Yoga in the Adirondacks (YITA)—a yoga shala located at The Divine Acres, a private, sustainable family farm in the Adirondack State Park—has announced their 2024 seasonal retreats: Fall into Winter, from January 12 through 14; Spring Renewal, from March 22 through 24; Spring into Summer, from June 21 through 23; and Autumn Transformation, from September 20 through 22.

“YITA is located in a small hamlet in Warren County of the Adirondack Park, upstate New York. Our yoga studio view of Eleventh Mountain captures the unique wilderness within our protected forever wild forest preserve—6 million acres of mountains, forests and waterways through Mother Earth,” notes yoga instructor Rhodella Hughes, E-RYT 500, YACEP, who owns and operates the shala and the farm.

When asked why yoga is important, Hughes shares a famous phrase from the Bhagavad Gita: “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self” and then went on to say, “Self equals consciousness, energy of the soul. Consciousness travels through the body to the mental to the spirit, a loving devotion to the divine. Science supports this journey through research and studies, telling us that yoga benefits our liveliness.”

In addition, Hughes points out that yoga increases flexibility, strength and resilience; reduces and relieves stress and anxiety; improves our mental health, quality of life and balance; reduces inflammation; protects and boosts our immunity; and increases self-esteem, restful sleep and bone health.

“Let us activate our brains through a yoga practice—a true mind-body connection,” enthuses Hughes.