Meditation & Yoga Retreat in the Foothills of Northern California

The Expanding Light Retreat at 13930 Expanding Light Drive is the main campus, with a dining room, yoga and meditation spaces, gardens and walking trails. The Seclusion Retreat at 18443 MacNab Cypress Road is a separate, quieter property for people who want silence and time alone. Both are in Nevada City, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

A typical day starts with yoga and meditation before breakfast, followed by a morning class or workshop. Afternoons are free for rest, reading, walking or a one-to-one session with a teacher. Evening programmes usually include meditation and chanting. On the Restorative Yoga Retreat, the focus is gentle yoga, breathwork and meditation, with the aim of slowing down rather than pushing hard.

The retreat runs longer trainings as well. The Ananda Yoga Teacher Training is a 200-hour certification that starts online on 5 September 2026 and includes two in-person blocks at The Expanding Light Retreat, finishing 9 May 2027. It is led by Darshana Moore and Saraswati Gott. A separate Bridge to Ananda Yoga course runs 5 September to 12 December 2026 for existing yoga teachers who want to go deeper into the Ananda style, with an in-person option in October.

There is also a Karma Yoga programme for people who want to live on site for two weeks or a month, combining meditation practice with service work in the community. It starts at $325 for two weeks or $500 per month.

What separates this from a standard yoga retreat is the setting and the structure. The Seclusion Retreat is genuinely remote, with quiet woods and dark night skies. The Expanding Light side is more communal, with staff who live on the property and a regular schedule of classes. Guests repeatedly mention the food, the grounds and the welcome in reviews.

What's included

- On-site accommodation at The Expanding Light Retreat or The Seclusion Retreat - Meals served in the dining room - Guided yoga classes - Guided meditation sessions - Breathwork sessions - Evening meditation and chanting - Access to gardens and walking trails - Staff guidance and support during your stay

What's not included

- Travel to Nevada City, California - Airport or station transfers - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - One-to-one sessions not booked as part of a programme - Optional extras not listed in your programme