
Workshops
Cultivating connection through education, community, and nature.
Hilltown Commons is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to education, community, and nature. Our workshops are led by expert educators and designed to be immersive, meaningful, and deeply connected to place. Each workshop is offered as an all-inclusive tuition package that covers educational instruction, lodging, and meals. Participants register and pay a single, all-inclusive fee directly through our website.

The Body in Motion: Ilan Lev Method (Module 2)
About the Workshop:
A Workshop in Movement, Listening, and Touch
The Ilan Lev Method (ILM) is a dynamic hands-on bodywork practice that uses movement to open communication between the body’s systems, inviting healing, release, and rediscovery. Developed by master therapist Ilan Lev, this method brings playful provocation, energetic flow, and deep listening into a dance between practitioner and client.
In this training, we’ll explore how gentle, continuous movement can awaken new physical pathways, release habitual patterns, and support the body’s natural intelligence. Through touch and improvisational movement, we expand range, restore coordination, and invite emotional and physical integration.
Module 2 is open to those who have completed the first module and are ready to deepen their somatic awareness, technical skill, and relational presence. Whether you are a movement artist, therapist, or simply curious about the language of the body, this work offers a radical, joyful approach to connection and healing.
About the Faculty:
Annie Rigney is a certified Ilan Lev Method practitioner with over a decade of experience working with people of all ages to support healing from injury, pain, trauma, and movement limitations. With a background in dance and somatic practices, Annie brings deep sensitivity, precision, and playfulness to her work—guiding others into a more fluid, connected relationship with their bodies. Her approach integrates the technical foundations of the Ilan Lev Method with a strong intuitive sense for the body’s natural capacity to restore and reorganize itself.
Noa Goldin is a senior practitioner and educator of the Ilan Lev Method, with a background in dance and over a decade of experience in hands-on healing and movement education. She first encountered ILM after sustaining injuries during her dance studies, and was struck by the method’s power to restore not just physical ease, but a deep sense of connection and vitality. Since becoming certified in 2010, Noa has taught internationally and worked closely with Ilan Lev, supporting students in both basic and advanced trainings. Now based in Leiden with her partner and two children, she continues to offer sessions and share her practice, Being with Noa, grounded in tenderness, presence, and listening to the body's innate wisdom.

Circle of Self: A meditative mandala-making workshop to honor your inner world
Program Overview: Join artist and guide Susan for a deeply personal journey into mandala-making. Drawing from the sacred symbolism of the mandala in Hinduism and Buddhism, this workshop invites you to explore your own universe through color, shape, and intention. You’ll create a visual reflection of your heart and soul—infused with your own symbols, numbers, words, and energy. No experience necessary—just a willingness to listen inward.
Tuition: $85 — includes brunch, materials, and all educational programming.
Your participation supports Hilltown Commons, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creative education and community learning.
Susan Ginouves is a watercolor artist and mandala guide whose work blends intuition, symbolism, and healing. Trained at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and certified in Graphic Design at the University of Vermont, she creates custom mandalas infused with Reiki energy—each one a personal reflection of the soul.
A certified Holy Fire Usui Reiki Master and Karuna Teacher, Susan integrates energy work into her art, workshops, and healing sessions. She leads monthly Reiki shares in Hudson, MA, and volunteers in hospice care, offering presence, light, and comfort through her practice.

Pond Hill Writers’ Retreat
Join the Pond Hill Writers’ Retreat for its inaugural summer at the historic Hilltown Commons, a beautiful 100-acre non-profit retreat center in Rensselaerville, New York–nestled in the hills near the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River and overlooking the forest, fields and wetlands of the Huyck Preserve.
Whether you’re dedicated to poetry, stories, memoirs, or novels, you can choose from five workshops that approach writing at every stage, from concept to completion. Our accomplished faculty of lauded writers and experienced industry professionals will offer comprehensive expertise guiding the craft of writing as well as insights into the world of publishing.
Join fellow writers for four days and five evenings of creativity, skills-building, inspiration, excellent food and community, and while you’re with us take advantage of on-site yoga, the adjacent lake for kayaking, and miles of hiking trails. Each of our five distinguished faculty members will welcome writers into a supportive and immersive experience, offering well-appointed accommodations—each with a private bath—along with all meals and expert instruction included.
Meet the Faculty
Barbara Jones
When Your Book-in-Progress Is in a Middle Place. A workshop for writers who’ve completed a partial first draft (fifty or more pages), a full draft, or, even, several drafts of a book-length manuscript (a novel, a memoir, a collection of essays or stories). We’ll spend workshop time considering which kinds of very specific tools of the trade (“the basics”) as well as what kinds of larger conceptual thinking (“the bold”) might benefit each book, nourishing and sustaining it to completion.
Please note: This workshop requires a submission of 15-20 pages (12 pt type, double-spaced) from your work-in-progress, along with your application to the workshop. Barbara will arrive armed with editorial approaches tailored to this particular workshop group’s needs.
Barbara Jones was an editor for more than thirty years, first in magazines (Harper’s Magazine, Vogue, More) then in books (as editorial director at Hyperion Books and executive editor at Henry Holt). As a magazine editor, she worked with such writers as Jennifer Egan, Elizabeth Gilbert, Christopher Hitchens, Ann Hood, Jean Korelitz, Lorrie Moore, Ann Patchett, and many others. As a book editor, she edited and published numerous bestselling as well as prize-winning titles, by authors such as Paul Auster, Dan Chaon, Susan Choi, Kelly Corrigan, Lauren Groff, Janice Hadlow, Lillian Li, Julie Lythcott-Haims, and many others. She’s now a literary agent with the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency.
José Olivarez
Wild Geese. Wild Life. Wild Imagination. Inspired by Mary Oliver and other greats, we will search our lives and our stories for our own wild geese. What are the moments that inspire and haunt us? How can we transform our own habitats–whether they be in the city or out of the city–into lush material for poetry? These are just a couple of the questions we will examine together in a communal workshop meant to encourage and hone our imaginations.
José Olivarez is the son of Mexican immigrants, and the author of two collections of poems, including, most recently, Promises of Gold—which was long-listed for the 2023 National Book Awards. His debut book of poems, Citizen Illegal, was a finalist for the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award and a winner of the 2018 Chicago Review of Books Poetry Prize. Along with Felicia Rose Chavez and Willie Perdomo, he co-edited the poetry anthology, The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNEXT. Alongside Antonio Salazar, he published the hybrid book, Por Siempre in 2023. He lives in Jersey City, NJ.
Heidi Pitlor
How to Write a Great Short Story. Join the longtime series editor of the perennial bestseller The Best American Short Stories for a rare look inside a beloved genre. Through discussion, generative exercises, close study of successful short stories, and question and answer sessions, Pitlor will guide you toward seeing your own and others’ fiction in a new way. We’ll discuss structure, narrative distance, and characterization, as well how to cultivate your individual process and voice as a writer.
Heidi Pitlor was the series editor of The Best American Short Stories from 2007-2024, and was previously a longtime senior editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She has worked with Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, Karen Russell, Cheryl Strayed, Min Jin Lee, Anthony Doerr, Rainbow Rowell, Jesmyn Ward, and many other prize-winning writers. In 2022, she founded Heidi Pitlor Editorial, a freelance firm that provides editorial services to agents, editors, and published writers. She is also the author of the novels The Birthdays, The Daylight Marriage, and Impersonation. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Lit Hub, Ploughshares, The Huffington Post, and elsewhere.
Christine Pride
How to Develop a Publishable Book Idea. So you want to write a book and get published? In this workshop (a mix of lectures, discussions, and interactive exercises), author and fifteen-year publishing insider Christine Pride explores practical and critical questions that every writer who has a dream of being published must consider: What are agents and editors really looking for? How do I know if I have a marketable idea? How do I know if my book is any good? It’s so competitive out there–how can I increase my chances of getting an agent? Is it all just hopeless? (Spoiler alert: no!)
Christine Pride is a writer, editor, and publishing veteran, who has held editorial posts at various “big five” imprints and has published many bestselling and acclaimed novels and memoirs. As a novelist, she has written two books with Jo Piazza: We Are Not Like Them ( a Good Morning America Book Club Pick) and You Were Always Mine. Her solo debut, All The Men I’ve Loved Again, will be published by Atria Books the week after the Pond Hill Retreat, giving participants a uniquely up- close look at how a book launch begins.
Steven Rinehart
Writing for Impact: From the Sentence Up. Over the course of the retreat, we will use various strategies to improve both the style and the content of whatever fiction or creative nonfiction you bring with you, whether it’s a first draft, a second draft, or something nearly there that needs one more pass. The workshop will offer techniques that clear away confusion and enable you to look at your work the way a reader would, and then make some of the hard decisions your work deserves. Bring a piece of your writing that you love, that you love to hate, or that perplexes you—we’ll tackle it together.
Steve Rinehart writes and ghostwrites for a former US President, Fortune 100 CEOs, entrepreneurs, and social activists. He brings a background as a writer of novels, stories, and screenplays, and his awards include a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. His creative, persuasive, and nonfiction writing, both under his byline and for principals, has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME, London Telegraph, GQ, Out, and many others. He has taught fiction for 25 years at New York University and elsewhere, and has contributed essays and forewords for bestselling nonfiction titles across the world.

Little Nights, Big Weekend: A Creative Retreat
Josh Krigman (he/him) is a writer, teacher, and facilitator in New York City.
He has taught creative writing at Hunter College, the United Nations International School, 826NYC, The Writer’s Rock, and for National Geographic’s Student Expeditions. Currently, he is a private writing coach and instructor for writers of all ages and levels of experience.
He has been awarded residencies from Vermont Studio Center, and his work has appeared in The Summerset Review, Akashic Books, Necessary Fiction, and elsewhere. He received his MFA in fiction from Hunter College.

Gammon in the Hudson: An Upstate Backgammon Retreat
Backgammon Retreat Incoming.
Rolling into the Hudson Valley this September!
Whether you’re a seasoned shark or a social roller, Gammon in the Hudson is your chance to escape the city and dive into a weekend of tournaments, strategy, laughter, farm-fresh meals, and fireside hangs—all hosted by NYC Backgammon Club founder Remington Davenport at the beautiful Hilltown Commons.
Save the Dates:
September 5–7, 2025
Rensselaerville, NY (just 40 mins from Albany/Hudson)
We’re putting the finishing touches on registration, but if you want first dibs on room selection and a chance to book before everyone else, drop your info below.
Price: All-inclusive starting at $820
What’s Included: Your tuition covers everything you need for a transformative retreat experience: expert instruction from seasoned faculty, three nourishing meals a day, and cozy lodging on our 100-acre campus. From charming cottages to woodland nooks, our groovy room options let you rest in style between sessions. All you have to do is show up—we’ll take care of the rest.
Spots are limited, and they're gonna go faster than a double six on the bar.
Ready to roll? Sign up for early access below.


Layers of Light: The Pancakosa Dhyana Retreat
Hilltown Commons Presents: Layers of Light. A Pancakosa Dhyana Retreat with Wisdom Roots Wellness and Yoga Nidhi
Hilltown Commons is delighted to host a weekend workshop with Wisdom Roots Wellness and Yoga Nidhi, offering participants a rare opportunity to study Vedic chanting, breathwork, movement, and meditation while experiencing the tranquil beauty of Hilltown Commons’ 100-acre estate.
Guided by esteemed instructors Sheela & Ravi Shankar of Yoga Nidhi, this retreat explores the five koshas—the layers of being—through a progressive inward journey from the physical body (annamaya-kosa) to the blissful truth within (anandamaya-kosa).
Join us in this sacred space for learning, reflection, and connection.
Program Overview
Over two days, participants will engage in five key practices to harmonize body, breath, mind, and spirit:
Asana – Mindful movement connecting body and breath
Pranayama – Conscious breath regulation to still the mind
Vedic Chanting – Sacred sound as a meditative anchor
Upanisadic Teaching – Deep philosophical inquiry into the Self
Music – Classical Indian music and devotional songs to elevate the spirit
Bonus Offering: Community Kirtan on Saturday evening – An uplifting experience of collective devotion through song.
Retreat Details & Tuition
Dates: May 30th - June 1st (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon)
Location: Hilltown Commons, Rensselaerville, NY
Fee: $880 (all-inclusive)
Expert instruction from Sheela & Ravi Shankar of Nidhi Yoga
Private accommodations with en-suite bath
Chef-prepared meals, including welcome dinner & farewell lunch
Full access to Hilltown Commons’ scenic 100-acre retreat
Commuter Fee: $320 (includes tuition & meals), email info@hilltowncommons.org to register
Meet Your Teachers
SHEELA SHANKAR, a student of T.K.V. Desikachar who pioneered the use of Vedic Chanting as a meditative practice in Yoga. She has undergone the 2-year teacher training Diploma in Yoga at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), Chennai. She was one of TKV Desikachar’s foremost teachers of Vedic Chanting and is also a trained classical singer in both the Carnatic and the Hindustani tradition.
Over the years, Sheela has continued to practice and teach Vedic Chanting and bhajans to several individuals and groups from various parts of the world. She is the Vedic Chanting Course Faculty in Yoga Nidhi, India since 2000 and in Sadhana Mala, UK since 2017. She was the keynote speaker at the Association of Yoga Studies Convention, UK in 2019 with Ravi Shankar. She is the Vedic chanting faculty for the Der indische Weg, Miltenberg, Germany, and for Ropana, Japan.
RAVI SHANKAR has been on the path of Yoga for more than 30 years. He is a student of TKV Desikachar and has spent a number of years working under him and continues to teach in the same tradition. He has completed the intensive 2-year teacher training Diploma in Yoga at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. The learning he cherishes most is the years spent working in association with TKV Desikachar on the KYM yoga journal - Darsanam.
He specialises in teaching the philosophy of the Yoga Sutra, Sankhyakarika, Bhagavat Gita, and the Taittiriya Upanisad. In addition, his breath-centric asana programs are very well received for their deeply meditative and therapeutic benefits.
He was the Scholar-in-Residence (2008-09), Denison University, Granville, Ohio. He was earlier the Lilly Scholar at the Laura C. Harris Symposium, March 2007 at Denison University, Granville, Ohio. He has conducted yoga programs for leading corporate houses in India in areas of Wellness, Stress Management, and Learning.

Wisdom Roots & Yoga Nidhi Presents: Vedic Chanting Certification Program
Hilltown Commons is pleased to host Wisdom Roots Wellness and Yoga Nidhi for an immersive program that offers a structured and comprehensive journey into the sacred art of Vedic chanting. The Vedic Chanting Certificate Course begins with Module 1, a foundational five-day retreat. Participants may choose to complete only this module or continue toward full certification. Modules 2 and 3 will be scheduled subsequently for those seeking deeper study and teacher certification.
Wisdom Roots is a Healing Arts practice located on Hilltown’s 100 acre pastoral campus that provides classes and services related to all areas of wellness for residents of the Hilltowns and beyond.
We welcome all who strive for self-awareness, promoting a wide range of practices for personal and planetary well-being. We are devoted to the well-being of each person’s body, mind, and heart, and nourish a sense of connection, caring, and responsibility to wider and higher Realities.
Our 1200 square-foot yoga & movement studio is blessed with plenty of natural light and hardwood forest views. Guests will enjoy the vibrant green of our indoor plant residents as well as occasional wildlife visitors on the grounds of Hilltown’s campus.

Stargazing with Dudley Observatory
Join us at Hilltown Commons with Dudley Observatory for an evening of stargazing and discovery! Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or just curious about the night sky, the Dudley’s team of experts will guide you through the wonders above using high-powered telescopes. Bring your curiosity and a sense of wonder for this unforgettable celestial experience! 🔭 Free & family-friendly!
SCHEDULE
Reception
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Star Talk 7:30 - 8 pm
Stargazing
8 pm
Location: 63 Huyck Rd, Rensselaerville, NY (Stonecrop Residence)
FOOD
Food & Beverages provided for both adults and kids!

Speakeasy - Immersive Theater Workshop
Join an Immersive Theater Workshop and Performance