THE EXPANDING LIGHT RETREAT, NEVADA CITY, CA

Disconnect. Reflect. Refocus.

Escape daily chaos with transformative silence at the Expanding Light Retreat. Be still and refresh your body, mind, and soul as we bring our Signature program to the beautiful Ananda Village, near Nevada City, California.

Welcome to the Stepping Into Silence Retreat

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Disconnect. Reflect. Refocus.

Escape daily chaos with transformative silence at the Expanding Light Retreat. Be still and refresh your body, mind, and soul as we bring our Signature program to the beautiful Ananda Village, near Nevada City, California.

Welcome to the Stepping Into Silence Retreat

A Structured
4-night, 5-day Retreat

Deep Mental & Emotional Healing

Enhanced Focus & Clarity

Seeking peace and calm in a chaotic world?

In our constantly connected world, filled with the distractions and demands of work, family, and social obligations, the longing for inner calm, rejuvenation, and a renewed sense of purpose grows stronger. Yet, carving out time to reflect and grasp life’s deeper meaning often feels out of reach.

We understand. That’s why we created the Stepping into Silence Retreat.

Register Now

Have questions? Call us at 800.392.6870

THE SILENT RETREAT

Live More Mindfully

When you learn to turn off mental chatter and quiet the mind, you uncover a calmness and clarity that permeates every aspect of your life. 

Deepened Self-Awareness

Gain a clearer understanding of your inner thoughts, emotions, and patterns.

Enhanced Focus

Experience improved concentration and mental clarity by disconnecting from distractions.

Emotional Healing

Process and release lingering emotions in a supportive, quiet environment.

Spiritual Connection

Strengthen your connection to your spiritual self or beliefs.

Inner Peace

Cultivate calm and inner stillness for better sleep and less stress.

Renewed Perspective

Tackle the challenges of daily life with fresh insights and a rejuvenated sense of purpose.

Sleep Better • Recharge and Rejuvenate • Turn off Mental Chatter • Relieve Anxiety and Depression • Connect Deeper
— Sarita P.
“I would recommend the Silent Retreat for anyone who has anxiety and stress. You come out feeling calm and confident, with an amazing sense of gratitude.”
—Lizzy D.
"I recently finished the Stepping into Silence retreat - it was fantastic. I left feeling empowered and rejuvenated. I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I feel so blessed to have fallen right into the place I needed to be!"
— Tyler G.
"I thought a silent retreat sounded intimidating and might be difficult, but it was so easy and much needed! The quiet time in nature, disconnected from technology and the chaos of the outside world allowed me to completely rest and recharge."
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WHY US

Transforming lives for 42 Years

Reboot your inner calm with proven and time-tested Art of Living techniques.

1000+ enthusiastic Google reviews.

The Impact of the Silent Retreat

Learn Sudarshan Kriya™—a powerful rhythmic breathing technique that harmonizes the body-mind complex. Participants notice reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, a stronger immune system, and increased energy levels.

More than 100 independent studies have shown the science-backed benefits of Sudarshan Kriya.

Discover Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s ancient secret to modern well-being.

+ 0 %
+ 0 %
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Immune Cell Count

Increase in lymphocytes in six weeks & remained in the normal range

Life Satisfaction

Increase within one week

Stress Hormones

Decrease in serum cortisol in two weeks

+ 0 %

Immune Cell Count

Increase in lymphocytes in 6 weeks & remained in the normal range

+ 0 %

Life Satisfaction

Increase within 1 week

- 0 %

Stress Hormones

Decrease in serum cortisol in 2 weeks

WHAT TO EXPECT

Feel a Deep Sense of Calm

Enjoy a tranquil setting, a proven program, and structured guidance to find and embrace your inner balance.

1. Stretch

Begin each day with gentle yoga to center, energize, and connect with the breath and body.

2. Breathe

Spend the first full day of the program learning Sudarshan Kriya Breathing and other tools and techniques to manage and calm the mind. Enter into silence after dinner on day two.

3. Reflect

Experience mindful guided meditations and wisdom sessions, with ample time for deep contemplation in solitude and nature.

4. Nourish

Enjoy three healthy, buffet-style vegetarian meals per day—all while looking over the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

5. Maintain

After your program, keep learning with monthly Zoom sessions to reconnect with teachers and students, and access the Art of Living Journey App* to support daily practice.

* Try the Journey App for free. Love what you see? Subscribe for a monthly fee.

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PROGRAM SCHEDULE

A tranquil place to center yourself

Gain new perspectives to refocus on your purpose and meaning while reconnecting with the spiritual self.

Welcome

The Secret of the Breath
7:30–9:30 pm

Prepare for Silence

Morning Yoga
7:30–8:30 am

The Rhythms of Life
10:00 am–12:30 pm

Deepening Our Experience
3:00–5:00 pm

Practices to Calm the
Chatter in the Mind
7:30–8:30 pm

Step into Silence

Daily Dive Group Practice
7:30–8:30 am

Step Into the Silent Zone
10:00 am–12:30 pm

Soaking in the Silence
3:00 –5:00 pm

Wisdom to Deepen Your
Silence and Q&A
7:30–8:30 pm

Reflect in Silence

Daily Dive Group Practice
7:30–8:30 am

Guided Meditations
10:00 am–12:30 pm

Experiencing the Deeper Self
3:00–5:00 pm

Understanding Tendencies
of the Mind and Q&A
7:30–8:30 pm

Emerge from Silence

Daily Dive Group Practice
7:30–8:30 am

Gradually move out of silence and returning home instructions.
10:00 am–1:00 pm

Breakfast  8:15–9:15 am • Lunch 12:30–1:30 pm • Dinner 6:30–7:30 pm

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Is it time for a deeper sense of peace in your life?

PRICING & ROOMS

All-Inclusive Options

Coming alone? Or with others? Choose a price and space for your needs. Prices below include everything—rooms, meals, and program sessions.

Private Hotel Room
$2,155

Shared Hotel Room (for 2)
$1,855

Private Retreat Room
$1,855

Shared Retreat Room (for 2)
$1,695

Shared Retreat Room (for 3)
$1,555

1-BR Apartment
$2,595

1-BR Apartment (w loft)
$2,895

Save $100 by registering 14 days in advance

Private Deluxe Room

The Expanding Light Deluxe Room

$1,975

Each room has a private entrance, a private bathroom, a desk, a ceiling fan, and a hairdryer.

Shared Standard Room

the expanding light standard room

$1,535

Rooms have twin beds, a bedside table, and a wardrobe. Shared hallway bathrooms.

TRAVEL INFO

We are remote—yet easy to get to.

The Expanding Light Retreat is situated within the 700 beautiful acres of Ananda Village, just outside Nevada City, California.

14618 Tyler Foote Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
800.346.5350

Find transportation and direction information here.

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HAVE QUESTIONS?

We are here to help.

For room reservations, Ayurveda Wellness Retreats, and Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) signature retreats, we have the following cancellation policy:

  • Refunds are available (less a $50/per person processing fee) up to 15 days before your program or stay.
  • Nonrefundable credit toward a future AOLRC program or stay (less a $50/per person processing fee) is available if you give notice between 14 and one day(s) before your program or stay. Credit may be applied to any AOLRC program or stay for one year following date of issue.
  • No credit or refund is available if you cancel on the arrival day, if you do not show up, or if you leave an event early for any reason. No refund will be available if you attend a program and are dissatisfied with its presentation or content.

AOLRC reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If AOLRC cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. Some programs may have special cancellation policies; see individual workshop descriptions. For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.

Unless otherwise indicated, our programs are open to participants 18 years of age and older.

To encourage a healthy environment we ask that guests not consume alcohol or meat in our public spaces, however, guests may enjoy these items in their rooms.

Our property is always smoke-free.

Yes, we ask that guests with food allergies simply inform us so we can communicate those needs to our chef. Typically, we label potential allergens such as gluten, dairy, and nuts.

We do have lodging and event venues that are ADA-compliant. Due to the topography of our mountain campus, some are easier to access than others, so please speak to Guest Services (800.392.6870) prior to registering to ensure we can best accommodate your needs. We also have shuttles that run frequently throughout the campus.

We are committed to the safety of our guests and staff. Our mountaintop location and the surrounding areas are spacious, remote, safe, and secure.

  • It is safe to leave your windows open—and necessary for proper airflow!
  • Nature surrounds our campus, and it’s common to see rabbits, deer, gophers, wild turkeys, and other small animals. Please give them space, and they’ll do the same for you. We’ve never had a safety incident with animals on campus.

You can help!

  • If you come across an animal on campus or a trail, give it space, and please do not attempt to pet or feed it.
  • There’s no need to bring valuables to the retreat center; leaving them at home is best.

Too many people struggle with the distractions of daily life. We offer the Silent Retreat in a beautiful, natural setting so you can embrace silence and learn to live a more thoughtful life.

Register Now

Private Hotel Room

per person + tax

All options include daily vegetarian meals from dinner on the night of check-in through lunch on the day of checkout. (Rates below are per person.)

 

  • King bed or two full beds
  • Flat screen TV
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bath
  • Hair dryer
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Shared Hotel Room (2 People)​

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Flat screen TV
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bath
  • Hair dryer
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Private Retreat Room​

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Private Bath
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Shared Retreat Room (2 People)

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Private Bath
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Shared Retreat Room (3 People)

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Private Bath
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Premium 1-Bedroom Apartment​

per person + tax

  • Fully Furnished 665 sq. ft. apartment
  • (Max: 2 persons)
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Kitchenette
  • Balcony
  • Washer & Dryer
  • Hair Dryer
  • Iron & Ironing Board
  • A Desk, chairs, and nightstand
  • Flat-screen TV with Cable
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Refrigerator | Stove Range | Microwave

Note furniture may vary; each apartment is different.

Premium 1-Bedroom Apartment w/ Loft

per person + tax

  • Fully Furnished 995 sq. ft. apartment
  • (Max: 4 persons)
  • 1 king bed and 2 twin beds or 1 Full Bed
  • Kitchenette
  • Balcony
  • Washer & Dryer
  • Hair Dryer
  • Iron & Ironing Board
  • A Desk, chairs, and nightstand
  • Flat-screen TV with Cable
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Refrigerator | Stove Range | Microwave

Note furniture may vary; each apartment is different.

Weekend of Creativity Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Plan your special day over a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Walk our beautiful labyrinth or hike one of our scenic nature trails and reconnect with your inner self.
  • Express your creativity and have some fun playing with and shaping clay in your pottery class.

AFTERNOON

  • Mingle with like-minded visitors over lunch in the Dining Hall.
  • Cook up something new together in our Ayurveda cooking class or get clever on the canvas in a painting class.
  • Unwind with a relaxing spa treatment. Choose from a warm oil massage, energizing facial, or rejuvenating Netra Tarpana treatment and let our professional therapists pamper you. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Recharge in the steam room.

EVENING

  • Browse our shop for crystals, jewelry, scarves, and more.
  • Nourish your body with a healthy dinner.
  • Take in the spectacular sunset or join the fireside concert.

Discover Ayurveda Solo Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Energize your mind, body, and spirit with morning yoga or meditation class.
  • Savor a delicious and nutritious breakfast.
  • Self-reflect as you leisurely walk our beautiful labyrinth.
  • Rest, replenish and rejuvenate with Abhyanga therapy—a detoxifying warm oil Ayurveda massage that incorporates warm, aromatic oils, rhythmically massaged into your body, cleansing, relaxing, and re-energizing the body and mind.

AFTERNOON

  • Grab some delicious chai and relax in our cafe or take in the majestic views on our deck.
  • Plan your afternoon over a nourishing lunch.
  • Connect with nature while hiking or walking one of our many breathtaking mountain trails.
  • Return to the spa for a Basti session to rejuvenate your joints! Stiff joints are bathed in warm medicated oil and massaged to deepen the therapeutic effects that increase lubrication and promote smooth flexibility and mobility.

EVENING

  • Get creative and have fun in our painting studio or kitchen.
  • Refuel your body with a tasty and healthy dinner.

Rejuvenating Bliss Solo Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Gaze at the sunrise while filling your lungs with fresh mountain air and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.
  • Sow a new level of calm and balance into your life with a Yoga or meditation class.
  • Enjoy a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Cleanse your soul with a leisurely walk on one of our beautiful nature trails.

AFTERNOON

  • Nourish your body with a healthy and nutritious lunch.
  • Make a new memory with a cooking, painting, or pottery* class (*additional cost).
  • Choose from the widest selection of Ayurvedic therapies in the US for whole-body nourishment and renewal and let our professional therapists do all the work while you relax and rejuvenate.
  • Unwind in the steam room.

EVENING

  • Stop by our bookstore and explore our collection of new and classic self-care and spiritual resources.
  • Grab a fresh, calming herbal tea and curl up with a good book in your cozy room.

Mother-Daughter Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Plan your special day over a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Retreat into relaxation with a mother-daughter spa treatment. Choose from a warm oil massage, energizing facial, or rejuvenating Netra Tarpana treatment and let our professional therapists pamper you. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Recharge in the steam room.

AFTERNOON

  • Enjoy a decadent Mexican hot chocolate and reminisce in our cozy cafe.
  • Browse our shop for crystals, jewelry, scarves, and more.
  • Mingle with like-minded visitors over lunch in the Dining Hall.
  • Explore our captivating campus or head out on one of our guided mountain trail hikes.
  • Cook up something new together in our Ayurveda cooking class.
  • Self-reflect as you leisurely walk our beautiful labyrinth.

EVENING

  • Feed your body with a healthy dinner.
  • Take in the spectacular sunset or join the fireside concert.

Girlfriends Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING
  • Energize your mind, body, and spirit together with morning yoga or meditation class.
  • Catch up over a delicious and nutritious breakfast.
  • Connect with nature and reminisce while hiking one of our many mountain trails.
AFTERNOON
  • Plan your afternoon over a nourishing lunch.
  • De-stress with a girlfriends spa treatment, like our relaxing signature massage, hydrating facial, or energizing Marma session, and let our therapists work their magic. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Get creative and have fun in our painting studio or Ayurveda food kitchen.
  • Grab some delicious chai and relax in our cafe or take in the majestic views on our deck.
EVENING
  • Plenty of time for bonding during a dinner.
  • Visit our shop and grab some souvenirs, rejuvenating herbal supplements, and restorative health products from Shankara’s all-natural beauty line.
  • Dance and sing at Kirtan.

Couples Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Gaze at the sunrise while filling your lungs with fresh mountain air and reminisce on the moments that connected you.
  • Bring a new level of calm and balance to your relationship with a Yoga or Meditation class.
  • Enjoy a delicious whole-foods breakfast together.
  • Walk or hike one of our beautiful nature trails and reconnect with each other, nature, and oneself.

AFTERNOON

  • Share a healthy and nutritious lunch.
  • Make a new memory by taking a workshop or educational class, or create a new experience together with a pottery*, watercolor painting, or cooking class (*additional cost).
  • Reduce tension and stress with a couple’s or individual Ayurveda spa treatment. Choose from the widest selection of Ayurvedic therapies in the US for whole-body nourishment and renewal.
  • Unwind in the steam room together.

EVENING

  • Stop by our bookstore and explore our collection of self-care and spiritual resources or spend time reading in the cafe.