Meditation in Daily Life Retreat

Meditation in Daily Life Retreat is an eight-day meditation retreat at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California, led by Swami Adiparashaktiananda. It teaches the technique and theory of classical yoga meditation, built on the eight limbs of Raja Yoga in the Sivananda tradition. It is made for first-time meditators, and you can come for the full retreat, for the weekend only, or for whichever days fit your calendar.

What to Expect

The retreat starts from a simple idea: meditation is a constant observance of the mind. Over the days you learn to identify the energies outside and within you, how to work with them, and how to listen to the inner intuitive voice that guides decisions and actions. The teaching moves step by step through the preliminaries, however busy the mind may be. It prepares body and mind, helps you establish a routine, adds devotion to the practice, and then carries meditation into everyday life, including how to face obstacles boldly.

The program also treats yoga and meditation as one path, not as exercise on one side and daydreaming on the other. Regular practice is associated with reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, improved overall health, and a clearer, calmer mind, and more deeply with self-awareness.

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 Meditation in Daily Life
- 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 workshops cover why we meditate and its techniques, the mechanics and control of the mind, the relationship between prana and thought, positive thinking for meditation, asana and pranayama as meditative practices, turning inward, and the power of concentration.

About Swami Adiparashaktiananda

Swami Adiparashaktiananda is a dedicated sadhak and an experienced international Sivananda Yoga teacher and trainer. He has taught in teacher training courses in the USA, Vietnam, Japan, and China for more than sixteen years. He mainly serves as assistant to Acharya Swami Sitaramananda at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California. Accommodation ranges from bringing your own tent, with separate sites for women and men, to shared or private rooms in Om Cabin, Siva Cabin, Krishna Cabin, and the Deluxe Shanti rooms. Options include private rooms, twin-bed rooms to share with a friend or family, and dorm shares with another guest. Meals are vegetarian.

Check-in is at 2:00pm, and guests are encouraged to arrive by 4:00pm for 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 ashram grounds for the rest of the afternoon.

Before You Go

No prior meditation practice is needed. The retreat is taught in English. Packages include accommodation, two vegetarian meals, two yoga classes, and two satsangs, with a daily tuition charged in addition to the accommodation.

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. Books and other materials are available in the ashram boutique. Course books can also be ordered at check-out, including Meditation and Mantras by Swami Vishnudevananda, Thought Power by Swami Sivananda, and two titles by Swami Sitaramananda: Essentials of Yoga Practice & Philosophy and Yoga Sadhana for Self-Healing.