FROM STRESSED OUT
To Blissed Out
Welcome!
To a transformative journey of self-discovery and well-being at our
From Stressed Out To Blissed Out Retreat.
Nestled in the serenity of the Pocono Mountains, our retreats are a sanctuary designed to offer you a respite from the demands of daily life and provide a dedicated space for rejuvenation. Imagine a haven where you can escape the hustle and bustle, immerse yourself in holistic wellness practices, and reconnect with your inner self. From sound healing and restorative yoga practices to guided mindful art making, ceremonies, self-care practices and nourishing cuisine, our retreat is crafted to cater to your physical, mental, and emotional needs. Join us for a restorative experience that goes beyond relaxation; it's an opportunity to cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and embrace a life of balance and vitality. Welcome to a journey of self-care, where you are invited to prioritize your well-being and embark on a path to personal renewal.
Our Philosophy
We believe individuals are holistic beings, consisting of interconnected physical, mental, and emotional aspects. This perspective recognizes that taking care of oneself is not a selfish act but rather a fundamental requirement for overall well-being and a fulfilling life.
Life inevitably presents challenges, and self-care provides a foundation for dealing with stress, adversity, and uncertainty. Healing processes that integrate yoga, the arts, sound, meditation, energy work and ceremony teach us to build resiliency, encourages self-compassion and provides us with a self-care tool kit to help us manage stress and promote wellbeing.
YOGA
Yoga for all bodies, all ages!
Enjoy learning about the benefits and joy
of yoga. Explore introductory, gentle Hatha yoga exercises, breath awareness and postures that unite the energies of the body, mind and spirit.
Restorative Yoga enhances the benefits of yoga in completely supported and propped postures which naturally induces deep relaxation and profound therapeutic benefits. During our yoga practices you will learn ways to relieve stress, improve flexibility, enhance concentration and promote overall well-being.
SOUND HEALING
An immersive sonic experience.
With a diverse array of ancient and modern healing instruments, you will experience deep relaxation and profound calm.
The combination of different healing sounds, is used to improve our multidimensional well-being by creating a beautiful experience where all layers of our luminous energy field (body, mind, soul, spirit) are awakened gently and lovingly.
Sound Healing is highly effective at triggering our relaxation response, which counters the many symptoms caused by chronic stress, while helping to balance our whole being.
ART MAKING
During our art making workshops you will be introduced to the process of intuitive art making. This process frees you up from judgment or negative beliefs that you can not create art.
Engage your whole body, mind and soul in an art making session and release blocked energy. Find inspiration from the healing sounds of a sonic soundscape of crystal and Tibetian singing bowls, chimes, gongs, tuning forks, drums and more... Learn to express emotions without engaging any inner judgement.
Art making is experiential and no artistic skills are needed.
MEDITATION
Learn a variety of meditation techniques such as; Mindfulness meditation, guided imagery, Wu Wei Way and vagus nerve stimulation that will provide you with lifelong skills to improve your emotional well-being regardless of whether you have been dealing with many small stressors or a major traumatic event.
RITUALS & CEREMONY
Experience beautiful and meaningful rituals and ancient ceremonies that have been performed around the world for centuries. Connect with nature and share the wisdom
of our ancestors.
Chant, sing, or drum at a fire ceremony. Have your energy cleared with an herbal smudging, or open your heart during a cacao ceremony. Learn about the ancient Japanese tea Ceremony.
We create sacred space and invite you to join one or more of these beautiful practices during our weekend together.
SELF-CARE PRACTICES
Sadly, our retreats only last a few days. So, after spending the weekend getting "Blissed," we want to make sure to send you home with goodies and ideas to use when you are back in the real world, dealing with the everyday.
Our Sunday Self-Care Workshops give You a tool kit of easy practices to implement into your busy schedule when you get back home. Plus, we will do a Make & Take workshop, so you go home with some goodies to keep your "Blissed out" vibe. going.
NATURE IMMERSION
Reconnect with nature through guided hikes, mindful walks, and outdoor meditation sessions. Enjoy over 400 acres of trails with rambling streams and ponds with kayaks and canoes. In the evenings Join us around a beautiful bon fire for an outdoor ceremony and star gazing.
Throughout the campus there are benches and pagodas and nature spaces to immerse yourself in mother nature.
RITUALS & CEREMONY
Experience beautiful, meaningful rituals and ancient spiritual practices that have been performed around the world for centuries. Connect with nature and share the wisdom of our ancestors.
Chant, sing and dance at a fire ceremony,
have your energy cleared with an herbal smudging, open your heart during a cacao or tea ceremony or release what no longer serves you with a despacho ceremony.
We create sacred space and invite you to join one or more sancient practices
during our weekend together.
RITUALS & CEREMONY
Experience beautiful, meaningful rituals and ancient spiritual practices that have been performed around the world for centuries. Connect with nature and share the wisdom of our ancestors.
Chant, sing and dance at a fire ceremony,
have your energy cleared with an herbal smudging, open your heart during a cacao or tea ceremony or release what no longer serves you with a despacho ceremony.
We create sacred space and invite you to join one or more sancient practices
during our weekend together.
Your Retreat Hosts
Cari Skier, MS.Ed, COTA
Cari is the founder of Art For The Soul Studio. She is a Certified art educator, therapeutic arts specialist,
certified sound healer and shamanic practitioner. Known for her unique and soulful creative gatherings, Cari cultivates a deeply restorative and empowering space.
By integrating her love of art making with the healing sounds of high vibrational instruments and ancient ancestral ceremonies, she believes you can recapture lost, innate creative abilities and foster profound self-healing. With sound, art and ceremony as the catalysts,
Cari engages her audiences in practices that calm the nervous system and guide the release of deeply rooted negative beliefs through self-expression and exploration. Her passion is helping people find a path to healing their soul and finding joyful living.
DIANE SPEER
Diane is a mindfulness specialist, yoga and meditation teacher trainer and holistic transformation life coach with 30 years
of experience providing certification
programs and healthy lifestyle enrichment
retreats and trainings.
Diane creates customized wellness
programs and collaborations promoting positive personal and professional development in private practice and in community organizations. Diane’s
teaching methods are integrative, holistic, compassionate providing easy to use practical tools for a happier healthier lifestyle.
She is dedicated to making various methods
of integrative holistic practices and
levels of yoga available to everyone. Her
unique programming designs shed light
on the interpreting and incorporating the nature of mindfulness practices for
personal transformation and healing integrated with all other aspects of life empowering people to live healthier,
more mindful lives.
Sample Retreat Schedule
This is just a general schedule sample for a 3 day program.
Each of our retreats has different programming.
Please see specific date of interest for more details or contact me at artforthesoul@gmail.com
Friday:
2:00pm Check in and free time.
5:00pm Yoga class by the Himalalyan Institute-optional
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Welcome, Opening circle
8:00pm Yoga practice, Sound bath
Saturday:
7:00am Yoga class by the Himalalyan Institute-optional
7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Yoga & Meditation Practice with Diane
10:00-12:30pm Intuitive Art workshop with sound healing
12:30 Lunch
2:00-4:00 Workshop with Cari & Diane /Outdoor activity**
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Yoga, sound and Ceremony /Fire Ceremony**
Sunday:
7:00am Yoga class by the Himalalyan Institute-optional
8:00 Breakfast
9:30 Self-Care Sunday Workshop
11:30 Closing circle
12:30pm Lunch
Check out
*This is a sample schedule of our retreat offerings and is subject to change.
** Weather permitting
The Retreat Center
The Himalayan Institute
Yoga & Meditation Retreat Center
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos, the Himalayan Institute’s picturesque 400-acre campus offers breathtaking views, scenic trails,
and peaceful spaces for reflection and contemplation.
For more than fifty years, the Himalayan Institute’s Retreat Center has been a gathering place for people seeking inspiration and aspiring to restore inner balance. As an Event Host and home to a vibrant community of yogis, it’s a place for seekers wishing to study the ancient tradition of yoga and to deepen the connection between themselves and the world around them. Here, you can enjoy our peaceful campus, taking time out from habitual distractions and the bustle of everyday life.
Accommodations
Prices include retreat sessions, meals and accommodations, per person
Private Standard Room
A Private Standard Room with two twin beds and a sink. The bathroom is conveniently located nearby in the hallway and shared among guests.
Shared room -*Roommate chosen by the retreat center
Private single
Per person/double occupancy
Deluxe Standard
The room features a private bathroom and your choice of two twin beds, one full bed, or one queen-sized bed.
Single occupancy
Double occupancy
Guest House
A chalet-style accommodation with 2 bedrooms. A full-size bed on the first floor, a pullout couch in the living room, and a loft with a queen sized bed on the 2nd floor.
Private bath and small kitchenette with a refrigerator
Double occupancy
Triple occupancy
Quad occupancy
Cancellation Policy
• 100% program refund-30+ days before retreat start date, minus any service fees incurred on our end and $50 processing fee
• 50% program refund-29-15 days before retreat start date minus any service fees incurred on our end and $100 processing & materials fee
• 0% program refund-0-14 days before retreat start date. *We will try to fill your spot from our waiting list. If we can fill your spot you will receive a $100 credit towards another retreat to be used within one calendar year of our retreat date.
If we cannot fill your spot, then we will not be able to offer you any credit.
*Because we do not provide refunds for these dates, please consider travel insurance for yourself .
Remaining Balances
-
Remaining balances are due 7 days after booking a local retreat to secure your spot and reserve your desired room. * Because we are a separate entity of the retreat center, we cannot guarantee your room choice, but will do our best to get you your desired accommodations.
• Remaining balances are due 60 days before an international retreat start date.
Additional Terms
The remaining balance is due 7 days after booking your spot in the retreat program.
All international retreats guests are required to have medical and travel insurance.
Please note that deluxe rooms with private bathrooms get booked very quickly,