Two mid-Hudson Valley wellness centers have been named among the best in the country.
USA TODAY's recent 10Best Readers' Choice Awards ranked hot springs, meditation centers, spa resorts, wellness retreat centers and yoga retreat centers across the country.
While the Hudson Valley has several centers dedicated to meditation, taking time away from day-to-day life and engaging in spiritual well-being, two took the spotlight in the rankings.
The Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing in Pine Bush was awarded the top spot for best meditation center, and was ranked fifth among the best wellness retreat centers.
The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck was ranked fourth among the best wellness retreat centers.
Here's what to know about each center, what they do and what makes them stand out.
See the winners:USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing
#1 Best Meditation Center
#5 Best Wellness Retreat Center
Location: 191 Cragsmoor Road, Pine Bush
Offers: Buddhist studies, meditation programs, yoga practice and retreats
Trevania Henderson, president of the board at the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing said Tuesday they were thrilled to hear those who have gone to the center have had such a positive experience, and they have been able to "make a tangible difference in people's lives."
The Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing, a hub for Buddhist teachings and practices, is situated in the Catskills, within the hamlet of Cragsmoor. The 22,000-square-foot center sits on 90 acres and hosts a variety of retreats and programs, with five learning paths to help personalize the experience and options to visit the center for a day or an extended stay. The center's focus is on holistic well-being and increasing an individual's mind-body connection.
"We have programs for people who have never spent 30 seconds meditating, and we have programs for people who are very serious practitioners," Henderson said.
The Dharmakaya Center's programs are small, including about 15 to 20 people, which is designed to allow for a hands-on and intimate experience. Henderson said participants gain close connections with the teachers.
A program called "Still" was established at the center in 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically designed for frontline and essential workers and offered to them for free. Now in its fourth year, the program will host a "Soul Spa Weekend for BIPOC Leaders" later this summer.
To learn more about the center, including their programs, staying at the center, as well as their mission and values, visit dharmakayacenter.org.
Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
#4 Best Wellness Retreat Center
Location: 150 Lake Drive, Rhinebeck
Offers: Health and wellness workshops, spiritual retreats, yoga practice and conferences
Founded in 1977, the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is a non-profit organization located in Rhinebeck, and hones in on spiritual exploration, advancing both individual and the collective's well-being, through an integrated approach to personal growth and social change.
Chrissa Santoro, senior director of communications at the institute, said the institute is ecstatic and grateful to be among the USA Today readers' top wellness retreat centers, and hopeful new people will now discover what Omega has to offer.
"We bring together leading teachers from all across the country and around the world," Santoro said. "Our teachers are experts across sectors like health and wellness, creativity and the arts, leadership and sustainability."
More on Omega Institute:Meditation retreats in the Hudson Valley
They've also become a virtual global community, in an attempt to "democratize well-being," Santoro said, furthering accessibility to their resources for those who are not able to reach them in person.
"We can actively extend pathways to participation through online learning," she said.
For almost 50 years, the institute has hoped to be a destination for lifelong learning and community building, hosting workshops by topic, signature programs and, more recently, online courses.
For more information about the institute, workshops, and Center for Sustainable Living, along with their Women's Leadership Center, visit eomega.org.
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