Return to Radiance
An Autumn Yoga Retreat in the Heart of Vermont
A peak-season immersion of Yin, Yang & Mindful Presence
September 17 - 18, 2026 | Sterling Forest Lodge | Stowe, VT
As the forest blazes gold and crimson at peak leaf peeping season in glorious Vermont, we gather to remember our own inner radiance.
Set during Vermont’s most vibrant season, this retreat is an invitation to attune to nature’s crescendo—where lustrous forest colors hold space for luminous inner practice.
In this exquisite mountain sanctuary above Stowe, we blend Yin, Yang & Mindfulness with wood-fired saunas, cedar cold plunges, hot tubs, and forest-fed ritual. Kali will bring her natural intermingling of Asana, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Buddhist methods to awaken the heartmind.
This retreat is an invitation to inhabit your life more fully — before the long exhale of winter draws us inward again.
This is not just a retreat. it’s a remembering
Our Theme for Retreat:
This retreat offers a devotional and embodied approach to the Seven Points of Mind Training (Lojong), a profound set of teachings passed from Atisha to Tibetan lineage masters. These slogans serve as a practical guide for transforming the mind, cultivating compassion, and awakening spacious, heart-centered awareness. This retreat invites practitioners to live the slogans as somatic truths.
The Rhythm of Life on Retreat:
– Forest-bathed mornings in noble silence
– Strong, fluid vinyasa inspired by the Zen heart
– Yin + Restorative evenings with seasonal wisdom + stillness
– Dharma talks, journaling, and communal inquiry
– Time for solitude, hiking, soaking in the seasonal beauty
– Shared firelight, nourishing meals, and sangha
“My expectations were undoubtedly met and I was nourished by the retreat from the inside out. Kali has a way with words and I found myself entranced and delighted with the way she offered her unique and very wonderful sight of Yin yoga.”
These teachings are gentle, kind, empowering. My heart is full. I am so blessed to have had you teach, hold and nurture me during the last few weeks. The time spent with you and our spirit tribe has been transformative and invaluable. Thank you for your offerings.I look forward to attending your future retreats.
Sterling Forest Lodge:
Your Home Away From Home
Sterling Forest Lodge holds a quiet elegance—expansive windows, wood, and light. Rooms range from cozy singles to shared suites. Space is intentionally limited to preserve the contemplative tone.
Enjoy & Immerse
The Rustic Spa Experience, which includes a wood fire burning sauna and cedar hot tub, and a cold plunge. Chic living spaces throughout the house to get cozy, journal, read a book, share in community.
If you’re feeling the pull
Come for the Quiet.
Leave with a steadier breath
a clearer center
and the kind of autumn clarity that lasts long after the leaves fall.
Daily Rhythm:
Thursday, Sept. 17
3:00–6:00pm — Arrival
Settle into your room, meet the land, and arrive at your own pace.
6:30pm — Dinner
A grounding first meal together.
Friday, Sept. 18
Mornings in Noble Silence
8:30am — Breakfast Buffet
9:30am–12:30pm — Session 1
Vinyasa Yoga | Buddha Dharma Themes & Methods of Mindfulness: Preciousness & The Hara / Belly
12:30pm — Lunch
1:00–4:00pm — Spacious Afternoon
Hikes, self-practice, journaling, or time in the spa sanctuary.
4:00–6:30pm — Session 2
Yin & Restorative Yoga | Dharma Methods: Impermanence & The Heart/Lungs
6:30pm — Dinner
Saturday, Sept. 19
Mornings in Noble Silence
8:30am — Breakfast Buffet
9:30am–12:30pm — Session 1
Vinyasa Yoga | Buddha Dharma Themes & Methods of Mindfulness: Karma & The Side Bodies
12:30pm — Lunch
1:00–4:00pm — Spacious Afternoon
Forest walks, contemplative rest, spa-time, or personal inquiry.
4:00–6:30pm — Session 2
Yin & Restorative Yoga | Dharma Methods: Dukkha & The Central Channel
6:30pm — Dinner
Sunday, Sept. 20
Mornings in Noble Silence
8:30am — Breakfast Buffet
9:00–10:30am — Closing Session
Yang & Yin Yoga | Bodhicitta, Tonglen & Compassion Practices
11:00am — Farewell
Depart with spaciousness, clarity, and the quiet glow of autumn still inside you.
What’s Included
Daily Practice with Kali
Morning Vinyasa & Meditation
Spacious afternoons + noble silence
Evening Yin & Restorative sessions
Dharma teachings rooted in Buddhist psychology
Internal Family Systems–infused somatic inquiry
Full Spa Sanctuary Access
Wood-fired sauna
Cedar cold plunge
Forest-edge hot tubs
Quiet spaces for integration and rest
Nourishing Meals
Seasonally inspired breakfasts, lunches, and dinners served with care and aligned with the grounded energy of autumn practice.
Three Nights Lodging at Sterling Forest Lodge
A mountain-top sanctuary surrounded by peak foliage, forest quiet, and expansive views.
Community & Ceremony
Opening circle, closing ritual, and time to connect with fellow practitioners in a supportive, heart-centered container.
Your Guide:
Kali Basman
International and intentful Yin & Restorative Yoga teacher of teachers, Kali Basman, offers an intermingling of wisdom disciplines: Foundations of Buddhist mindfulness, the pranic pathways of Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians, physiology of the nervous system, and individual-informed anatomy.
Leading yin and mindfulness focused trainings and retreats across the globe, Kali pays reverence to her lineage of teachers, Sarah Powers, Jack Kornfield, Judith Hanson Lasater and more.
“Kali is the definition of wisdom. I feel held in such an intuitive deep space. Her teachings are enlightening and expanding. I feel this knowledge will stay with me forever”
“Eloquent and concise, Kali speaks of ancient wisdom”
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. The retreat is open to all levels. Kali’s teaching is invitational, spacious, and adaptive — you’ll be guided to meet each practice from exactly where you are.
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Noble silence is a mindful offering — a quiet window at the start of each day to attune inward, soften stimulation, and let practice arise from stillness. It ends at the first session of the day.
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Sterling Forest Lodge offers private, serene rooms surrounded by peak foliage and quiet forest. Each accommodation is warm, simple, and intentionally supportive of rest. We have a selection of private and shared accommodations.
Click here to view the list of available accommodations and book your space.
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Your registration includes lodging, all yoga and lecture sessions, full access to spa amenities (sauna, cold plunge, hot tubs), and all meals. The only additional costs are travel and optional purchases along the way.
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Burlington International Airport (BTV) is the closest major airport, approximately one hour from Sterling Forest Lodge. Exact travel guidance is provided in your welcome packet.
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Comfortable layers, yoga clothing, a journal, a water bottle, good walking shoes, and anything that nourishes your personal practice. A full packing list is included after registration.
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Absolutely. Many participants come solo and find the retreat setting to be supportive and deeply connecting.
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Kali’s teaching is adaptive and trauma-informed. You’re encouraged to move with agency and choice, and all shapes can be modified to support your body’s needs.
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