/
Meditation Retreats in United States/
Meditation Retreats in New Mexico/
Take a Shot at Happiness: New Mexico Retreat



Take a Shot at Happiness: New Mexico Retreat
April 8 - 12, 2026
New Mexico, NM, United States
4 nights, 5 days
10 person retreat
Highlights
1. An Adventure for Clarity and Renewal
2. Explore 8 Happiness Essentials thru Mindful Photography and Reflective Journaling
3. Mindful Movement
Details
For Those Who Have Accomplished So Much—Yet Still Feel Something Is Missing If you are a creative professional or conscious achiever at a crossroads, asking, “Is this it?” or sensing, “Life cannot keep going this way,” this transformational retreat is for you. In the vast stillness of northern New Mexico, where elk move across open meadows and firelight warms the evening, you will explore your inner landscape through nature, creativity, and reflection. You will come away with clarity for your next chapter, a deeper connection to what matters now, and lasting practices that support the vibrant life you are ready to live. Imagine Yourself Here You arrive in northern New Mexico, where the air feels different—crisp, still, alive with silence. You breathe it in slowly, and for the first time in a long while, notice the tension around your jaw loosen as your shoulders drop. Even the sky here feels wider, a blue so clear it silences the noise you carried with you. When you step into Bartlett Cottage, our private residence, you feel the history in the timbered beams and the grand stone fireplace. Once a men’s hunting lodge, it is now our sanctuary. Firelight flickers across the room, wood crackles, and your eyes settle on armchairs inviting you to sink in, journal nearby. For five days, this is your refuge—a place where reflection comes naturally, and every detail reminds you that you are cared for. You find yourself among others also seeking clarity and direction for what comes next. Around the fire, during dinner laughter, or out on the trail, you realize you are not alone in your questions. You are guided to use two simple tools—a phone camera and a journal—to begin exploring your inner landscape. Today, you step into becoming a Happiness Explorer, someone willing to see life differently and to look more closely at what brings meaning now. One morning, you lift your camera and capture sunlight spilling across a field framed by tall Ponderosa pines, with bison slowly moving in the distance. Later, by the fire, pen in hand, you trace the emotions that the image stirred. The photograph becomes more than just scenery—it turns into an entryway into words you had not realized were waiting. During our days together, more of these moments arise, each revealing another piece of your path forward. The Benefits of This Retreat Through guided meditation, creative photography, and reflective journaling, you start reconnecting with what feels most meaningful now, so you can return home with a clearer sense of direction and a grounded peace that supports whatever unfolds next. As each day passes, simple practices based on science, creative tools, and quiet reflection will help you move from feeling untethered to feeling centered and sure of your path—so you can move forward with greater confidence in the choices ahead. With time in nature, honest self-inquiry, and creative exploration, you will loosen the grip of old comfort zones—so you can step forward feeling reconnected with yourself and open to what is possible now. In this peaceful setting, calming meditation, photo-guided journaling, and intuitive writing prompts will reveal paths forward—so you can carry perspectives and reflections that feel personal, useful, and true to you. By the end, storytelling and creative exploration will bring you back to what gives your life meaning, so you now live inspired and alive with what matters most.
Venue
Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve
4.9 ★ 128 Reviews

A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Laundry
Towels
Housekeeping
Coffee / Tea
Restaurant
Tour Assistance
Free Parking
Accommodation
1 / 1
The Bartlett Cottage Named for William Bartlett, Vermejo’s first builder, and styled to emulate Casa Grande’s elegance, the two-story, five-bedroom Bartlett Cottage is ideal for our intimate gathering. The rooms are warm and luxurious. Days at Vermejo move at a slower pace, and the cottage becomes the heart of it all. Mornings begin in peaceful suites where light filters through the curtains, and the quiet invites you to pause before the day starts.
Meals

Meals provided
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Diets catered
Vegan · Vegetarian · Gluten-free · Dairy-free · Raw · Organic · Nut Allergy Friendly · Diabetic Friendly
The Cuisine Food here is part of the journey. Each meal carries the taste of the land, prepared with care to both comfort and surprise. Morning begins with the aroma of coffee drifting through the cottage, coaxing you out of sleep. On the table are bowls of fruit that glisten with color, soft cheeses, and pastries still warm, their flaky layers scattering crumbs at the first touch of your fork. Eggs arrive the way you like them—rich yolks running onto toast or delicate whites folded into a light omelet. Breakfast is abundant and unrushed, an invitation to ease into the day. Lunch is vibrant, often a surprise from the kitchen. One day it may be bison sliders seared just right, the next a steaming bowl of tomato basil soup alongside artisan breads and charcuterie. Perhaps you will taste whole trout pulled from the reserve’s waters that very morning, grilled and fragrant with herbs. These meals leave you satisfied yet energized, ready to step back into the landscape. Evenings fade into lingering insights and conversations about the day by the firelight. Herb-roasted trout, venison tenderloin, or tender cuts of bison arrive with seasonal vegetables from the ranch’s greenhouse. The table becomes a place of celebration—glasses raised, laughter shared, the flavors of the land itself on every plate. Every dietary need is thoughtfully considered so that every guest feels cared for. Food here nourishes more than the body. It nourishes memory, connection, and the sense of being wholly looked after.
Testimonials
1 / 3
Host

Maria Baltazzi
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Maria Baltazzi, PhD in Conscious-Centered Living, is an award-winning author, happiness explorer, and meditation teacher. Her book, Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life Yo...
1 language
English
Teaching for 7 years
Joined Insight Timer in Jul 2018
What's Included
Four nights at Bartlett Cottage, King Suite (or equivalent based on availability)
Meals beginning with dinner on arrival day through breakfast on departure day (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners)
All non-alcoholic beverages
All guided sessions with Maria Baltazzi, PhD, MFA
Mindful phone photography with reflective journaling prompts
Group conversations and evening reflections
Two half-day experiences per day at Vermejo: wildlife viewing, nature walks, hiking, horseback riding
Not Included
Airfare and ground transportation to Vermejo (arrive via Denver)
Alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Travel Insurance (mandatory)
Elevated excursions, culinary adventures, or photo sessions not part of the retreat program
FAQs
Guest requirements
Openness, curiosity, and vulnerability
Both women and men are welcome
Cancellation policy
The remaining balance for the retreat is due 60 days prior to the start date. If this balance is paid earlier than these 60 days, you are eligible to cancel and receive a full refund of this remaining balance, provided you do so at least 60 days before the retreat begins.
Meditation Retreats
Meditation Retreats in New Mexico
Meditation Retreats in the United States
Self-Discovery Retreats
Self Discovery Retreats in New Mexico
Self Discovery Retreats in the United States
Connect with Nature Retreats
Connect With Nature Retreats in New Mexico
Connect With Nature Retreats in the United States

