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January 2024 by Joanne E.
I came here for the New Years retreat celebration. I had never been to Ananda. The teachers and staff are fantastic, I learned how to meditate. The yoga instructors were great, yoga is offered twice a day.. The food was amazing, all vegetarian with vegan options. After 4 days of yoga, meditation, and discussion on goals for the upcoming year, I feel Awake and Ready!
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October 2023 by SheriLynn Gold
A beautiful spiritual Retreat Center that will take you deep into your inner world. Great programs and fantastic vegetarian food! You will also meet wonderful people, guests and staff alike.
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July 2023 by Gordon M.
A transformative place. Anyone seeking peace, community, or the divine couldn't ask for a better environment.The place is a love bubble, and everyone should take the chance to experience it - especially during Spiritual Renewal Week.
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July 2023 by Linda Maitri S.
Beautiful surroundings, great food, simple, clean accommodations but most of all such an uplifting environment-full of serviceful, kind yogis who are dedicated to creating the conditions for your joyful spiritual unfoldment thru the techniques of yoga, meditation and right living. It's the perfect antidote to these crazy times.
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June 2023 by Connie M.
The time I spent at Expanding Light was full of peace. I went for a weekend personal retreat and really didn't know what it would be like other than I'd be participating in yoga and meditation. I met some beautiful souls who live in the community as well as a few others also on retreat. Everything about Ananda is love, community and peace. I'll be going back soon.
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May 2023 by Karen M.
I was looking for a personal retreat to help me heal from physical illness and restore my spiritual connection and I came away, after 10 days, with so much more than I expected. Its hard to put into words the beauty that I experienced on a daily basis whether it was in nature or a conversation with a community member or fellow retreat participant. My heart was frequently touched and filled with joy. Not only did I come away feeling renewed, but I also have a couple of new spiritual practices to help me continue to stay connected. I am so grateful!
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May 2023 by Thomas S.
I have been going to the expanding light for almost 10 years. Never would have imagined in a million years that this sacred land would change not only myself but the direction of my life, all gratitude goes to the great masters of self-realization. Since the moment I arrived as a young teenager, I knew that my life would never be the same. My life has only grown into greater joy and love for God and Guru, and for that, I'm eternally grateful. Thank you, Swami Kriyananda, and thank you to the great masters of this lineage forthey are emanating their cosmic consciousness among all of us. By deep devotion, we may taste the eternally conscious, ever-new bliss of our Father and Mother Divine.
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February 2023 by Darren Woodworth
Amazing day with the snow falling outside to give this place a warm and wonderful spiritual experience. ? Never allow anyone or anything to steal your joy life's way too precious and way too short. Godspeed ?. So grateful we moved up to this area. Paradise.
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February 2023 by Becky W.
Early this year I searched for "silent retreat" options within a couple hours of Sacramento. I was seeking a place where I could spend some time in silence to think and meditate, in service of my mental health -- first time ever for me doing something like this. A rustic lake-side cabin rental might have been okay, but I wanted the comfort and accountability of someone who would provide good food and guide me through meditation. I'm not religious. I don't typically meditate or even know how. I knew nothing about Ananda or this community. But the website said the experience would check all my boxes, so I dove in. WOW. My soul and my heart and my mind are all so glad that I did. I got everything I wanted: privacy, time, quiet, a beautiful natural setting, expert support in meditation, and fantastic healthy food. But I got so much more, especially COMMUNITY. The people at the Expanding Light are all united by their commitment to simpler living and higher thinking -- and a part of their mission is to share that light and joy with others, which is why they run the retreat. And share it, they did. They invited me to join in tours, activities, yoga, and more. If they saw me sitting alone, they asked me my name and invited me to join them. They told stories --- spiritual ones dating back millennia and personal ones from as recently as yesterday. They answered every question. And perhaps most importantly, they respected 100% my need for some silence and alone time, and honored that I was on a journey and doing some work that was untethered to their personal faith and the Ananda life. They were respectful and never invasive. Generous but never pushy. They seemed to have no agenda but my feeling welcomed and supported on my journey. In short, I felt like I was absorbed into the friendliest, most loving, most understanding family during a vulnerable time when I needed to be quiet and listen to my heart. I can't imagine now having done this work anywhere else. My thanks go to everyone at Expanding Light and in the greater Ananda community. I left restored.
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January 2023 by Erika A.
Awesome place to relax. Food is nice, place is clean. Loved all the temples around the ashram. People are friendly. I will be coming back. Om and Thank you!
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October 2022 by Judith B.
A special place to experience workshops, classes or just a personal retreat. Nice accommodations and great vegetarian meals. Lovely, happy people
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October 2022 by Julie Y.
This is an amazing retreat center run by the wonderful people of the Ananda community. It is a slice of heaven. Delicious vegetarian cuisine, yoga and meditation in a spectacular setting. I left joyful and renewed.
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September 2022 by Pamela L.
My sister and I wanted to de-stress and develop a mediation practice, but were not looking for an exclusive yoga spa--we sought something more simple and affordable and good for beginners. We found it at the Expanding light. What a relaxing and meaningful time we spent in this lovely natural place. Everyone was so kind and generous with their time and knowledge. We awakened at 6am to start the day with Sadenha--energization exercises, yoga and meditation. Then a simple breakfast (very simple, the meals are not why one comes here, it is good vegetarian fare which we ate with gusto and full hearts) then hiking around the 1000 wooded acres, or touring the goat dairy and meeting the animals, or touring the permaculture gardens, more mediation before lunch and the morning exercises/ yoga/ mediation again before dinner. There are activities, like a How to Meditate class and many others, all included. Plus there are some shops and absolutely stunning temples and smaller shrines. The scenery is gorgeous. Hiking was fun, the deer aren't afraid of humans! So many places to meditate. You can bring technology, there is wifi in the hotel/ lodge area, but we did not use ours except for brief family check-ins or to take photos. We went blissfully to sleep early--when we felt tired,--to awaken refreshed, ready for a new day. BTW, you don't have to awaken early, we just wanted to (shocker for us, up early on vacation?) We will both return, I am sure. and I recommend it as an affordable experience everyone looking for more joy and peace in their lives should have!
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September 2022 by Cathleen E.
My trips to the Expanding Light are always magical... Beautiful land, lovely people, wonderful food, multiple temples to meditate, amazing classes and activities. I love it so much, I travel all the way from NYC. I can't wait for my next trip.
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September 2022 by Julie Roberts
A beautiful, peaceful retreat center with sweet staff and amazing organic food.
