Rhinebeck, New York, may seem like an unlikely place to seek spiritual enlightenment, but don't let that deter you from spending a weekend at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, a picturesque spirituality center just an hour-and-a-half drive (or Amtrak ride) from Manhattan. With its collection of tiny white clapboard houses and 100 acres of wooded trails, Omega is a bit like a Maine childhood camp of yore—with a visit from a feng shui consultant. But don't let the rustic atmosphere fool you: Omega is the nation's largest holistic learning center, with over 20,000 participants per year at conferences that have been led by such spiritual gurus as Marianne Williamson and Deepak Chopra. (Action star and reincarnated Buddhist lama Steven Seagal is a fan.) Omega's two-day workshop, from Friday night to lunch on Sunday, includes vegetarian meals; courses on t'ai chi, meditation, and drumming; and countless varieties of yoga. You live in double-or single-room cabins, dormitories, tent cabins, or campsites. Om shanti.

Details Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, 914-266-4444 or www.eomega.org (two-day workshop starts at $150).

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• Archive: “52 Weekends”
• Articles by Vanessa Grigoriadis
• Table of Contents: March 13, 2000 issue of New York | Subscribe!