Living Yoga Retreat | Spring 2026

A Northern California Yoga Retreat

RECHARGE IN THE REDWOODS

Experience the essence of Yoga through practices that go beyond the mat. This retreat offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of Yoga through practical, real-life experiences that balance science and spirituality.

This retreat features daily asana (posture) classes, inviting you to explore a variety of yoga styles and traditions. You are free to choose among different offerings each day. All classes are led by highly experienced yoga practitioners who bring expertise and perspectives to ensure a rich and diverse experience.

In addition to daily asana classes, this retreat provides a well-rounded schedule to replenish your body, mind, and spirit. Begin each morning with a peaceful pranayama (breathing techniques) practice and a meditation session to set your intention for the day. Wind down in the evening with kirtan, a heartfelt practice of devotional singing that uplifts and inspires. Between sessions, explore the serene hiking trails or take personal time to relax, reflect, and recharge in the tranquil environment. This retreat is designed to provide a harmonious balance of activity and rest, fully immersing you in the experience.

The Living Yoga Retreat takes place in Northern California and is conveniently close to Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and the Bay Area. With stunning views of Monterey Bay, it features hundreds of miles of hiking trails winding through serene meadows and majestic redwood forests.

Our Campus

The Environment

our campus mount madonna

Photo Gallery

Northern California

our campus mount madonna

Overlooking Monterey Bay

The Mount Madonna campus is centrally located in California, with close proximity to Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz, and Monterey, and near to the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The property features miles of beautiful walking or jogging trails through redwood forests and serene meadows with magical sunset viewing points and clear skies for stargazing.

Basic Schedule

Wednesday, March 25
3:00 - 5:30pm Registration
5:15 - 6:15pm Dinner
6:00 - 7:00pm Arati (ceremony of light)
7:15 - 8:45pm Opening Circle
Thursday - Saturday, March 26 - 28
5:30 - 6:30am Shat karma (purification methods)
6:00 - 7:00am Arati
7:15 - 8:30am Sadhana (breathing and meditation)
8:45 - 10:00am Asana (postures)
10:00 - 11:00am Brunch
11:00am - 1:30pm Personal time
1:30 - 3:00pm Theme Presentations
3:30 - 5:00pm Afternoon asana or sadhana
5:15 - 6:15pm Dinner
6:00pm Arati
7:15 - 8:45pm Thurs & Fri: Kirtan and Restorative Asana
6:45 - 8:45pm Sat: Dance Party!
Sunday, March 29
6:00 - 7:00am Arati
7:15 - 8:30am Sadhana
8:30 - 10:00am Sunday Satsang & Closing Circle
10:00 - 11:00am Brunch
11:00am - 12:00pm Check out of accommodations
*Please note: Schedule subject to change. Registrants will be notified.

Rates & What's Included

Details & Useful Information

LIVING YOGA RETREAT RATES INCLUDING ALL NIGHTS

Adults

Tuition $495 + accommodations & meals. Rates are per person, and are inclusive for all days of the retreat. Rates stated here apply to this retreat only; other retreat and program accommodations pricing may differ.
Please note: no unaccompanied minors.

Children ages 13 and older
As adult
Children 5 - 12 years old - On campus
$200
Children 5 - 12 years old - Vehicle camping or commuting
$100
Children 4 years and under
FREE

Rates: Retreat rates depend on your choice of accommodations and include meals, registration fees, and access to the Mount Madonna campus.

Arrival & Departure: Plan to arrive and check-in between 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. Check out is at 11:00 a.m.; however, you may stay for lunch following the program closing.

Reservations: Retreats must be booked a minimum of 48 hours in advance.

Meals: Two vegetarian meals are served during retreats, including brunch and dinner. Breads, spreads, and a tea bar are also available between meals.

Accommodations & Meals

Make the Mountain Home

Guest Rooms

Single, Double, or Triple

These tasteful hotel style rooms, some with ensuite bathrooms, are located in our Conference Center, where there is wifi, two lovely courtyards with expansive views in which you may read and relax, and a full tea bar available at all times in the conference wing of the building. Rooms that don’t have en-suite bathrooms have access to nearby shared bathrooms and showers (private while in use). All beds are singles. There are no phones or TVs in any of our rooms. Prices are based on stated occupancy.

Rustic Cabins

Single or Double

Our simple rustic cabins are located in the Oaks Campground. They are a short 10-minute walk uphill from the Conference Center, but have a feeling of being more remote. Cabins sleep two people and feature electricity and heat but no wi-fi or indoor plumbing. All beds are singles. A separate shower house is nearby, containing private showers and dressing rooms, and flush toilets. If this sounds a bit rustic, please consider booking a room in the Conference Center. Prices are based on stated occupancy.

Yurts

Single or Double

Located in the Oaks Campground, a 10-minute walk up the hill from the Conference Center, our yurts sleep 2 people and have electricity and heat, but no plumbing and no wi-fi. A yurt is a cozy, circular space provided by a wood structure and canvas walls. Each yurt is situated on a wooden platform, and is outfitted with a comfortable queen- or twin-size beds, linens, towels, warm comforters and blankets. A separate bathhouse with private flush toilets and shower rooms is nearby. The yurts are a short distance from the associated parking area. Note that high levels of rainfall November – April may affect yurt accessibility (walking path is available year-around).

Camping

Bring your own tent

Developed campsites are available for people who wish to bring their own tent. Sites offer access to showers and flush toilets. Although camping is usually available year-round, please be aware that we can receive significant amounts of rain from November through May.

Own Vehicle

Parking Space

Regular size parking spaces are available for your van, camper or other vehicle. There is no access to electricity. Showers and restrooms are available in campgrounds and Center buildings. Prices are based on stated occupancy.

Commuting

Drive yourself

Commute from off-campus each day and attend the full program, including all meals and activities.

Register Now

Date

Wednesday - Sunday, Mar 25 - 29, 2026

Location

In-Person
445 Summit Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076

Presenters

  • Anand Brian Darsie
    Anand Brian Darsie
    BA (Music), E-RYT 500, RCYT

    Uniting his passions for music, yoga, spirituality, community, and worship, Anand brings a unique perspective to his practice and teaching. He is a resident at Mount Madonna and a lead organizer of Mount Madonna’s yoga retreats and Yoga Teacher Trainings. Anand seeks to promote body intelligence through asana, pranayama, and meditation. Enthusiastic, encouraging, creative, and compassionate, Anand inspires students of all ages through ancient methods delivered with contemporary scientific understanding and a playful, dynamic spirit.

  • Vidhi Tibrewala
    Vidhi Tibrewala
    BA, RYT-200

    Born in India and raised among traditions that honor breath, body, and nature, Vidhi’s teaching is rooted in curiosity, compassion, and mindful movement. She weaves together asana, breath, and meditation to create space for presence and love. Her approach is both grounding and intuitive, inviting students to listen closely to their bodies while cultivating strength, ease, and awareness. She holds a BA in Anthropology from UC Santa Cruz and completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Mount Madonna, grounding her teaching in tradition, interconnectedness, and self-inquiry.

    With a deep appreciation for intentional practices, Vidhi is especially drawn to the conjunction of science and soul present in Yoga — its power as a tool for nervous system regulation, embodied awareness, and sustainable movement that adapts to the body’s needs in a given moment. Her classes are shaped by a desire to create a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere where students feel supported and at home in their practice.

    Warm, attentive, and thoughtful in her guidance, Vidhi aims to support students in meeting themselves exactly where they are — on and off the mat — through practices that feel nourishing, accessible, and meaningful.

  • Michael Holmes
    Michael Holmes

    Michael is a California native. He works as a landscape contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also has a background in education in California public schools. He is honored to lead the plant walks at Mount Madonna and for the stewardship of the land, that the center calls home, that the Mount Madonna community has undertaken for almost 50 years. He is a grateful yogi and student of the natural world.

  • Hasan Friggle
    Hasan Friggle
    BA, MA

    Hassan grew up in Muscat, Oman, and moved to the United States at eighteen, spending the last fifteen years living in and exploring communities across the country — from Rhode Island to Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, and now Chicago, where he is pursuing a degree in law. He holds a B.A. in Literary Arts and an M.A. in Buddhist Classics, and completed his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Mount Madonna in 2025.

    Hassan approaches Yoga as a point of departure for asking questions about what it means to be an embodied being. His teaching is shaped by a life of movement and inquiry — across geographies, traditions, and disciplines — and by a genuine curiosity about the ways we inhabit our bodies and our lives. His academic grounding in both literary and contemplative traditions brings a reflective, searching quality to his classes.

    Outside of Yoga, Hassan’s passions include Victorian literature, horror movies, lentil-based dishes, and spending time in bodies of water.

  • Lindsay Oldread
    Lindsay Oldread
    RYT-200

    Lindsay has been teaching yoga for six years, offering practices that build strength, awareness, and meaningful connection. She completed her 500-hour training in her hometown and earned her 200-hour certification from Mount Madonna, where she also assisted with the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training and taught and offered spotting support at the New Year’s retreat.

    Lindsay’s teaching is grounded in the belief that yoga is more than movement — it’s a space where everyone belongs. Her classes are shaped by a desire to help students find their own path, cultivating presence, resilience, and a sense of home within themselves and in community.

  • Tuition & Fees

    In-person, all days: $495 + accommodations & meals. Please scroll down to see descriptions of Accommodations.


    Financial Assistance: We aim for this retreat to be accessible as part of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. To request a scholarship, please fill out this form. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply early!

    Deadlines for applications:

    • Round 1: January 30, 2026
    • Round 2: February 27, 2026
    • Round 3: March 18, 2026

    Questions? Please email retreats@mountmadonna.org.