Many people dream about living in NYC, but only those who live there know how exhausting it can be. So, today we will share with you many healing hideaways near the Big Apple that not many people know about. With this guide, you will learn what only locals know.
Often, people living there need a place to escape the daily grind. Luckily, there are numerous healing hideaways near the Big Apple. But sadly, not many people know about them. From all the tips about New York you can find online, not many talk about these places that should be more famous than they are.
What Healing Hideaways Near the Big Apple Can You Expect To See Here?
When looking for a hideaway, not everyone is looking for the same. Because of that, today, we will touch upon:
- Holistic retreat centers
- Eco-friendly escapes
- Unique wellness experiences
- Spiritual Sanctuaries
- Art and creativity retreats
- Cultural and historical retreats
Holistic Retreat Centers
Holistic medicine has seen a boom in popularity in the last decade. Because of this, Shou Sugi Ban House in Water Mill is getting increasingly popular. This is a Janapese-inspired wellness retreat. Here, they offer traditional healing practices with a modern twist. The accommodations are Wabi-Sabi-inspired, which promotes simplicity and natural materials. The treatments they offer are acupuncture, massage, and energy healing.
Menla Mountain Retreat in Phoenicia is another one of the healing hideaways near the Big Apple. This one is Tibetan-inspired. It provides the Catskill Mountains as a backdrop – a beautiful mountain belt in the New York State. Menla offers various therapies inspired by Tibetan healing practices. A twist they added to their practices is self-grown medicinal herbs. This retreat also features more popular practices like yoga, meditation, hiking, and forest bathing. So, whether you are drawn to more traditional practices or want to try something new, Menla Mountain Retreat is great.
Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center is located in Bangor, NJ, the homeland of the Lenape people. Its main focus is living humanly in a violent world. The center offers a wedding venue, different rituals, massages, spiritual direction, social and racial justice coaching, and ancestral lineage healing. If you are looking for a unique retreat that will make you look and feel great in NYC, this is the place to be.
If you find yourself in Rosendale, don’t miss out on visiting Lifebridge Sanctuary. This 95-acre retreat is great if you need beauty, privacy, and quiet. Here, you can also see a 1726 building that was restored and enhanced with 21st-century green building features. Peace and sustainability are the main focuses here.
Eco-Friendly Escapes
Sustainability is a growing trend nowadays. Many see it as a trend, but it is actually a necessity. According to TheRoundup, the number of people searching for sustainability-related topics increased by 130% between 2017 and 2022. This is great news, and it could change many global problems.
If you think sustainability is important, too, then you need to visit The Grail in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Their main focus is living in an eco-friendly way and having spiritual growth. The accommodations here are designed using sustainable materials like bamboo, and people can enjoy communal meals made from organic-only fresh produce that they produce on-site. If you are interested in workshops focusing on meditation, spirituality, and environmental stewardship, this is the place for you.
Wildflower Farms in Gardiner is a retreat for those looking for a more luxurious option. The location itself is luxury intertwined with nature, a wildflower meadow where people can enjoy a range of activities. Farm-to-table dining is a must in places like these, alongside bathing in the forest, meditation, etc. This Gardiner retreat is great for those who want to be in contact with nature without leaving the comfort of an urban setting.
Unique Wellness Experiences
If you are looking for unique experiences that go beyond traditional massages and meditation, The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck might be perfect for you. It is part of a global community that is trying to awaken the best in the human spirit. It is open from the end of May to mid-October, harnessing the most beautiful season in the area. While open, you can participate in workshops, retreats, and conferences. During the other parts of the year, they offer online courses.
Spiritual Sanctuaries
Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel is a one-of-a-kind location in this part of the USA. This is a Buddhist monastery offering everything that you might expect from a place like this. There is no better place for reflection and meditation. Visitors can participate in meditation sessions and Dharma talks or simply explore the nature surrounding the place. The monastery provides a space where you can disconnect from the digital world and find much-needed inner peace. If you want to take good care of your health, a visit to this place might be just what you need.
The Garrison Institute in Garrison might be most famous for its Contemplative Based Resilience (CBR) Project. The focus of this evidence-based training is to give caregivers of all kinds the resistance they need every day. For others, the place offers a chance to learn more about oneself and the problems that our Planet deals with. A visit here can help you see the bigger picture and connect with like-minded people. This place’s peaceful environment and focus on learning make it one of the best healing hideaways near the Big Apple.
Art and Creativity Retreats
If you are an art enthusiast, Rising Sun Holistic Choices in Pound Ridge might be just the place for you. In this retreat, you can find individual-focused programs, like color light therapy, chakra balancing, betar, etc. Visitors can also explore various art forms, like painting, sculpture, mixed media, and others, that make emotional healing easier. If you need to boost your mental health through being creative, this retreat is likely the perfect choice.
Cultural and Historical Retreats
If you are looking for a place that combines environmental research with culture and history, visit The Cary Institute in Millbrook. They offer education about the world we live in and its problems while offering a peaceful connection with nature. It is great for all ages, seeing as they provide eco camps, field trips, and workshops. So, if you want to learn about the burning issues regarding disease ecology, freshwater, or urban ecology, this place is a great spot to pay a visit to.
Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring started off as a home local couples’ home. But since 1992, it has operated as a public garden. It is open during the warmer part of the year, starting in April. What is interesting is that they are open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and a select Sunday each month. On top of that, only a limited number of people can visit – to keep the environment peaceful and crowd-free. The garden covers 15 acres, showcases different types of plants in their natural habitat, and what can be achieved with the highest standard of horticulture. Thanks to their professional staff, you can learn a lot about the plant world from a visit.
Sometimes, People Might Need More Extensive Treatment
Addiction is a growing concern among people around the world. 16.7% of Americans have battled a substance use disorder at some point in their life. Dealing with this is incredibly challenging, but there is support available for even the most severe cases. Some of these retreats offer help for people with addictions, but they are not long-term solutions. On the other hand, long-term solutions are often pricey, so many people think they cannot afford them. Luckily, addiction treatment is covered by many healthcare plans. BCBS insurance coverage is an excellent health insurance option as a group of companies that operate the world’s largest networks. It provides coverage throughout the United States of America and has over 100 million people insured.
Tips For Visiting These Off The Beaten Path Retreats
Visiting these retreats is a great choice, but you need to plan in advance if you want to have the most enjoyable experience possible. You need to:
- Book in advance, especially with places like Stonecrop Gardens that only allow a certain number of people to visit per day.
- Consider renting a car, because most of these places are not reachable by public transportation.
- Pack the essentials you might need for the day, as many of these places don’t have stores nearby.
- Use an offline map or GPS for places where cell service is not available.
Which One Of These Healing Hideaways Near the Big Apple Will You Visit First?
As you can see, all of these healing hideaways near the Big Apple offer an escape from the stress of working in the Big Apple. Even though it offers an enriching lifestyle and high salaries, people need a break from the big city lifestyle once in a while. After all, humans were created to be in touch with nature and themselves, so give yourself that pleasure from time to time!
