Melina Meza is a pioneer in the field of yoga, nutrition, and Ayurvedic Health, sharing her knowledge with yogis around the world for more than 25 years.She is the creator of Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga, a holistic practice that features lifestyle, diet, and yoga practices tailored to the rhythms of the four seasons to help people stay healthy as they age. Her passion for Nature, the five elements, beauty, and humor forge the foundation of her unique approach to well-being.In addition to working with individual clients, Melina facilitates year-round yoga and Ayurveda workshops, leading retreats in extraordinary sanctuaries around the world. She is the author of Seasonal Health and Wellness and the Art of Sequencingbooks as well as the creator of the Yoga for the Seasons – Fall Vinyasa DVD. Her unique teachings can also be found on Yoga Anytime, YogaUonline, and Gaiamtv.
https://www.melinameza.com/
Baxter Bell, MD, has been actively deepening his understanding of the power of yoga since making the stress-reducing move from a career as a busy family doctor to that of a yoga teacher and medical acupuncturist.Baxter is a graduate of the Piedmont Yoga Studio’s 18-month Advanced Studies Program, and served as Director of PYS’s Deep Yoga Program for many years, teaching the Experiential Anatomy, Yoga Technique, and Yoga Methodology portions of that training.Baxter is a Certified Yoga Therapist, a level of training denoted by C-IAYT. He is also co-author with Nina Zolotow of the new book Yoga for Healthy Aging.He is co-founder and a past contributing writer for the blog Yoga for Healthy Aging (lots of great archived articles by Baxter!) and his new blog is called What’s On Your (Yoga) Mind?
https://www.baxterbell.com/
Details of this retreat
Join Melina Meza and Baxter Bell, MD this winter for an unforgettable and deeply nourishing yoga retreat. This retreat, led by two experienced instructors, will be a wonderful way to pause and immerse yourself in the practice of yoga and mindfulness during the holiday season. Melina will share winter Seasonal Gentle Yoga classes, introduce Ayurvedic practices for self-care, and teach Yin Yoga to prepare your body and mind for meditation. Baxter will be offering Yoga for Healthy Aging classes and mudras to help you turn inward during this slow, quiet time of the year.
Morning practices will be invigorating (yang) while afternoon classes will be restorative (yin).
Our yoga getaway will be perfect way to deepen your practice while simultaneously keeping your inner fire (agni) bright during this dark season. And there is no better place to do this than our beautiful center in the redwoods!
For your safety and ours, we require proof of vaccination from all visitors and residents of Ratna Ling Retreat Center. We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our guests.
Retreat Schedule (Subject to Change)
Friday:
3:00pm Check in
4:15-5:30pm Yoga
5:45pm Dinner
Saturday:
7:30-8:00am Pranayama/Meditation
8:00am Breakfast
10:00am-12:00pm Yoga
12:15pm Lunch
Free Time
4:00-5:30pm Yoga
5:45pm Dinner + Talk on the History of Ratna Ling
Sunday:
8:00-10:00am Meditation/Yoga
10:00am Brunch
Check out
For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
Payments are nonrefundable and transferable to a future Ratna Ling stay or retreat
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace,
spacious deck, jacuzzi tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet. Towels and hand soap are provided.
5 vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.
What people are saying about our retreats:
“Space to move at your own space. Both meditation and movement classes were wonderful.”
“It was exactly what I needed – to disconnect, get in tune with my soul and recharge my spirit.” ~ 1.2024
“It helped me relax and center myself. Space for reflection while also giving me anchor points through teachings. George is the best! He is such a wonderful and knowledgable host.” ~2.2024
“Space to move at your own space. Both meditation and movement classes were wonderful.” ~9.2023
San Francisco International and Oakland International airports are approximately three hours south of Ratna Ling by car. Alaska Airlines flies to and from Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa which is approximately 1.5 hours from Ratna Ling by car. Unfortunately, there are no shuttles that bring you directly to Ratna Ling, so it is best to rent a car or email us to support in coordinating a carpool with fellow retreatants.
Accommodation
14 guest cottages on 120 acres of property. Each spacious, quiet cottage has 2 private rooms, with high ceilings and a deck with a view. Cottages include jet tubs (or ADA shower), towels, deluxe linens, refrigerator, tea kettle, coffee/tea, kitchen sink/counter, diningware, dining table, and living room with a stove fireplace. Free wifi available and a landline telephone.
Guests can choose to have an exclusive cottage for ONE person; a private room for ONE person in a SHARED cottage; or a cottage for TWO people. Any additional guest after TWO is $100 per person per night. Meals and classes included.
Private Room for 1 guest in a Shared Cottage. Includes meals, lodging, and classes.
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Three miles from the beautiful Sonoma coast. Organic, vegetarian meals. 120 acres of redwoods, canyons, reservoirs, and wildlife. Sacred architecture timber cottages and communal spaces. Featured stupas, gardens, and temple empowered by Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
All of our meals are organic and vegetarian, made with love and care.
We provide homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast. Lunches and dinners always include salads or salad bar. Each meal is self-served on a buffet table.
Customer Reviews
4.92 out of 5.0 average rating
5.0
Verified
Love of Beauty
Magical,Love, Blessings, Learning and caring. Hugs to everyone who gave such gentle care. I felt wrapped in a lovely warm blanket of beauty and love. Especially from our leader, Maria Helena. I felt her love filling every corner of the room, and every corner of my heart. This was my first retreat and I hope to come back if there is one in the spring! Bless you all and thank you! Donna Fivis
5.0
Verified
Peaceful and beautiful location
Ratna Ling was a wonderful find in redwoods along the northern California coast. I spent a week there on a solo retreat, the staff were wonderful and the center and cottages have a very warm and comfortable feel. The grounds and surrounding area are a perfect place to disconnect, relax, reflect, meditate, and connect with nature.
5.0
Verified
The Love of Beauty: A Meditation Retreat in Nature Review
My experience over the course of a weekend at “The Love of Beauty: A Meditation Retreat in Nature” at Ratna Ling exceeded all of my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the retreat offered a perfect blend of tranquility and introspection. Maria Helena, the main host guiding our meditation practices, demonstrated exceptional skill and sensitivity, effortlessly managing a diverse group of participants with varying levels of meditation experience. Her guidance was insightful and accommodating, making each session both accessible and deeply transformative.
In addition to Maria Helena’s expertise, the entire Ratna Ling staff played a crucial role in enhancing the retreat experience. Each team member was not only well-versed in meditation practices but also enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge. They provided valuable insights into the local hiking trails and offered personal perspectives on meditation that enriched our understanding. The warm and approachable demeanor of the staff created an atmosphere of openness and support, which was instrumental in fostering a sense of community and connection among us.
The retreat’s natural beauty and spacious facilities further amplified the experience. Surrounded by Redwoods, the environment was ideal for appreciating nature and connecting with our senses. Every meal served was fresh, varied, and well presented—which contributed to a balanced and fulfilling experience. The days were structured to be both enriching and educational, leaving me with a profound sense of peace and rejuvenation by the end of the weekend.
5.0
Verified
Wonderful place
What a wonderful place to go and soothe your mind and body. The grounds are so tranquil and the food is amazing. I would go back for another retreat here in a heartbeat. The retreat was led by Gretchen Donovan, who I would also highly recommend, and I hope to do some more work with her. A wonderful experience all around.
5.0
Verified
Loved Ratna Ling and Gretchen Donovan!
Ratna Ling is in a breathtakingly beautiful location, with luxurious cabins, outstanding food, and a very friendly class. I think Gretchen Donovan is an amazing teacher; I gained so much from her retreat this year.
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Available Dates
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$895.00
Private Room for 1 guest in a Shared Cottage. Includes meals, lodging, and classes.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
The event is 100% refundable for cancellation 60+ days before the event start date. The event is 50% refundable if cancelled 30-59 days before the start date.