Just Be: A July 4 Personal Retreat
With John Henderson and Anna Winkler
July 3 - 6, 2025
A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
Over the long holiday weekend, leave the pressures of your normal life and immerse yourself in the tranquil environment of our Center. This is a time to focus on yourself and your practice.
Meditate in Milarepa Hall, in the privacy of your room, or in one of our many mediation spots around campus—including our outdoor practice pavilion and along our woods trails. Get a massage. Spend afternoons in the library, perusing our extensive collection of dharma and other books. Hike our trails or nearby parks. Spend evenings around our firepit. Contemplate the stars. Just be.
BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: Do you know someone who would like this program, but hasn’t been to the Center? Bring them, and you both get a 10% discount on your entire program package. For the discount to apply, there must be two reservations, at least one of whom has not taken a Dharmakaya Center class previously. At checkout, apply the Discount Code: BringAFriend. May not be combined with other discounts.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We are pleased to be able to offer partial scholarships for this program. Please apply here.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Intimate setting
- Daily program of salutations and meditation with Center community
- Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
- Opportunity to connect with a Senior Teacher for personal guidance
- Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
- Extensive library of dharma books
- Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna
OPTIONAL MASSAGE
Please email retreats@dharmakayacenter.org if you would like to book a massage during your free time.
OPEN TO ALL
There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for all.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, July 3
| 3:00-6:00 PM | Check in |
| 6:00-7:00 PM | Dinner |
| 7:30-8:00 PM | Sunset Meditation, optional |
| 7:30-9:30 PM | Fire pit (weather permitting), optional |
| 10:00 PM | Lights out on campus |
Friday, July 4 – Saturday, July 5
| 7:30-8:00 AM | Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional |
| 8:00-9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 12:00-1:00 PM | Lunch |
| 2:00 PM | Afternoon Group Meditation, optional |
| 4:30-5:30 PM | Yoga, optional |
| 6:00-7:00 PM | Dinner |
| 7:30-8:00 PM | Sunset Meditation, optional |
| 7:30-9:30 PM | Fire pit (weather permitting), optional |
| 10:00 PM | Lights out on campus |
Sunday, July 6
| 7:30-8:00 AM | Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional |
| 8:00-9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:30-10:30 AM | Personal Time |
| 12:00-1:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Checkout and Departure |
Teachers
John Henderson has studied Buddhist philosophy and practiced meditation for nearly 30 years. Since 2003 he has been a senior student of the Dharmakaya Center’s founder, Rimay master Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche. John has applied the teachings in his professional life as a serial entrepreneur, leading both healthcare and real estate businesses, and as a board member of numerous not-for-profit organizations in the Northeast. He has been teaching at the Center since it opened in 2017, offering dozens of programs in person and online, as well as providing individual meditation guidance to our retreatants and our volunteers. COMMENTS FROM FORMER…
Learn more about John Henderson
Anna Winkler has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1989, when she certified with the Sivananda Yoga Organization, in both India and Canada. She served as a volunteer staff member there for 6 years, assisting in Yoga Teacher Training courses and modeling for 2 yoga books, among other things. Anna has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since 1997 (with Eddie Stern and other authorized teachers), and teaching Ashtanga since 2002. She has been studying and practicing Iyengar Yoga at Studio Yoga in Madison, NJ since 2007, where she received her second 500-hour teaching certificate. Anna teaches an Alignment Based Hatha Yoga class.…
Learn more about Anna Winkler
