5-Day Meditation Retreat – 24, 2025 At Ananda Vrati, Pennsylvania

Location icon
Quest Center, 411 Quicks Hill Road, Hop Bottom, PA 18824, USA
Users icon
Up to 18 in group
Date
August 20 - 24, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • Sample Daily Schedule:
  • 5:00 a.m. – Kiirtana and meditation (optional sleep-in)
  • 6:30 a.m. – Yoga class
  • 7:30 a.m. – Morning meditation
  • 8:00 a.m. – Breakfast
  • 9:30 a.m. – Morning class or outdoor walk
  • 12:00 p.m. – Noon meditation
  • 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
  • 2:00 p.m. – Rest and free time
  • 3:00 p.m. – Afternoon workshop or outdoor activity
  • 5:00 p.m. – Evening meditation
  • 6:00 p.m. – Evening yoga
  • 7:00 p.m. – Dinner
  • 8:00 p.m. – Short evening program
  • 8:30–9:00 p.m. – Take a rest

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

Join us for a transformative five-day meditation retreat at Ananda Vrati Master Unit – Quest Center in Hop Bottom, Pennsylvania, from August 20–24, 2025. Led by Dada Diiptimánánanda and Didi Ananda Acirá, this immersive experience includes daily meditation and Kiirtana, yoga classes, inspiring workshops, and nutritious sattvic vegetarian meals, all set in a peaceful natural environment. The newly renovated retreat center features a large meditation hall, forest trails, and comfortable shared accommodations. Whether you’re seeking inner peace, spiritual growth, or meaningful connection, this retreat offers a unique opportunity to relax, recharge, and deepen your practice.

What To Expect

Daily collective meditation and Kiirtana (mantra chanting), with four sessions per day
Morning and evening yoga classes, suitable for all levels
Inspiring classes and workshops on meditation, yoga philosophy, and spiritual lifestyle
Three sattvic vegetarian meals daily — mostly vegan and gluten-free
Outdoor walks, light games, and peaceful time in nature
Optional personal guidance and individual meditation lessons
Core spiritual practices at the retreat include Baba Nam Kevalam mantra meditation, Kiirtana, and Lalita Marmika dance—each designed to harmonize body, mind, and spirit and prepare practitioners for deeper inner experience. Baba Nam Kevalam, meaning “Only the Name of the Most Beloved” or “Love is all there is,” is a universal mantra used to focus the mind and awaken inner bliss. It is chanted both silently in seated meditation and aloud during Kiirtana, a joyful, rhythmic repetition of the mantra with music and movement that uplifts the heart and purifies the mind. Accompanying the chanting is Lalita Marmika, a simple yet powerful dance that helps loosen the body, improve circulation, and cultivate devotion by engaging physical expression in spiritual ideation. Together, these practices serve as a foundation for personal transformation, emotional balance, and expanded awareness, creating an atmosphere of inner joy and spiritual depth throughout the retreat.

What To Bring?

Please bring comfortable clothing and shoes for trails and gravel roads, toiletries, a towel, a reusable water bottle, a notebook and pen, medications, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, and other personal items. A swimsuit is optional if you wish to use the sauna. Yoga mats are available, but feel free to bring your own.

Schedule

We look forward to welcoming you! While our official arrival time is at 3 p.m., feel free to arrive earlier or later, depending on your travel plans. Our first program, a yoga class, begins at 4:30 p.m.

Each day starts with an optional early morning chanting and meditation at 5 a.m. (you’re welcome to join a bit later if you prefer) and is filled with enriching activities.

Departure is on Sunday after our final group sharing session.

Meditation Steps Retreat Schedule

Please note that the schedule shown is a general outline. A detailed and updated version will be shared with all participants during the week leading up to the retreat.

Ananda Vrati Master Unit, Pennsylvania

Wednesday

3:00 p.m. Arrival, accommodation, registration
4:30 p.m. Intro to Kiirtana and Meditation
5:30 p.m. Yoga Class
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Opening/orientation
8:00 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:30 p.m. Rest (Silence observed until 6:30 a.m.)

Thursday

5:00 a.m. Morning Meditation (Optional)
6:30 a.m. Yoga Class
7:30 a.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:15 a.m. Breakfast
9:45 a.m. Class: Mantra and Meditation
11:00 a.m. Nature Walk
12:15 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
1:00 p.m. Lunch
3:00 p.m. Class: Yama and Niyama
4:15 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
5:00 p.m. Yoga Class
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Program
8:00 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:30 p.m. Rest (Silence observed until 6:30 a.m.)

Friday

5:00 a.m. Morning Meditation (Optional)
6:30 a.m. Yoga Class
7:30 a.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:15 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Intro to Personal Meditation
10:00 a.m. Individual Meditation Lessons
12:15 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
1:00 p.m. Lunch
2:30 p.m. Class: Food for Spiritual Progress
3:30 p.m. Nature Walk
4:15 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
5:00 p.m. Yoga Class
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Devotional Songs
8:00 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:30 p.m. Rest (Silence observed until 6:30 a.m.)

Saturday

5:00 a.m. Morning Meditation (Optional)
6:30 a.m. Yoga Class
7:30 a.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:15 a.m. Breakfast
9:45 a.m. Class: Mantra and Meditation
11:00 a.m. Nature Walk
12:15 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
1:00 p.m. Lunch
3:00 p.m. Class: Yama and Niyama
4:15 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
5:00 p.m. Yoga Class
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Program
8:00 p.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:30 p.m. Rest (Silence observed until 6:30 a.m.)

Sunday

5:00 a.m. Morning Meditation (Optional)
6:30 a.m. Yoga Class, Kaosiiki, Tandava
7:30 a.m. Kiirtana and Meditation
8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Class: Karma, Samskara, and Reincarnation
10:30 a.m. Closing and sharing
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Meditation Steps, Quest Center, 411 Quicks Hill Road, Hop Bottom, PA 18824, USA

Directions

Ananda Vrati – Quest Center
411 Quicks Hill Road
Hop Bottom, PA 18824, USA

The center is a 45-minute drive from Scranton, PA, and about 3 hours from Manhattan. The newly renovated facilities include hardwood floors, a professional kitchen, a spacious dining area, a large upstairs meditation hall, and five guest rooms with bunk beds (accommodating up to 18 participants). The property is surrounded by forests, meadows, and walking trails ideal for relaxation and spiritual reflection.

Most participants arrive by car from New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania. Rental cars are available at New York and New Jersey airports. We are not able to offer airport pickups.

Please plan to arrive by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20. Free parking is available in the designated gravel area (please avoid parking on the grass).

Accommodation

Dorms have bunk beds with shared bathrooms. Families room together; singles are placed in same-gender dorms. Private rooms are available for those who prefer more privacy. If space allows, couples or families may be upgraded to a private room at no extra cost at the start of the retreat.

Accommodation
Single Adults in Dorm Rooms
Accommodation
Couple in Dorm Rooms
Accommodation
Private Room

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
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
The center is a 45-minute drive from Scranton, PA, and about 3 hours from Manhattan. The newly renovated facilities include hardwood floors, a professional kitchen, a spacious dining area, a large upstairs meditation hall, and five guest rooms with bunk beds (accommodating up to 18 participants). The property is surrounded by forests, meadows, and walking trails ideal for relaxation and spiritual reflection.

Meals

Menu
Menu

Menu Types

Enjoy nourishing Sattvik vegetarian meals, free from meat, eggs, onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Most dishes are gluten- and dairy-free. No alcohol or tobacco allowed. Contact us for dietary needs.

What's Included

  • 4 nights accommodation
  • 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals per day
  • Water, tea, coffee served throughout the day
  • Daily yoga classes
  • Daily meditation classes
  • Online free meditation course
  • Group excursions/activities
  • Pre and post retreat support from our team
  • Cooking class
  • Pre and post retreat support from our team
  • WiFi connection

What's Not Included

  • Flights cost
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa fee
  • Airport transfer

Customer Reviews

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