Lifting the Gaze Retreat:
Meditation & Motion
Led by
Cyndi Lee
and held at the historic
Mabel Dodge Luhan House
Taos, New Mexico
Meditating alone is how practice starts.
Connecting with each other is how practice lives.
This retreat is open to everyone! Our practice will focus primarily on sitting and walking mindfulness meditation, sustainable yoga, and restorative yoga. Yoga props will be available in the yoga studio and modifications will be offered for everyone. Each morning will include a short dharma talk and group discussion.
SCHEDULE
Sunday, October 20
2:00 - 4:30 Check-in
5:00 - 6:00 Pranayama & Restorative Yoga
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner in the house dining room
7:30 Hello and introductions around the kiva fireplace
Monday, October 21
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast
10:00 - 12:30 Morning Practice: Meditation, Dharma talk & discussion, Sustainable Yoga
12:30 Lunch
4:00 - 6:00 Afternoon practice: Pranayama, Restorative Yoga, Meditation**
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner
Tuesday, October 22 - Wednesday, October 23
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast
10:00 - 12:30 Morning Practice: Meditation, Dharma talk & discussion, Sustainable Yoga
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Field Trip*
4:30 - 6:00 Afternoon practice: Pranayama, Restorative Yoga, Meditation**
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner
Thursday, October 24
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast
9:30 - 12:00 Morning Practice: Meditation, Dharma talk & discussion, Sustainable Yoga
12:30 Lunch
4:00 - 6:00 Afternoon practice: Pranayama, Restorative Yoga, Meditation**
DINNER OUT - TBA
Friday, October 25 - Departure Day
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30 Morning Practice: Meditation, Dharma talk & discussion, Sustainable Yoga12:00 Check Out & Departure
*Field Trip Days include:
Visit to Taos Pueblo
Visit to Fechin, Millicent Rogers, or Kit Carson Museum
Optional easy hike
** Afternoon practice: depending on weather we might do outdoor walking meditation
Free Time Activities: Walk through Kit Carson park to Bent Plaza, in the center of downtown Taos. Go to Cashmere and Chocolate, Op Cit, Uncommon Threads or have a yummy treat at Chokola or at World Coffee.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The retreat takes place at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House, with its charming bedrooms, cozy living room, library and spacious yoga studio.
In late November 2017, I visited the Mabel Dodge Luhan house and spent the night in Mabel’s room, which abuts vast wild land owned by the Pueblo Indians. I fell asleep to the crackling of the kiva fire in my room and woke up to see a fluffy grey wolf running across the prairie. I felt full with this experience and completely understood why Mabel’s friends—Georgia O’Keefe, D.H. Lawrence, Ansel Adams, Elizabeth Duncan, and many others—traveled across the US to visit her and be inspired by this land and this house.
To learn more about Mabel’s life, influence and the house, read her memoir, Edge of Taos Desert: An Escape to Reality.
RETREAT COST
Varies depending on room selection and double or single occupancy. Please note that booking a double occupancy room only reserves one bed, it does not reserve the entire room.
TO HOLD YOUR SPOT & ROOM, PAY A $500 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.
Balance will be due August 1. You will receive an email with a payment link for your balance.
Mabel’s Room
Double Occupancy:
$3,078.75
This second floor room has Mabel’s hand-carved double bed which was built in the room, plus one twin bed and a spacious sitting space.
This large room has a private bath, kiva fireplace (not currently usable), private patio entrance and a breathtaking view of the mesa and Taos Mountain.
Reserved
Tony’s Room
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
Double Occupancy (couples): $3,078.75
Seven steps up from Mabel’s Room, Tony’s has a queen bed, fireplace (not currently usable) and use of the D.H. Lawrence bathroom.
A lovely sleeping porch overlooks the flagstone patio.
Solarium
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
Formerly Mabel’s sun porch, this airy room at the top of the house is completely surrounded by glass.
The Solarium enjoys panoramic Taos views, queen bed and a private, shower bathroom.
Reserved
Austin Room
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
One of the oldest rooms, this first floor room opens onto the large, shady portal.
It has a queen-size bed, private bathroom and a fireplace (not currently usable).
Reserved
Cather Room
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
This room, which opens to a lovely portal and main courtyard, is where Willa Cather stayed and wrote.
It has a private shower bathroom, two twin beds and a fireplace (not currently usable).
O’Keeffe Room
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
This small, quaint, first floor room is where Georgia stayed while visiting Mabel.
Spud’s Room
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
A writer as well as Mabel’s secretary, Spud Johnson stayed in this first floor room.
It now has two twin beds, a fireplace (not currently usable) and private bath.
Reserved
Robinson Jeffers Room
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
This beautiful first floor room has natural mud walls with a 10-foot ceiling.
It features a king-sized bed, private shower, bathroom and semi-private patio.
Reserved
Ansel Adams Room
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
This room shares a small patio with the Robinson Jeffers Room. Dennis Hopper stayed here while editing Easy Rider.
Includes a queen bed and a twin, private bath and fireplace (not currently usable). Beautiful view.
Reserved
Gate House Cottage
Bedroom with two twins has been booked. The 2nd bedroom with a king sized bed is available for a single person or couples, charged at the double occupancy rate per person.
Double Occupancy: $3,078.75
A romantic cottage for family and friends.
Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and sitting room. Three fireplaces (not currently usable). Can accommodate four people.
Auntie’s Cottage
Single Occupancy:
$3,341.25
1 queen bed and two twins accomodate up to 4 people at the double occupancy rate: $3,078.75
This recently remodeled quiet retreat was former home of Taos Pueblo ladies who worked for Mabel.
With its two bedrooms, a kitchenette, sitting area and bathroom, this sweet cottage provides comfort and privacy for three or four.
Dorothy Brett Room
Double Occupancy:
$3,026.25
First floor room with a queen and a twin bed.
Views across Mabel’s field to the D. H. Lawrence house.
Nicholai Fechin Room
Single Occupancy: $3,183.75
Double Occupancy:
$3,026.25
First floor room with a queen bed.
Southwestern charm features an exposed adobe wall.
Reserved
Elsie Parsons Room
Single Occupancy: $3,183.75
Double Occupancy (couples):
$3,026.25
Second floor room with a queen bed.
Features an exposed adobe wall and a view of the D. H. Lawrence House.
Frank Waters Room
Single Occupancy: $3,183.75
Double Occupancy:
$3,026.25
Second floor room with two twin beds.
Exposed adobe wall and a view to the magnificent cottonwood tree planted by Mabel and Tony.
Rebecca James Room
Single Occupancy: $3,183.75
Double Occupancy:
$3,026.25
First floor room with a queen bed and a twin bed.
Follow the gravel and flagstone path for quick access to the historic Big House.
John Collier Room
Single Occupancy: $3,183.75
Double Occupancy:
$3,026.25
First floor room with two twin beds.
Southwestern charm with an exposed adobe wall.
Frieda Lawrence Room
Single Occupancy: $3,183.75
Double Occupancy:
$3,026.25
Second floor room with a queen bed and a twin bed.
Exposed adobe wall and a wonderful view of the sacred Taos Mountain.
Andrew Dasburg
Single Occupancy: $3,183.75
Double Occupancy (couples):
$3,026.25
Second floor room with a queen bed.
This room offers a beautiful view of the sacred Taos Mountain and surrounding Taos Pueblo land.
Reserved
Every price includes:
5 nights
5 breakfasts
4 lunches
4 dinners
5 days of meditation, yoga and relaxation
Mabel’s food is famous! It’s probably the best restaurant in town.
DIRECTIONS TO GET TO MABEL DODGE LUHAN HOUSE:
Options:
Fly to Albuquerque and rent a car. Drive about 2.5 hours to arrive in Taos.
Fly to Santa Fe and rent a car. Drive about 1.5 hour to arrive in Taos.
Fly to Albuquerque OR Santa Fe and take the Taos Ski Valley Shuttle.
If you like road trips, you could also fly to Denver and take a gorgeous 6-hour drive to Taos.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BEING IN TAOS
Taos is in the high desert, nearly 7,000 ft up. Everyone has a different response to the altitude. It might be no big deal for you or you might feel winded. Some people get a headache. It is worth it to relate to the attitude with care.
Tried-and-true ways to prepare for being at this altitude:
start drinking at least 10 glasses of water/day for a week ahead of your arrival
buy some chorophyll and put it in your water
try to get a good night’s sleep every night for a week ahead of your arrival
arrive in Taos one or even two days before the retreat begins so you can get acclimated
OR stay in Santa Fe for a day or two ahead of time and then drive up to Taos for the retreat
bring some tylenol in case you get a headache
bring a water bottle
The weather is different every year! It might not be all that cold in the daytime but much colder in the evening so bring layers.
And don’t worry, if you forget anything, I will help you find what you need! We will be at a retreat center that is beautifully contained and still only a few minutes from the center of town.