Last Chance

Yoga Retreat: Energize Your Summer

Name: Yoga Retreat: Energize Your Summer
Start: 2025-07-04
End: 2025-07-06
Location: Expanding Light Retreat

July 4 - 6, 2025

Retreat Highlights

Daily sadhanas with Energization Exercises, yoga postures, and meditation
Energy Management Workshop to enhance vitality and balance
Personalized meditation instruction for daily life
Pool party and snacks at Crystal Hermitage Gardens
Evening outdoor kirtan with chanting and music
Delicious organic vegetarian meals
Time to relax, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of nature
Opportunities to build meaningful connections with others
Gentle yet energizing Ananda Yoga practices
Soulful affirmations integrated into yoga for inner upliftment

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Bhawani

Yogesh

Bhawani Isaacson

Bhawani is an E-RYT 200-hour certified Ananda Yoga Instructor, Ananda certified Meditation Teacher, and a long-time meditator. Inspired by yoga since the age of 18, Bhawani’s creative, playful approach makes her classes fun, as well as a relaxing and centering experience. She is passionate about helping people live in a balanced way and reach their highest potential through relaxation and dynamic energy awareness. Bhawani loves to be outdoors and connect with nature. She holds a Master’s degree from CIIS in East-West Psychology, with a specialization in Spiritual Counselling. She is part of the team that hosts Ananda Yoga Retreats several times per year.

Yogesh Lee

Since childhood, Yogesh was aware of the paramount need to find happiness and help others to be happy. In 2013, he took discipleship to Paramhansa Yogananda, simultaneously taking up residence at Ananda Village. Serving at the Crystal Hermitage Gardens and on The Expanding Light staff with the Karma Yoga program, Yogesh also helps lead Ananda Yoga weekend retreats and sadhanas. He delights in the adventure of living for God and sharing the adventure with others in a spirit of acceptance and freedom. Yogesh strives to be “even-minded and cheerful under all circumstances” and to see every challenge as an opportunity. With kindness, enthusiasm, and devotion, he aims to share in a way that is practical, relatable, and fun. Always helpful and sincere he easily helps others experience divine friendship by being a divine friend to others himself.

Details of this retreat

Awaken Your Inner Energy with a Yoga Getaway!
This weekend will be a mini-vacation plus, that will refresh and relax you, blending yoga postures, meditation, a pool party, delicious food, new friendships, personal time, and inspiring moments that will make your summer truly come alive.
Experience the Holistic Benefits of Ananda Yoga:
Awaken Your Inner Energy: Discover a unique yoga experience designed to invigorate your inner energy without being strenuous, offering deep fulfillment and lasting energy.

Rejuvenation in Body, Mind, and Spirit: Ananda Yoga seamlessly combines classic yoga stretches with soul-awakening affirmations, providing a holistic rejuvenation for your entire being.
Highlights of Your Yoga Getaway:

Daily Sadhanas: Engage in guided practices of Energization Exercises, yoga postures, and meditation. Set either amidst the serene outdoors or in a tranquil indoor studio—whichever aligns with weather conditions and health considerations.
Energy Management Workshop: Explore the influence of yoga poses and mental attitudes on your energy. Learn how meditation can balance attitudes and enrich your life.
Meditation Instruction: Receive personalized guidance on seamlessly incorporating meditation into your daily routine for enhanced mental clarity and inner peace.
Pool Party and Snacks at Crystal Hermitage Gardens: Enjoy an afternoon by the pool amidst the beautiful Crystal Hermitage Gardens. Socialize, meditate in the serene temples, or browse the boutique—it's your time to unwind.
Evening Outdoor Kirtan: Participate in chanting and singing, creating a harmonious and uplifting atmosphere.
Delicious Organic Vegetarian Meals: Enjoy three nutritious and delightful organic vegetarian meals daily, catering to your overall well-being.

Join Us for a Weekend of Yoga, Relaxation, and Connection!
This is your chance to infuse energy into your summer with a perfect blend of yoga, relaxation, and connection. Limited spaces available—secure your spot now for a rejuvenating journey.

Comments from Guests:
I felt very taken care of. It was wonderful to be free to relax and not worry about what needed to be done for everyone around me. I learned to take a few minutes for myself as is important as taking care of my family. L.P. Redding, Ca
I appreciated the teachers' openness and generosity. Their confident leading of poses and visualizations felt reassuring and their caring, open presence felt nurturing and loving. K.P. Menlo Park, Ca
This is my fifteenth retreat at The Expanding Light. I love everything about the EL! Gary W., Sacramento, Ca

Schedule

Morning
6:30 – 8:00 am Community Meditation (Join us for all or part of this silent meditation)
6:30 – 8:15 am Sadhana (spiritual practices) which consists of: Energization Exercises (20 – 25 min), Ananda Yoga Postures * (45 – 50 min), Chanting (5 min), Meditation (15 min – 30 min)
8:15 – 9:00 am Breakfast (in silence Monday-Saturday)
9:00 – 9:30 am Host check-in
10:00 – 11:30 am Scheduled program, class, group activity, or free time
Afternoon
Noon – 12:30 pm Meditation (5 min chanting, 25 min meditation)
12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
2:00 – 4:00 pm Scheduled program, class, group activity, or free time
4:45 – 6:30 pm Sadhana (spiritual practices)
Evening
6:30 – 7:30 pm Dinner
7:30 – 9:00 pm Scheduled program, class, group activity, or free time

Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Expanding Light Retreat

Directions

Yes, our retreat is a little out of the way. And once you get here, you’ll be glad it is!

Our address is 13930 Expanding Light Drive, Nevada City, CA. If using Google Maps. We are located 1.5 hours away from the Sacramento International Airport, as well as the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. If you need a ride to or from the bus, train, or plane, please contact us and we can share contact information for a drivers who have helped our guests in the past.

Accommodation

Most of our cozy rooms feature two twin beds, easily combined for couples. A limited number of queen and king beds are also available—simple, restful spaces designed for comfort and renewal.

PRIVATE ENSUITE - King

Equally appropriate for a single person or for a couple, a king private room can provide the peace and solitude you crave. This airy room has a king-sized bed with a private, ensuite bathroom. An inviting outdoor space awaits you outside your front door, surrounded by a serene, forest setting.

PRIVATE ENSUITE - Twin

Equally appropriate for a single person or for a couple, an ensuite private room can provide the peace and solitude you crave. These charming rooms have two twin beds with a private, ensuite bathroom. An inviting outdoor space awaits you outside your front door, surrounded by a serene, forest setting.

PRIVATE STANDARD - Queen

Equally appropriate for a single person or for a couple, enjoy your own peaceful room with a queen bed and a shared bathroom down the hall. Your room is simply and tastefully decorated, with windows opening toward the surrounding forest. A bright and airy communal lounge and kitchenette is available 24 hours a day, perfect for relaxing with a book or sharing a cup of tea with friends.

PRIVATE STANDARD - Twin

Equally appropriate for a single person or for a couple, enjoy your own peaceful room with two twin beds and a shared bathroom down the hall. Each room is simply and tastefully decorated, with windows opening toward the surrounding forest. A bright and airy communal lounge and kitchenette is available 24 hours a day, perfect for relaxing with a book or sharing a cup of tea with friends.

PRIVATE CABIN - Twin

Equally appropriate for a single person or for a couple, your private cabin is tucked into a gentle hillside, bright and airy inside, with expansive windows that connect your room to the surrounding forest. Each cabin has two twin beds, with a communal shower house that is centrally located and shared by other cabin guests, campers, and our karma yogis.

SHARED ENSUITE - Twin

Share this charming room with someone else. Each room has two twin beds with a private, ensuite bathroom. An inviting outdoor space awaits you outside your front door, surrounded by a serene, forest setting.

SHARED STANDARD - Twin

Share this charming room with someone else. Each room has two twin beds and a shared bathroom down the hall, and is simply and tastefully decorated, with windows opening toward the surrounding forest. A bright and airy communal lounge and kitchenette is available 24 hours a day, perfect for relaxing with a book or sharing a cup of tea with friends.

SHARED CABIN - Twin

Share this charming cabin with someone else. The cabins are tucked into a gentle hillside, bright and airy inside, with expansive windows that connect your room to the surrounding forest. Each cabin has two twin beds, with a communal shower house that is centrally located and shared by other cabin guests, campers, and our karma yogis.

CAMPING

Fourteen campsites scatter across a gentle, forested hillside, with level areas for pitching your tent. A centrally located shower house is close by, shared by other campers, cabin guests, and our karma yogis. Please bring your own camping gear and towels. We do live amidst bears and other wildlife, so avoid storing any food or scented toiletries in your tent.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

Bicycles For Rent

For over 45 years, The Expanding Light Retreat has been a sacred haven for groups seeking inspiration, clarity, and connection. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, our campus features an octagonal Teaching Temple, sunlit dining room, garden-view piazza, and a range of lodging options—from deluxe en-suites to cozy cabins and tent sites. Enjoy three nourishing vegetarian/vegan/GF meals daily, and peaceful gardens and meadows.

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

Enjoy three nourishing, organic vegetarian meals daily, with always-available vegan and gluten-free options. All-you-can-eat buffet. Fresh fruit, coffee, and tea are offered throughout the day.

What's Included

3 Organic Vegetarian Meals per day
2 Yoga and Meditation sessions per day
Accommodations

What's Not Included

Airfare
Massages or other healing services (additional charge)
Private sessions, such as yoga, yoga therapy, spiritual counseling (additional charge)

Customer Reviews

No reviews available.