7th Annual Hudson Valley
Fall Retreat
with Megan Mook and Jackie Stewart
Inner and Outer Methods for Soothing the Nervous System
WON Dharma Center
Hudson, NY
October 18-20, 2024
Join us in the Hudson Valley
During One of its Most Glorious Seasons!
Dear friends, I’m thrilled to welcome Jackie Stewart back to the Annual Hudson Valley Fall Retreat!
Jackie and I had a wonderful time last year. And we’re brimming with excitement about this year.
What To Expect
Sunset Meditations overlooking the Catskills. Crisp Mountain Air. Golden Leaves. Meandering Hikes. Evening Sound Meditation. Thoughtful Yoga. Dharma Talks. Heart-Opening Meditations. Healthy, Garden Fresh Food.
This Year’s Theme
An Exploration of Inner and Outer Yogic Methods for Calming the Body, Mind, and Heart.
This year we’re focussing on inner tools and outer experiences to help cultivate balance and ease regardless of what’s happening in the world. The inner methods we’ll explore are open awareness meditation, gentle yogic breathing, and Buddhist mantras to invoke compassion. The outer methods we’ll explore are yoga and sound meditation. This retreat will also emphasize practical and actionable to-do’s that you can turn to outside of retreat.
Expect a carefully curated curriculum that skillfully balances personal downtime with enriching group practice. The Dharma teachings, meditation, and yoga will be suitable for all levels.
Friday Afternoon / Evening
• 2:00 - 3:30 PM — Arrive, Explore, and Settle In
• 4:00 PM — Orientation and Welcome Hike. Together we’ll take a leisurely hike on one of Won’s most scenic trails.
• 5:30 PM — Dinner
• 6:30 - 9:00 PM — Sunset Meditation Over the Catskills. Opening Ceremony / Retreat Overview. Stretching. Gentle Sound Meditation.
Saturday
• 7:30 - 8:00 AM — Morning Compassion Meditation
• 8:00 AM — Breakfast
• 9:15 - 11:30 AM — Meditation and All-levels Yoga
• 12:30 — Lunch
• 1:30 - 3:00 PM — Free time: Hike. Connect with Friends. Read. Journal. Lay A Blanket in the Grass. Nap. Self-Practice.
• 3:00- 5:00 — Afternoon Meditation and Dharma Talk
• 5:30 PM — Dinner
• 6:30 - 8:30 PM — Sunset Meditation Over Looking the Catskills, followed by Sound Meditation, Restorative Yoga, or Yogic Breathing - maybe all three!
Sunday
• 7:30 - 8:00 AM — Morning Compassion Meditation
• 8:00 AM — Breakfast
• 9:00 - 9:30 AM — Pack Up
• 9:30 - 12:00 PM — Meditation; All-levels Yoga; Closing
• 12:30 — Lunch
• 1:30 — Departure
ACCOMODATIONS AND RATES
Camping — Lovely wooden platforms under the trees and close to dorms with bathrooms, showers, and a common area. You provide your own tent, etc. $450
Quad — A fan favorite. Spacious rooms with four beds. Gender Separate. $650 per person. SOLD OUT
Double — Two twin beds. Perfect for friends and couples. We can also pair you with a roommate which is another popular option. $800 per person.
Single — Spacious rooms with a single twin bed. $1,200
If you haven’t been to Won, the architecture is one of the best parts. The main practice hall has soaring ceilings and floor to ceiling windows over looking the mountains. The dorms are modern and airy with expansive wrap-around decks, perfect for enjoying the mountain views. Each dorm has an interior court yard, a common area with a tea station, and multiple modern bathrooms.
Won Dharma Center has over 400 acres of hiking trails that meander through forests and meadows. The trails feature stunning views of the Catskills and thoughtfully placed benches — there’s even a hidden river. The nights are quiet and star filled. The vegetarian food is fresh from the garden and lovingly prepared by the resident Buddhist ministers. Expect a Korean flare and delicious kimchi. Vegan and gluten free options are readily available.
PAYMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Deposit: $400 to hold your room. We highly recommend that you reserve your spot early. This retreat tends to fill quickly.
Final Payment Due: Sept 23
We have a small amout of partial need-based scholarships. Priority is given to BIPOC, LGBTQ, and current students. Apply for a scholarship here.
TO REGISTER
1) Fill out the Registration Form below.
2) Submit Your Deposit via Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle
PAYMENT METHODS
Venmo: @Megan-Mook. PayPal and Zelle: MeganMook@gmail.com.
If you know us and are comfortable using the “Friends and Family” feature (as opposed to “Paying for Goods/Service” feature), this helps us save on processing fees.
FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES
Email Jackie at: hello@JackieStewart.com
GETTING THERE
• WON Dharma Center is located 15 minutes outside of Hudson, New York.
• By Amtrak: 2 hours from NYC, Hudson stop. If you’ve never taken this train ride, it’s stunning.
• By Car: 2.5 hours from NYC or Boston
• 40 minutes from the Albany Airport
HELPFUL NOTES
• 3 weeks before the retreat, we’ll send out a comprehensive packing list with general travel information, including a ride share.
• Amtrak tickets get more expensive closer to the date, and seats can sell out on weekends.
• For those taking Amtrak, we’ll connect you with other participants to share a cab from the train station.
• A cab costs about $15 from the train station / downtown Hudson. Generally speaking, cabs should be arranged in advance from the train station. We’ll provide you with the numbers of local companies in our welcome information.
• We recommend arriving at the center between 2 - 3:30 PM as the orientation and group hike is at 4:00 PM. Taking the time to settle in and hike before dinner makes a big difference, especially for a short retreat.
• If you’re driving from NYC, remember to tack on extra time for Friday afternoon traffic and stops.
• Hudson is a fun town to explore with many restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Downtown Hudson is a 10 minute walk from the train station.
• There’s a cute restaurant + a cafe / general store (Kitty’s) with lots of snacks and goodies across the street from the train station.
• If you’re driving and planning on exploring Hudson, bring quarters for street parking.
