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Harmony Unveiled: Meditation & Movement in Nature

Date
Oct 17 - 19, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

We are honored to have Gretchen Donovan back as a guest teacher at Ratna Ling!
The Buddha himself taught that human nature is inherently pure, akin to  the clear sky unaffected by passing clouds. Just as clouds don’t alter the fundamental nature of the sky, fleeting thoughts do not change the essential purity of the human mind.
Embark on a journey of deep meditative awareness surrounded by natural beauty.  Together we’ll explore the transformative realms of the five elements-space, water, earth, fire and air through gentle yoga, movement, meditation and art.
Through guided teachings and practice, we’ll unveil and transform our encumbered habitual patterns into awareness. It’s here where inherent wisdom arises with less effort.
Collectively, we’ll  create a vibrant mandala from the resources on the sacred land of Ratna Ling using the 5 elements in nature.
Immerse yourself in an engaging workshop seamlessly blending western psychology with eastern philosophy bringing us closer to wholeness.
 In this retreat you will experience:


meditative practices outdoor in nature and indoor with guidance
Buddhist teachings that embody the Mandala principle illustrating the integrated harmony of existence
gentle yoga and chanting
artwork & journaling
somatic movement (supine sliding and gliding)
active listening circle
self expression through dance

Recommended Reading: Wisdom Rising, Lama Tsultrim Allione


To learn more about Gretchen, visit Sila Yoga.

COVID POLICY: For your safety and ours, we require that all guests be vaccinated against Covid and provide proof of a negative covid test result within 48 hours of arrival.  We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our residents and guests.
Schedule (subject to change)
FRIDAY

3-4:00pm: Check-in
4:30 pm: Welcome and Introductions
5:30pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Guided Practice

SATURDAY

7:00am: Skygazing and noble silence
8:00am Breakfast
9:30am  Teachings
10:45am  Gentle Yoga
Break
11:00am  Teachings/ Art and Mandala offerings
12:15pm  Lunch
2:00pm Gentle yoga
4:30pm Teaching
5:30pm  Dinner
7:00pm Dance Party & Evening Council

SUNDAY


7:00 am Skygazing and Noble Silence
8:00am   Gentle yoga and Closing circle
10am     Brunch
12noon  Checkout and Farewell

For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins



ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
All bookings are NON-REFUNDABLE. Should you wish to cancel your stay with us, Ratna Ling Retreat Center requires 30 days' notice for a full credit to be TRANSFERRED to a future retreat within 1 year of original booking.
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace,
spacious deck, jacuzzi tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet. Towels and hand soap are provided.
vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.

What people are saying about our retreats:



“The accommodations were great along with the beautiful surroundings - everything was so peaceful and nurturing.”
“It was exactly what I needed – to disconnect, get in tune with my soul and recharge my spirit.”
“I loved having time to myself to reflect on my life and where I am going. Thank you Ratna Ling."


“Space for reflection while also giving me anchor points through teachings.”
“Space and time for meditation and movement classes were truly wonderful.”
“Being able to move at my own pace is a luxury. And of course the food was delicious."



 

Getting Here

Location icon Ratna Ling Retreat Center

Directions

San Francisco International and Oakland International airports are approximately three hours south of Ratna Ling by car. Alaska Airlines flies to and from Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa which is approximately 1.5 hours from Ratna Ling by car. Unfortunately, there are no shuttles that bring you directly to Ratna Ling, so it is best to rent a car or email us to support in coordinating a carpool with fellow retreatants.

Accommodation

14 guest cottages on 120 acres of property. Each spacious, quiet cottage has 2 private rooms, with high ceilings and a deck with a view. Cottages include jet tubs (or ADA shower), towels, deluxe linens, refrigerator, tea kettle, coffee/tea, kitchen sink/counter, diningware, dining table, and living room with a stove fireplace. Free wifi available and a landline telephone. Guests can choose to have an exclusive cottage for ONE person; a private room for ONE person in a SHARED cottage; or a cottage for TWO people. Any additional guest after TWO is $100 per person per night. Meals and classes included.

Private Room for 1 guest in Shared Cottage, includes meals and classes

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Three miles from the beautiful Sonoma coast. Organic, vegetarian meals. 120 acres of redwoods, canyons, reservoirs, and wildlife. Sacred architecture timber cottages and communal spaces. Featured stupas, gardens, and temple empowered by Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.

Meals

Menu Types

All of our meals are organic and vegetarian, made with love and care. We provide homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast. Lunches and dinners always include salads or salad bar. Each meal is self-served on a buffet table.

Customer Reviews

4.95 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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What a weekend
The center is nestled in the trees and mountains and just a lovely setting. The guest cabins are gorgeous wood structures and so well appointed. The 2 bedroom cabins are lovely private and nestled in the trees, the decks face away from other cabins so you feel like you are in your own world. The furniture lovely and comfortable and the spa bathtub was a total oasis of relaxation itself. We didn't get to use the wood stove but it looked inviting. While we didn't experience any rain - the metal rooves on the cabins would have made such a sound. The main lodge was a 5 minute walk on a paved path through nature. The wooden structure has high ceilings, beams, warm woodwork and stone work and is quite beautiful. There are fountains and outdoor seating. The vegetarian meal were so delicious - both a feast for the taste buds and the eyes. the fresh baked bread and desserts were scrumptious. So many fresh local ingredients. The yoga room had a gorgeous wood ceiling and many windows, such a warm welcoming space. Many acres to explore and enjoy.

4.0
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Yoga retreat
The location was absolutely spectacular. The cottages are so beautiful clean and quiet. The linens were so nice and being a picky pillow person, loved the pillows. A half empty bottle of body wash was our only amenity for showering maybe a bar of soap next time ?
Directions and map to cottage 15 were very unclear. My carpool mate, and I had trouble finding it initially according to the map, when we finally located it she continued on to her cabin. I had some trouble locating the front door.
My roommate was found wondering around lost in the dark worried she was going to have to sleep in her car, thank goodness for our flashlights on our phones . So happy to have run into her! I’m not sure how an emergency would be handled if one were hurt walking alone? (You might want to suggest a rating of walking abilities to your future visitors)I couldn’t figure out the gate to return and get back to lodge on foot so I was late for the intro and my yoga mat was way in the back, so I (and others ) had trouble hearing. Car was very nice to come and get me.
Once I figured out the walking path back to #15 about a 8 minute walk, with a little help from my fellow yogis I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful walk.
The tour of the temple was so beautiful and informative.
Although it was a bit of a rough start, the experience was lovely.
The food was outstanding.
The staff were so wonderful and friendly. The new friends and connections made were wonderful.

5.0
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Beautiful
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5.0
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A world away and not
My time at Ratna Ling made me feel part of a beautiful world community. I was among friends and was able to practice my yoga with David surrounded by like-minded people. I felt at peace and happy. This was my first time at the center and I came away wanting to come back. Being able to meditate in the temple is an experience I will long treasure. I am so grateful to David for arranging that experience for everyone to participate in. As I have some dietary restrictions, I was a little leary of what the food would be like. As it turned out, the food was so much better than I expected. The first night's cheesecake topped off an excellent meal. Everything was so fresh and homemade and arranged separately on the buffet table, so that I could put together a meal for me that I could eat and enjoy. Before coming to Ratna Ling, I ordered tomato soup in a favorite restaurant, and could not eat it because it was so highly spiced. What a surprise to be able to eat the most delicious homemade tomato soup at the center along with a grilled cheese sandwich. Our cabin was even better than I had imagined. Never slept better. My afternoon after using the jacuzzi and just relaxing was great. A wonderful, beautiful weekend.

5.0
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Excellent Retreat Center
The Ratna Ling retreat center is so stunning it’s hard to describe. The accommodations are spacious, clean and very well-designed for contemplative practice. Perhaps even more importantly, the people who run the center are gracious, warm, inviting and helpful.

I was there for a yoga retreat with David Cho. I strongly recommend his yoga retreat to any yoga practitioner (beginner to advanced!). He is so good at explaining what to do and where to feel each yoga pose. He makes beginners feel very welcome and he also encourages every person at every stage to grow in their physical practice. Very importantly he is really good at reminding us about yoga’s benefit of stilling and calming the mind so we can benefit from improved mental health. Highly recommend!!!

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