Veterans Yoga Retreat for Men

Imagine spending six days in a space built specifically for your healing—surrounded by men who understand military life, held by skilled teachers who know how to work with a nervous system shaped by service. The Veterans Yoga Retreat for Men at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY is designed for male veterans ready to move beyond survival mode and rediscover calm, presence, and physical ease.

Led by experienced instructors Annie Okerlin and Mike Keighley, this retreat introduces iRest, a scientifically-backed guided meditation rooted in yoga nidra that has earned endorsement from the US Army Surgeon General. Unlike generic yoga classes, iRest is specifically engineered to address the particular challenges veterans face: hypervigilance, chronic tension, pain, sleep disruption, and the difficulty of reintegrating after service. Over six days, you'll learn practical tools to regulate your nervous system, release held trauma from your body, and return to a state of genuine relaxation—something many veterans haven't experienced in years.

This isn't about performing perfect poses. Every class is taught with deep accessibility in mind. The instructors are trained to modify postures for injuries and physical limitations, meeting you exactly where you are. Research consistently shows that yoga and relaxation practices accelerate healing and support the reintegration process. At this retreat, you'll be part of a peer community of men walking a similar path, creating the safety and understanding that makes transformation possible.

What to Expect

You'll arrive at Omega Institute's serene 195-acre campus and step into a carefully structured program that balances guided practice with community. Each day weaves together yoga asana (postures adapted for accessibility), iRest meditation sessions, and teachings on nervous system regulation—all designed to ease chronic tension and help your body remember how to rest. Classes emphasize breath work, grounding techniques, and the specific tools that help veterans process stress and trauma.

The atmosphere is contemplative and peer-centered. You're among men who get it. Instructors create a judgment-free space where modifications are the norm, not the exception. By the end of the retreat, you'll leave with a personal iRest practice you can return to anytime, a deeper understanding of how your nervous system works, and tangible techniques for managing pain, anxiety, and sleep.

Venue & Logistics

This retreat takes place at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, New York—a renowned retreat center with residential facilities, meditation halls, and expansive grounds designed for deep rest and learning. The retreat runs Sunday, September 13, 2026 for six days. Bring comfortable clothing for yoga, a journal, and an open mind. Omega provides accommodations and vegetarian meals. All classes are adapted for accessibility; let organizers know about any injuries or physical needs when you register.