I'm from Connecticut, so hosting a yoga retreat in Upstate New York feels like inviting you all to my backyard. I'm so excited to share the beauty and serenity of upstate. This is going to be a low key, relaxing weekend of yoga and healthy eats. This is a time to unwind with your favorite book, or put on your tourist cap and set out to explore all that upstate has to offer - hiking, antiquing, great little cafes and more. Ready to book your spot?!

Where and When

Upstate New York, June 25 - 28, 2015

Blogging Workshops

I come from a background in teaching and I've developed a series of blogging workshops that is created for people who either have an idea for a blog and aren't sure where to begin, or people who have a blog that just isn't seeing the traffic nor generating the income that it could. My specialized blogging workshops will give you all the tools you need to take your blog to the next level. A quick overview of the workshops is below. More details in the schedule that follows. If you choose to participate in the blogging workshops, you'll need to bring your computer, a notebook and pen, your cell phone and camera, and a calendar or agenda.

Back to Blogging Basics: Determining your blog's vision, mission and potential. Determine your blog's reader profile and your blog's personality.

Uncovering the Secrets to Making Money from Your Blog: Determine ways your blog can generate revenue, and develop your blog's monetization strategy.

Photography Tips and Photoshoot: The basics of taking and editing great photos for your blog and how to pose for photos to get the most flattering image. Then, you'll hop in front of the lens of our professional grade camera for a head shot photoshoot. You'll retain all rights to the photos and will be able to use them on your blog.

Social Media Strategy: Learn what social media platforms are out there, how to use them, what content to share through each platform, and how to grow your following.

Marketing and Content: Develop a marketing plan for your blog, and create a content calendar specifically for your blog.

Secrets to a Successful YouTube Channel: The basics of what makes a great video, how to use your YouTube platform to generate revenue, and how to grow your following. Plus, what to do after your YouTube Channel to grow your blogging business.

How to work with brands within your blog's niche: Learn ways in which you can partner with brands in line with your blog's mission, and develop a template for how to reach out to them to ensure a reply.

Bloggers' Tea Time: we'll have two question and answer sessions over tea where you can ask any blogging related question.

Upstate New York Yoga and Blogging Retreat Schedule

Thursday, June 25, 2015

• Arrive after 5:30pm to settle in and unpack
• 6:00-7:00pm - Yoga: Flow fundamentals. This workshop revisits the basics to ensure foundation and alignment, and from there we'll move into a playfully sequenced flow to music.
• 7:30pm - dinner
• 8:00pm - 9:00pm Blog workshop - Back to basics. In this workshop, we'll identify your blog's vision and mission so we can reaffirm the blog's potential. We'll develop a reader profile and determine your blog's personality. This is an opportunity to be introspective, and give and offer feedback to others.

Friday, June 26, 2015

• 8:00am - 9:15am Yoga: Beginner arm balance workshop. This is a lighthearted class that focuses on taking the first steps toward arm balances. We'll loosen up with a great pre-inversion flow and then work on crow pose, headstand, forearm stand and more in a safe environment where you'll be supported and lovingly encouraged to get out of your comfort zone.
• 9:30am - breakfast
• 10:30 - 12:30 Blog workshop - Uncovering the Secrets to Making Money from Your Blog. In this workshop, you'll learn various ways your blog can earn money. We'll discuss your blog's money making potential, and analyze ways to improve your monetization strategy.
• 12:30 - 3:00pm free time, explore upstate, go out for lunch
• 3:00 - 4:30pm Blog workshop - Social Media Strategy. We'll discuss various social media platforms, how to use them, what type of content works best for each platform, and what social media platforms are best for your blog's growth. 
• 4:30 - 5:00pm Bloggers' tea time - a question and answer session about anything you've learned so far or wasn't covered.
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm Blog workshop - Photography tips and photoshoot. Learn photography tips to take your blog's imagery to the next level. We'll talk about what makes a great photo, and how you can use those photos in your social media strategy. Then, we'll take it outside for a photoshoot. We'll talk about the basics of being photographed for the most flattering image, and our photographer will take professional quality head shots for your blog. These images will be edited and given to you digitally.
• 6:15 - 7:15pm Yoga: detox yoga. This is a calming yoga class with lots of twists and stretching to release tension and promote a sense of calm and clarity.
• 7:30pm dinner

Saturday,  June 27, 2015

• 8:00 - 9:15am Yoga: Blindfold yoga workshop. A slow flow set to soft music, this is a workshop about self-trust and intuition. It's about getting out of your own way, exploring possibilities, and letting go of self-doubt.
• 9:30am - breakfast
• 10:30 - 12:30 Blog workshop: Marketing and content. In the first part of this workshop, we'll discuss effective marketing strategies to help get the word out about your blog. The second part of the workshop will be dedicated to developing a content calendar for your blog. 
• 12:30 - 5:00pm free time, explore upstate, go out for lunch
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm Blog workshop: Secrets of a Successful YouTube Channel. YouTube can be hugely beneficial to your blog. In this workshop we'll discuss what makes a great video, what types of content you should put out there, how to generate traffic for your channel, how a YouTube channel makes money, and develop a YouTube content calendar for your blog.
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm How to work with brands within your blog's niche. In this workshop we'll explore ways in which brands partner with blogs, identify brands within your blog's niche, and draft a template for pitching ideas to brands. You'll leave with all the tools you need to confidently reach out to companies for collaboration.
• 6:15pm - 7:15pm Yoga: yin/yang practice. This practice starts off with an athletic flow and then transitions into super slow movement for deep stretches and profound change. 
• 7:30pm - dinner
• 8:30pm - 9:15pm Bloggers' tea time. This is a question and answer session. Feel free to ask any questions you have about something we covered earlier or something we haven't touched on.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

• 8:00 - 9:15am Yoga: Vinyasa flow with guided meditation. Our last class of the weekend begins with a playfully sequenced vinyasa flow putting together all that we've learned, and ends in a guided meditation called yoga nidra. 
• 9:30am - breakfast
• 10:30am - all good things must come to an end! Time to say our goodbyes.

Retreat Price

Please note that payment can be made via paypal gift option or credit card with 2% added for processing. Reserve your spot by paying the 50% deposit now via credit card!

The prices below include: three night accommodation in the room of your choice, all breakfasts and dinners, afternoon snack, 6 specialized yoga workshops, a blindfold for the blindfold yoga practice, healthy living swag bag. 

*Note* The price below does not include the blogging workshops. The cost for participation for the blogging workshops is $250 and includes: 7 specialized blogging workshops, 2 Q&A sessions with tea, professional photoshoot with images for your blog, and a blogger swag bag. Please bring your computer, cell phone, camera, and a notebook and pen.

Bedroom 1: Two twin beds

• Single accommodation:  $775*
• Shared: $550* each

Bedroom 2: 1 King bed

• Single accommodation: $775*
• Shared as couple: $680* each

The prices below include: three night accommodation in the room of your choice, all breakfasts and dinners, afternoon snack, 6 specialized yoga workshops, blindfold for the blindfold yoga practice, healthy living swag bag. 

*Note* The price does not include blogging workshops. The cost for participation is $250 and includes: 7 specialized blogging workshops, 2 Q&A sessions with tea, professional photoshoot with images for your blog, blogger swag bag. Please bring your computer, cell phone, camera, and a notebook and pen.

Master Bedroom: 1 King bed

• Single accommodation: $980*
• Shared as couple: $780* each

The prices below include: three night accommodation in the room of your choice, all breakfasts and dinners, afternoon snack, 6 specialized yoga workshops, blindfold for the blindfold yoga practice, healthy living swag bag.

*Note* The price does not include blogging workshops. The cost for participation is $250 and includes: 7 specialized blogging workshops, 2 Q&A sessions with tea, professional photoshoot with images for your blog, blogger swag bag. Please bring your computer, cell phone, camera, and a notebook and pen. 

Bedroom 3: 1 full bed 

• Single accommodation: $775*
• Shared as couple: $590* each

Bedroom 4: two twin beds

• Single accommodation: $775*
• Shared: $650* each

Already in the area? 

If you live close by, or would like to stay elsewhere, the day student prices are below, and you're invited to pay in full and reserve your spot now. 

Yoga classes: 6 specialized workshops, including a blindfold for blindfolded yoga practice and a swag bag -$300. Please bring your yoga mat, a blanket, any props you have, and a notebook if you've like to take notes.

Blogging workshops: 7 workshops, 2 Q&A sessions with tea, professional photoshoot with images for your blog, blogger swag bag: $250. Please bring your computer, cell phone, camera, calendar or agenda, and a notebook and pen.

Things to do in Upstate New York

If you're not participating in the blogging workshops, there will be plenty of time during the afternoon to explore the area. There are beautiful hiking trails and falls just a short drive away. 

If you're up for a pretty drive, Howes Caverns is just an hour away, and is one of the coolest places to go! 

Or, you could go sailing on the Hudson River, or visit the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Alternatively, head up to Saratoga Springs for coffee, shopping and people watching.

Please note: Our Siberian husky will be staying with us during the retreat. No need to be a huge dog lover, but just wanted to let you know he'll be with us. He is a gentle old soul that will leave you alone (unless you have a treat, in which case he will offer you a high five in hopes that you'll share).

Fill out the form below to reserve your spot!