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Alive & Awake: A meditation retreat

Location icon
35755 Hauser Bridge Rd. Cazadero, CA 95421 United States
Date
May 15 - 17, 2026

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

More spaces are available in our newly built Lotus House! Private rooms with expansive views of the valley and forest. Email us for more information: reservations@ratnaling.org

 
Our senses are gateways to presence. When we refine them, life reveals itself in deeper and more nourishing ways.

- Tarthang Tulku, Joy of Being
Give yourself three days to reconnect with your body, quiet your mind, and awaken your senses to the beauty of life. This retreat offers a gentle, nurturing space to slow down and return to the natural ease within you. We begin by cultivating mindful breathing—soft, spacious, and unhurried—allowing the mind to settle and the nervous system to relax. With guided slow movements and simple postures, tension dissolves
and a sense of calm presence naturally arises.

As the body relaxes and the mind becomes clearer, we turn toward the richness of our senses. Through practices that open us to seeing, hearing, and feeling more fully, we rediscover the beauty woven into each moment. Savoring life in this way reveals a quiet joy—an appreciation for what is unique, precious, and already here. This retreat is an invitation to inhabit your whole being, find balance, and experience the harmony of body and mind in the serene environment of Ratna Ling.

This program includes:
- Awareness of Breath
- Slow Movement & Relaxation (Tibetan Kum Nye)
- Refreshing and Refining the Senses
- Practices in Nature
- Tibetan Self-Massage
- Tibetan Sound Meditation
- Contemplation Practice
- Journaling and Reflection

 

COVID POLICY: For your safety and ours, we require proof of vaccination AND negative test result from all visitors to Ratna Ling Retreat Center. We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our residents and guests.

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

Friday


3:00pm-4 — Check-in
5:30-6:30pm — Dinner
6:30-8:00 — Opening Circle & Mantra Meditation





Saturday







8:00am-9am — Breakfast
9:00am-10:30am — Indoor/Outdoor Contemplation Exercise
10:50am-12:00pm — Meditation in Nature – Exploring the Senses
12:15pm-1pm — Lunch
1:00pm-4:15pm — Quiet Time- Optional massage and wellness treatments by appointment
4:15pm-5:15pm — Meditation in Nature
5:30pm-6:30 — Dinner
6:30-8pm — Sound Meditation and Self-Massage



Sunday




8am-8:45am — Tibetan Yoga (Kum Nye)
9:00am-10am — Closing Circle
10:00am-11:00am — Brunch
12:00pm — Checkout




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.”
“Maria Helena's retreat opened up my heart and helped me to get rid of past pain.”
“This retreat connected me to nature, connected me to my senses. It was revitalizing and relaxing.  Thank you Maria Helena"


“What did I like most? Maria Helena's gentle non-judgmental way of leading us "in" toward out being.”
“The instructor was magnificent! Setting was gorgeous, food terrific and accommodations were lovely!”
“I appreciated the tools for equanimity. This retreat was grounding after stressful months. It motivated me to further spiritual practice.."

Getting Here

Location icon Ratna Ling Retreat Center, 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd. Cazadero, CA 95421 United States

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.

For 1 guest in a Private Room - SHARED Cottage

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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Yoga retreat
The facility is beautiful. The volunteers and staff were very helpful and kind. Vegetarian food was included and was very thoughtfuly prepared and delicious. Dariece is a fantastic yoga teacher.

5.0
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Winderful
Delicious and healthy food, beautiful wooded quiet setting

5.0
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Yoga retreat with Darla
This was my first visit and it could not have been better! I felt so well taken care of. The food, yoga instruction, & lodging was exceptional. This will be an annual event for me in the future. The staff were wonderful too. A beautiful and serene environment. ❤️

4.0
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Spring retreat
First of all, I’d like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the retreat! The room had a couple things that could use improvement, mainly in the bathroom. The sink in the bathroom, the hot water valve was leaking. And we had a few problems with the shower, retaining hot water.
Other than those couple of items, the food was delicious. The staff was amazing and I definitely will return.

5.0
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Wonderful Warm Beautiful
The facility is beautiful, clean, and comfortable. It's well-run by dedicated volunteers. I would return in a heartbeat!

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