Rounding Retreats

Rounding Retreats: A Catalyst for Personal Transformation

“Rounding is a priceless tool that we can use throughout our meditation career to very, very quickly minimize the amount of stress that’s accumulated in the body, to eliminate that, and to arrive into heightened consciousness states.” - Thom Knoles

A Round is a one-hour sequence combining gentle yoga asana, breathing exercises, vedic meditation, and a restful shavasana. This carefully designed sequence works by gently opening the body, preparing the nervous system to drop into meditation deeper and faster, and unlocking layers of stress, tension, and fatigue at an accelerated rate. This practices delivers an experience of profoundly deep rest and relaxation.

Specifically, Rounding balances the sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) nervous systems, increases oxygenation, calms the mind, and reduces anxiety. It's especially beneficial when you're feeling agitated, stressed, or mentally blocked.

A Rounding Retreat brings this practice to life over several days, weaving together meditation, yoga, knowledge talks, and genuine social connection in a supportive and nourishing environment.

Participants consistently experience improved mental and emotional well-being, a deep sense of renewal, and a feeling of having truly reset.

If you're a meditator who loves to build transformative, restful experiences into your year, a Rounding Retreat is the perfect annual (or semiannual) reset!

Rounding Retreat: August 28-30, 2026

Mountain Light Retreat, Crozet, VA

A weekend retreat for deep rest, gentle purification, and coming back into rhythm. Join Lora and her colleague Patty Haling near Charlottesville, VA for Vedic Rounding, sattvic meals, and Vedic wisdom in a quiet, supportive setting.

This retreat is open to anyone who has completed the 4-day Learn to Meditate course. If you have not yet learned, you may arrive a day early, on August 27, to take the course and then stay for the retreat.

Space will be limited to keep the weekend quiet, personal, and well-supported.

Registration will open soon! Check back here for details.

Lora McKnight

I’m Lora McKnight - a Vedic Meditation teacher, mother, partner, and sacred space holder in Pittsburgh, PA.

Since 2021, Vedic Meditation has been the foundation of my inner transformation and my way of engaging with the world with more grace, presence, and ease. Now, I teach meditation as a daily practice for rest, clarity, and reconnection with the self. I am excited to share this effortless technique with others ready to slow down, soften, and return to themselves.

Stillness is a birthright, rest is a form of resistance, and meditation is a powerful tool for healing. You don’t have to earn peace—you can simply sit and receive it. There’s ample space for your wholeness.

You can visit my website here or learn more on our Meet the Team page.

Patty Haling

Patty Haling, RN, FNP, holistic, health, coach, and Vedic meditation teacher.

With more than 30 years in healthcare, Patty has seen firsthand how chronic stress drives disease and how restoring the nervous system can transform health.

In 2025, she completed over 3000 hours of Vedic study, including a three month residency in India with master teacher, Thom Knoles.

Patty now offers in person instruction in Charlottesville Virginia as well as online mentoring and ongoing support.

You can learn more about Patty on her website here.

Katie Keane

I'm Katie. I am one of the founders of Cicada Collective and an avid meditator.

I will be cooking sattvic ayurvedic meals for the retreat and leading Sunrise Sun Salutations for those who would like to join.

I am a YTT-200 hour certified yoga teacher with a focus on hatha, yin and restorative movement practices. My teaching has a heavy emphasis on the underlying philosophy of yoga and the knowledge that the individual practitioner knows their body and movement better than anyone else.

As a wizard in the kitchen it is my pleasure to cook vegetarian Ayurvedic meals that will support your body and nervous system through the weekend.

You can learn more about me on our Meet the Team page.

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