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The Inner Landscape: A Meditation Retreat in Nature

Name: The Inner Landscape: A Meditation Retreat in Nature
Start: 2026-10-23
End: 2026-10-25
Location: Ratna Ling Retreat Center
Rating: 4.94

4.94275 reviews

October 23 - 25, 2026

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Maria

Maria Helena Kubrusly

Maria Helena Kubrusly brings more than three decades of dedicated practice, study, and teaching within the Nyingma tradition to her work as a retreat leader.

Born and raised in Brazil, Maria Helena was a founding member of the Nyingma Center in Rio de Janeiro, where she taught classes and guided retreats. She came to the United States in 1997 as a staff member and instructor at the Nyingma Institute in Berkeley, and has lived at Odiyan since 1999. There, she works closely with Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche on community, administrative, and spiritual matters, while continuing to share the practices that have shaped her own life.

Maria Helena has offered retreats and courses in the United States, Brazil, and Europe, both online and in person. Her teaching draws from meditation, Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga, contemplative movement, sensory awareness, loving-kindness practice, and the healing presence of nature. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.

What makes Maria Helena’s retreats so meaningful is not only her depth of experience, but the gentle, grounded way she helps participants turn inward. Her approach is warm, patient, and nonjudgmental, creating a space where students can slow down, listen more deeply, and reconnect with the natural clarity and beauty of their own being.

At Ratna Ling, surrounded by the stillness of the redwoods, Maria Helena guides participants into practices that awaken the senses, soften the heart, and restore a more spacious relationship with body, mind, and world. Her retreats are especially suited for those seeking a quiet, embodied, and compassionate path back to themselves.

Participants often describe Maria Helena’s retreats as gentle, healing, and deeply supportive.

“What did I like most? Maria Helena’s gentle, nonjudgmental way of leading us in toward our being.”

“Maria Helena’s retreat opened up my heart and helped me release past pain.”

Others have praised her patience, warmth, and ability to make students feel at ease, especially when introducing practices such as Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga.

Details of this retreat

Explore your inner landscape by immersing yourself in Nature.

While many of us spend time in offices, houses, cities, and busy streets, we canʻt always connect with our true Nature. What can Nature teach you about yourself? When we go outside, we can observe the elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space. We can feel the groundedness of the tree or the rock, the fluidity of the ocean, the force and heat of fire, the wispiness of the wind, and the boundlessness of space. We contact our true inner being of peace by connecting with Nature.

"We can study nature, study ourselves, and deepen our understanding of our innate companionship with the earth… cultivating love and care that ripple out from our lives into the world.”

-Tarthang Tulku

We can become more loving and peaceful when we become students of Nature.
During this retreat, aligning the abundant natural beauty of Ratna Ling with Tibetan yoga exercises, meditation, and practices, you will learn to relax the body and open the senses. In this state of awareness and openness, you can allow the beauty of nature to connect to your true inner nature. Let Nature teach you more about who you really are, and who you can be. You can experience the interconnectedness of all existence.

This retreat includes:

Kum Nye, Tibetan Relaxation
Indoor and outdoor contemplative practices
Meditation in nature
Listening and mantra meditations
Quiet time
Optional Massage, Reiki, Spiritual Counseling, and more (at an additional cost)

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

Friday

3:00pm-4 — Check-in
5:30-6:30pm — Dinner
6:30-8:00 — Opening Circle & Mantra Meditation

Saturday

8:00am-9am — Breakfast
9:00am-10:30am — Indoor/Outdoor Contemplation Exercise
10:50am-12:00pm — Meditation in Nature – Exploring the Senses
12:15pm-1pm — Lunch
1:00pm-4:15pm — Quiet Time- Optional massage and wellness treatments by appointment
4:15pm-5:15pm — Meditation in Nature
5:30pm-6:30 — Dinner
6:30-8pm — Sound Meditation and Self-Massage

Sunday

8am-8:45am — Tibetan Yoga (Kum Nye)
9:00am-10am — Closing Circle
10:00am-11:00am — Brunch
12:00pm — Checkout

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
All bookings are NON-REFUNDABLE. Should you wish to cancel your stay with us, Ratna Ling Retreat Center requires 30 days' notice for a full credit to be TRANSFERRED to a future retreat within 1 year of original booking.
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.
vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.

What people are saying about our retreats:

“The accommodations were great along with the beautiful surroundings - everything was so peaceful and nurturing.”
“Maria Helena's retreat opened up my heart and helped me to get rid of past pain.”
“This retreat connected me to nature, connected me to my senses. It was revitalizing and relaxing. Thank you Maria Helena"

“What did I like most? Maria Helena's gentle non-judgmental way of leading us "in" toward out being.”
“The instructor was magnificent! Setting was gorgeous, food terrific and accommodations were lovely!”
“I appreciated the tools for equanimity. This retreat was grounding after stressful months. It motivated me to further spiritual practice.."

Getting Here

Ratna Ling Retreat Center

Directions

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.

For 1 guest in a Private Room (Shared cottage with 1 other guest)

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

4.94 out of 5.0 average rating

Laura • Sep 18, 2026

5.0

Verified

A Truly Transformative and Beautiful Experience

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Truly Transformative and Beautiful Experience

My experience at Ratna Ling Retreat Center was absolutely incredible. From the moment I arrived, I felt a sense of peace, beauty, and tranquility that is difficult to put into words. The breathtaking surroundings, serene atmosphere, and welcoming energy create the perfect environment to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and simply be present.

There is something truly special about Ratna Ling. The peaceful natural setting, thoughtful accommodations, nourishing food, and wonderful people make it feel like a place where your mind, body, and spirit can genuinely reset.

As someone on a yoga and spiritual journey, I found the retreat to be deeply inspiring. It gave me the space to reflect, learn, breathe, and connect on a deeper level. I left feeling refreshed, grounded, grateful, and carrying a renewed sense of peace with me.

Ratna Ling is more than just a retreat center—it feels like a sanctuary for the soul. I’m incredibly grateful for my time there and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for rest, reflection, healing, connection, or simply a beautiful place to step away from the busyness of everyday life.

Thank you, Ratna Ling, for creating such a beautiful and sacred space. I hope to return again and again. ❤️🙏✨

Trisha • Sep 18, 2026

5.0

Verified

Amazing Respite near the Bay Area!

I had such a wonderful experience at Ratna Ling for my yoga teacher training. The staff are amazing, warm, and genuinely supportive. The food, gorgeous drive and sacred land alone is worth a few days or week away! It's a true respite from the Bay Area and an ideal place to slow down, reconnect, and immerse yourself in what matters. I’m very grateful for my time there!

Anonymous • Sep 18, 2026

3.0

Verified

Lovely Location

The space was nestled among the redwoods and was absolutely beautiful, a peaceful and lovely setting for the training. The food was delicious, and overall the accommodations were comfortable. The view from our room was especially lovely. The heating and air was functional and kept the room at a comfortable temperature. The main area that could use improvement was housekeeping in our room. The accommodations themselves were comfortable but could use more attention to housekeeping and maintenance. Our room and bathroom were not cleaned during our stay, and towels and toilet paper were not refreshed. The room also seemed like it may not have been thoroughly cleaned for some time before our arrival, as there was quite a bit of dust and several spiders. I noticed stains on a pillowcase and blanket as well. The walls were quite thin, so we could easily hear our neighbors, and the bathroom fan was not functioning. Our dresser drawer fronts were not screwed in so they kept falling off but were about to screw them in to fix it. Overall, the location and surroundings were beautiful, and with more attention to room cleanliness and housekeeping, the accommodations could be a much more comfortable experience.

Anonymous • Sep 15, 2026

5.0

Verified

Amazing!

Absolutely amazing! What a wonderful weekend spent at Ratna Ling.
Property- Beautiful and peacefully located in the redwoods. All around views. The cabins are very cozy with lush bedding. The food was so tasty and healthy. Everything is grown at the property or is locally sourced.
The yoga classes and the itinerary in general were so thought out. Went for a hike to the beach which was just a 2 miles drive down the road a a 4 mile round trip hike to the water. Through the redwoods then out onto the beach.
You arrive. Park your car. And from there you don't have to think about anything. It is all set out for you.
Planning to return in May.
Oh I do not miss the Temple tour. Unbelievably beautiful was not expecting to see what I saw when they opened the doors. Not to be missed!

Natasha • Sep 09, 2026

5.0

Verified

Amazing experience

I attended Ratna Ling’s “A Weekend of Self-Care” retreat over Labor Day weekend, and it was truly one of the best things I have ever done for myself. From the moment I arrived, the peaceful natural surroundings made it feel possible to slow down, breathe, and step away from the responsibilities and noise of everyday life.

The retreat offered a beautiful balance of guided classes, quiet reflection, meaningful connection with other women, and time to simply be alone. Rosalyn White and Erica Martzen created a warm, welcoming environment where I felt comfortable participating if I wanted to, there was never any pressure. Nothing felt forced or overwhelming. The cottages were a comfortable peaceful place to rest. The food was gluten free and vegan. This isn’t my usual diet but I tried many new things and I was all very good. Prepared right there on the property fresh everyday.

What made the weekend so meaningful was having the space to reconnect with myself and find a sense of peace within. I left feeling lighter, more grounded, and reminded that caring for myself is not selfish but necessary.

If you are a woman who spends most of her time caring for everyone else, feels emotionally drained, or simply needs space to reset, I wholeheartedly recommend this retreat. You do not need to have experience with yoga, meditation, or retreats… I had zero experience with any of it and felt totally welcomed. Ratna Ling is a very special place, and I hope to return.

The Inner Landscape: A Meditation Retreat in Nature

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Maria Helena Kubrusly

Details of this retreat

Getting Here

Directions

Accommodation

Venue & Amenities

Meals

Menu Types

A Truly Transformative and Beautiful Experience

Amazing Respite near the Bay Area!

Lovely Location

Amazing!

Amazing experience

Have a question for your host?

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