Maha Shivaratri Festival: The Great Night of Shiva, the Primordial Yogi
Maha Shivaratri Festival: The Great Night of Shiva, the Primordial Yogi
243 Greenwood Brook Rd, Industry, ME, USA
Up to 8 in group
February 13 - 15, 2026
Retreat Highlights
- Whole-foods, plant-based, sattvic (balanced) vegan fare
- 3+ Hours of daily Yoga and Meditation Instruction
- Mountain Retreat
- Traditional Yogic Environment
- Off-grid, nature immersion
- Digital detox
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Jaya Yogini was 10 years old when she moved to Sat Manav Yoga Ashram, a traditional Yogic community in Maine’s western mountains. She joined the traditional Guru/shishya (student) lineage of Sat Manav Yoga in 1999.
Driven by so many questions that conventional society leaves unanswered, Jaya found solace and solutions, beyond her wildest dreams, in the classical teachings of Yoga. Leaving a “normal life” far behind, she immersed herself in Yoga, striving for its highest attainment — to change the world by living our true purpose as human beings.
Home-schooled following the Yogic model, Jaya has intensively studied all aspects of Yoga from a very young age, including the formal Yogic practices of asanas and meditation, along with Sanskrit, chanting, and dance, and continues to do so. As the primary teacher and coordinator for the Ashram's Gurukul (school), she designed and ran Yoga programs for children at the Ashram, offsite and in public schools for over a decade.
For the past 5 years, Jaya has been head of Sat Manav's Yoga retreat and outreach event programs. She teaches group and private classes, and speaks throughout New England on the life-changing teachings of classical Yoga.
For the past 23 her ever-growing passion for sharing her extensive knowledge and excitement for Yoga is surpassed only by her passion for living it daily at Sat Manav Yoga Ashram with her Gurus and fellow Yogis.
Details of this retreat
Join us for one of the most powerful festivals of the year, honoring Shiva, the Primordial Yogi.
In Yogic tales, Shiva rescues the world from unrelenting demons and deadly poisons. He stands against the forces of ignorance and destruction—not only outside of us, but within humanity itself. Shiva is known as the Destroyer of illusion. His power clears the way for clarity, truth, and renewal.
In Yoga, the gods are not taken as literal beings, but as archetypes—living symbols of the forces and qualities within us all. Shiva represents the destruction of ignorance, the stillness beyond distraction, and the clarity that allows positive growth and change. By honoring him, we call these same qualities forth in ourselves.
On this sacred day, we recognize Shiva’s eternal victory as proof that the triumph of good over evil is possible. Even on the darkest night, we remember: the light of dawn always comes.
✨ What to Expect
Immersive Rituals – powerful ceremonies invoking Shiva’s strength and stillness that have been performed for millennia
Sacred Sound – live chanting and music that lift the mind and heart
Illuminating Teachings – discourse from the Gurus on Shiva’s meaning in our modern lives
Yoga Intensives – guided practices to steady the body and mind
Vegan Feasting – nourishing and delicious meals, shared in the Maine mountains
👨👩👧 Families Welcome!
Kids are encouraged to attend. Childcare will be available during the morning Yoga Intensive and the afternoon Philosophy Teaching.
🌿 Why Attend
Each festival at Sat Manav Yoga Ashram is a rare chance to step out of daily life and into the living current of an ancient tradition. This is not a performance or reenactment—it is a living Yoga Ashram, where practices are embodied, and everyone is invited to take part.
📍 Details
Suggested donation: $108/full day, $54/half day. Give more if you can, or less if you are unable.
Overnight accommodation: $75 per room, per night
Full weekend package (Fri–Sun, all inclusive): $300
Detailed schedule to be announced
Your donation supports our nonprofit work of benefiting all beings through Yoga and meditation. Thank you!
In Yogic tales, Shiva rescues the world from unrelenting demons and deadly poisons. He stands against the forces of ignorance and destruction—not only outside of us, but within humanity itself. Shiva is known as the Destroyer of illusion. His power clears the way for clarity, truth, and renewal.
In Yoga, the gods are not taken as literal beings, but as archetypes—living symbols of the forces and qualities within us all. Shiva represents the destruction of ignorance, the stillness beyond distraction, and the clarity that allows positive growth and change. By honoring him, we call these same qualities forth in ourselves.
On this sacred day, we recognize Shiva’s eternal victory as proof that the triumph of good over evil is possible. Even on the darkest night, we remember: the light of dawn always comes.
✨ What to Expect
Immersive Rituals – powerful ceremonies invoking Shiva’s strength and stillness that have been performed for millennia
Sacred Sound – live chanting and music that lift the mind and heart
Illuminating Teachings – discourse from the Gurus on Shiva’s meaning in our modern lives
Yoga Intensives – guided practices to steady the body and mind
Vegan Feasting – nourishing and delicious meals, shared in the Maine mountains
👨👩👧 Families Welcome!
Kids are encouraged to attend. Childcare will be available during the morning Yoga Intensive and the afternoon Philosophy Teaching.
🌿 Why Attend
Each festival at Sat Manav Yoga Ashram is a rare chance to step out of daily life and into the living current of an ancient tradition. This is not a performance or reenactment—it is a living Yoga Ashram, where practices are embodied, and everyone is invited to take part.
📍 Details
Suggested donation: $108/full day, $54/half day. Give more if you can, or less if you are unable.
Overnight accommodation: $75 per room, per night
Full weekend package (Fri–Sun, all inclusive): $300
Detailed schedule to be announced
Your donation supports our nonprofit work of benefiting all beings through Yoga and meditation. Thank you!
Getting Here
Sat Manav Yoga Ashram, 243 Greenwood Brook Rd, Industry, ME, USA
Directions
The largest airport in Maine is located in Portland. It is 2 hours from the Ashram. We recommend renting a car, but we do offer airport pickup and drop off for $200 (total). You can also get a bus from the airport to Augusta (1 hour away). We offer pickup/drop off from the bus for $100.
For driving, the directions below will get you here quickly and easily. We are located in a rural area where cell service and GPS are not reliable. To make sure you find us, please print and follow our directions and NOT your GPS. https://satmanavyogaashram.com/directions
Safe travels and we'll see you soon!
For driving, the directions below will get you here quickly and easily. We are located in a rural area where cell service and GPS are not reliable. To make sure you find us, please print and follow our directions and NOT your GPS. https://satmanavyogaashram.com/directions
Safe travels and we'll see you soon!
Accommodation
Every building at Sat Manav Yoga Ashram was constructed by the resident Yogis, creating the ideal environment for reflection and practice. They follow the essential guidelines for Yogic living, while still providing a very comfortable, restful and pleasant atmosphere. Each building is heated with wood and cooled by opening the windows to fresh mountain air. Water is drawn by hand pumps, we use composting toilets and pump showers (hot), keeping us deeply connected with the life-sustaining resources we use. There is no wi-fi or conventional electronics that interfere with our well-being. In today's world there are very few places you can give your body and mind a total reprieve from the effects and distractions of electronics. With Yogic décor and all-natural materials (from the linens you sleep in to the floor you walk on) nestled in the Maine woods surrounded by rushing mountain streams, your nights will be as unforgettable as your days. Our first guest cabin, the "Kund," has an open downstairs, a private deck off of one bedroom, and a beautiful tile shower. The upstairs is divided into two rooms; one with a queen and one with two twin futons. A shared full bath and comfortable living area (with LOTS of books) are downstairs. With cherry floors, knotty pine walls, skylights and wonderful views of the property, a night at the Kund is the perfect conclusion to your day! Our second cabin, the "Shodhana," is centrally located, but also tucked away, just across from our wood-fired Sauna; also the shower house. It features 2 bedrooms with private half baths, and a shared living room, with couches that inspire hours of reflective reading or a rejuvenating nap. Nestled in the trees, between two streams, Shodhana is the perfect place for release into the peace and quiet.
Weekend All Inclusive! (Fri. Afternoon-Sun. Evening)
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
20 x 30 Straw-bale Yoga Shala
Woodfired Sauna
Extensive Library
Woodfired Sauna
Extensive Library
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
"Delicious, savory fulfillment in vegetable form! I absolutely love the food at the Ashram, and the whole style of eating. The ceremony of it all feeds your soul and your stomach simultaneously!" -ES.
What's Included
- Lodging
- Food
- All events and classes
What's Not Included
- Travel fare
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