PROGRAM
LOCATION
Menla Mountain Retreat and Conference Center
375 Pantherkill Road
Phoenicia, New York 12494
www.menla.org
Here’s your chance to experience our “fast track” holiday weekend intensive— a perfect choice for those wanting to make the most of their holiday weekend
The Menla Mountain Retreat/Tibet House, located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains, is surrounded by 320 acres of national forest preserve. Our cooking classes and lecture workshops for both the beginner to advanced skill levels, will be held in the private Snowlion House with shared accommodations. The Menla Retreat facility includes a fitness center, yoga studio, and outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts. It’s a wonderful area to enjoy hiking, walking and bird watching or for exploring the artists’ town of Woodstock filled with artistic shops, galleries and restaurants.
Be sure to visit The Conscious Gourmet photo gallery to view previous Catskills Mountains retreats!
PROGRAM AGENDA An itinerary will be mailed upon receipt of retreat deposit
The program begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends on Monday at noon.
Yoga/Breakfast
Early morning yoga on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings followed by a whole foods breakfast buffet.
Culinary Classes
Daily hands-on cooking classes include the orchestration and preparation of delicious health-supportive meals from soup to dessert using the highest quality, organic ingredients available—free of the most common allergy producing foods such as wheat, dairy and refined sugar. Menus include both raw and cooked foods.
Before each of the cooking sessions, we’ll practice a quick and easy exercise to center and focus the group. Diane will review the daily menu and together we’ll create a master plan or map to guide you through the menu preparation, plus time saving steps for your success in the kitchen. Then we’ll head for the kitchen where you’ll begin cooking in small groups under Diane’s expert guidance.
We’ll go over each recipe in detail introducing you to their health-supportive ingredients such as grains, beans, natural sweeteners, high quality oils, condiments and a variety of staples--why we use them and the resources available for stocking your own pantry.
In each session, we’ll also practice:
- knife skills
- the art of seasoning
- fundamental health-supportive culinary techniques for preparing delicious organic meals including:
- appetizers
- non-dairy “creamy” soups
- salads and vinaigrettes
- grain, bean and pasta dishes
- seasonal vegetables
- calcium rich greens
- and mouth-watering desserts
One meal will include fish as well as a vegetarian option. Following each cooking class, you will feast on the gourmet meal you’ve prepared to experience the satisfying results. You'll go home with tips and techniques for a lifetime of healthy eating and enjoyment for yourself and your entire family.
Lecture/Workshops
In these eye-opening workshops, you’ll discover a whole new way to think about food and how to make conscious food choices that support your personal goals.
You’ll discover how to:
- connect the dots between the food you eat and what you experience physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually
- use the Three Levels of Food Consciousness, the use of Intention, and how to become a conscious gourmet
- use both Eastern and Western models such as expansive/contractive and acid/alkaline to identify and eliminate food cravings; the connection between food and mood; and how to create menus that maintain a healthy Ph for maximum nutrition and weight maintenance
- prepare meals that balance YOU and leave you free of food cravings and binges
- break the food allergy/addiction cycle and eliminate the toxic bloat we call fat that accompanies it
- identify the underlying health conditions that often sabotage our best efforts to maintain a health supporting diet
- select healthful dairy products: free range, organic, or grass fed poultry and meats, and high quality fats and oils
- use the ABC’s of menu planning for creating both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals and how to use leftovers creatively
- use both local and Internet resources for health-supportive foods, condiments, staples and more!
You will receive a Conscious Gourmet apron and binder filled with recipes, numerous handouts and resource lists to support your continued learning. Knives are supplied for your use during class and will be available for purchase.
Afternoon Free Time
There will be free time to enjoy the Menla Mountain facilities, hike the Pantherkill Mountain trails, or relax into a massage or wellness service available by appointment. Travel to Woodstock to explore artists' shops and eclectic emporiums on Tinker Street, visit art galleries, tour the museum or sit back and enjoy the people watching.
Dinner is included Friday evening.
PROGRAM FEE
$1190 program fee includes shared accommodations
- $200 discount for 2 people registering together ($100 each)
Note: Only one discount applied per registration
A non-refundable $250 deposit reserves your space. One-half the remaining program fee is due 90 days before the retreat start date, with the remaining balance due 60 days before retreat start date. Registration 59 days or less before the start date requires payment in full.
The 4 day, 3 night Program Fee includes the following:
- Daily whole foods breakfast buffet
- Knife skills
- 3 hands-on cooking classes and complete organic meals
- 4 lecture/workshops
- 3 nights shared accommodations
- Group dinner in Woodstock
- 3 Yoga classes
- Program Binder, Handouts, Conscious Gourmet Apron
Not included
- Airfare
- Car rental or shuttle/taxi services
- Meals or beverages other than listed above
Additional tours or services are available at the participant's option and expense. If you choose to participate in activities outside of the group itinerary, no deductions, allowances or substitutions will be made.
REGISTRATION
Class size is limited to ensure the best learning experience. Early registration is recommended to assure availability.
A non-refundable $250 deposit reserves your space. One-half the remaining program fee is due 90 days before the retreat start date, with the remaining balance due 60 days before retreat start date. Registration 59 days or less before the start date requires payment in full.
Your enrollment will be confirmed by e-mail (or hard copy if requested). A welcome packet and itinerary will also be e-mailed to you including all the details to make your journey as easy and enjoyable as possible.
CANCELLATION POLICY – Go to Policies
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We recommend purchasing travel insurance through the internet such as Travel Guard International whose travel insurance plans offer coverage for vacation and trip cancellation, travel interruptions and delays, emergency medical and health expenses, lost baggage and more. |
