5 Day Meditation Retreat by Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, USA

Meditation Steps USA welcomes you to their five-day meditation retreat at Ananda Girisuta, North Carolina, where you will have the opportunity to release deep bodily stress, take time off to relax in nature, and gently clear your mind so that you can move forward in your spiritual path through meditation and yoga.

On this retreat, get ready for a lifestyle change that could include improving your daily habits, nourishing your body on a fuller level, spending time in nature technologically free, and having the time off to allow your body and mind to rest, with designated time for silence during the night and early morning.

During the retreat, you will get the chance to make lifelong friends, try new body-nourishing food, and enjoy a leisurely stroll by the Laurent River, where we will connect with Mother Nature.

Guided by the experienced Sannyasins Dada Diiptimanananda and Didi Ananda Acira, you will explore the art of meditation, yoga, and holistic living through inspiring classes, workshops, and personal guidance. Dada and Didi are experienced yoga and meditation teachers who can help you advance spiritually and connect to your inner self. Join them for a transformative five-day meditation retreat at Ananda Girisuta, nestled in the serene beauty of Marshall, North Carolina.

The meditation and chanting that will be done in this retreat

The practices that will be presented in this retreat will encompass various techniques for physical, mental, and spiritual development. The central practice is meditation. Meditation means looking within your mind to feel the bliss that is the essence of your existence. That bliss is within you, just as it is within everybody and everything.

Meditation is a powerful tool for self-transformation and spiritual awakening. At the retreat, you will practice Baba Nam Kevalam meditation, introduced through mantra singing and a simple, uplifting dance (Laliita Marmika.) Each collective meditation begins with a short explanation, followed by 10–20 minutes of Kiirtana (chanting with movement) and then silent meditation. Meditation sessions will range from 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the time of day and the comfort level of participants.

On the first two days, Dada and Didi will guide the meditations to help everyone ease into the practice. From the third day onward, the sessions will be fully silent, with the option of personal instruction for those new to meditation. For returning participants, there will be opportunities to receive more advanced, one-on-one lessons.

If you enjoy longer meditation sessions, the early morning hours are ideal. Participants are encouraged to join the early morning meditation from 5:00 to 5:35, with an option to continue meditation until 6:30 a.m. On the day dedicated to one-on-one instruction, we especially recommend taking advantage of the free time to do longer individual meditations.

If you have a preferred cushion or meditation seat, feel free to bring it. Yoga mats will be available, but other props are limited.

Yoga Classes

The yoga classes during the retreat are based on Ananda Marga Yoga and offer a holistic approach to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Each class includes a combination of gentle warm-up stretches, yoga asanas, deep breathing, self-massage, and guided relaxation. These postures are designed to enhance flexibility, increase vitality, and bring inner balance, while also stimulating the glands and internal organs to support overall health. No prior experience is needed, and each class is adaptable to the participants’ needs and abilities.

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, the founder of the Ananda Marga tradition (Path of Bliss), has adjusted the practice of Rajadhiraja yoga to suit the modern environment.

Kiirtana

Kiirtan is singing a mantra aloud while ideating on the Supreme Being. It inculcates a feeling of bliss and prepares the mind for meditation because all the motor and sensory organs are engaged and directed toward the Supreme. It can be done anywhere, but it is essential before meditation.

The mantra used for Kiirtana is Bábá Nám Kevalam. The easiest way to conceive of the Infinite Consciousness is to think of infinite love. This mantra is, therefore, often translated as, “Love is all there is.” A more detailed meaning of the mantra is 'Bábá' means infinite love / infinite consciousness / supreme consciousness, or “my most beloved one;” 'Nám' means “name of” or “to identify with;” and Kevalam means “only.” So, the meaning of the mantra is “My most beloved is the only one.” The inner idea used when meditating (ideation) is, “Everywhere I look, in everything I hear, feel, see, taste, and smell, I perceive that one supreme consciousness which pervades all things.”

Kiirtana has many benefits. It purifies the mind and prepares it for meditation, accelerating the speed of movement toward the supreme. Because of the mental clarity achieved, one can easily find solutions to problems while performing a task and get relief from physical and psychic ailments.

Lalita Marmika Dance

The Lalita Marmika dance helps to prepare the mind and body for meditation and will be taught during the retreat. Many people experience sore knees when sitting regularly during meditation retreats. The dance is used during the mantra chanting before sitting down for meditation. It helps limber the knees, relax the mind and body, and cultivate surrender and a sense of devotion to the supreme. Therefore, we will introduce the Laliita Marmika dance early in the retreat to avoid sitting during both the mantra chanting and the meditation. This dance arouses the deepest feelings of love and devotion, dissolves egotism, and prepares the mind for meditation.

Schedule

Arrival will be on Wednesday at 15:00. According to your travel plan, you can also arrive earlier or later on the same day. It will be better if you can arrive on time or earlier, as the group will start the program at 16:30 with a meditation class. Departure will be on Sunday, after breakfast and the final sharing.

The daily schedule will include early morning chanting at 05:00, followed by meditation (with an option to sleep a bit later if needed), and then a full day of activities.

Every day will include:

• 05:00 - 05:30 Early morning mantra chanting (kirtan) and meditation
• 06:30 - 07:30 Morning yoga class
• 07:30 - 08:30 Morning collective meditation
• 08:30 Breakfast
• 10:00 Morning class
• 11:00 Free time to walk outdoors
• 12:00 Collective meditation
• 13:00 Lunch
• Rest after lunch and free time
• 15:00 Workshop, outdoor activities, or other afternoon programs
• 16:30 Evening meditation
• 17:15 Evening yoga class
• 18:00 Dinner
• Short evening program
• Around 20:00 take early rest

If you are looking to rejuvenate your spirit, learn new practices, or simply relax in a supportive community, then book this retreat so that you can step into spiritual transformation and leave feeling like your true self. Book now!