11/25/2025
Many people ask us: What is Menla? How did this place come to be?
Menla is a living expression of a vision held by Nena and Robert Thurman, created in partnership with Tibet House US and blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Nena dreamed of a sanctuary in the Catskills where the ancient healing wisdom of Tibet could take root in the West — a place where people could rest deeply, study, rejuvenate, and reconnect with their own inner wellbeing. Together with Bob’s lifelong commitment to preserving Tibetan culture and its wisdom traditions, that vision became Menla.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has long believed that Tibetan medicine is one of Tibet’s greatest gifts to the world. He visited Menla in 2006 to bless the land and expressed his hope that this valley would become a thriving resource for health, healing, and spiritual evolution for generations to come.
Today, Menla carries that intention forward.
A non-profit retreat center dedicated to Tibetan mind-body healing arts, integrative wellness, nature connection, and Buddhist learning — all held within the quiet protection of the Catskill Forest Preserve.
Whether you come for a retreat, a meditation class, a spa treatment, or simply to walk among the trees, we hope you feel the lineage, love, and vision that shaped this place.
✨ Menla: A sanctuary for healing, rooted in Tibetan wisdom and inspired by the land.
To stay up to date with Menla’s events and retreats get on our list —> Link in Bio.
