Retreat at Land of the Medicine Buddha with Heather Haxo Phillips
Return to What Matters: Practice, Rest, and Renewal
A YOGA RETREAT FOR IYENGAR YOGA PRACTITIONERS
WITH HEATHER HAXO PHILLIPS
July 16-19, 2026
Land of the Medicine Buddha
Step away from the pace and noise of everyday life and enter a space designed for focused study, steadiness, and renewal.
This retreat offers time to practice yoga with care and attention, rest deeply in nature, and reconnect with yourself and others in meaningful community.
Set within the quiet beauty at Land of the Medicine Buddha, our days unfold in a rhythm of practice, nourishment, and spaciousness. With guidance rooted in the Iyengar tradition, you will have the opportunity to deepen your connections, restore your energy, and experience what becomes possible when life slows down enough for you to truly listen.
This is not a vacation.
It is a return — to practice, to presence, and to what sustains you.
Why we gather
In yoga, retreat is not an escape — it is a deliberate turning toward.
Stepping away from familiar routines creates the conditions for deeper observation. Without the demands of daily life, something unexpected may get revealed. The mind is no longer pulled in many directions. The body is no longer rushing to keep up. Practice becomes more powerful and gains momentum. Insight has space to arise.
Retreat creates the conditions for deeper practice to offer you possibilities you never imagined. Indeed, with uninterrupted time, we can observe more carefully and and listen more honestly. Rest becomes more complete. Learning becomes more integrated. What might be faint or obscured in everyday life can be felt more directly.
Practicing together in a more quiet natural environment also changes how we experience ourselves. Our years at Land of the Medicine Buddha have taught us that the redwoods are incredible teachers of steadiness, their verticality and grounding nature connect us with scales of time beyond our own personal identity. It’s wild! Once at the Land of the Medicine Buddha, the nervous system softens. Breathing deepens. Awareness expands beyond habit and urgency. In this steadier state, insight often arises naturally — perhaps through effort in asana, but more through presence in practice.
So yes, we gather to experience ourselves more fully. We gather to restore energy, refine perception, and remember what steadiness feels like in both body and mind. Most of all, we gather because practice deepens in relationship — to place, to silence, and to one another. Shared intention creates a field of support that makes transformation more accessible.
These consecutive days of immersive practice create internal shifts in ways that months of regular classes never can. Retreat offers time, space, and community in service of what matters: practice, rest, and renewal
The environment
Land of the Medicine Buddha offers a rare combination of quiet, beauty, and spaciousness. Located in the the Santa Cruz mountains near Aptos, Land of the Medicine Buddha is an easy 2-hour drive from Berkeley.
Towering redwoods. Filtered light. The scent of earth and wood. This retreat takes place in a quiet forest sanctuary where time naturally slows.
Indeed, the protected land – with its many prayer wheels and majestic redwoods – create a naturally regulating environment for the body and mind. The absence of urban noise allows attention to soften and deepen. Walking trails, forest air, and beautiful meditation spots support your restoration at a physiological level.
Nature does not distract from practice here — it supports it.
What We Will Do Together:
Each element of the retreat is intentionally designed to support integration and renewal.
Challenging asana practices will support your focus
carefully sequenced asana appropriate for your needs and interests
refinement of alignment and perception
Restorative and quiet practices to support your rejuvenation
deep nervous system recovery
supported rest
time for integration
Chanting & Yoga Philosophy
developing sensitivity and awareness
deepening understanding of practice principles
Time in nature
Walking, reflection, and a spacious environment offers relaxation and integration of practice beyond the mat
Shared meals and community
Nourishment through three delicious organic vegetarian meals each day, conversation and connection without pressure
CIYT and teachers in training can join us for one additional day prior to the retreat start.
Add a day of teacher education starting the afternoon of Wednesday, July 15th. Our time together will include deeper studies into teaching skills, both asana, pranayama and yoga philosophy – plus more time enjoying meals and hikes together.
This annual retreat sells-out every year.
Lodging
Our cozy accommodations provide the perfect place to recharge. You’ll stay nestled in the forest, complete with all the amenities you need for a comfortable and relaxing stay.
Register soon to get these early bird rates
Options in the main campus:
4 days / 3 nights:
Single Occupancy: $1770
or
Double Occupancy: $1470
or
Shared room (3 – 4 people): $1370
These guests rooms are steps from the yoga space and dining hall. Each has its own private bathroom.
Bring your own camper or van and park in the redwood groves: $1125
This option includes access to a shared bathroom and shower
Commuters staying off-site: $895
For those joining us 5 days / 4 nights:
Single Room: $2,165
Double Room: $1,830
Shared Room: $1,695
Bring your own camper van $1,250
Commuter $1,120
Who is this retreat for?
Dedicated Iyengar Yoga practitioners
This retreat may be a good fit if you:
want uninterrupted time to focus on practice
sense your practice is ready to deepen
value learning in a thoughtful, non-performative environment
appreciate quiet, nature, and meaningful community
want guidance that is precise, attentive, and supportive
This retreat is best suited for people who have at least two years experience studying Iyengar Yoga with a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher: studying consistently in Continuing Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced classes with a CIYT.
It is also an excellent opportunity for teachers and teachers in training.
Our Asana practices will build progressively toward intermediate and advanced poses. You ought to be well-steeped in the standing poses and inversions like Sirsasana, Pincha Mayurasana and Sarvangasana. We will do intermediate and advanced forward bends and back extensions, so you should already have a sense of how to modify these family of poses for your personal needs.
I WANT TO GO!OUR DAILY RHYTHM:
Wednesday
3 pm | Arrival and Check-in for Teachers
Asana Practice
Dinner
Evening Discussion
Thursday
Pranayama & Breakfast
Teacher Education / Lunch and Free time
2 pm | Arrival and Check-in for General participants
3 pm | Asana Practice
Dinner and Welcome Ceremony
Friday & Saturday
- Pranayama
- Chanting
- Breakfast
- Active Asana
- Lunch
- Free Time
- Restorative Yoga
- Dinner
- Evening Activities
Sunday
Chanting, Pranayama & Asana Practice
Breakfast and lunch
2 pm | Departure
You will have time to explore the property including its many walking trails and holy objects, or sit by the spring fed pool. Enjoy a warm mid-summer rest!
This transformative yoga retreat is the perfect opportunity to gain a new perspective and find your focus
Early bird rates likely are available only through April
LET’S GO!THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Nestled in the heart of the stunning redwood forest, our retreat center provides the perfect setting for you to deepen your yoga practice and connect with nature. Imagine practicing yoga surrounded by majestic trees, breathing in the fresh air, and listening to the soothing sounds of nature.
“It’s hard to pick one thing! I enjoyed the entire experience. It was so rejuvenating to have this time away in such a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere with wonderful people and the opportunity to immerse myself in yoga. “
~ Shakti
Other details you need to know:
Participants are requested to bring their yoga practice kit: 4 blankets, mat, two blocks and a strap. Traveling without props? You can purchase them here, or rent the kit from us for $25.
Delicious vegetarian meals are part of this special experience: The culinary staff can accommodate specific needs such as gluten free, wheat free, sugar free, garlic free, onion free, nut free, and vegan. When you register, please let us know your requirements. A guest refrigerator is also available for anyone who brings their own food items.
A retreat is a quiet place that you go to in order to withdraw from the regular routine of daily life and rest in a private place. So you should be excited to keep your phone and other devices away, for the most part.
Mindfulness is an important aspect of your stay at the Land of Medicine Buddha: As a Buddhist retreat center, guests are invited to be mindful of their actions of body and speech and to be aware that other people share this beautiful space. All guests are invited observe these five precepts: (1) No killing – this includes all insects. (2) No lying (3) No stealing – borrowing without asking permission. (4) No sexual misconduct – any sexual activity that will cause suffering to another being. (5) No intoxicants – includes alcohol, drugs and smoking cigarettes.
Cancellation details: Cancellations received by May 1 are entitled to a full refund minus a $50 admin fee. Cancellations received by June 1 are entitled to a full credit towards future Adeline Yoga programs, minus a $50 admin fee. No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations after June 1. Due to arrangements made with our hosts, there can be no exceptions to this policy.
REGISTER NOWABOUT THE RETREAT LEADER:
Heather Haxo Phillips is a Senior Iyengar yoga teacher and the Director of Adeline Yoga. She is a mentor and assessor. Heather offers expertise in yoga therapy, and is a Certified Yoga Therapist (c-IAYT), Relax and Renew restorative yoga teacher and Yoga Alliance E-500 level instructor. Her teaching is rooted in the ancient yogic traditions, including yoga philosophy, Sanskrit and chant. Every class offers an opportunity to delve into all these aspects of Yog.
A Level 3 Certified Iyengar teacher (Senior Intermediate I level), Heather serves as a mentor to aspiring teachers and CIYT, leading teacher education programs and volunteering on the Assessment Committee for IYNAUS.
Heather studies regularly with senior Iyengar Yoga teachers and the Iyengar family in Pune. Her yoga philosophy and Sanskrit teachers include Dr. Gitte Beschgaard and Dr. Sucheta Paranjpe.
Heather is dedicated to her volunteer work for the Iyengar Yoga Association of Northern California and the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States.
Heather is known for her well-organized events and retreats which she has been offering regularly for over a decade.
