Find Authentic Retreats in Grass Valley California

"Was apprehensive of going because of my health conditions and reserved only for two nights. Regret that very much as I wished I stayed longer. The staff are very understanding, attentive to your needs and kind. I feel much better even with only two days. Thank you for the gita lessons, the satsang and even Karma yoga. I feel blessed. "

"Disorganized. No schedule ahead of time. Everything is decided a day bofore or on the spot. "

"Swami Adi, was really helpful to give a broad overview of the center and also cover interesting topics. "

"Manu shared a lot of practical information in his presentation as well as in his handouts. Was very impressed and scheduled an appointment with him to follow up. "

"Swami Sivasankariananda has a glint of light in her eyes and and is a bungle of enthusiasm and joy. Deeply appreciate the Sivananda LA morning Satsang. It is a wonderful online offering as is the Sivananda LA Pranayama Challenge via Instagram. Am very impressed with the program calendar at the LA center to help those of us in need of emotional processing and/or in need of work with our physical limitations before getting onto our deepest yoga practice and spiritual development. Thank you!"

"Swami Jnaneswariananda is full of joy, wisdom, and compassion. Hearing her sing for the first time brought tears to my eyes. She is an excellent teacher (guru) who is inviting and understanding as she explains spiritual concepts in such a practical manner making it easier to apply them to everyday life. With the deepest graditude. "

"It's 2021 now, but 2007 was my first introduction to the Sivananda Yoga Farm where my heart and soul were touched immediately. Thereafter attended many workshops, conferences and graduated from TTC in 2009. These experiences changed my philosophy and attitude to one of service especially for the disabled, elderly, and my mother, over a profession. My mother passed a few years ago but am so thankful we spent quality years together prior. I thank Sivananda Yoga Farm and Swami Sita for this. Her influence and the Sivananda teachings made a tremendous difference in my life and in my mother's end. My Mom said to me "the biggest change in you is your belief in God, and I never thought about the time before Jesus". We shared such Peace. OmOmOm! "

"Swami Jnaneswariananda presented the Mandukya Upanishad in an easy to understand fashion with all her added joy and wisdom. Wonderful!"

"It was a joy to study the Mandukya Upanishad on line at Sivananda Ashram. Learning about the three states of being i.e., waking, dreaming and deep sleep state and their repeating cycle of evolution and de-evolution was most intriguing."

"This was a wonderful interactive course where Swami Jnaneswariananda gently but firmly taught the significance of becoming a silent witness to our instinctual emotions, thus allowing us to develop our intuition of all one consciousness. And in that process to be aware of the "pitfall" of justifying our emotions by reasoning. "

"This 15 Day Holiday Retreat was a true gift of inspiration, hope, and peace. "

"In attending Maha Lakshmi's Good Karma Diet cooking class I am inspired to cook more. Appreciate learning her efficient and tasty ways to prepare a vegetarian meal where the foods compliment one another. "

"Life is so complex and without a deep understanding of your internal world and how to relate to the external world it is impossible or painful to life a life on earth. This is why I go to the Sivananda Yoga Farm to seek guidance, understanding and courage to continue going to the places that scared me with LOVE. Swamidharma Ananda has a way to explain this book in a language that you see the connection with your daily life struggles and since this book is the book of the VEDAS or the wise..... I look forward to know what is a good loving way to approach life. Thank you Sivananda Yoga for giving the tools needed to live my life in a more whole some way."

"We had a tremendous introduction to the ashram. We started with a great Ayurveda talk that was superb and very informational. Then Govinda led us to the Shiva temple where we all played kirtan together. We also went to Durga temple and sang songs of devotion there. It was sublime. The yoga class and the talk were also wonderful. The evening dinner was incredibly healthy and delicious. I think this is the best part, especially since the gut-brain connection is so important for health and happiness. Overall, I recommend this Ashram to anyone seeking a deeper connection to nature, themselves, health and happiness."

"Absolutely love Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm. The yoga, the chanting, the meditating, the food...oh the food! And the grounds are so peaceful and well kept. I will keep coming back."

"I have been to the Ashram twice now within the past 3 years and wonder why it took me so long to go back. This place is very spiritual, open minded and gives the mind a chance to rest and focus on your inner Divine self. It’s where people from all walks of life came together. Everyone is welcome to use this experience as they want. You can follow the schedule or just go one hikes all day. Plus they have animals! They have cats, dogs, llamas, cranes, fish..... the list goes on. Lastly, the staff, students and other guests I met where all so nice, friendly and respectful. I can’t wait to go back and am not waiting another 3 years to go."

"This place is a wonderful restorative and seemingly well-kept secret. Located in a gorgeous area outside of Grass Valley with a wonderful Yoga and meditation hall as well as sweet cabins nicely spaced apart. The staff and volunteers are kind, generous and fun and the Yoga instructors were some of the best I’ve ever had. I felt a part of the community as soon as I arrived. I will be returning!"

"This place is a wonderful, restorative and seemingly well-kept secret. Located in a gorgeous area outside of Grass Valley with a wonderful Yoga and meditation hall and sweet cabins spaced nicely apart. The people are kind, generous and fun and the Yoga instructors were some of the best I’ve ever had and I felt welcome every step I took. I will be returning!"

"It was really great staying for the week-end. A real break from the city, focused on yoga, meditation and philosophy, surrounded by llamas, alpacas, goats and hills."

"I never really felt welcomed here -- I guess I was expecting an elevated, joyous atmosphere since it is a spiritual place, but there was a certain coldness and detachment from the staff that surprised me. I wasn't expecting 'customer service' or anything, but how about generosity of spirit? Make eye contact, smile and greet your guests -- just simple stuff. There were times when I said hello and wasn't even acknowledged. I think it would help the ashram immensely to put this basic kindness into practice -- otherwise you give the impression that spiritual practice means disconnecting from people and being in a not-so-happy state. It's not a good example, especially for novice seekers like myself."

"I have taken several courses now at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm and am never disappointed. The energy there is very pure and the teachings of the highest quality. The Swami's and staff are dedicated to service and upholding these ancient teachings in their true form."

"I attended a weekend retreat last August and enjoyed many nice aspects of my time there. The food was delicious, the facilities are nice, and there were some devoted teachers who worked hard to create a good experience for participants. The overall atmosphere is very, very serious and not altogether comfortable for that reason. I don't think a spiritual center must be only a matter of somber business - at least not a spiritual center that opens its doors to members of the community to come on retreats. Maybe I'm just too light-hearted and expect some degree of that in an offering such as this. I certainly missed that feeling during the weekend. On a similar note, our group was told that a certain gathering was optional. We decided that we preferred to spend time quietly on our own out in the sunshine and clear air. (We were escaping some terrible smoke in our hometown.). However, one of the monks cornered us when he saw us outside during that time and pressured us to go in and participate in the session. We meant no disrespect and were simply exercising the option we had been given to do something else, but I felt as though we were treated as transgressors, which didn't feel very good. One thing I found quite surprising is that, although we were told that modest dress is required at the ashram, we arrived to see a giant poster of a nearly naked man on the side of one of the main buildings! And in the first yoga class I took, there was a man wearing a small tank top and small, form-fitting shorts. I'm ok with all of this personally, but if the ashram is going to have a policy like this, I would recommend that it examine its own imagery and practices and see if they comply with the policy. Probably best to either adhere to it across the board or do away with it. Thanks for soliciting this feedback and for welcoming my friends and me that weekend."

"Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti. That is the first, the last and the most important. I spent my weekend surrounded with such peace. This was my very first visit to an Ashram and I did not want to leave when Sunday came around. I visited at the end of September for the Diabetics weekend. My husband purchased it for me and I also didn't go because I do not have diabetes and I am pretty healthy. The weekend taught me so much about myself and I learned to look at my food so very differently. I was able to cook for with my fellow attendees and got some great recipes to take home. I will be back to the Ashram very soon. Olivia"

"This was my first trip to an ashram and I was warmly welcomed. It was an amazing experience. Really life altering in the most subtle and gentle way. I am so happy I have found the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm and plan to return. The food is amazing, the energy and feel of the place is so alive, and everyone is inviting and kind. It was an opportunity for me to reconnect with myself. I left feeling more alive, aware and happy. What a gift!"

"My 2 young children and I had a remarkable time attending the Yoga Farm's Family Week. Tara the coordinator was wonderful and attentive to each family's needs and had creative projects prepared for the children each day with adventures around the ashram in between. We will definitely attend in years to come. My suggestion is that the ashram also bring in a specialized children's yoga teacher that is trained in story telling and managing young children during asanas. This is a skill in itself and not something a regular yoga teacher can simply pick up. Tara is a wonderful orchestrator, however it would be difficult for her to teach yoga to the children with her full plate of managing the program. The family camp would be a richer experience with a specialized children's yoga teacher that can really teach the benefits of asanas with joy."

"This weekend surpassed my expectations! The tranquility of the ashram was much needed. I'm not vegetarian so was concerned about what there would be to eat, but was pleasantly surprised by how tasty everything was. From the people attending to the yoga instructor to Satsang, I wouldn't change a thing...it was a weekend I won't forget."

"Seva study at the farm was very helpful in my Sadhana. The people I met there during this time were reflections of the issues and growth that was needed for this Sadhana. People from all over the world and the country showed up with similar issues to work through. The discussions about our personal journeys and how these fit into the daily lectures were co very helpful. I believe that this experience could only happen at the the Yoga Farm and no where else. The daily lectures were very helpful along the path. I recommend that anyone requiring a place for reflection and healing consider the yoga Farm for their Sadhana."

"Love for Yoga leads me to wanting to learn Vedic philosophy and the way of life. When I found Vedic Counseling Course offered in California, I didn't wait a moment to sign up. Just 1.5 hours flight away from LA, Sivananda Yoga Farm Ashram was a completely different place. An Alpaca and Lamas greeted me upon my arrival, and the serene environment made me feel at ease instantly. The day at the ashram starts at 5:30am, Satsang, meditation, yoga, and workshops. The Vedic Counseling Course consists of Ayurveda, Bastu, Jyotish Astology, Yantra, philosophy, Puja, yoga, and so on, and I have learned so much about the karmic nature and myself. The daily routine helped me to be more aware of my life and to live in Yogic way of life. Their vegitalian meals were so delicious and healthy,too! Now I'm back home and slowly starting to digest the experiences. I'm filled with the gratitude and will definitely keep coming back at the ashram for my spiritual maintenance and inspiration!"

"The overall calmness around the place was wonderful. Located in the mountains and a wonderful place for calmness and silence around. The place was filled with few Lama’s and a goat. It provides you the ability to reach a state of bliss. The annoying aspect was the ever buzzing flies disturbing constantly in the process of doing yoga. The room needs to be equipped with a machine that keeps flies alway like the one placed in the dinning room. Overall! a wonderful experience and would recommend for others to visit and enjoy!"

"The experience my daughter gets from this camp is fantastic. I love that it's more than an active camp of just "playing", that it offers deeper life long skills that will help to guide her. She makes great friends and is eager to go back next year. This was our second year attending. It's a beautiful, positive, loving place. The staff, counselors and swamis hold this in their heartspace. It takes special people to work with children with all kinds of personalities, backgrounds and ages. I thank you for keeping my daughter safe, being kind and encouraging her spiritual growth."