Soft Landing
A Mother’s Day Weekend Retreat for Complicated Feelings with Kate Lynch
May 8-10, 2026
Himalayan Institute, Honesdale PA
Soft Landing is for people who experience Mother’s Day as emotionally complex and want a gentle, supportive alternative to the usual demands. You'll leave feeling more grounded and less alone.
What To Expect from the Weekend
- Relief from Mother’s Day pressure and performance
- Time to rest, slow down, and care for yourself
- Gentle nervous-system support through restorative yoga
- Mindful self-compassion tools you’ll take home with you
- Space for reflection through journaling and optional sharing
- Unhurried time in nature to breathe and take up space
- Connection that feels respectful, low-pressure, and human
- A sense that you’re seen, held, and more at home in yourself
Picture yourself here, in the Sunrise Room...
This Retreat May Not Be Right for You If…
If you’re looking for a physically advanced yoga practice, this won’t be the right retreat for you. The movement offered is gentle and accessible, with mindful morning flow and restorative evenings. The depth of this experience comes through inner work rather than physical intensity.
This retreat is also not a luxury or spa-style experience. Accommodations are simple, clean, and peaceful. Meals are vegetarian and nourishing rather than gourmet.
Soft Landing is for those who value rest, simplicity, and quiet depth.
Caitlin S.
"The weekend was intimate and soul nourishing!
Kate was an amazing facilitator who created a safe space - a brave space - for us to be vulnerable and open to connection. I felt so restored during the retreat and was able to carry that feeling forward when faced with the stress and responsibilities of life upon returning home, which is absolutely priceless.
I am so grateful for the gift of this beautiful retreat.”
I'm Kate Lynch (she/her), a mindful yoga teacher on a mission to create a kinder, more inclusive world.
I've been teaching yoga and cultivating community since 2002. I help highly sensitive people regulate their nervous systems so they can feel more joy and calm.
My little neurodiverse family lives in a magical land called Brooklyn.
Our retreats are welcoming and relaxing, and reflect my core values: empathy, integrity, equity and respect.
IMPORTANT:
Accommodations are separate from the retreat cost,
and booked through the Himalayan Institute.
There's a wide range of accommodations, all lovely and comfortable, beginning at $258 for the weekend.
Retreat Rhythm
Our days will unfold gently. We’ll gather in the late mornings and evenings for guided, restorative practices and circles. Enjoy open afternoons to wander the trails, rest, reflect, create, or enjoy optional activities like a guided hike, a coffee and chocolate tasting, or a massage with the center’s exceptional practitioners.
Picture yourself...
You've arranged for your responsibilities to be held by others for the weekend. They have you covered. Your retreat begins with your journey to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania.
Arrive on Friday
Check in and settle in to your room. We gather after dinner with a short orientation to the Institute.
Settle in to the space and restore, reflect & breathe.
On Saturday
At 7am there's an optional Hatha yoga class offered by the Institute. If you're not a morning person, sleep in. No judgment!
After breakfast, we'll meditate, connect, & gently flow together until lunch.
Gratitude journaling prompts and self-compassion protocols will be woven throughout the weekend.
After lunch we'll make our way to the Sound of Music Hill for a brief outdoor mindful walking meditation followed by a tour of MOKA, the on-site chocolate and coffee factory!
Spend the rest of the time before dinner in optional self-guided silence: nap, forest walk, sketch, get a massage, journal... After dinner, we will restore, reflect & breathe before bed.
On Sunday morning:
Optional Hatha Yoga at 7, and after breakfast our final session will include meditation, gentle flow, questions, and a closing ceremony. Stay for lunch and head home with your new mindfulness tools.
Mother’s Day can be complicated.
For some of us, it carries ambiguous loss, resentment, grief, longing—or a mix of feelings that don’t fit neatly onto a Hallmark card.
For others, it’s the pressure to perform, when what’s really needed is rest.
Soft Landing is a retreat where all of your feelings belong.
It’s an authentic space to receive care, rather than perpetually giving. Take time away from expectations. Time to slow down, unplug, and care for yourself in a breathtaking setting.
Held on 400 acres in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, you’ll spend your days moving gently, resting deeply, and reconnecting with yourself through restorative yoga, self-compassion meditation, reflective journaling, and unhurried time in nature.
Nothing needs to be fixed here.
There’s no “right” way to feel about Mother’s Day.
It’s a quiet sanctuary to rest, and learn meaningful self-care you’ll carry into your daily life beyond the weekend.
This isn’t a luxury retreat. It’s a simple, spiritual space—clean, calm, and thoughtfully held—where the focus is on presence.
How to Join the Retreat:
- Register for the retreat below.
- Book your room with the Himalayan Institute by clicking here.
Meals and amenities are included. If possible, stay an extra day before or after the retreat. - Decide how you'll get to Honesdale, PA.
Scroll down for FAQs
Lisa M.
"I was able to slow down and question some of the negative internal constructs holding me back. The mindfulness practice, yoga, and breathing are all tools that help me take a step back when I’m overwhelmed.
"Kate is a compassionate teacher with a great sense of humor! She is very approachable and willing to listen. I also got to meet new and interesting people after a long and complicated year.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the accommodation rates for this retreat?
How do meals work? Are they included in the cost?
What time do I need to arrive Friday and depart Sunday?
How do I get there?
Can I attend part of the weekend?
Will you refund me if I can’t come?
What should I pack?
Is this therapy?
I’ve never attended a retreat before. What will it be like?
What will the schedule be like? Will there be time for relaxing?
Is the whole retreat outside?
What about the Hatha yoga on the schedule?
Is there stuff to buy?
Don't see your question?
If you're wondering, someone else is too! It's natural to have hesitations when trying something new.
I can help you make an informed decision about this retreat. Let me know what you're curious about.
I don't bite!
Email me at [email protected].
Katy R.
“The retreat was a wonderful opportunity to disconnect from every day stresses and reconnect with myself.
With her calm and supportive attitude, Kate made it a comfortable and engaging experience for all. I was especially impressed by her combination of preparation and flexibility.”
Christen N.
“I had a really wonderful time.
It was the self-care I needed while also allowing me to sit with some real discomfort.
I’ve been working through some heavy stuff and the weekend helped me get through it all the more.”
