Creating Mandalas for an Inspired New Year

Creating Mandalas for an Inspired New Year is a weekend creative workshop and mandala-making retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is led by mandala art instructor Kathryn Costa and is open to anyone drawn to art as a contemplative practice, whether you are new to drawing or have an established creative life. The weekend gathers guided meditation, sacred geometry and chakra-inspired design around a simple intention: to slow down, listen inward, and begin the year with a guiding word.

What to Expect

The weekend centers on the Journey of the Four Gates, a contemplative mandala-making process designed by Kathryn Costa and inspired by traditional Buddhist and Hindu mandalas. As you move through the four gates, building a mandala at each step, you reflect on personal growth and intention while cultivating self-compassion, loving-kindness and inner peace.

Along the way you receive step-by-step instruction in designing and creating your own mandalas, with time given to sacred geometry and chakra mandala design. Guided meditations support clarity and inspiration. The first evening includes a fire ceremony, a meditation meant to release limiting beliefs and fears and to make room for clearer inner guidance. Much of the weekend is spacious time for reflection, self-discovery and personal expression, held in a supportive community.

The rhythm is steady. Opening day begins with check-in from 2:00 pm, a Kripalu Yoga class, dinner, and an evening session from 7:30 to 9:00. On the full days, yoga starts at 6:30 am, followed by silent breakfast and a morning session from 9:00 to 11:30. After lunch, an afternoon session runs from 1:30 to 4:00, then comes another yoga class, dinner, and a shorter evening session from 7:30 to 8:30. On the closing day, a final session runs from 9:00 to 11:00, followed by lunch and departure. Times may shift, and a schedule is provided at check-in.

You leave with three to four completed pieces of original artwork, practical art-making skills, and a creative practice to carry on at home.

About Kathryn Costa

Kathryn Costa is a mandala art instructor. She designed the Journey of the Four Gates, the contemplative process at the heart of this program, drawing on traditional Buddhist and Hindu mandalas. Her teaching pairs clear, accessible instruction with meditation and reflection.

The Setting

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health sits in Stockbridge in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and its accommodations are intentionally simple, meant to help you unplug and feel grounded. You can choose a private room for solitude or a shared, community-style dorm for more connection with other guests. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a luggage room is available if you arrive earlier.

Your stay includes three nutritious meals a day, daily yoga and movement classes, and access to the Kripalu grounds. Breakfast is taken in silence. On the day of departure, check-out is at 10:00 am, and you may stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.

Before You Go

No previous art-making experience is required. The instruction is structured to meet beginners and experienced artists where they are. The program is taught in English and draws on Buddhist and Hindu mandala traditions.

Healing Arts sessions and items from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are available for purchase and are not part of the program. Art supplies beyond the instruction and guidance offered in the sessions are likewise not included.