Being Yoga Conference Retreat

Yoga instructor Sarah Henry leads a class during a paddleboard yoga session at Adventure Sports Miami on July 10, in Miami, Florida. The paddle board is said to give the body's core more of a workout then in a gym since the platform is unstable and one (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y., considered one of the country’s most trusted yoga institutions, will hold its annual Being Yoga Conference Retreat on the weekend of August 26–28.

Some of the nation’s leading yoga instructors will be on hand to teach a wide variety of exercises to help participants strengthen their health and well-being. There will be over 50 classes offered at various levels, from beginner to master.

Breathing exercises (pranayama yoga), basic and advanced postures (asanas), meditation, yogic philosophy, massage, and dance are all part of the opportunities the retreat will offer.

In addition, community activities, self-reflection, delicious vegetarian meals, and an inspirational lush environment all contribute to the total experience of immersion into yoga. Spa services at the Omega Wellness Center are also available.

The retreat will open on Friday, August 26 at 7:30 p.m. with well-known instructors Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Beryl Bender Birch, David Life, Seane Corn, and Rod Stryker each offering a view into their personal life stories, struggles, and valuable lessons they learned along the way.

All day Saturday and Sunday morning, participants engage in yoga enrichment classes, during which they personalize their learning tracks by designing their own five-class curriculum.

On Saturday evening, a panel discussion with instructors Gary Kraftsow, Sandra Anderson, Sarah Powers, and Mark Whitwell will offer insight on how to deepen and advance personal yoga practice. The discussion is concluded with a Kirtan. Kirtan is a traditional Indian music gathering that includes chanting, stories, and teachings that explore “bhakti,” the yoga of devotion.

The final gathering on Sunday morning, August 28, will be led by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute and author of 14 books. His keynote talk is on yoga for lifelong development.