Heartfelt and Joyful Living Retreat

The Heartfelt and Joyful Living Retreat is a yoga retreat at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California, led by Karuna Chaitanya. Rooted in Sivananda Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, it is for anyone drawn to the path of the heart: kirtan, mantra, selfless service and the practice of listening. All levels are welcome, and the only prerequisite is a sincere desire to learn classical yoga.

What to Expect

The retreat takes its theme from Swami Sivananda's teaching that life is love and love is life. Days are spent softening the habit of over-thinking and learning to give comfort through loving presence. You practice listening, self-surrender and seeing the best in the people around you, and you sing, since kirtan and community are central to the week.

The recommended daily schedule follows the ashram rhythm:

- 6:00 to 7:30am: Satsang with meditation, chanting and lecture
- 8:00 to 9:45am: Asana class
- 10:00am: Vegetarian brunch
- 11:00am: Karma Yoga
- 12:00pm: Nature walks
- 1:00 to 2:30pm: Workshop on heartfelt and joyful living
- 2:30 to 4:00pm: Free time
- 4:00 to 5:45pm: Asana class
- 6:00pm: Vegetarian dinner
- 7:30 to 9:00pm: Satsang

Afternoon workshop topics include transforming emotion into devotion through the nine modes of bhakti, how chanting melts the heart, what a mantra is, conflict resolution between self and others, non-violent communication, the art of listening, and wisdom stories and mythology.

Course materials are Yoga Sadhana for Self-Healing and Learning Selfless Love by Swami Sitaramananda, Practice of Bhakti Yoga by Swami Sivananda, and the Sivananda chant book used for kirtan.

About Karuna Chaitanya

Karuna Chaitanya, originally from Vietnam, has been sharing the teachings of yoga for over five years. She is a graduate of the Sivananda Yoga Teachers' Training Course (2021) and of the Sivananda Yoga Health Educator Training, and she brings both knowledge and heartfelt dedication to her teaching.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm on Ballantree Lane in Grass Valley, in the Northern California foothills. Nature is part of the program, with guided walks on the grounds and Sivananda's invitation to see the natural world as the Divine Mother.

Accommodation ranges from bring-your-own tent sites, with separate areas for women and men, to Om, Siva and Krishna cabins and the Deluxe Shanti rooms. Options include private rooms, shared dorms and twin-bed rooms for friends or family. Meals are vegetarian.

Check-in is at 2:00pm, and arriving by 4:00pm lets you join the first asana class. Dinner is at 6:00pm, followed by a welcoming orientation at 7:00pm and satsang at 8:00pm. Check-out is at 12:00pm, and guests are welcome to stay on the grounds for the afternoon afterward.

Before You Go

Please bring slip-on shoes, loose comfortable clothing, writing materials, a meditation shawl or blanket, a yoga mat, a sitting cushion, a water bottle and a flashlight. Yoga mats and cushions are not provided. Books and other materials can be ordered from the ashram's online boutique.

Tuition is charged per day in addition to accommodation. Course materials and boutique items are separate.