Serenity Ridge Retreats

Time: 09:00 AM - 2:30 PM  Location: Serenity Ridge Retreat Center All practice sessions will be held in the meditation hall (Gompa) in the center of the campus. Drinks and snacks will be served in the lobby/dining area of the main building, Kunzang Khang (with the gold roof).  Come join us at Serenity Ridge for a half day of practice guided by Rob Patzig. Everyone is welcome, and you can come for any  or all of the activities. Afterwards, weather permitting, you are welcome to stay and hike or walk our forest trails on you own or in a group! Schedule 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. Trul Khor Practice 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Introduction to Moving Meditation: The Nine Breaths of Purification & The Five Tsa Lung Exercises 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Coffee/Tea Break 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Practicing with the Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space 9:00 AM -10:00 AM: Trul Khor is Tibetan Yoga. Rob will guide the 16 movements traditionally taught at Serenity Ridge and Ligmincha retreats globally. He will be guiding and not teaching the practice. Everyone who is familiar with the practice is welcome to attend.  11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Moving Meditation. Instruction in the nine breaths […]

Join senior teachers Marcy Vaughn and Gabriel Rocco for a Silent Meditation Retreat from February 6–8, 2026, at Serenity Ridge Retreat Center in the peaceful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. This winter silent meditation retreat offers a rare opportunity to rest deeply, cultivate open awareness, and reconnect with inner stillness through guided sitting and walking meditation, mindful practices, and periods of quiet reflection. Participants are invited to release habitual busyness and return to the spaciousness of being. Suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners, this retreat provides a supportive environment for reflection, renewal, and lasting inner peace. Surrounded by the natural beauty and quiet of Serenity Ridge in winter, it’s the perfect setting to deepen your meditation practice and connect with stillness. All are welcome—whether new to meditation or experienced practitioners seeking to deepen their practice in silence. Schedule  Friday 2/6/26 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Check-in 6:00 p.m.–6:45 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Opening Teaching *Silence begins after announcements after the teaching concludes Saturday 2/7/26-Sunday 2/08/25 7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m. Practice 8:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m. Breakfast 8:30 a.m.–9:15 a.m. Meal Clean-up or Break 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Practice 11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Break 1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m. Lunch 1:45 […]

Join senior teachers Marcy Vaughn and Gabriel Rocco for a Silent Meditation Retreat from February 6–12, 2026, at Serenity Ridge Retreat Center in the peaceful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. This winter silent meditation retreat offers a rare opportunity to rest deeply, cultivate open awareness, and reconnect with inner stillness through guided sitting and walking meditation, mindful practices, and periods of quiet reflection. Participants are invited to release habitual busyness and return to the spaciousness of being. Suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners, this retreat provides a supportive environment for reflection, renewal, and lasting inner peace. Surrounded by the natural beauty and quiet of Serenity Ridge in winter, it’s the perfect setting to deepen your meditation practice and connect with stillness. All are welcome—whether new to meditation or experienced practitioners seeking to deepen their practice in silence. Schedule  Friday 2/6/26 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Check-in 6:00 p.m.–6:45 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Opening Teaching *Silence begins after announcements after the teaching concludes Saturday 2/7/26-Wednesday 2/11/25 7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m. Practice 8:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m. Breakfast 8:30 a.m.–9:15 a.m. Meal Clean-up or Break 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Practice 11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Break 1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m. Lunch 1:45 […]

Whether you are seeking practical tools to ease stress, a path for self-discovery, or an introduction to the authentic spiritual path of Bön, Calm Abiding: The Medicine of Tranquility offers a gentle and accessible meditation retreat. This foundational practice, known as calm abiding meditation, helps you steady the mind, cultivate clarity, and reconnect with your natural sense of balance. Through guided practice, participants learn to observe wandering thoughts, develop focus and stability, and recognize the difference between the mind’s restless activity and its deeper, essential nature. This retreat welcomes beginners, continuing students, and advanced practitioners of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, as well as anyone new to meditation or the Bön tradition of Tibet. It provides a supportive environment for reflection, integration, and personal growth. I encourage people to attend the Calm Abiding retreat because the intensity of focus developed by this specific practice is very beneficial. Many traditions emphasize this. The only way to deeply understand profound teachings such as Dzogchen is to have a good experience of Calm Abiding. Without developing tranquility, there is no real experience of the nature of mind or sitting properly. To sit well, Calm Abiding is fundamental! — Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche   Schedule February 12-15, […]

In many cultures the primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and the source of all positive qualities. As such, Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, is the source of wisdom, and her medicine is love and compassion. The teachings of Sherap Chamma comprise one of the most important tantric cycles of the ancient Bön tradition. Join us for a Sherap Chamma meditation retreat, exploring the divine feminine energy and one of the most important tantric cycles of the Bön tradition. Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, embodies innate wisdom, compassion, and healing energy. During this retreat, participants will learn a simple and powerful meditation practice to connect directly with Sherap Chamma. Through visualization, mantra, and deep contemplation, you can cultivate love, compassion, and spiritual clarity. The supportive group environment fosters healing of physical, energetic, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Beginner and experienced meditators are warmly invited to this retreat. Who This Retreat Is For Practitioners seeking connection with the divine feminine energy Those looking for inner healing, emotional balance, and spiritual clarity Beginners or experienced meditators wishing to deepen their practice in a supportive retreat environment Anyone interested in authentic Bön Buddhist teachings and meditation […]

In many cultures the primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and the source of all positive qualities. As such, Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, is the source of wisdom, and her medicine is love and compassion. The teachings of Sherap Chamma comprise one of the most important tantric cycles of the ancient Bön tradition. Join us for a Sherap Chamma meditation retreat, exploring the divine feminine energy and one of the most important tantric cycles of the Bön tradition. Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, embodies innate wisdom, compassion, and healing energy. During this retreat, participants will learn a simple and powerful meditation practice to connect directly with Sherap Chamma. Through visualization, mantra, and deep contemplation, you can cultivate love, compassion, and spiritual clarity. The supportive group environment fosters healing of physical, energetic, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Beginner and experienced meditators are warmly invited to this retreat. Who This Retreat Is For Practitioners seeking connection with the divine feminine energy Those looking for inner healing, emotional balance, and spiritual clarity Beginners or experienced meditators wishing to deepen their practice in a supportive retreat environment Anyone interested in authentic Bön Buddhist teachings and meditation […]

Rest, Nourish, Realize and Renew:  Transforming Life and Health through Nature, Movement, Breath, and Meditation Through stillness, silence and awareness, make genuine contact with the sky of your being. Your recognition of this inner spaciousness is the inner sun that shines. The internal warmth allows the flowering of infinite positive qualities in your life. - Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche As spring awakens, the world comes alive—longer days, fresh growth, returning birds, and gentle rains that nurture new life. By connecting with these natural rhythms, we support our own wellbeing. This retreat is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and bring awareness, renewal, and transformation into everyday life. Over three days, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and guests will share ancient methods, supported by modern research and scientific findings, to realize our inner source of well being and grow beyond often unconscious self-defined limits to engage with our lives in creative, inspired and fun ways. We will discover ways to release stress, decrease anxiety, enhance energy, support health through mindful eating, deepen inner peacefulness, and reconnect to ourselves and the world around us. Be empowered to make healthier choices that support your wellness on every level!  Our days will include Sunrise meditation (weather permitting) Tibetan […]

Rest, Nourish, Realize and Renew: Transforming Life and Health through Nature, Movement, Breath, and Meditation Experience a spring wellness retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche at Serenity Ridge Retreat Center in Shipman, Virginia. Over three days, immerse yourself in meditation, Tibetan Yoga, mindfulness, and nature-based practices to release stress, enhance energy, support health, and deepen inner peace. This retreat blends ancient Bön teachings with modern research to help you transform your life and wellbeing. Through stillness, silence, and awareness, participants make genuine contact with the “sky of your being,” cultivating inner spaciousness, clarity, and positive qualities that enrich everyday life. Guided by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and guest instructors, you’ll explore techniques for stress reduction, anxiety relief, mindful eating, improved sleep, emotional balance, and personal growth. Our days will include Sunrise meditation (weather permitting) Tibetan Yoga for all mobility levels Meditation instruction for beginners and experienced practitioners Forest bathing, nature walks, river and stream access, and sky gazing Evening bonfires Time for journaling and reflection Delicious, healthy, plant-based meals Guided relaxation and Tibetan treatments for better sleep Optional intermittent fasting, cold plunges, and other self-care modalities Special Guest Speakers Katherine Lambert, MS, CNS, LDN will speak about nutrition and diet Ed O'Malley, […]

Welcome to a profound journey of transformation. Over three years, under the guidance of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, we invite you to explore the living power of the Five Elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space—and to rediscover the deep harmony that connects us to the natural world and to our own true essence. […]