Yoga Wellness Retreat as Lifestyle Medicine

This yoga wellness retreat at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California, is an eight-day immersion in yoga as lifestyle medicine, led by Swami Divyananda in the Sivananda tradition. It suits anyone who wants to learn classical yoga through a daily rhythm of asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting and study, whether you are new to yoga or already practice. You can attend the full retreat, the weekend only, or choose the days that fit your calendar.

What to Expect

The retreat rests on a simple idea: evidence-based lifestyle practices are easy to learn, inexpensive and open to everyone. Swami Sivananda, a medical doctor, Himalayan sage and humanitarian, wrote some 200 books that form the foundation of the teachings. His student Swami Vishnudevananda brought this practical science of yoga and lifestyle medicine to the West in the 1950s and taught it for 60 years.

The days follow the ashram's classical schedule, which was established by Swami Sivananda and is used across the worldwide network of Sivananda Ashrams and Centers. It balances silence, collective chanting and the wisdom of the sages with movement that strengthens and stretches the body and its internal organs. Pranayama, the breathing practices that regulate vital energy, is taught as a way to raise your baseline of health and calm the emotions. Meditation is a daily practice.

The recommended daily schedule:

- 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: Afternoon workshop
- 2:30 to 4:00pm: Free time
- 4:00 to 5:45pm: Asana class
- 6:00pm: Vegetarian dinner
- 7:30 to 9:00pm: Evening satsang

Afternoon workshops cover who the Self is and the causes of disease, the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of meditation, asana as a meditative practice, balancing energy as a healing practice, eating to nourish the body and calm the mind, the three levels of stress and relaxation, and positive thinking for healing.

About Swami Divyananda

Swami Divyananda is a yoga teacher from Vietnam and a sannyasin in the Sivananda tradition. She began practicing yoga at the age of 20 and completed her teacher training course in 2016, the Sivananda Yoga Health Educator Training in 2020 and the Advanced Teacher Training Course in 2022. She has also completed five Sadhana Intensive courses, deepening her own practice.

The Setting

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm sits in Grass Valley, California, and offers a gentle, nourishing atmosphere for reconnecting with yourself. Accommodation ranges from bring-your-own tent sites, with separate areas for women and men, to cabins with twin beds. Om Cabin, Siva Cabin and Krishna Cabin are available as private rooms, shared with a friend, or as dorm shares with another guest. Deluxe Shanti rooms have a queen bed and futon for individuals or couples, or two or three twin beds for friends and family, with a shared dorm option as well. Meals are vegetarian.

Check-in is at 2:00pm, and arriving by 4:00pm lets you join the Asana class. Dinner is at 6:00pm, followed by a welcoming orientation at 7:00pm and satsang at 7:30pm. Check-out is at 12:00pm, and you are welcome to stay on the grounds for the afternoon.

Before You Go

There are no prerequisites beyond a sincere desire to learn classical yoga, and the asana classes are suitable for beginners. The retreat is taught in English.

Tuition is charged per day in addition to your accommodation, and each package includes vegetarian meals, yoga classes and satsangs. Course books and materials are available in the ashram boutique. The course texts are Yoga Sadhana for Self-Healing by Swami Sitaramananda and Bliss Divine by Swami Sivananda.

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. If you choose a tent, bring your own tent and bedding.