A Weekend in Community | Summer
Gather in Sacred Sound
Join us for a weekend in community: a multi-day experience rooted in sound, presence, and connection. Whether you are called to sing, listen, move, or simply wish to spend time in community, this weekend allows you to participate in the ways that resonate with you.
You may choose to arrive on Friday afternoon for dinner, arati (ritual of light), and a community gathering of kirtan (devotional singing). On Saturday, participate in two yoga classes — including a restorative practice accompanied by live Indian classical music (see below for details) — shared meals, a guided campus tour to Sunset Ridge, and morning and evening arati. Finally, on Sunday, stay to participate in morning arati, an all-levels yoga class, breakfast, and time to spend on the mountain.
A Community Gathering of Kirtan
Kirtan is an ancient, heart-centered practice of call-and-response singing set to live music. Rooted in sacred sound, devotion, and the practice of Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion), it requires no prior experience or musical talent — just an open heart. Join Mount Madonna’s Kirtan Mandali and the community for an evening of singing together. Bring a blanket or bundle up in cozy clothes, and bring a drum, shaker, or other small instrument if you feel inspired to do so.
A Guided Campus Tour to Sunset Ridge
Step away from the pace of daily life and walk the land with us. This guided tour winds through the campus and out to Sunset Ridge, where the views open across the Monterey Bay. Move slowly, breathe deeply, and get to know the 380 acres that hold this community.
Restorative Yoga with Live Indian Classical Music
Settle into a restorative practice led by Niraja Ackley accompanied by live Indian classical music. The musical session of sarod, a lyrical multi-stringed instrument, along with tabla, classical Indian drums, will explore ragas (melodic framework of notes) chosen to mirror the arc of late afternoon into dusk.
Musician Amit Gud will open with a slow melody, inviting you to settle deeply into your postures and drift toward meditative stillness. The music will then move into semi-rhythmic passages that introduce subtle pulse and momentum while maintaining an inward, contemplative quality. Tabla player Skanda Krishnan will join for the final 20 minutes, bringing traditional compositions to life and weaving melody, rhythm, and centuries of classical tradition into a fitting close for the practice.
You are welcome to come for a one-night, two-night (or more) Flexible Stay; or simply join us for a Mountain Experience day visit on Saturday, and fully immerse yourself in community, practice, and sound.
Arrive as you are, and stay for the unfolding.
To Participate:
- Book a Flexible Stay for Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13 — with the option to come for part of the weekend or extend your stay before or after the weekend program. Enjoy special offerings including an evening of kirtan with the community, restorative yoga with live Indian classical music, a guided campus tour, and scheduled yoga classes. Your stay also includes shared meals, evening and morning arati, and access to the facilities and miles of hiking and walking trails.
Cost: Based on lodging selection and number of nights
- Register for a Mountain Experience on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Check in at 10:00 a.m., depart at 7:00 p.m.; includes brunch and dinner, a guided campus tour to Sunset Ridge, restorative yoga with live Indian classical music, evening arati, and personal time to enjoy the facilities and miles of hiking and walking trails.
Cost: $105 for adults and children 13+; $50 for children 5 – 12 years old; free for children 4 years & under
Weekend Yoga Classes
Please note that all yoga classes are appropriate for young adults ages 13+.
Classical Ashtanga Yoga | Saturday, September 12, 7:30 – 9:45 a.m.
An all-levels class offering breathing practices, meditation, and movement methods to quiet the mind and develop concentration. The practice includes one hour of pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation, followed by a brief break and then 70 minutes of asana (postures). Taught by various teachers trained in Classical Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limbed path) in the lineage of Baba Hari Dass.
Restorative Yoga with Live Indian Classical Music | Saturday, September 12, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Niraja Ackley will guide a restorative practice accompanied by live sarod and tabla. See above for details.
All-Levels Yoga | Sunday, September 13, 7:00 – 8:30 a.m.
This class welcomes all levels of yoga experience and includes an introduction to Classical Ashtanga Yoga, pranayama, meditation, and asana. Each class focus may vary and is led by various teachers trained in Classical Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Baba Hari Dass, or by teachers trained in other traditions.
Additional offerings on the mountain include:
- Personal time to relax in community spaces, including Anjaneya’s World Cafe and Oceanview Books & Gifts, and explore the 380 acres of hiking trails, walking paths, and indoor amenities
- Option to visit the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
- Option to book a wellness treatment at Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center (additional fees apply, advance reservations recommended)
Schedule for Weekend in Community
| Friday, September 11 | |
| 3:00 – 5:00pm | Flexible Stay Arrival & Check-in |
| 5:15 – 6:15pm | Dinner |
| 6:00 – 7:00pm | Evening arati |
| 7:15 – 9:00pm | Community Gathering of Kirtan |
| Saturday, September 12 | |
| 6:30 – 7:30am | Arati |
| 7:30 – 9:45am | Classical Ashtanga Yoga |
| Saturday, September 12 | |
| 10:00am | Mountain Experience arrival & check-in |
| 10:00 – 11:00am | Brunch |
| 11:30am – 12:30pm | Guided campus tour (weather permitting) |
| 12:30 – 3:30pm | Personal time |
| 3:30 – 5:00pm | Restorative Yoga with Live Indian Classical Music |
| 5:15 – 6:15pm | Dinner |
| 6:00 – 7:00pm | Arati |
| 7:00pm | Mountain Experience program concludes |
| Sunday, September 13 | |
| 6:30 – 7:30am | Arati |
| 7:00 – 8:30am | All-Levels Yoga |
| 8:30 – 9:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 – 11:00am | Personal time |
| 11:00am | Check out of accommodations |
| 12:30 – 1:30pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 – 3:00pm | Personal time |
| 3:00pm | Flexible Stay Program concludes |
Please note: Saturday overnight guests are welcome to stay for lunch on Sunday; however, dinner is not included.
Schedule subject to change. Registrants will be notified.
Presenters
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Amit GudSarod PlayerAmit was introduced to Indian classical music at an early age. He learned tabla from various gurus in Pune and, most recently, studied with Arshad Syed ji (a disciple of Ustad Alla Rakha) in California. Amit also studied nylon-string guitar with Stanford professor Charles Ferguson.
In 2014, Amit embarked on a new musical journey, studying the sarod under the tutelage of two great masters: Shri Bruce Hamm, a disciple of the revered Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and Shri Abhisek Lahiri, a disciple of the renowned Shri Alok Lahiri. The sarod’s unique tone and versatility captivated Amit, and he has been passionately exploring the instrument’s intricacies ever since.
Amit’s performances are characterized by his masterful command of rhythm, his deep emotional connection to the music, and his ability to evoke the essence of traditional ragas. He has showcased his talent at various venues around the Bay Area, leaving audiences captivated by his musical prowess.
Learn more about Amit and follow his musical journey online:
Website: amitgud.com
Instagram: @amitgud
YouTube: youtube.com/amitgud -
Lyn Niraja AckleyYTT 500Niraja completed her Advanced Yoga Teacher Training in 2012, followed by Ayurvedic Health Counselor training in 2016. She has taught private and group yoga classes and led workshops and retreats since 2012. Niraja has been with the Yoga Diwali India Program since its inception in 2015, helping develop the program as its stateside coordinator with Rashmi, serving as Assistant Program Director, and teaching at Sri Ram Ashram.
Having experienced the benefits of regular practice herself, she enjoys sharing yoga with others. Her studies and teaching include pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, asana (postures), and Classical Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limbed path). She is grateful to Baba Hari Dass (Babaji), all of her teachers, Mount Madonna, and the opportunity to teach to learn. She is honored to share Babaji’s teachings.
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Skanda KrishnanTabla PlayerSkanda’s musical journey began at the age of five, when he started learning tabla from Guru Shri Satish Tare. Over the past 15 years, Skanda has grown into an avid performer, with solo and group ensemble performances, as well as accompaniment, to his credit. He is now undergoing rigorous training under the tutelage of Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri at the Ali Akbar College of Music.
