VanderKamp Retreat: Embrace the Mysteries in Your Heart
A Three-Day Transformational Retreat for Women in NY
Are you a woman who acknowledges the intricate nature of current events affecting your personal life and the world? Do you seek a brighter future, solutions, and a proactive approach to address the challenging issues tugging at your heart? Then join me along with other heart-centered women as you embark on a journey of self-discovery. Escape the noise and find peace amidst the tranquility of VanderKamp. Together, we will learn to ask the right questions and make positive changes in our own lives, the lives of others, and the world.
VanderKamp in Cleveland, NY
November 1-3, 2024
What You’ll Learn
Retreat Lodging & Location
Retreat Lodging & Location
Shift Your Perspective.
Develop Patience.
Retreat Lodging & Location
Retreat Lodging & Location
Retreat Lodging & Location
Grace Manor at VanderKamp
Cleveland, NY
Retreat Itinerary
Retreat Lodging & Location
Retreat Itinerary
Friday-Sunday
November 1st-3rd, 2024
Registration & Fees
Registration & Fees
Registration & Fees
Are you ready to invest in yourself?
You are worthy!
What You Can Expect to Learn
Do you struggle to live your life fully? Do you frequently ask yourself, “Why?”
Over the course of the weekend, you will learn to embrace the mysteries in your heart and find beauty in the unanswered questions, not rushing for answers that are not ready to be understood. As you learn to ask the right questions, the answers will eventually unfold naturally.
You will see a Shift in Perspective
- See questions as invitations: View a variety of perspectives as invitations to explore, learn, and grow. They hold the potential for exciting discoveries about yourself and the world.
- Embrace the mystery: Life is full of unknowns. Instead of fearing the lack of answers, appreciate the intrigue and wonder it creates.
- Think of it as a journey, not a destination: Focus on the process of exploration and discovery, rather than a fixed goal of finding the answer.
You will Develop Patience
- Practice mindfulness: Be present in the moment and observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This allows you to acknowledge the questions without getting overwhelmed by them.
- Allow space for growth: Just like a plant needs time to bloom, your understanding of yourself and the world may take time to develop.
- Find beauty in the unknown: There's a certain charm in the unanswered questions. It allows for creativity, imagination, and the possibility of multiple perspectives.
You will Learn to Love the process of Questioning
- Engage with the questions: Don't push them away. Write them down, discuss them with trusted friends, or explore them through creative outlets.
- See them as opportunities for wonder: Embrace the curiosity and excitement that come with questioning.
- Find inspiration in the process: The act of grappling with unanswered questions can lead to new ideas, perspectives, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
Patience and Appreciation for the Unknown are Skills that Develop Over Time
Retreat Itinerary
Friday-Sunday, November 1st-3rd, 2024
Day 1 - Friday, November 1st
- Check-in from 4:00-5:00pm.
- Once the logistics are out of the way, you will nurture your heart with a guided gentle yoga class and a meditation that will set the intention for the weekend.
- You will nurture your mind as you settle in, familiarizing yourself with the intimate surroundings of VanderKamp and with the other retreat attendees.
- You will nurture your body with a welcome dinner that has been specially prepared for our intimate gathering.
Day 2 - Saturday, November 2nd
- Morning all-level yoga class to awaken your spirit, preparing you to embark on a fulfilling day.
- Late morning brunch prepared by VK chef to nourish your body.
- Educational session where you will engage in stimulating conversation.
- Free time dedicated solely on you: Explore on your own, Group Walk, Rest, Journal, Read.
- Afternoon yoga that will shift you into a relaxed state for the later half of the day.
- Dinner prepared by VK chef and shared together with the new community of women that are now a part of your circle.
- Evening Gathering as you wind down and prepare for a restorative night of sleep.
Day 3 - Sunday, November 3rd
- Morning mixed-level yoga class that will fill your heart, mind, and body as you prepare to journey home.
- Departing breakfast and Re-cap: How can you apply what you’ve learned over the weekend to heal and grow not only yourself but others in your community?
- Check-out at 10:00am.
More Information About the Retreat
What’s Included:
- Pre-trip preparation call upon registering
- Private bedroom with bathroom (unless other arrangements are made for double occupancy)
- One breakfast, one brunch, and 2 dinners all prepared by in-house VanderKamp chef
- Non-alcoholic beverage service
- 4 yoga classes
- Guided mediations
- Daily transformational conversation
- Access to the natural habitat and unique experience that VanderKamp has to offer
- Surprise gift
Your Host
Irene Kulbacki, Owner of Useful Gatherings
Irene Kulbacki
BSBA, MA Sociology
200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher
55-Hour Oncology Yoga
As a retreat coordinator, facilitator, and presenter, Useful Gatherings with Irene Kulbacki creates a safe space in a retreat style setting, where women who desire expansion, come together within a creative community. Over the course of one to three days, educational materials will focus on the spiritual, transformative, and inspirational, with an emphasis on yoga, meditation, a connection to nature, and other contemplative practices. Programs are tailored to meet the needs of the those who gather, inspiring retreatants to live their best life, with a sense of gratitude and agency, despite common challenges faced as result of aging.
Health and Wellness: Irene’s yoga training includes a 200-hour yoga teacher certification through the Himalayan Institute (2005). There, in the classical Hatha yoga tradition, Irene gained the skills to teach all levels of asana classes through an understanding of anatomy, physiology, and therapeutics. She is well-versed in stress management, relaxation techniques, ayurvedic lifestyle basics, and meditation. In 2021, Irene received her 55-hour Oncology Yoga Certificate. This evidence-based program prepared Irene to support cancer patients and survivors. Irene’s kindness and thoughtfulness in providing a safe place for cancer patients have made her a beloved Ovarian Cancer Project team member.
Education: Her graduate work within the sociology of health and aging is where she continues to pursue her professional goals. She is committed to support the optimal aging of women through pro-active measures that include holistic practices, education, and community in an effort to address the emerging needs of this growing population.
Are you ready to rise above the noise?
Sometimes this involves turning away from our chaotic world and moving inward.
Are you ready to invest in yourself?
After putting the needs of friends and family ahead of your own for most of your life.