We welcome you to a five-day meditation retreat at Ananda Dhiira, California, from August 5 – 9, 2026. During this retreat, you will have a chance to go deep into your meditation, enjoy delicious Sattvic vegetarian food, make good friends, relax in a natural environment, and enjoy classes, workshops, and other programs.
During the retreat, you can also learn individual meditation and get recommendations on yoga, diet, and other lifestyle habits.
We will also spend one day on an outing by the nearby South Yuba River, enjoying swimming, singing Kiirtana, meditation, and lunch in the beautiful natural environment.
Didi Ananda Acira and Dada Diiptimanananda will lead this retreat. They are experienced yoga and meditation teachers and can help you advance spiritually and connect to your inner self.
What to Expect:
- Lots of Kiirtana (mantra chanting)
- Three sattvic vegetarian meals per day, prepared by our spiritual teachers and volunteers
- Yoga classes in the morning and evening
- Kiirtana and meditation four times a day
- Inspirational talks on meditation, yoga, philosophy, food, nutrition, and healthy living.
- Outdoor walks and activities
- Individual meditation lessons with our teachers (optional)
- Mud Packs (optional and depending on weather)
- Outing to the South Yuba River
- Relax your body and calm your mind in a tranquil, beautiful environment.
What is Special About This Retreat?
Didi Ananda Acira and Dada Diiptimanananda will lead this meditation and yoga retreat. They are experienced teachers who can help participants advance spiritually and connect to their inner selves. Didi Ananda Acira and Dada Diiptimanananda are meditation teachers with decades of experience. They will guide participants in meditation and yoga practices to help them deepen their spiritual connection.
The retreat will combine yoga, meditation, classes, and spending time in nature. Participants can learn individual meditation techniques and receive recommendations on yoga, diet, and other lifestyle habits.
Participants will also have the opportunity to spend half a day by the nearby South Yuba River, where they can enjoy mud-packs, singing Kiirtana, meditation, and a picnic lunch in the beautiful natural environment. The river has pure, cold, mountain-fed water for those who enjoy cold plunges.
Ananda Dhiira Master Unit
Ananda Dhiira
19393 Sanctuary Road
Penn Valley, CA 95946, United States
Accommodation at Ananda Dhiira
Ananda Dhiira Master Unit is a beautiful retreat center in Penn Valley, California, dedicated to women’s welfare. The property consists of two buildings surrounded by peaceful forest and open space. The main building, which serves as the women’s center, includes one shared dorm room with three bunk beds and an additional thick mattress, accommodating up to seven women. There are also two private rooms: one with a bunk bed and a single twin bed, suitable for a small family or up to three women, and another with two twin beds, ideal for one or two women.
The second building includes a large meditation hall, used mainly for larger gatherings (not during this retreat), and a men’s dormitory that can accommodate up to five men.
For those who prefer to stay outdoors, camping is available near both buildings, with space for up to four tents. Campers may use the bathrooms and take water from the kitchen, but should bring their own tent, sleeping bag, and bedding.
Nature at Ananda Dhiira is breathtaking, and you can see many bright stars at night. The retreat center is surrounded by an oak forest and is a fifteen-minute walk to the South Yuba River. Didi Ananda Acira and her volunteers live at Ananda Dhiira, grow organic fruits and vegetables, and organize various retreats and fasting programs.
Meditation and Other Spiritual Practices
Meditation
The central practice is meditation. Meditation means looking within your mind to feel the bliss that is the essence of your existence. That bliss is within you, just as it is within everybody and everything. Meditation is an essential tool for self-transformation and spiritual development. We will first introduce a meditation using the mantra Baba Nam Kevalam.
Kiirtana
Kiirtan is singing a mantra aloud while meditating on the Supreme Being. It inculcates a feeling of bliss and prepares the mind for meditation because all the motor and sensory organs are engaged and directed toward the Supreme. It can be done anywhere, but it is essential before meditation.
The mantra used for Kiirtana is: Bábá Nám Kevalam
The easiest way to conceive of the Infinite Consciousness is to think of infinite love. This mantra is, therefore, often translated as “Love is all there is.”
A more detailed meaning of the mantra is Bábá, which means infinite Love /Infinite Consciousness/Supreme Consciousness, or “my most beloved One,” Nám, which means “name of” or “to identify with,” and Kevalam means “only.” So the meaning of the mantra is “My most Beloved is the only One.”
The inner idea we use when meditating (ideation) is: “Everywhere I look, in everything I hear, feel, see, taste, and smell, I perceive that one Supreme Consciousness which pervades all things.”
Kiirtana has many benefits. It purifies the mind and prepares it for meditation, accelerating the speed of movement toward the Supreme. Because of the mental clarity achieved, one can easily find solutions to problems while performing a task and get relief from physical and psychic ailments.
Lalita Marmika Dance
The Lalita Marmika dance helps to prepare the mind and body for meditation and is taught during the retreat. Many people experience sore knees when sitting regularly for meditation during a meditation retreat. Therefore, we introduce the Laliita Marmika dance early in the retreat to avoid sitting both during mantra chanting and meditation.
The dance is used during the mantra chanting before sitting down for meditation. It helps limber the knees, relax the brain and body, and develop surrender and a feeling of devotion to the Supreme.
This dance arouses the deepest feelings of love and devotion, dissolves egotism, and prepares the mind for meditation.
Yoga Asanas
During the retreat, we will offer gentle yoga sessions in the morning and evening. These classes are designed to support relaxation, improve flexibility, and help prepare the body and mind for meditation.
The yoga system we practice comes from the Ananda Marga tradition and includes slow, mindful movements coordinated with the breath. Some practices also include simple breath awareness and short pauses, which can have a calming effect on the nervous system and support overall mental and emotional balance.
All sessions are suitable for beginners as well as those with prior experience. We begin with simple postures and gradually introduce more options, always adapting to the needs and comfort level of each participant. You are encouraged to listen to your body and participate at your own pace. It is always fine to rest, skip a posture, or modify a movement if needed.
Participation in yoga sessions is optional. The retreat is not physically demanding, and the emphasis is on creating a supportive and comfortable environment for everyone.
For safety, we recommend that women refrain from practicing yoga postures during pregnancy or menstruation. Alternative rest or gentle practices can be followed during these times.
Kaośiiki Dance
Kaośikii is a yogic dance introduced by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti on September 6, 1978. It is a unique psycho-physical practice designed to develop flexibility, strength, and balance, while also supporting mental clarity and emotional well-being. Traditionally, it is said to be beneficial for overall health and vitality, with particular emphasis on supporting the well-being of women.
The movements of Kaośikii are rhythmic and graceful, involving gentle bending of the body in different directions, coordinated with the breath and a subtle ideation. This combination of movement and awareness helps to relax the nervous system, improve circulation, and create a sense of lightness and flow in both body and mind.
During the retreat, Kaośikii will be practiced as part of the yoga classes. The movements are simple to learn and suitable for beginners, and participants are encouraged to practice at their own pace. Like all practices in the retreat, the emphasis is not on performance but on developing awareness, balance, and a deeper connection with oneself.
Many people find Kaośikii to be uplifting and energizing, and it is often enjoyed as a joyful complement to meditation and yoga practice.
Táńd́ava Dance
Táńd́ava is a dynamic yogic dance traditionally associated with Lord Shiva, who is revered as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance. According to tradition, this dance represents courage, strength, and the spirit of overcoming fear. It has been practiced for centuries and is considered one of the foundational forms of expressive movement in yogic culture.
The movements of Táńd́ava are powerful and rhythmic, involving jumping, balancing, and coordinated gestures that help develop strength, stamina, and mental focus. The practice is energizing and can support vitality and confidence. It is traditionally practiced by men, as it is believed to stimulate physical and hormonal strength, and is therefore not recommended for women.
During the retreat, Táńd́ava may be offered as an optional practice for men. Participants who choose to join are encouraged to practice with awareness and according to their own capacity. As with all retreat activities, the emphasis is on personal growth, balance, and inner development rather than performance.
Many practitioners find Táńd́ava to be both invigorating and empowering, making it a strong complement to meditation and other yogic practices.
How To Get There?
Sacramento International Airport (SFM) is the nearest airport, 45 miles from Ananda Dhiira. You can take an Uber from there to Ananda Dhiira or rent a car. If you arrive at SJC, OAK, or SFO airports, you can take an AMTRAK train to Sacramento or Auburn station and then take an Uber from there.
Please note that getting public transportation (shuttle or Uber) in the evening is not easy. It is better to arrive during the day, especially as the program also starts in the afternoon.
When you enter the entrance gate at Sanctuary Road, you will need a security code in case the gate is closed. We will share the code after you register and before arriving. We will also try to arrange a ride-sharing with other participants when possible, so please let us know your travel plans in advance.
Arrival By Car
The address is:
Ananda Dhiira
19393 Sanctuary Road
Penn Valley, CA, 95946
United States
After you enter the gated road, continue up the gravel road and take the second right to the main building of Ananda Dhiira.
What To Bring?
Please bring comfortable clothing and shoes, toiletries, a towel, a notebook & pen, a swimsuit, medications (if you have any), sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, and other personal needs. Ananda Dhiira has yoga mats, but you are also welcome to bring your own.
Prohibited Items:
It is not allowed to bring any tamasik items, such as tobacco, alcohol, drugs, intoxicants, meat, fish, eggs, onion, garlic, mushrooms, or any food containing those items. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us for more information.
The food during the retreat is plentiful and delicious, so you don’t need to worry about going hungry!
No strong perfumes or lotions should be used out of respect for our guests with scent sensitivities.
Pets are not allowed at Ananda Dhiira.
The Cancellation Policy
- The retreat fees are fully refundable up to 46 days before the retreat (minus any transaction fees).
- If you cancel 30-44 days before the retreat, you get a 50% refund.
- If you cancel 0-29 days before the retreat, no refund will be provided.
- All options include a transfer of the amount paid (deposit or full payment) to a friend or relative upon the hosts’ approval, up to 5 days before the retreat.
- If you cannot attend this retreat, you will have the option to transfer your credit to another retreat within 12 months of the retreat you booked. If the other retreat is more expensive, you will have to pay the price difference before attending the other retreat.
- If you check into the retreat and decide to leave early, there is no refund or transfer option for the retreat fees.
- There are no discounts for arriving late to the retreat. We encourage everyone to arrive on time. Arriving late is not conducive to the retreat flow.
- If the host has to cancel the retreat due to unforeseen circumstances, you will have the option to receive a full refund, less admin fees already paid, within 15 business days or use your retreat payment towards another retreat within 12 months.
- If you contract any transmissible disease, such as flu or COVID, and are not able to attend the retreat, we will transfer your fees to another retreat of your choice. You will need to give some proof of your sickness. Additionally, if you show up to the retreat sick with the flu, COVID, or a transmissible disease, then you will be asked to leave to keep everyone safe.
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