The Sound of Silence: A Summer Retreat in Yogaville
The Sound of Silence: A Summer Retreat in Yogaville
108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, VA 23921, United States
Up to 30 in group
Jul 8 - 12, 2026
Retreat Highlights
- Immersive container of intentional silence from beginning to end
- Gentle mindful yoga practices rooted in traditional teachings
- Guided meditation sessions to cultivate presence and inner calm
- Healing sound baths designed for deep relaxation and integration
- Access to serene natural surroundings for grounding and reflection
About this Retreat
Swami Divyananda Ma is a Senior Monk who took monastic vows from Swami Satchidananda in 1975, and continues to teach around the world, including serving as Director of the IYI in Coimbatore, India for ten years. She is a 200 hour, Intermediate, Meditation, and Raja Yoga Teacher Trainer.
Swami Karunananda has had 50 years’ experience teaching all aspects of Yoga. She designed and conducts teacher training programs in Raja Yoga and in Meditation. She served as president of Satchidananda Ashram in California and in Virginia, and as director of the San Francisco and Santa Barbara Integral Yoga Institutes. She compiled and edited The Lotus Prayer Book and Enlightening Tales as told by Sri Swami Satchidananda. Her book, Awakening: Aspiration to Realization through Integral Yoga, makes the Yoga teachings accessible and provides inspiration and guidance for the spiritual journey.
Swan Michelle has been serving the Gulf Coast and Global communities since 1998 full time in holistic practices, education, retreats, meditation , yoga & sound therapy. She is the Founder of Swan River Yoga in New Orleans, one of the largest wellness studio in the Gulf Coast Region. She has lead thousands of beings through numerous trainings, and specializes in Somatic Therapy, Yoga Nidra, Quantum Meditation & Sound Healing, She has introduced Sound Baths, Restorative Yoga & Yoga Teacher Trainings nationally & internationally, helping to such places as Sivananda Bahamas and Yoga Barn Bali Indonesia.
Her certifications and education includes Ram Dass (1996) , Sivananda Yoga (1998), Jivamukti Yoga (2002), Ashtanga Yoga (2010). She has trained with musicians Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, Dr M.A. Jayashree, (Sanskrit Scholar) & John Beaulieu (as featured on Gaia). Swan Michelle is on Dr. Joe Dispenza's Global Team as a Certified NCS NeuroChangeSolutions Consultant and enjoys blending applied neuro- learning to lead meditations for upgrading the biology, immune & nervous system for regulation.
She currently lives in NW Florida and travels the Gulf Coast of the U.S. & world regularly to provide high quality, authentic, classical education and healing experiences in connection with nature in conscious stillness based practices. Find her: www.swanmichelle.com FB Swan Michelle IG swan_michelle, Sound Cloud: Swan Michelle Spotify: Swan Michelle
Details of this retreat
Step away from the noise of daily life and enter a spacious, nourishing silence at Yogaville, a peaceful sanctuary dedicated to conscious living and spiritual practice. The Sound of Silence is a summer silent retreat designed to help you slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with your natural rhythm. Held within Yogaville’s serene natural surroundings, this retreat offers a deeply restorative experience where stillness becomes a teacher and sound a subtle guide. Through intentional silence, gentle yoga, meditation, and immersive sound baths, the nervous system is soothed, awareness deepens, and clarity emerges through quiet.
Participants will experience:
A shared container of intentional silence, held from the first evening through the final afternoon
Gentle, mindful yoga practices rooted in traditional yogic teachings
Guided meditation to cultivate presence, clarity, and inner calm
Sound baths using healing frequencies to support deep relaxation and integration
Inspirational talks and teachings from advanced yoga and meditation teachers
Time in nature on Yogaville’s grounds for grounding, reflection, and renewal
Testimonials
I needed to recharge, unwind, unplug, renew commitment to my spiritual path. I got all that and more. The program was full but flexible. I did not feel pressure. Thank you. I’ll be back. — Nellie Lazar
You were all such examples to me of love and service and kindness. I saw such confidence in every person that was inspiring to me. Your registration process to administration of this program was so efficient and yet personal. You didn’t waste my time with inefficiencies. Excellent work! I know that it takes a lot of work behind the scenes. Thank you 10,000 times! Jai! — Martha F.
Thank you for such a memorable experience and for creating a space where we can all be reminded of who we are and how to practice love and joy and bliss in our daily lives. — Past Participant
Join us this summer in a supportive, contemplative space where listening unfolds — inward and beyond.
View Daily Ashram Schedule →
Participants will experience:
A shared container of intentional silence, held from the first evening through the final afternoon
Gentle, mindful yoga practices rooted in traditional yogic teachings
Guided meditation to cultivate presence, clarity, and inner calm
Sound baths using healing frequencies to support deep relaxation and integration
Inspirational talks and teachings from advanced yoga and meditation teachers
Time in nature on Yogaville’s grounds for grounding, reflection, and renewal
Testimonials
I needed to recharge, unwind, unplug, renew commitment to my spiritual path. I got all that and more. The program was full but flexible. I did not feel pressure. Thank you. I’ll be back. — Nellie Lazar
You were all such examples to me of love and service and kindness. I saw such confidence in every person that was inspiring to me. Your registration process to administration of this program was so efficient and yet personal. You didn’t waste my time with inefficiencies. Excellent work! I know that it takes a lot of work behind the scenes. Thank you 10,000 times! Jai! — Martha F.
Thank you for such a memorable experience and for creating a space where we can all be reminded of who we are and how to practice love and joy and bliss in our daily lives. — Past Participant
Join us this summer in a supportive, contemplative space where listening unfolds — inward and beyond.
View Daily Ashram Schedule →
Getting Here
Yogaville, 108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, VA 23921, United States
Directions
Yogaville offers transportation from the airport, train and bus stations in Charlottesville, VA. If you are driving Google Maps has reliable turn-by-turn directions.
Accommodation
Availability of complimentary accommodations is determined by the order of booking.
Dormitory
The most popular accommodations we have are Dormitory Accommodations – shared room and shared bath. We have two dormitories, Vivekananda Vihar and Ramalinga Nilayam, which are centrally heated and air-conditioned and convenient to meals and programs.
Lotus Guest House (Private Room)
Each room in our six unit guest house is equipped with a small refrigerator, queen size bed and full bath. Each room in our nine unit guest house is equipped with a queen sized bed and full bath, and no refrigerator.
Tenting
Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are twelve campsites. Campers have use of the bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities nearby Vivekananda Vihar dormitory. Camping is available from March 15th to December 1st.
Shared Dormitory: Bottom Bunk
Bottom bunk in a shared dorm room.
Dorm rooms contain 4-8 beds.
Shared bathroom
Dorm rooms are not coed
Availability is Gender Specific
Private Dormitory
This is a private room with a shared bathroom in our Ramalinga Nilayam Dorm - Females Only
LGH: Full Bed
Private room and Private Bath. A single Full bed and a private bath designed for those seeking peace in solitude.
LGH: 2 Twin beds
Private Room and Private Bath. Two twin Beds and a private bath that is ideal for friends looking to experience the bliss of Yogaville.
LGH: Queen Bed
Private Room and Private Bath. A queen bed or a queen with two day beds and a private bath that is perfect for couples and families searching for a peaceful time together. Please put in the personal comments if you need a room that includes trundles.
Tent-Site
Open from Mar. 16–Nov. 30. Closed from Dec. 1–Mar. 15
Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are Eighteen campsites. Campers have use of the nearby bathhouse as well as laundry facilities at the LGH Building 3. Also, all tent sites have tent platforms for a more comfortable and dry tenting experience. Fires and Stoves are not Permitted. Price is per person per night.
Please bring your own tent, tie downs, tarp (weather protection). bedding and towels.
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
Yogaville is home to the Light of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). The LOTUS is a unique temple dedicated to interfaith understanding and the Light within all faiths. Individual altars represent and honor the different world faiths and spiritual paths. The vision, design and inspiration of Sri Swami Satchidananda, LOTUS was dedicated in 1986. It demonstrates, “Truth is One, Paths are Many.” In the peaceful countryside of Virginia, the doors of LOTUS are open to welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Organic, vegetarian/vegan food
Labeled ingredients
Lacto-vegetarian
Gluten-free and vegan options
Salad bar
Large herbal tea selection
Coffee is available for purchase at Mandala Cafe
What's Included
- Accomodations
- Meals
- Meditation Sessions
- Yoga Classes
What's Not Included
- Transportation
- Airfare
