of discovery and wonder!
This retreat is designed to deepen your connection with nature and yourself through the transformative power of yoga, forest bathing, Qigong, meditation and sound healing.
Retreat Schedule
- 8:45 a.m. – Arrival & Welcome
- 9:00 a.m. – Gentle Yoga Flow with Alka: Awaken your body with slow, intentional movements and mindful breathing to improve flexibility, balance, and relaxation.
- 10:15 a.m. – Cacao Ceremony & Snacks: Open your heart and nourish your soul before immersing yourself in nature.
- 10:45 a.m. – Forest Bathing: Engage your senses and connect with nature to unwind and heal your body.
- 11:30 a.m. – Qigong with Brian: Experience slow, deliberate movements coordinated with breath to cultivate Qi / life force energy in the elemental garden.
- 12:15 p.m. – Nourishing Lunch: Enjoy a warm healing meal to refuel and reflect. This is a time to journal, connect or walk the labyrinth.
- 1:15 p.m. – Sound Healing & Guided Meditation: Meg’s sound healing will guide you into a state of relaxation as Alka leads a guided meditation to promote deep rest and peace.
- 2:45 p.m. – Integration & Closing: A final session to integrate the day’s calm and clarity into your daily life.
Information and Discount Code
Saturday Oct. 25th 9am-3pm
Location:
Armonk, NY (address provided prior to event)
Bring Your Own Props:
- Yoga Mat
- Journal (optional)
*Limited to 18 participants
Early registration $250, regular $299
Use discount code “RETREAT25”, good until Oct. 8th
Gentle Yoga with Alka
Start the retreat with a Gentle Yoga with Alka for 75 minutes, including mindful breathing.
Relax and rejuvenate. Coordinate movement with breath to flow through a sequence of gentle poses, soothing the mind, increasing flexibility, and building strength. Release stress and anxiety and increase body awareness.
Alka Kaminer is a co-founder of the Present Wisdom. Alka has been a dedicated student of yoga since 1998, during which she became a certified yoga teacher in various styles including: Hatha, Chair Yoga, Yoga for Arthritis and Restorative Yoga. She also teaches various types of meditation (breathe, mantra, mindfulness). She strives to help cultivate happiness and health through her yoga and meditation teachings. Alka loves that there is something for everyone, all levels of experience and any level of physical fitness.
Quartz Crystal Sound Healing led by Meg Pressman
Eight Quartz Crystal Bowls, tuned to the key of C, and the frequency of 432hz, creates sound waves that produce deep calm and comforting effects that synchronize our cellular structure. These sound waves travel through structures, and space, including our bodies, bones and muscles, and continue on throughout the entire universe restoring peace and balance within.
- Naturally helps release stress and eases anxiety
- Releases serotonin and endorphins that stabilize heart rate and blood pressure
- Releases toxins and energy blockages
- Restores harmony to our physical, emotional and mental states
*This session will also include other instruments: chimes, rain drum, tuning forks and various instruments.
Meg Pressman is a lifelong student, teacher, and practitioner of diverse healing arts, she had had the blessing and good fortune to offer her services throughout the Hudson River Valley for the past twenty-six years. Meg has been a healing arts professional since 1993.
Nourishing Lunch for the Body & Soul by Ann Tedesco
A nourishing plant-based fall lunch to complement your practice—warming soup infused with autumn’s harvest and a vibrant garden salad to refresh and restore. Crafted to ground the body, calm the mind, and carry the peaceful energy of your retreat into the rest of your day.
Qi Gong with Brian
Qi Gong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese practice that combines gentle movement, breathwork, and focused intention to cultivate and balance your body’s vital energy, or qi. It’s often described as a moving meditation that nourishes both body and mind.
- Stress relief & relaxation – calms the nervous system and eases tension.
- Improved strength & flexibility – gentle movements support mobility and balance.
- Mental clarity – enhances focus and reduces mental fatigue.
- Emotional balance – harmonizes mood and increases resilience.
- Energy & vitality – boosts circulation and overall life force.
Cacao Ceremony
A cacao ceremony is a heart-centered ritual that uses pure, ceremonial-grade cacao as a plant medicine to support connection, reflection, and healing. Rooted in ancient Mayan and Aztec traditions, it’s often guided with meditation, music, or intention-setting to open the heart and deepen awareness.
- Opens the heart – fosters love, compassion, and emotional release.
- Supports mindfulness – enhances presence and clarity.
- Deepens connection – with self, community, and spirit.
- Gentle energy boost – cacao provides focus and vitality without the jittery effects of coffee.
- Encourages healing – creates space for inner reflection and transformation.
Forest Bathing
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is the practice of immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of a forest with mindful awareness. It’s not about hiking or exercise—it’s about slowing down, breathing deeply, and connecting with nature through the senses.
- Stress reduction: Lowers cortisol levels and calms the nervous system.
- Improved mood: Enhances feelings of peace, happiness, and vitality.
- Boosted immunity: Time in forests has been linked to increased natural killer (NK) cell activity, which supports immune defense.
- Mental clarity: Helps reduce mental fatigue and improve focus.
- Deeper connection: Encourages presence and a sense of belonging in the natural world.
Beckoning Path
Beckoning Path (shown at top) is a mid-century architectural gem set on 27 lakefront acres in Armonk. Conceived in the 1960s, the structure features a spiky copper roof, towering timber frames, and sweeping glass walls that dissolve the boundary between inside and out.
It’s been lovingly transformed into a high‑performance private wellness retreat. The home now hosts a seamless blend of modern sustainability and contemplative design —all intended to elevate the senses and inspire inner calm.