6 Days Well-Being Meditation and Yoga Retreat California, USA

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm

The ashram is an ideal place to relax. It has some facilities such as boutique, library, Vrindavan Pond, laundry, and sauna. The ashram boutique is open daily offering a range of spiritual books, inspirational CDs, clothing for yoga classes, mats, meditation cushions, and other yoga-related items. Also available are a selection of natural personal care items, dietary supplements, essential oils, and Ayurveda remedies. You can check with reception for boutique operating hours. Meanwhile, the library is just behind the main yoga hall. It has an assortment of books from many different spiritual writers. It is open daily and a nice spot in the ashram to relax, recharge, and inspire. You can see the reception if you would like to borrow a book.

Maybe the most striking natural feature at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm is the pond. The large pond lies at the center of the ashram at the bottom of the long green grass field. There are many fish, birds, turtles, frogs, and other animals and reptiles that make use of the pond. It is beautiful to watch the fountain and sit by the pond to contemplate and read a book or to meditate on the sound. The pond is swimmable as there are a gazebo and dock with ladder for entry. Also, there is a boat for those not wanting to swim. During the summer months, the pond is a popular destination to get a quick cool down or to just sit next to it under the weeping willow trees. Coin-operated washing machines are available during daytime hours. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm has clotheslines for drying. Laundry soap can be purchased in the boutique. The sauna is wood-fired and available for guests on Fridays seasonally and during certain weekend courses.

Private tent

Guests may bring their own tent and gear and camp on the land, sleep closer to nature in the fresh open air. There are deck platforms designated for tenting.

Om cabins

Om cabins are pleasant simple lodgings that can be booked as single, double, or dormitory-style for four with two bunk beds. The Om cabins are placed in a peaceful and tranquil setting, on a gentle hillside overlooking the pond, and surrounded by the natural beauty of the ashram. Each cabin is named for a different virtue such as happiness or contentment. Each cabin is furnished with a dresser, desk, nightstand, ceiling fan, and propane heater. Om cabin guests share a nearby bathhouse.

Siva cabin

Siva cabin is a part of Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm. It includes a private bathroom and shower. The cabin features an outdoor porch, bamboo wood flooring, ceiling fan, and is built with high-grade materials and furnished with a side table, dresser and propane heater.

Deluxe Shanti cabins

50 percent larger than the Siva cabins and located close to the central yoga halls, these extremely comfortable spacious cabins are tastefully furnished and decorated. You can watch the deer wander by from the front porch with sunshade. For your comfort, an air conditioner, propane heater, and ceiling fan are provided. The furnishings include a desk / table and chairs, dresser / wardrobe, and a sitting area. A small refrigerator, dishes, and cutlery are provided. Options for single, double, or triple occupancy are available. The Shanti Cabins include private bathrooms with showers.

This five-day yogic meditation course will introduce the basic guidelines and conditions for classical yogic meditation. There will be a discussion on why meditate and the necessity to go to the transcendental level of existence to find true peace and happiness. Participants will study the mechanics of the mind and how to calm the mind and turn inward for self-awareness. You will learn to withdraw the senses and to take distance from the sensual world of objects which create desires, discontentment, and restlessness in an endless pursuit of external happiness. Also, you will learn techniques to improve concentration and reduce distractions for success in all endeavors in life.

Furthermore, you will learn the relationship between posture, prana, and thoughts and how to transition between the five states of mind. The goal is peace of mind. You will be introduced to the science of mantra healing using sacred sounds to nurture positive energy and connect with one’s own consciousness. You will practice yoga postures, yoga breathing, and meditation twice per day and participate in daily Kirtan chanting sessions. The course will begin at 19:00 with orientation followed by satsang on the first day and end at 15:00 on the final day. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm encourages you to arrive by 16:00 day one, making the most out of the afternoon by joining the asana class and dinner.

List of topics

Asanas

• The twelve basic steady postures and meditative postures
• Flexibility of spine
• Increased flow of prana through asana practice

Pranayama

• Balancing breath to calm the mind and emotions
• Increasing prana to control the mind
• Channeling prana inward and upward

Raja yoga

• Yamas - Ahimsa, Satya, Brahmacharya, Asteya, Aparigraha
• Niyamas - Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Swadhyaya, Iswara Pranidhana
• How to reduce vrittis, concentration
• Mechanics of the mind
• How to see the truth beyond our mental projections
• Discussion on subconscious samskaras, karma, and thought patterns

Daily course schedule

• 06:00 Satsang (meditation, chanting, and lecture)
• 08:00-10:00 Yoga asana and pranayama class
• 10:00 Brunch
• 10:45 Karma yoga
• 12:00-13:00 Self-study and personal meditation practice
• 13:00-14:30 Meditation workshop
• 16:00 Yoga asana and pranayama practice
• 18:00 Dinner
• 20:00 Satsang (meditation, chanting, and lecture)

Suggested course material

• "Essentials of Yoga Practice and Philosophy", Swami Sitaramananda
• "Thought Power", Swami Sivananda
• "Bliss Divine", Swami Sivananda
• "Raja Yoga", Swami Sivananda
• "Meditation and Mantras", Swami Vishnudevananda

Guidelines and rules

To maintain the purity and spiritual purposes of the ashram, you are asked that all guests and residents follow the schedule of events of the daily program. Attendance at all satsangs and at least one yoga class per day is required. You can ask for guidance from the yoga teachers or the swami resident to facilitate your adaptation to the daily schedule so that you can more easily understand the principles and the philosophy behind the practice. Reception staff will guide you on the do's and dont's while at the ashram.

Note: Swami Dharmananda will be your instructor on April 1 to 6, 2018 while Tara Durga Devi will be your instructor on February 11 to 16, 2018 and June 1 to 6, 2018.

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm is situated in the foothills of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The historic gold mining towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City are nearby and the city of Sacramento is an hour's drive away. The hills that make up the ashram land are populated by oaks and pines. The beautiful Yuba, Bear, and American rivers are nearby, offering wonderful hikes along the river gorges. Lake Tahoe is not far away to the east.

Nearby places

• Sacramento - 1 hour's drive

You will be provided daily dinner and brunch. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm serves two organic, delicious vegetarian meals per day according to traditional principles of the yogic diet. Every meal is lovingly prepared with fresh ingredients and mild but tasty spices. Though the menu changes daily, Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm usually serves a salad bar, soup, grain, protein, and at least one vegetable dish as well as oatmeal, yogurt, and granola at lunch. There will always be options for vegan and gluten-free diets. Two buffet-style vegetarian meals (prepared according to Yogic and Ayurvedic dietary principles) are served daily. Absent from the menu are meat, fish, fowl, eggs, garlic, onions, and caffeinated beverages. Smoking, alcohol, or drugs are not allowed on the premises. Meals are served in the dining hall / sunroom which has just recently been enclosed.

If you enjoy snacking midday, you are recommended to buy some snacks from the ashram boutique. The boutique is open from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6.45 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The boutique carries a variety of snacks including fruit, nuts, granola bars, juices, teas, drinks, chocolate, and a variety of other snacks. Several health food stores are located in the surrounding towns as well if you need to bring some snacks with you. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm has a refrigerator available in the common area for guest use. The pure drinking water comes from a well in the ashram grounds. Guests can refill water bottles from the sinks or from the water dispensers in each of the buildings.

• Animal Pen trip
• Gentle walking on Moksha Trail
• Hiking
• Massage
• Permaculture garden visit
• Shopping
• Siva Temple Hill visit
• Swimming in the pond
• Temple and shrine tours
• Walking in Peace Miracle Labyrinth

• 2 yoga asana and pranayama classes each day
• Karma yoga practices
• 2 satsang sessions each day (meditation, chanting, and lecture)
• Self-study and personal meditation practice
• Meditation workshop
• Daily vegetarian brunch and dinner
• 5 nights' accommodation

Driving directions from I-80 exit in Auburn

• Go onto Highway 49 north towards Grass Valley from I-80 exit in Auburn.
• Go 11 miles to Wolf Road (traffic signal light) and turn left (note that right side of the intersection is Combie Road).
• Go 1.8 miles and turn right onto Duggans Road.
• Go 2 miles to the end of the road and turn left on Lime Kiln Road.
• Go 2.4 miles. The road becomes McCourtney Road.
• Continue straight and continue 1.2 miles and turn left on Ballantree Lane. You will note an Adopt-a-Highway sign 1 mile ahead of the turn that the Yoga Farm removes litter.
• Go 0.9 miles to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm driveway and turn left. It is marked by a big sign.
• Please drive 10 MPH only on Ballantree Lane.

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Sacramento International Airport (SMF).

You can take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Richmond station. BART is at SFO. It is marked well but you can also ask at information and they will easily guide you. Trains run every ten or fifteen minutes or so depending on the time. This is about 7 USD with the purchase ticket at the station. In Richmond, please exchange to Amtrak for ongoing travel to Auburn station. They are both in the same station. BART is upstairs and Amtrak is down.

Please go to Amtrak website to book. There you will see service that is mostly connecting. Part of your travel to Auburn will be train and some bus. Please give yourself at least 60 - 90 minutes between arrival at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and departure from Richmond. Please contact Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm to tell them your planned arrival time at Auburn. They will add you to their pickup list. If you are delayed, Amtrak will honor your ticket for the next train. Please call Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm to advise and they will adjust accordingly.

From Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm recommends that you take Amtrak train or bus service from Sacramento to Auburn station and they will have one of the staff pick you up in Auburn to transport you to the yoga farm. From Sacramento International Airport (SMF), you may also take either YOLO bus (at an approximate cost of 2.25 USD but will require a walk of six to seven blocks) or Supershuttle (at an approximate cost of 15 USD direct) to the Amtrak station in Sacramento and transfer there (Amtrak fare is 16 USD each way).

Please stop at the information booth at the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) after arrival to inquire the options for this leg of your travel. Please note that Amtrak offers bus service from Sacramento to Auburn. Although the schedule is shown on the Amtrak website, it is not possible to purchase tickets online for bus travel. For this, you will need to arrive at the Sacramento Amtrak station with a few minutes early and purchase the ticket there. Please contact Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm at least one day ahead of your travel and advise your plans so that Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm may arrange to meet you when you arrive in Auburn. Supershuttle is also available if you would like a direct ride to the ashram or to Auburn.

• A reservation requires a deposit of 100% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.