Sacred Fire – Ignite. Embody. Transform.
WOMEN'S FALL YOGA AND MEDITATION RETREAT
FINGER LAKES, NY
October 23- 25, 2026
Women’s Yoga and Meditation Retreat
This retreat is both sanctuary and crucible: a place to rest deeply, renew your spirit, and rise into alignment. Through yoga, meditation, ritual, and soul-centered coaching, you’ll experience practices that awaken your body, clarify your mind, and expand your heart.
Inclusions and Highlights
Time to Nourish YOU
This retreat is a sacred pause—an invitation to completely step away from the news, the discord, daily routines, everything that you constantly pour into, and release the emotional and mental habits that rise as a result of navigating life's demands.
You will leave this retreat restored, and with renewed wisdom of how to be in the world, but not of it. You will be aligned with your own rhythm that remains undisturbed by external forces.
Cost and Inclusions
Limited to 18 guests.
RETREAT FEE $725
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT $525, if $145 deposit is applied before December 30, 2025
Includes EVERYTHING > Accommodations, all meals, instruction and more
INCLUSIONS:
* 2 Nights shared room lodging with private bath
* All healthy meals…let us know your diet requirements
* All bedding, linens, towels…etc.
* Daily yoga
* Daily meditation
* Wisdom Teachings
* Fire ceremony
* Mindfulness Training
* Energy Healing
* Deluxe Retreat Packet with all teachings and trainings
* Welcome Gift
Grounding in Nature creates Inner Balance
Exit the Noise of the World. Restore Inner Calm. Nurture your Inner World.
The Fall Retreat is not just another getaway—it is the Buddhi Institute’s most powerful annual immersion, a sacred fire gathering where women come together to ignite their inner flame, embody authentic power, and transform into the vision of who they are becoming.
This retreat is both sanctuary and crucible: a place to rest deeply, renew your spirit, and rise into alignment. Through yoga, meditation, ritual, and soul-centered coaching, you’ll experience practices that awaken your body, clarify your mind, and expand your heart.
🌿 You’ll Be Guided Through:
Daily Yoga & Meditation
Wisdom Teachings & Energy Healing
Learn how to integrate spiritual wisdom into everyday life.
Receive a retreat packet with teachings and tools to bring home.
From embodied wisdom, you radiate.
Fireside Circles & Rituals
Communal spaces for reflection, storytelling, and sacred release.
Nature Immersion
Personal Integration Time
Spacious moments to journal, rest, and receive what’s ready to land.
Sacred Fire is the one-of-a-kind retreat where women return each year to root, radiate, and align with their highest selves.
Surrounded by Nature
Set on gorgeous Owasco Lake, and surrounded by 200 wooded acres, a beautiful gorge, and over a mile of shoreline. our retreat property offers the perfect setting for peaceful reflection and mindful movement. Whether you prefer a quiet lakeside stroll, a grounding hike through the forest, or simply soaking in the fresh air, nature is here to support your journey.
Take advantage of the beautiful walking trails for deep relaxation, mindfulness, and renewal. Our retreat is designed with flexibility in mind—follow the suggested schedule, or simply let the day unfold naturally.
This weekend is yours to embrace however you choose.
Craft your own "flow"
Throughout the retreat, you’ll have the opportunity to deepen your practice with guided meditation sessions, wisdom workshops, and gentle flow yoga.
Whether you choose to join in or explore your own path—through hiking, painting, journaling, or quiet contemplation—this space is yours to embrace in whatever way feels right for you.
Meals will be thoughtfully provided by the Center, accommodating all dietary needs—including vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options—so you can nourish your body while focusing on renewal.
Accommodations
Huge Luxury Guest House!
We retreat in a Guest House called the Galilee, which offers guests a spectacular view of the lake, creating an ideal place for our group.
. Built in 1896 and uniquely designed to fit the contour of the shoreline, The Galilee has a great deal of character and many unique traits.
The main room offers an ideal place for our group wisdom circles or private chats with friends. The library has a beautiful sunrise view of the lake and is perfect for quiet journaling, or for night owls to play board games into the wee hours of the night.
The building also features a piano, kitchenette, two gas fireplaces, and two covered porches. T
he larger porch has been updated for extended use in colder seasons with a transparent vinyl enclosure and propane patio heater. The campfire circle is located a short distance off the south porch, along the shore of the lake.
If you need a roommate, we will help you pair up with someone perfect.
All towels, pillows, and linens are provided, so no need to bring that with you, unless you have a favorite blanket that you can’t live without! : )
The Rooms
Guest rooms are located in the two wings located directly off the main room. These are dorm-room / ZEN style rooms designed in simplicty. On mindfulness retreats...less is more. Sacred Simplicty is the goal.
The South Wing also contains two lounge areas, while the North Wing contains one. The upper level bedrooms have bathrooms en suite, while the lower level rooms share two bathrooms.
Plenty of "Space"
For night-owls…the lounges are perfect for break-away for quiet contemplation or afternoon spent alone reading.
We also have a full kitchen so feel free to bring your favorite snacks, beverages and of course marshmallows for so more's.
You are free to join the activities below, or go off on your own to journal, hike, pray, meditate...peace is yours to discover!
SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE
Dates: October 23-25, 2026
Friday
Arrive by 5 pm
6:00 pm – Dinner
8:00 pm – Welcome and Opening Circle
Saturday
7:30 am- Optional sunrise yoga / meditation
8:30 am – Breakfast
10:00 am- Light Yoga and Meditation
11:00 am – Spiritual Wisdom Group
12:30 pm – Lunch
1:15 pm – Free Time
3:30 pm- Mindfulness Training
5:00 pm – Evening Reflection
6:00 pm – Dinner
8:00 pm – Fire Ceremony and Wisdom Circle
Sunday
7:30 am- Optional Sunrise Yoga
8:30 am – Breakfast
10:00 am- Light Yoga and Meditation
11:00 am – Wisdom Circle and Closing
12:00 pm – Lunch
1:15 pm – Depart
Inclusions
* 2 Nights shared room lodging with private bath
* All healthy meals…let us know your diet requirements
* All bedding, linens, towels…etc.
* Daily yoga
* Daily meditation
* Wisdom Teachings
* Fire ceremony
* Mindfully guided Nature Hike
* Energy Healing
* Deluxe Retreat Packet with all teachings and trainings
* Welcome Gift
Please call Melinda Johnston for more details or to register: 585-672-5250
Your Sacred Fire Experience
How to Register
You may register below online using Paypal, credit card, or debit card.
Or call the Retreat Host, Melinda Johnston at 585-672-5250.
Check payments are also accepted.
Mail to:
BUDDHI INSTITUTE
1400 Winton Road N.
Suite 102-A
Rochester, NY 14609
Space is available on a first come, first serve basis.
Upon registration, you will be contacted to discuss any dietary requirements you may have. In addition to standard healthy meals, we can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free diet plans.
Deposits are non-refundable after July 1, 2026
Final payment is due August 20, 2026
Please note: All eligible refunds are processed within 14 days following the completion of the retreat. This allows time for final accounting, room adjustments, and energetic closure of the container. Thank you for honoring the sacred structure of this experience.
Grounding Experiences
The earth bursts into glorious color during autumn - as if singing in joyful gratitude for all it has received and experienced through spring and summer.
Worldly demands often pull our hearts and minds from this sense of gratitude and inner peace. Instead, we strive to always accomplish the next task. This constant striving keeps us in the loop of flight or flight...never at rest.
Sacred Fire
Sacred Fire is the practice of living with vitality and purpose — the inner flame that illuminates your path and fuels conscious creation. It is not about burning out or consuming, but about igniting the spark of clarity, courage, and devotion that already lives within you.
Through Sacred Fire, you learn to embody passion without chaos, strength without rigidity, and vision without illusion. It is the art of infusing your daily life with warmth, resilience, and sacred intention — so that every step, word, and choice becomes an offering of light.
Sacred Fire calls you to live awake: to kindle your authentic energy, to expand into possibility, and to carry wisdom forward with radiance.
TRIP LEADER
Melinda Johnston, M.Msc.
Retreat Host | Spiritual Philosopher | Intuitive Mentor | Founder of Buddhi Institute
With over three decades immersed in the sacred sciences of religion, metaphysics, and eastern philosophy, Melinda Johnston has become a leading voice in the realm of conscious evolution and vibrational alignment. As founder of the Buddhi Institute, she guides seekers in integrating ancient wisdom with modern living—creating real-world wellness through soul-centered practices.
Melinda’s approach is both mystical and practical. Drawing from Buddhism, Vedanta, yogic science, and metaphysical consciousness, her teachings illuminate the hidden patterns that shape our beliefs, relationships, and energy fields. Her work honors the sacred in simplicity, and invites students to reclaim their inner authority through ritual, mindfulness, and deep reflection.
A retreat with Melinda is not just a pause—it’s a portal. Her presence offers gentle disruption to outdated conditioning, and creates space for clarity, joy, and authentic embodiment to arise naturally.
We each carry the wisdom we’ve been seeking. The Inner Guru is not found—she is awakened.
Your Yoga Instructor
Cheri Scotto
Cheri is a 500+ hour certified Yoga instructor and has taught Hatha Yoga beginner and intermediate levels since September 2011.
Her teachings involving mind, body and spirit bring balance and wholeness to your entire Being.
"Teaching yoga allows me the opportunity to share yogic techniques, knowledge, experience and training with students giving them tools to incorporate into their lives to meet their health and wellness goals.
I am a life-long learner following the 8-limb Path of Yoga. I was drawn to Yoga as a child and have always had the desire to practice. My personal goals are to be in a place of peace, balance of mind, body and spirit. Teaching gives me the opportunity to use my gifts of encouraging and motivating others to bring healing, health and wellness.