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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260418T140000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260223T191511Z
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UID:48550-1776438000-1776520800@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Easing Into Spring: A Renewal Retreat
DESCRIPTION:with Ron Hershey & Teresa Peppard\n  \nAfter a long\, cold snowy winter\, spring can be an exciting time. Out of the quietude of hibernation\, the newly expansive energy of the earth\, as it sends up new growth\, is a wonder to witness each year. But refreshing as it might be\, for many of us\, this transition isn’t always an easy or graceful one\, physically or emotionally. Seasonal changes require a big shifting of internal gears that can tax our body’s ability to self regulate\, which in turn can trigger allergies\, illnesses and an increased sense of stress and strain. \nTwo long-time collaborators\, Teresa Peppard and Ron Hershey have created this short retreat to help ease the transition\, physically and emotionally. Utilizing simple Tai Chi and qigong movement exercises\, as well as breathwork\, neither of which require any previous experience\, this retreat will serve as a gently powerful re-set for the nervous system\, helping to foster a greater resilience and ease in dealing with stress and anxiety. \n\n\nHOW TO PREPARE\n\nPlease bring a small throw blanket and comfortable neck pillow if available.\nYoga mats and blocks will be provided\, but you are also welcome to bring your own.\nWe also recommend bringing non-skid socks for the movement work.\n\n\n  \n  \nTEACHERS\n  \n \nTeresa Peppard is a NYS Licensed massage therapist practicing in Putnam County for the past 24 years. She is also a 30 year practitioner and teacher of Tai Chi Ch’uan and continues her studies with 4th Generation Master Alex Dong of NYC. \nTai Chi Ch’uan is a meditative movement practice rooted in the Chinese martial arts. It is known for harmonizing body and mind by focusing on slow\, gentle movements that increase awareness of the body’s alignment\, balance and coordination. Tai Chi’s graceful forms also help to nourish the body/mind as it soothes the nervous system. Teresa is a life-long student who enjoys exploring the gifts of this ancient art form as it applies to modern life. Perhaps the greatest gift of all is witnessing students become empowered to care for their own well-being\, body\, mind and spirit\, in challenging times. \n  \n \nRon Hershey is a nationally board-certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist in practice for 29 years at East Mountain Acupuncture in Croton\, NY. For the past 14 years\, he has studied and taught Breath Body Mind\, an approach that combines simple coordinated movements borrowed from Chinese Qi Gong and a technique known as Coherent Breathing\, to help modulate the stress response . Breath-Body-Mind has been found helpful in the treatment of PTSD and has been taught to armed forces veterans returning from combat zones\, as well as to large groups as part of mission relief work in disaster areas such as civil-war torn Sudan and Rwanda\, post-tsunami Japan\, and in post-9/11 New York City\, to traumatized first responders. \n  \n  \nACCOMMODATIONS \nThere are Single\, Double and Dorm rooms available. Please note\, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs\, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless\, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute\, for those who wish to stay off-site\, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.\n_______ \n\n \nCOVID-19\nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are strongly encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/easing-into-spring-2026/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Easing-into-Spring-Renewal-Retreat-v2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T220000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260209T210204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T181130Z
UID:48307-1776794400-1776808800@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:A Community Earth Day Dinner (2026)
DESCRIPTION:  \nBREAKING BREAD\n  \nJoin us for a community dinner created from market ingredients\, with an emphasis on regional grains\, featuring our own local Signal Fire Bread. \n  \nProceeds from the dinner ticket will be donated to the Philipstown Food Pantry and the Cold Spring Farmers Market. \n  \nCommunity conversation will include guests from Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming\, Philipstown Food Pantry\, the Cold Spring Farmers Market\, Signal Fire Bread and more. \n  \n \n  \nGarrison Institute hosts this event with support from Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming\, Signal Fire Bread and Fresh Company Catering. \nAll are invited to share suggestions and ask questions. \n  \nPlease email us with questions: events@garrisoninstitute.org \n  \n  \n \n \n \n        \nCOVID-19 \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are strongly encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat /event on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/a-community-earth-day-dinner-2026/
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Community-Earth-Day-Dinner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260424T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260426T140000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260217T213351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T220713Z
UID:48406-1777053600-1777212000@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:The Assignment: A Mindfulness Retreat for Black Women in Leadership
DESCRIPTION:  \n \n  \n\nThis retreat is for Black women leaders who are ready to pause\n  \nThe Assignment is a three-day mindfulness retreat designed to help you slow down\, reconnect with your inner wisdom\, and rest in community—without pressure\, performance\, or expectations. \n  \nAs part of this retreat\, you’ll receive a personalized leadership insight assessment designed to help you understand your natural strengths\, stress responses\, and communication patterns. Together\, we’ll explore how your leadership style interacts with pressure\, perception\, and expectation—especially in environments where code-switching and racialized stress are real. This isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about leading from clarity instead of self-doubt. \n\n\n\nWhat We will Practice Together\n  \nEach day includes gentle\, supportive practices such as: \n\nGrounded wisdom teachings rooted in The Assignment—focused on healing\, joy\, ancestry\, and liberation\nGuided meditation both seated and with gentle movement\nMindful walking outdoors to reconnect with your body in nature\nEating in noble silence to nourish your body\, mind and spirit\nSinging\, chanting\, dancing to open the heart and release emotions\nReflective writing to deepen insight and clarity\nSmall-group sharing to witness and be witnessed in community with other Black women leaders\n\nNo prior meditation or mindfulness experience is required. All activities are optional. \n\n\n\nWho This Retreat Is For\n  \nThis retreat is for Black women in leadership who: \n\nfeel emotionally or physically tired while pretending to be “fine”\nare tired of being the only Black woman in the room\nwant to lead from alignment instead of constant urgency\nare craving community that feels safe\, and affirming\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat We will Practice Together\n  \nEach day includes gentle\, supportive practices such as: \n\nGrounded wisdom teachings rooted in The Assignment—focused on healing\, joy\, ancestry\, and liberation\nGuided meditation both seated and with gentle movement\nMindful walking outdoors to reconnect with your body in nature\nEating in noble silence to nourish your body\, mind and spirit\nSinging and chanting to open the heart\nReflective writing to deepen insight and clarity\nSmall-group sharing to witness and be witnessed in community with other Black women leaders\n\n\n**No prior meditation or mindfulness experience is required. All activities are optional.**\n  \n  \n  \nFACILITATORS\n  \n \nKim-Monique Johnson is the founder of InnerVisions Coaching. She is  an executive leadership coach and mindfulness teacher devoted to supporting Black women in leadership. With more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit and C-suite roles\, she understands firsthand the pressure of visibility\, responsibility\, and navigating systems that were not built with Black women in mind. Through InnerVisions\, she blends contemplative practice with practical leadership development tools—including personalized leadership insights grounded in DiSC and Energy Leadership assessments—to help Black women understand how they show up under pressure\, reclaim their energy\, and lead with radical self-trust. Her approach is grounded\, accessible\, and welcoming to both women new to mindfulness and those deepening an existing practice. She creates spaces where Black women can rest\, reflect\, and remember who they are beneath performance—so their leadership flows from alignment rather than survival. \n  \n  \n \nEvolyn Brooks is a registered RYT 500 yoga teacher with certifications in Restorative\, Yin Yoga\, Mindfulness and Reiki.  She has taught classes at Essence Wellness House\, Alo Yoga\, Insight Timer\, Davita Healthcare\, Kale Functional Medicine\, EssentialAccess Health and Youtube Creators Summit.  Evolyn has created wellness content for facebook\, Instagram\, west elm\, Bumble\, Athleta\, and Mindbody.  She’s been featured in the LA Times\, BlogHer\, Access Daily\, Essence.com and Essence Wellness House. Evolyn is the founder of In My Solitude (www.inmysolitudela.com\, a wellness platform that helps people feel whole through yoga classes\, meditation workshops\, and private wellness events. \n  \n  \nACCOMMODATIONS \nThere are Single\, Double and Dorm rooms available. Please note\, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs\, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless\, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute\, for those who wish to stay off-site\, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.\n\n \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are required to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/the-assignment-a-mindfulness-retreat/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/A-mindfulness-Retreat-for-Black-Women-in-Leadership-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260430T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260503T110000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260219T153033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260327T181551Z
UID:48451-1777572000-1777806000@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Opening the Wisdom Within: The Art of Analytical Meditation
DESCRIPTION:A Retreat with Khandro Rinpoche\n  \nJoin us for this gathering with:\nRanjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche\n  \nThrough careful\, directed investigation\, we begin to open the wisdom that has always resided within — the extraordinary Khandro Rinpoche introduces analytical meditation\, the ancient art of turning the inquiring mind toward the deepest question of existence. \n  \nLIVESTREAMING\n  \nThe Khandro Ling organization is offering a livestream of Khandro Rinpoche’s talks during this retreat. There will be streams on Thursday\, Friday\, Saturday and Sunday\, with multiple opportunities to hear her teachings on Friday and Saturday. Additional details will be posted closer to the retreat date. \n  \n  \nFINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/SCHOLARSHIPS\nThere are a limited number of partial scholarships that will be made available for this retreat. Please reach out directly to info@khandroling.org with scholarship inquiries. \n  \n  \nTEACHER\n  \n  \nRangjung Neljorma Khandro Namsel Dolma (‘Khandrola Rinpoche’) is a revered Tibetan Buddhist master whose profound presence illuminates the path of exceptional insight and boundless compassion. \n  \n  \n  \nOFFSITE ACCOMMODATION\n  \nIf you are interested in registering as a commuter\, please explore these suggested off-site options. \nFor questions\, please contact us at: events@garrisoninstitute.org  or visit this page of our most frequently asked questions. \n  \nACCOMMODATION\nThere are Single\, Double and Dorm rooms available. Please note\, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs\, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless\, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute\, for those who wish to stay off-site\, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.\n\n \n  \nCOVID-19 \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/opening-the-wisdom-within/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Khandro-Rinpoche-header.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260510T140000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260301T222316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T153900Z
UID:48619-1778090400-1778421600@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Kyudo Retreat with Don Symanski: Finding Your Way on the Kyudo Path
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \nIn this retreat\, we will review the principles of the form and dojo atmosphere that Shibata Sensei XX put forth over the years to establish his core message of openness\, respect\, and a sense of heart as integral to kyudo practice. \n  \n  \n  \nELIGIBILITY FOR THIS IN-PERSON TRAINING\n  \nParticipants must have completed an introductory beginners First Shots program. \n  \n  \nCONTACT INFORMATION\n  \nFor questions about this program please email Toko Programs at: programs@tokokyudojo.org \n  \n\n\n\n  \nTEACHER  \n  \n \n  \nDon Symanski is Toko Kyudojo’s senior teacher and a longtime friend. Don has led 22 programs with Toko Kyudojo since the  first one in 1998. Don is an experienced bamboo bow maker\, an accomplished photographer\, a quiet skillful teacher of meditation Kyudo and a warm\, generous person with a strong sense of humor. He began the study of Kyudo with Kanjuro Shibata Sensei XX in 1980 and was an apprentice bow maker to Nobuhiro Shibata (now Kanjuro Shibata XXI) in Kyoto\, Japan in 1991; since then he has made bows\, practiced and taught Kyudo around North America and Europe. Don lives in Lafayette\, Colorado. \n  \n_____\n\n\nACCOMMODATIONS \nThere are Single\, Double and Dorm rooms available. Please note\, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs\, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless\, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute\, for those who wish to stay off-site\, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.\n  \n\n \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/kyudo-retreat-with-don-symanski-2026/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/tokobody-imag.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T000000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260317T175250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T202017Z
UID:49022-1778284800-1778284800@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Toko Kyudo First Shot Introductory One-Day Program
DESCRIPTION:  \nToko Kyudojo provides a First Shot instruction program designed for beginners to learn foundational Kyudo techniques. \nKyudo\, Japanese Archery\, is a powerful form of moving meditation. Kyudo unites archery\, contemplative practice\, and a flavor of traditional Japanese arts. \nStudents will learn the basic form called the Seven Coordinations\, how to align the body\, and properly release the arrow. \nPlease join us for a one-day workshop to learn the fundamentals of this unique practice. \n  \n****Spots are limited to the first nine participants***\n  \n  \nCONTACT INFORMATION\n  \nFor questions about this program please email Toko Programs at: info@tokokyudojo.org \n  \n\n\n\n  \nTEACHER  \n  \n \n  \nDon Symanski is Toko Kyudojo’s senior teacher and a longtime friend. Don is an experienced bow maker\, an accomplished photographer\, and a skillful teacher of meditation Kyudo.  He began the study of Kyudo with Kanjuro Shibata Sensei XX in 1980. He studied bow making in Japan and since then has made bows\, practiced\, and taught Kyudo around North America and Europe. Don is a warm\, generous person with a strong sense of humor. He lives in Lafayette\, Colorado. \n  \n\n\n\n_____\n\n  \n \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/toko-kyudo-first-shot-2026/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/First-Shot.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260522T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260525T000000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260112T212918Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T142005Z
UID:47731-1779408000-1779667200@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:ANNUAL LGBTQIA+ Retreat (2026)
DESCRIPTION:  \n“Caring for myself is not self–indulgence\nIt is self-preservation\, and that is an act of political warfare.”\n~Audre Lorde~ \nOpen to all who identify as: Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Intersex\, or Queer +. Co-sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington\, and Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. \n  \nThis retreat is an opportunity for us to come together as an LGBTQIA+ community and care for ourselves: to remember who we really are and to recollect our true inner goodness. We will explore ways of sustaining a kind heart\, a clear open mind\, and a strong body. We will engage with the ancient teachings and practices offered by the Buddha that cultivate compassion\, wisdom\, and skillful actions. \n  \nAs LGBTQIA+ people\, in these challenging and difficult times\, we recollect the power of community to know that we are not alone\, and that together we can begin the healing of centuries of oppression and trauma within a deep knowing of our interconnectedness and interdependence. We learn to trust the unfolding of our lives and to act for the benefit of all beings. \n  \nThis retreat will be held in Noble Silence. In silence\, we are illuminating the heart and mind. It is a real-time practice of stillness and clarity. Participants are asked and expected to refrain from using any electronic devices. This allows for a rare opportunity to unplug and get to know our own reality show with compassion and wisdom. Within this commitment\, we are the guardians to each other’s solitude while in this precious community. The more we know and understand our inner landscape\, the more we are able to engage with others and the world with both skill and grace. \n  \nGuided meditation instructions\, Q&A\, heart practices\, gentle yoga\, group meetings with a teacher\, and dharma talks will be offered on this retreat. On this rare LGBTQIA+ retreat\, we come together to practice turning towards and caring for ourselves\, each other\, and all that truly matters in our lives\, for the highest good of all. Hope you can join us! \n  \nPlease contact us with questions: events@garrisoninstitute.org \n  \nSCHOLARSHIPS\n  \nThere are a limited number of partial scholarships available for this retreat. Please visit us here for more information\, and to apply. Please do not sign up for the retreat if you have submitted an application. Please wait to hear from us. For questions\, please contact us at: scholarships@garrisoninstitute.org. \n  \nTEACHERS\n  \n \nMadeline Klyne has been practicing insight meditation for over 40 years. Madeline is the Resident a teacher at Cambridge Insight Meditation Center\, and a Visiting teacher at the Insight Meditation Society and Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Part of Madeline’s spiritual path was to come out at the age of five. To learn more about Madeline’s work please visit this page. \n  \n  \nJacoby Ballard has been teaching yoga for 20 years and now lives in Salt Lake City\, Utah with his partner and child. His work sits at the intersection of spiritual practice and social change and has led him to consult with Insight Meditation Society\, the Yoga Alliance\, Lululemon\, and speaking on college campuses. His current foray into study and taking the role of student is through his enrollment with the Community Dharma Leaders program at Spirit Rock. His teaching style is playful and profound\, integrating the teachings of the dharma into how we move and breath on our mats and with each other. \n  \n \nIsabel Adon\, LCSW is an Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapist and Trainer. She has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. Isabel works with individuals\, children and families. Trained in family system\, focusing oriented therapy\, solution focused therapy and aboriginal/indigenous/cultural centered therapy. A practitioner of Vipassana and Ascension meditation. \n  \n  \nRETREAT MANAGER\n  \nLa Sarmiento (they/them) is a teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington\, The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program\, and Cloud Sangha and contributor to the Ten Percent Happier app. They are the Guiding Teacher for the IMCW BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Sanghas and a 2012 graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders Training Program. La lives with their life partner Wendy and rescue pups Annabel and Bader and loves the mindfulness practice of building Lego. To learn more about La’s work please visit this page. \n  \n  \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are strongly encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We ask everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.\n\n__________________________________________________________________________________________________________\n\nACCOMMODATIONS\nThere are Single\, Double and Dorm rooms available. Please note\, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs\, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless\, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute\, for those who wish to stay off-site\, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/lgbtqia-retreat-waking-up-fabulous-taking-refuge-care-2026/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/LGBTIQA-Teachers_2026.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260607T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260612T100000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20251118T165208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T203054Z
UID:47059-1780840800-1781258400@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Mind & Life Summer Research Institute 2026
DESCRIPTION:  \nDepolarization: Cultivating Connection in a Divided World\n  \nThe Summer Research Institute (SRI) is an application-based program and will take place in-person at the Garrison Institute in upstate New York. Upon notification of your accepted application\, you will be contacted directly with more information concerning the program schedule and how to register for the event. Plus\, stay tuned for updates on how you can join us via livestream for select sessions—details to come in the months ahead! \nThe Mind & Life Summer Research Institute (SRI) is a weeklong immersive program designed for deep\, interdisciplinary dialogue and personal reflection. Moving beyond traditional academic settings\, SRI provides a unique environment for collaborative inquiry and first-person exploration\, aiming to inspire real-world impact and foster holistic understanding of the mind\, society\, and global well-being. \nApplications will be open from Dec 2\, 2025\, to Jan 27\, 2026. All application materials MUST be submitted by the deadline. Applications that remain incomplete or unsubmitted after the deadline will not be considered for acceptance to the program. \nPROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS\n\nRich Content & Format\n\nPlenary lectures\, panel discussions\, and breakout groups for deep dive sessions.\nPoster presentations and networking opportunities.\nDedicated spaces for relationship-building and support around shared interests and identities.\n\n\nContemplative Practices\n\nDaily time for meditation\, yoga\, and reflective nature walks.\nFull day retreat for immersion in silent contemplation.\n\n\nSupport for Emerging Changemakers & Researchers\n\nResearchers become eligible to apply for the Mind & Life Francisco J. Varela Research Grants.\n\n\n\n  \nCOVID-19\nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are strongly advised to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.\n\n  \nLEARN MORE\nFor more information and to register\, visit Mind and Life Institute’s page by clicking here. \nTo apply\, click here.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/mind-life-institute-summer-research-institute-2026/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden,In Person
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260626T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260628T120000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260309T170609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T204749Z
UID:48840-1782496800-1782648000@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Beyond Calm: The Intelligence of Presence
DESCRIPTION:Awakening Body–Mind Wisdom \nthrough Buddhist Meditation and Somatic Awareness\n\n  \nThis weekend retreat explores the intersection of Buddhist Insight Meditation practices and Somatic Experiencing. \n  \nDrawing on both traditions\, we’ll explore well-being not as a static state but an ongoing collaboration between the body and mind. Rather than striving to become calm or free from discomfort\, we’ll learn to trust our nervous system’s ability to move\, settle\, mobilize\, and restore in response to changing conditions. \n  \nTogether we’ll look at how stress and our emotional histories shape perception\, emotion\, and thought\, fueling rumination and vigilance\, causing us to struggle or abandon practice. Through somatic practices\, gentle awareness exercises\, and periods of guided meditation\, we’ll learn to: \n\nsense and track subtle shifts in the body\nrecognize patterns of activation and settling\nand meet experience with greater steadiness and curiosity\n\nThroughout the weekend\, the emphasis is on direct experience: feeling the movement of our own system\, discovering pathways into presence and cultivating ways to make meditation accessible and sustainable. We’ll challenge the habit of striving towards inner peace and instead explore a compassionate and liberating view: that freedom emerges through community\, mindfulness and trusting the unfolding intelligence of body\, heart\, and mind. \nParticipants will leave the retreat with a deeper understanding of how meditation and nervous system wisdom support one another; practical tools for working skillfully with stress; an embodied sense of trust in the body–mind’s natural intelligence\, supporting flexibility\, presence\, and sustainable practice in daily life. \n  \nThis is an in-person retreat appropriate for both new and experienced practitioners. \n  \nTEACHER\n  \n \n  \nKathy Cherry is a Somatic Experiencing® practitioner\, Mindfulness & Meditation instructor and coach with over two decades of dedicated mindfulness practice in the Insight Meditation tradition. She combines Somatic Experiencing® with Mindfulness and Buddhist teachings to create an integrative approach that helps connect the intellect\, body\, and senses to facilitate health and regulation. Her style emphasizes embodiment\, compassion\, and practical wisdom both in meditation practice and in everyday life. Learn more at http://www.kathycherry.com/. \n  \n  \nACCOMMODATIONS \nThere are Single\, and Double rooms available. Please note\, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs\, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless\, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute\, for those who wish to stay off-site\, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.\n\n \nCOVID-19 \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are strongly encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/beyond-calm-intelligence-of-presence-2026/
CATEGORIES:In Person,Retreat
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260802T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260809T133000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260221T220159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260221T222404Z
UID:48537-1785690000-1786282200@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Wholehearted Sesshin: Summer Silent Retreat 2026
DESCRIPTION:New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care\n\n\nPlease Click Here to REGISTER\n  \n  \nJoin us for an eight-day intensive silent retreat focusing on rediscovering our values and living life to the fullest. \nWe each have an enormous capacity for love — a deep well from which we can draw compassion and support for ourselves and for others. Teachings on the Precepts are both simple and transformative and are an invitation to close the gaps we create between ourselves and others — to wholeheartedly wake up to ourselves and to the world around us. \nNoble Silence is observed throughout the daily schedule of sitting and walking meditation\, chanting\, dharma talks\, personal interview with a teacher\, and body practice. \nSummer Sesshin culminates in an auspicious ceremony celebrating the diligent effort and practice of everyone involved.  All are welcome! \n\n\nSESSHIN TEACHERS\n  \nChodo Robert Campbell Sensei is a co-founder of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care – a non-profit organization that focuses on the teaching of Zen and Buddhist practice with the goal to make them more accessible to people all around the world. The center delivers contemplative approaches to care through education\, personal caregiving\, and meditation practice. Chodo is a dynamic\, grounded\, and visionary leader and teacher; he has traveled extensively throughout the U.S instructing in various institutions. Sixty-thousand people listen to his podcasts each year. His passion lies in bereavement counseling and advocating for change in the way our healthcare institutions work with the dying. Chodo is part of the core faculty for the Buddhist Track in the Master in Pastoral Care and Counseling at NYZC’s education partner\, New York Theological Seminary. He is also on the faculty of the University of Arizona Medical School’s Center for Integrative Medicine’s Integrative Medicine Fellowship and the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine in San Diego. \n  \nKoshin Paley Ellison Sensei\, MFA\, LMSW\, DMIN\, is an author\, Zen teacher\, Jungian psychotherapist\, and Certified Chaplaincy Educator. After many years as a chaplain and psychotherapist\, Koshin co-founded the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care\, which offers contemplative approaches to care through education\, personal caregiving\, and Zen practice. Today\, New York Zen Center’s methodologies are internationally recognized—and have touched the lives of tens of thousands of individuals. Koshin is a world renowned thought leader in contemplative care. He is the author of Untangled: Walking the Eightfold Path to Clarity\, Courage\, and Compassion (Balance/Hachette\, 2022); Wholehearted: Slow Down\, Help Out\, Wake Up (Wisdom Publications\, 2019) and the co-editor of Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care (Wisdom Publications\, 2016). His work has been featured in the New York Times\, PBS\, CBS Sunday Morning\, Tricycle among other publications. He is currently on the faculty of the University of Arizona Medical School’s Center for Integrative Medicine’s Integrative Medicine Fellowship\, on Faculty of the Integrative Medicine Fellowship of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine\, and he is a visiting professor at the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics\, of the University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston Medical School. \n  \nDorothy Dai-en Friedman Sensei: Dai-en’s spiritual journey began in the 60s when she was forced to seek help for a back injury. This event proved to be a wonderful preparation for her eventual immersion 20 years later in Buddhist Vipassana practice at Insight Meditation Center. After she established her Vipassana practice\, she then began her journey into Zen practice. Her teachers include Peter Mathiessen\, Joseph Goldstein\, Matt Flickstein\, and Maureen Stuart Roshi. Dai-en is now a Sensei at Ocean Zendo\, located on Eastern Long Island. She is honored to be invited to teach with Koshin and Chodo in the wonderful work at NYZC\, for the benefit of all beings\, as we live and die. \n  \n\nPlease Click Here to REGISTER\n  \n  \nCOVID-19\nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are encouraged to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.\n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/wholehearted-sesshin-summer-silent-retreat-2026/
LOCATION:In-Person\, 14 Mary’s Way Route 9D\, Garrison\, NY\, 10524\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event,In Person
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260930T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T140000
DTSTAMP:20260407T113004
CREATED:20260321T185253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T161514Z
UID:49045-1790791200-1791208800@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Becoming Bodhisattvas – Learning To Let Go With The Heart Sutra
DESCRIPTION:A silent meditation retreat with Ethan Nichtern\, Maho Kawachi\, Lou Sharma and Eric Gerard \n  \nMany of us are longing for an in-depth\, in-person meditation retreat. This is a great opportunity to do so. Like last year\, this retreat will focus on practices and teachings related to the path of the Bodhisattva\, a body of teachings all about a compassionate and wise way of being in world in turmoil. \n  \nThis year\, the practice and teaching focus of the retreat is letting go. Learning to let go–without falling into the trap of spiritual bypassing or avoidance– is the hardest of all difficult spiritual practices. In Buddhist practice\, we learn to let go when life situations pull the rug out from under us\, and we also learn to let go of ideas about reality that no longer serve us. Enter the Heart Sutra\, a classic discourse in which the Bodhisattva of Compassion\, Avalokitshvara\, systematically breaks down our assumptions\, and teaches us to live in a space of freedom\, possibility and pre-conceptual intuition. In this year’s Becoming Bodhisattvas retreat\, we will examine the many layers of the practice of letting go of what no longer serves us\, using this discourse as the seed of our shared exploration. Join this supportive retreat community at the Garrison Institute at a lovely time of year for a five-day break from the pace of your life. \n  \nNote: There is no expectation that students are familiar with these concepts before attending retreat!\n  \nWe will observe three and a half days of functional silence outside of lectures and instruction Q & A to nourish our practice. On the last full day of retreat\, we take more time to process the teachings together in an interpersonal and communal way. \n  \nTAKING REFUGE\n  \nAs we do every year\, the retreat will include the opportunity to formally take either the Refuge or Bodhisattva Vow\, or reaffirm your vows if you have already taken them\, on Sunday afternoon\, October 4th. As we will be approaching the vow from the structure of the Tantric (Vajrayana) Buddhist system\, it is required that a student has already taken the Refuge vows in any lineage if they want to formally enter the Bodhisattva Path. \n  \nIf you would like to formally take the Refuge or Bodhisattva Vow for the first time (it is generally not recommended to take both simultaneously\, but to leave 6 months to a year between the two to work with one before moving on to the next)\, please email hello@amindful.world with your intention. If you do not want to formally take either vow\, you are still more than welcome to attend the ceremony and contemplate the intention and practice of making the commitment to awakening in your own way. The vows are fully optional. Buddhist people\, Buddh-ish people\, and those of us who just can’t stand labels are all welcome at this retreat! \n  \nWe hope you can join this growing annual community of practitioners.\n  \nRecommended Reading\n(bring to the retreat\, or we will have copies on site for sale) \nThe Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of The Buddhist Path by Ethan Nichtern \nThe Other Shore by Thich Nhat Hanh \nInexplicable Joy: On The Heart Sutra by Susan Piver \nFurther “Geek” Readings will be shared prior to the retreat. \n. \n \nTEACHERS\n  \nHead Teacher – Ethan Nichtern \nEthan Nichtern is a Senior Buddhist teacher\, and is the author of the acclaimed book The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path which was selected as one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2015\, and one of Tech Insider’s “9 Books That Define 2015.” He is the author of three other books\, and his next book Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life’s Eight Wordly Winds. \nEthan founded the Interdependence Project\, a nonprofit organization dedicated to secular Buddhist practice and transformational activism and arts\, and served as executive Director from 2007-2011. \nFor the past 21 years\, Ethan has taught meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and workshops around New York City and North America and Europe\, along with working with students privately. He has primarily studied in the Shambhala and other Tibetan traditions\, but has also studied Theravadan and Soto Zen Buddhism. He is also an avid yoga practitioner. He served as Shastri\, or Senior Teacher-In-Residence\, for the Shambhala Meditation Center of New York\, from 2010-2018. \n  \nAssistant Teacher – Maho Kawachi \nMaho Kawachi was born and raised in Tokyo\, Japan. She landed in NYC in 1992 and decided to make the city her home. She encountered meditation in 2000\, and studied in the lineage of Insight Meditation and Vipassana until she entered Vajrayana Path in 2008. Her training as a meditation teacher includes Interedependence Project\, MMTCP\, etc. She teaches at Open Heart Project and assists teaching for Dharma Moon Year Long Buddhist Study. She also volunteered at Rikers Island/s women’s facility. Her new interest is combining meditation and outdoor experience and leading the experience to students. \n  \n  \nAssistant Teacher – Lou Sharma \nLou Sharma has practiced meditation for over a decade\, and has studied Dharma within Tibetan Buddhist traditions since 2016. In 2021\, she completed Dharma Moon’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training. Lou is interested in the ways mindfulness can empower more compassionate cultures of work\, inspired by 10+ years of experience as a corporate researcher and brand strategist. \n  \n  \n  \nAssistant Teacher – Eric Gerard \nEric Gerard has been practicing mindfulness for about nine years and recently graduated from the Spring 2024 MMTT cohort after three years of private study with Ethan Nichtern. He also completed the two-year Year Long Buddhist Studies course\, which has shaped his life and practice in meaningful ways. Originally from Chicago\, Eric is an actor and also serves as the Co-Owner and Artistic Director at Blackbox Acting\, a school that aims to prepare artists for their careers through a holistic approach. Eric is passionate about helping artists foster genuine connections with themselves and their work while encouraging vulnerability and bravery. He hopes to support others in developing a mindful and healthy relationship with their craft\, whether that craft is art or the complex journey of existence. \n  \nMovement Teacher Ollie Ledbetter \nOllie (they/them) is a yoga teacher and licensed massage therapist based in Brooklyn\, NY. They blend yoga philosophy and anatomy/kinesiology to create a layered and safe movement practice for all levels. Their 20+ years as a dancer\, as well as history with injury and chronic pain\, informs their knowledge of shifting bodies – how they move\, and how they heal. As a trans practitioner\, their gender-affirming work is based in a well-informed practice of not making assumptions. Ollie studied under TaraMarie Perri\, completing their 300-hr teacher training in 2016. They have taught extensively at studios\, gyms\, retreats\, and community centers working with many populations including perinatal clients and folks with Parkinson’s disease. They began and led the yoga program at Streetwork LES. Now you can find them at their studio home\, Solid Gold Yogi in Bushwick\, where they teach both anatomy as well as trauma-informed yoga for the 200-hr YTT\, or at their cozy massage practice in Gowanus\, True Bearing Bodywork. Ollie also enjoys bikepacking\, surfing\, and crossword puzzles. \n\n  \n\nSCHOLARSHIPS\nThere are a limited number of partial scholarships available for this retreat. Please visit us here for more information\, and to apply. Please do not sign up for the retreat if you have submitted an application\, wait to hear from us. For questions\, please contact us at: scholarships@garrisoninstitute.org. \n  \n  \n  \nACCOMMODATIONS \nThere are Single\, and Double rooms available. Please note\, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs\, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless\, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute\, for those who wish to stay off-site\, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.\n\n\n \nCOVID-19 \nThe health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests\, teachers\, and staff are welcome to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site\, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis\, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials\, New York State and the CDC.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/becoming-bodhisattvas-learning-to-let-go-with-the-heart/
CATEGORIES:In Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Becoming-Bodhisattvas.jpg
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