Order your copy of The Hridaya Cookbook! Explore this collection of plant-based recipes from our centers, and bring presence and intention to every meal.
Order your copy of The Hridaya Cookbook! Explore this collection of plant-based recipes from our centers, and bring presence and intention to every meal.
These are the most commonly asked questions about Hridaya.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please use the search feature above or contact our friendly team!
Please see our Payment, Refund, and Amendment Guidelines for complete payment and refund information.
For information on how to reach Hridaya Yoga France by bus, air, train, or car, please visit this page.
The Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat is a unique immersion experience that focuses on accessing our real and essential nature, atman, through an artful integration of meditation and yoga techniques.
The retreat was specifically designed to provide an understanding of Self-Inquiry meditation and to open us to the Consciousness of Oneness.
During this retreat, we address broad aspects of the Spiritual Heart from a variety of traditions, including esoteric Christianity, Sufism, and Kashmir Shaivism. The atmosphere is one of agape and strong spiritual support.
The retreat program and guidelines aim to create an experience that resembles a solitary retreat (such as one in a cave). Thus, the conditions are optimal to open toward deep states of consciousness, to amplify spiritual aspiration, and to support an interiorization that brings the awakening and blossoming of the soul.
In the advanced stages of their practice, all the paths of authentic spiritual traditions merge into the same ineffable Reality. The Hridaya Retreat refers to that same Spirit of Oneness and can be seen as a unique integration of Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, Tantra, Shaivism, and Dzogchen.
During the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat, you will be guided to this direct understanding, where the search for meaning ends in surrender to the domain of revelation.
No previous meditation or yoga experience is necessary as this retreat is designed for beginner and advanced meditators alike.You can find more information about the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat here.
The Hridaya Yoga Retreat: Module 1 Intensive is a holistic course that presents the main aspects of traditional yoga. The course is held monthly and unfolds over 3 weeks, with morning and afternoon practices and an evening lecture daily.
It offers a life-changing journey in which fundamental spiritual topics are introduced in both a practical and theoretical way. The practice of Hatha Yoga provides intimate inner knowledge of the physical body, bio-energies, chakras (energy centers), emotions, and mind. It creates the conditions for the revelation of our ultimate nature, and therefore, a contemplative mindset and the Witnessing Attitude are an important part of the practice.
Another important part of this journey consists of enjoying the experience of a sincere and heart-opening community that has represented for many students a revelation in itself, an (unfortunately, too rare) example of harmony, integrity, authenticity, and humbleness. Community activities include daily morning meditations, showings of documentaries and yoga-related films, bhajans (devotional singing evenings), pujas (traditional Indian devotional ceremonies), and evening lectures and Q&A sessions with experienced teachers. The Hridaya Community embodies the kindness, supportive attitude, and strength of connections found in a spiritual family or an ashram.You can read more about Module 1 here. For more information about the Hridaya vision, please visit this page.
The Sanskrit root of the word “yoga” is yuj, which means to “yoke,” “bind,” or “join together,” and also indicates “union” or “oneness.” There are many forms of yoga, so defining yoga in an all-encompassing way can be challenging.
At the spiritual level, yoga offers a means to purify our body and psyche, thus creating the conditions to reveal the True Essence of our Being, the Spiritual Heart. Ultimately, any path by which we realize that there is no separation between our deepest nature and the essence of the entire cosmos can be designated as yoga.
Therefore, yoga can be defined as both an empirical spiritual path and a philosophy, revealing the union between us (our individual consciousness or soul) and the Universal Consciousness or Spirit.
Apart from this ultimate aspiration, yoga also has countless “secondary” benefits on different levels. These include:
For more information about what yoga is, please visit this page.
Because Hridaya France is a recognized non-profit association, under the law, all those who use our facilities must be members. Our low €10 annual membership fee gives you access to our center for one calendar year—whether you’re joining a yoga class, participating in Karma Yoga, or attending a retreat or workshop.
Your membership fee not only provides access to our center but also helps support our mission of sharing the teachings of the Heart and creating a space for transformation and Self-discovery. We warmly invite you to join us and experience all the benefits that come with being part of this unique and welcoming community.Note that you may attend one drop-in morning meditation session or Hatha Yoga class before deciding if you want to become a member. And, if you purchase a membership for a stay with us in October, November, or December, it will be valid for the entire next calendar year.
For our suggested packing list, please visit this page.
Our prices are listed in euros. We only accept payment in euros.
Tuition fees do not include food or accommodation, but we offer both at our center. You’ll be able to select from available options when booking.
Our kitchen lovingly prepares simple, wholesome meals every day. We use fresh and organic products that are locally sourced whenever possible. All dishes are vegan. You may book meals when registering for courses.
We provide complimentary hot water. You are welcome to bring your own tea bags or purchase them from a selection in our Yogi Shop.
The area around Longeval is at an altitude of 480 meters, so the temperature can vary.
From June through September, the region enjoys warm, pleasant weather, with summer temperatures ranging from a refreshing 15°C (59°F) to highs of 40°C (104°F). Warm conditions often last into October before cooling down for winter, when snow is possible from December to March. Spring brings comfortable averages around 20°C (68°F), making it ideal for outdoor activities. July stands out as the warmest and driest month, while December is the coldest and May the wettest—so pack and plan accordingly for the season you choose to visit. It is worth bringing an extra layer of clothing even in the summer.
Internet is available in the communal areas in both the Château and our annex, Clair Joie.
Our center is perfectly equipped to host retreats, workshops, seminars, and other events. It provides a rejuvenating experience in a peaceful natural environment. We can accommodate groups of 10 to 100 participants and welcome programs that align with the spirit and values of our center. Find out more about renting our center here.
The Lac des Sapins (Lake of the Pine Trees), a beautiful lake with the largest ecological swimming pool in Europe, is located 15 kilometers from Longeval. Lyon, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is one hour away by car or public transportation.
When planning your trip, please make sure you have a French visa valid for your entire stay. For information about visa requirements for your home country, please visit this page.
We recommend that all visitors have health and civil liability insurance in case of accidents.
Please see our Registration Guidelines for complete payment and refund information.
The closest airports are Huatulco and Puerto Escondido. Both are approximately an hour’s drive from Mazunte. For more information about getting to Hridaya, please visit this page.
Important note: There will be construction work on the road between Pochutla and Huatulco until at least December 31, 2025, and the road will be impassable at certain times of the day. During this period, we strongly recommend that you travel via Puerto Escondido.
Our tuition fees do not include food or accommodation, but we offer both at our center. You’ll be able to select from available options when booking. Find more information about on-site and off-site accommodation here.
Yes! While there are many benefits to staying on-site during our programs, our students often choose to stay in nearby accommodations. You’ll find more information and a list of suggested local hotels here.
For more information about getting to our center, please visit this page.
Our phone number is +52 958 688 58 89. Please call if you need any assistance.
Please visit Google Maps for a map of the entire area.
For our suggested packing list, please visit this page.
There are two sharply defined seasons in Mazunte: the tropical/moist weather of summer and early fall, and the dry weather of winter and spring. In July, August, and September, the increase in cloud cover can push the average daily temperatures below those of the warm late April, May, and early June. The advantage of visiting in the summer/fall is the lush, green landscape. During the winter/spring you will experience the green and brown combination of dry landscape.
You can find current weather conditions here.
Yes! Our drop-in classes are a great way to experience Hridaya Hatha Yoga. Classes are offered on a sliding scale and are available in English and Spanish. Find our current schedule here or email info@hridaya-yoga.mx for more information.
Please note that drop-ins are not held during Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreats.
If you originally joined the Retreat for just 3 days, you are welcome to extend your stay if a 10-Day Retreat is running concurrently. Please send a note to the Retreat Coordinator by the afternoon of day 3 to ensure proper arrangements are made.
However, note that if you are staying in our on-site accommodations, extensions may not be possible. If you think you may want to extend, please speak with our front desk staff prior to the retreat for more information.
ATMs in Mazunte are very unreliable, and the nearest banks are in Pochutla, about 30 minutes away. We strongly suggest you change enough money before coming to Mazunte to avoid having to make a special trip to town. There are ATMs at the airports in Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, as well as in all major Mexican cities. If possible, try to get small bills, as many local businesses aren’t able to make change.
Look for your home country on this page to find out if you require a tourist visa.
Although health care in the area is generally affordable, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance before your trip. There are many travel health insurance plans available online.
We do not currently have yoga classes designed for children.
Children aged 7 and over may attend drop-in yoga classes free of charge as long as an adult accompanies them and they do not disrupt the class.
Children ages 13 and over may attend the Hridaya Yoga Retreat: Module 1 Intensive. For those under the age of 13, permission to attend must be granted by the Hridaya teacher who is responsible for that group, on an individual basis.
For those under the age of 18, attendance at workshops and Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreats requires the approval of Sahajananda or one of the experienced Hridaya teachers.
For more information about children attending classes, please email info@hridaya-yoga.mx.
Unfortunately, we are not able to assume responsibility for your children at this time, as we do not currently have facilities in place for childcare. However, we have had students with children who were able to find reliable local nannies and/or schools to accommodate them. To receive the most current childcare information, please email info@hridaya-yoga.mx.
On-site Wi-Fi is not available for students. Our programs provide an opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and connect with yourself, your fellow students, and the teachings, fully immersing yourself in them during your stay.
Should you need to contact friends or loved ones, internet access is now available in most restaurants, cafés, hotels, and resorts in San Agustinillo and Mazunte. There are also internet cafés that offer cheap hourly rates. And, if you purchase a Mexican SIM card, Telcel offers many affordable pay-as-you-go data plans.
While we have an abundance of love for all beings, we request that students not bring any pets into our center. We try to cultivate a conducive environment for meditation and introspection. Therefore, we request that you find a suitable off-site location for your pet while you are in class. If you want to stay on-site in our accommodations, we request that you do not have a pet with you. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Food is generally fresh and healthy, and many restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan options. There are many shops selling fruit, vegetables, juice, nuts, granola, cereals, and other grocery items. Avoid eating from the street, as there is a high risk of getting bacteria and parasites.
The area around our center (the villages of Mazunte and San Agustinillo) is relatively safe. Violent crime is rare, although opportunistic theft can happen. You can reduce its likelihood by remaining vigilant and not carrying valuables with you. We do our best to provide a safe environment at the Hridaya Center; however, we ask that all students exercise awareness regarding personal safety and the care of belongings. All personal belongings left at the school and in our accommodations are at your own risk.
For added security, students staying on-site may store valuables in our safe. You can store cash (up to $4000 MXN, $200 USD, or equivalent), credit cards, and passports. Although we offer safekeeping of your valuables, we do not assume liability if they are lost or stolen.
We would also like to warn you about some scenarios in which trusting foreigners often find themselves vulnerable to crime, and to provide you with some common-sense suggestions.
Our kitchen serves breakfast and dinner during yoga courses and three meals per day during meditation retreats. You can find meal plan prices on program booking pages.If you don’t eat at Hridaya, you should prepare to spend around $300 MXN per day.
If you eat out at nicer places, have a big appetite, etc., you will likely spend more. If you prepare your own food or eat at local comedores, you may spend about $150 MXN.
We do a silent meditation retreat especially when we feel an intense calling towards the depths of our being. Or, we do a retreat when we feel the need to stop our ordinary activities for a while in order to objectify the nature of our impulses and see the reasons behind our decisions and actions with more clarity and detachment.
In this way, we purify our subconscious mind and start to see more clearly what is false in our lives. We also get closer to the real meaning of existence.
Even though there may be difficult times during retreat, we have the feeling that we are going deeper down a path of truthfulness, clarity, love, and detachment from old patterns.
Often, this process may appear completely new to us. To follow its call, we feel the need for discipline and dedication.
In every Hridaya Meditation, we are invited to let go of our ego. We have the feeling of entering a path on which we cannot move forward other than in sacred solitude. It is as if we decide to leave behind our personal world of fears, worries, traumas, thoughts, impulses, and reactions to explore a new dimension—a world of awareness, peace, joy, and freedom. Thus, we begin an inner journey into our Real Nature, feeling that we step forward on a path we may have never taken before.
During a silent meditation retreat, the tendency to look outside for fulfillment shifts to exploring ourselves from within. This shift of awareness makes us discover the space of Stillness in which all thoughts arise and dissipate. It is what we name “the awareness of awareness itself.”
Awareness also brings more sensitivity to the mind, emotions, and body. In this openness, old, painful memories and patterns emerge, are embraced without judgment and with awareness and love, and, thus, are released. The abandonment of what we were identified with (stories, dramas, fears, etc.) brings the happiness of pure existence, the freedom of awareness. Meditation becomes an always-new, conscious surrender into the unlimited, unknown “land” of our inner universe, into the secret infinity that dwells in us.
This inner path can be compared with facing death. The letting go of attachments has the same significance as evoking death in any genuine initiating ritual. In initiations, death (which is a death of the ego) symbolizes the fundamental spiritual path that starts from the individual, limited consciousness and ends in the Consciousness of Oneness.
Most often, it can be a long process with different stages. But the fundamental and fascinating phase is the conscious step from personal to transpersonal, from limitation to absolute freedom, from manifestation to transcendence.
The program and the guidelines of the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat are meant to create the proper conditions to experience the calming of the mind and the blossoming of the Heart—the inner organ of direct Spiritual Knowledge.
It gives us the taste of the essential “dimension” of our being—Stillness.
During the retreat, you will learn techniques to:
Our aspiration is to support you in a genuine journey meant to bring a profound understanding of the real nature of existence.
Ultimately, there should be no expectations, because what we really are cannot be reduced to some physical or mental effects. The spiritual journey is not like a mathematical equation in which, when doing the same operations, you always expect the same effects.
Nevertheless, what we are “doing” in a retreat is simply creating proper physical and psychological conditions in order to let the Divine Reality be revealed in our Heart.
It may be quite possible that you will experience some profound energetic or psychological effects during meditation. Do not cling to them. In the openness of your being, much more than that is happening.
In a silent retreat, it is much easier to free ourselves from the countless distractions of daily life. The mind becomes calmer, and we rediscover the beauty of simplicity, of nature, of pure presence. The retreat offers us the space and time to stop and meet ourselves in a deeper way.
Silence and solitude open us to the Stillness that is our Real Nature. The genuine touch of Stillness brings regeneration, clarity, strength, rest, and trust.
Stillness exists beyond the layers of words, thoughts, and emotions. Stillness is the ocean in which all sounds and movements appear as waves. Sound and silence, movement and immobility are inseparable in the embrace of awareness and Stillness. Thoughts depend on the Stillness of pure awareness, exactly as waves depend on the ocean.
Through the power of time, everything returns to Stillness. Being settled in this center—Stillness—brings significance, vigor, and enthusiasm to any aspect of life. When we lose our connection with Stillness, we become inefficient and weak.
When agitation ceases in our being, we can know this directly, in an intimate and obvious way. Through Hridaya Meditation, the awareness of the difference between thinking and just Being emerges in a natural way.
If thoughts and activity are formative for the personality, Stillness is trans-formative in the sense that it reveals to us the uniqueness and beauty that it is, that we are.
“In silence, the lines of the mouth are like the closed wings of a butterfly. When the word starts moving, the wings open, and the butterfly flies away. […]
Silence reveals itself in a thousand inexpressible forms: in the quiet of dawn, in the noiseless aspiration of trees towards the sky, in the stealthy descent of night, in the silent changing of the seasons, in the falling moonlight, trickling down into the night like a rain of silence, but above all in the silence of the inward soul,—all these forms of silence are nameless: all the clearer and surer is the word that arises out of and in contrast to the nameless silence.”
–Max Picard
“It is in the sanctuary of nature’s silent places, with mindful attention, that the true liberation of the heart can be obtained.”
–Buddha
Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreats are designed for everyone, from those who have never tried meditation to advanced meditators.
The daily schedule starts gently, with meditation sessions broken into short, one-hour (or less) segments, increasing to longer sessions by the end of the retreat. In addition to meditation sessions, each day’s schedule includes a morning Hatha Yoga class, lectures, and time for questions and answers (with written questions).
In meditation, there should be no effort or difficulty, because all that we have “to do” is to remain in the center of our being, and each time we observe that we are taken away by thoughts, sensations, emotions, etc. we simply come back, again and again and again, without reaction, frustration, or tension, but with serenity and patience.
The great Jnana Yogi Nisargadatta Maharaj speaks about the naturalness and simplicity of meditation, which is essentially a Self-awareness.
“Q: … there must be a way for all to tread—with no conditions attached.
M: There is such a way, open to all, on every level, in every walk of life. Everybody is aware of himself. The deepening and broadening of Self-awareness is the royal way. Call it mindfulness, or witnessing, or just attention — it is for all. None is unripe for it and none can fail.”
There is an orientation session held the day prior to the start of the retreat, in which we go over all guidelines. Retreat participants must attend; registration is not possible after this session. For more information, please read the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat Guidelines.
Retreats are led by Sahajananda and other experienced Hridaya Meditation teachers. Please refer to our Calendar for list of upcoming dates and presenters. If no teacher is listed for the date you are interested in joining us, you may contact us for more information.
We offer silent meditation retreats regularly at our centers in France, Mexico, and Romania. Please refer to our Calendar for a list of upcoming offerings.
You can find the current schedule on the landing page for the retreat you are interested in joining.
Find current pricing information on the landing page for the retreat you are interested in joining.
It is best to book your retreat as early as possible, as spaces often fill up quickly. We allow registration until the orientation session the day before the retreat. It is not possible to join a retreat after 7:00 am on the first day.
You can find more information about the 49-Day Pratyabhijna Retreat here.
Dark retreats are meditation retreats in rooms completely devoid of light. In many religions, traditions, and medical systems (Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Ayurveda, Hermeticism, ancient Greek medicine, etc.), they have been known to induce profound shifts in consciousness and to bring many beneficial effects.
In India, they are called Kaya Kalpa (“body transformation”) and are seen as a highly regenerative practice on the physical level. Since the purpose of such a retreat should be more than just bodily rejuvenation, we prefer the name “Dark Retreat.”
We invite you to deepen your meditation practice by experiencing a private retreat in our Dark Room in Mazunte, a space especially prepared to admit no light and designed with a proper ventilation system and air conditioning. During the retreat, we can provide meals and other support for your spiritual practice.
For more information about Dark Retreats, please visit our Dark Room Retreats page.
Having a previous meditation practice (such as having attended a 10-Day Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat) is strongly recommended before starting a Dark Retreat.
To participate in a Dark Room Retreat at our center in Mexico, you must submit an application and have an interview with our Dark Room Coordinator. This helps ensure that the retreat is a good fit for your current process and intentions.
If this is your first Dark Room Retreat, we recommend you start with a minimum of 1-3 nights and a maximum of 7 nights. Once you build experience, you may be inspired to do longer and longer retreats—our students have done 2-, 3-, and even 7-week Dark Room Retreats, with profound results. We also recommend that you plan to spend a few days at our center before entering the Dark Room to get familiar with the community and begin to settle in. It’s also a good idea to arrange accommodation and transportation for before and after your time in the Dark Room.
A Dark Room Retreat is not guided—you will be able to create your own schedule and manage your own practice. As you will be completely alone during the retreat, it’s important that you already have a steady meditation practice.
Please visit our Dark Room Retreats page for more information.
Module 1 aims, through its vision, methods, and attitudes, to make the teachings of the Consciousness of Oneness resonate more deeply within each of us. Our highest priority is to keep the universality of the message, beyond dogma and biases.
The teachings of Module 1 unfold over four stages:
Week 1 – Introduction and Subtle Structures
Week 2 – Purifications
Week 3 – Spiritual Transformation and Grace
Week 4 – Integration In Daily Life
The curriculum of Module 1 includes:
Yes. The Module 1 course meets for 18 days. Each day includes two Hatha Yoga classes, an optional hour of meditation, and an evening lecture. The program is designed both to stretch your body and to expand your consciousness.
Although the schedule is intensive, the Hridaya approach is contemplative. Asana sessions are designed to promote relaxation and happiness rather than effort or strain. Because of this, Hridaya Hatha Yoga is perfect for all levels of practitioners, and every student is encouraged to honor the limits of their physical body while going deeper in awareness.
Please visit the course description page for the current schedule.
No, the Module 1 course is a good fit for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
It is best to reserve your spot as early as possible to avoid the disappointment of the course being fully booked when you would like to attend.
No. For the most transformative experience, we recommend attending the full Module 1 course in one visit, but you may come for 1-2 weeks at a time. Attending in order is ideal as the course progresses sequentially, but feel free to register for the weeks that best suit your schedule. Note that you must complete Week 1 or Week 2 before doing Week 3.
Please refer to the Module 1 page for current pricing information.
Note that we offer low-income discounts and scholarships for those with sincere financial constraints.
The course fee includes attendance at all class sessions (meditations, Hatha Yoga practices, and lectures). It also includes a course booklet, support from teachers, and participation in optional evening events.
Food and accommodation are charged separately. For more information, please contact us.
After Module 1 finishes, we encourage you to participate in a 3- or 10-Day Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat. You are also very welcome to continue to deepen your Hatha Yoga practice by joining Module 2.
Yes! We welcome returning students who wish to deepen their practice by repeating Module 1. Once you have completed the course, you may repeat it by donation at our centers in Longeval and Mazunte. (Subject to availability; minimum 50% donation in Mazunte.) Contact us for more information.
In order to graduate from Module 1, you must complete at least 16 of the 18 days of the course. Please note that a “complete” day means attendance at all 3 class sessions (morning and afternoon Hatha Yoga practices and evening lecture).
No. To create the best container for all students, it’s best if the group remains as stable as possible. If you’re inspired to try Hridaya Hatha Yoga but don’t have enough free time, we invite you to join a drop-in class or the Yoga and Meditation Discovery Weekend.
While we honor each student’s background, we require that everyone starts with Module 1 in order to ensure a comprehensive understanding of traditional Hatha Yoga theory and practice, Self-Inquiry meditation, and the Hridaya approach.
Hridaya teachers also have a responsibility to provide you with a proper foundation, explain fundamental yogic concepts, and gradually guide you deeper in meditation and the more advanced forms of Hatha Yoga involving the intense arousal of Kundalini Shakti.
In order to enroll in Module 2, you must have graduated from Module 1, completing at least 16 full days. In order to attend higher levels, you must have graduated from the preceding level. Successful completion of Module 2 requires attending at least 10 full days of the course. For Modules 3 and higher, attendance at a minimum of 8 of the 10 core classes and 6 of the 8 intensive practice classes is required to proceed to the next level.
Please visit our Calendar.
In France, Module 2 meets for 12 days over a 2-week period. In Mexico, Module 2 meets for 13 days over a 3-week course cycle. (Note that the content of the course is the same in both centers.) The course day includes a long morning Hatha Yoga practice and an afternoon or evening lecture.
In Mexico, as the course days are subject to change each cycle, please contact us for the current schedule.
Modules 3+ meet for 18 4-hour sessions over a 3-week course cycle. Find out more on the respective landing pages.
We strongly recommend that you maintain a vegetarian diet for the duration of your stay. Please also refrain from smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and using drugs while participating in our courses.
Yoga practice (both Hatha Yoga and meditation) helps tremendously in letting go of old habits and, even, addictions.
It purifies:
Every module of the Hridaya Yoga Retreat is associated with an optional diet experience (juice cleanse, macrobiotic diet, fast, etc.). Additionally, traditional yogic cleansing techniques (kriyas) are taught to accelerate this inner purification.
Traditionally, yoga practice included a vegetarian diet. Practicing yoga with a different diet may be less efficient and even risky, especially when performing advanced Hatha Yoga practices that involve the awakening of Kundalini energy.
Therefore, it is for your health and safety as well as for the efficiency of your spiritual practice that you choose to follow these recommendations.
Meditation is a means of transforming and, even, transcending the mind in order to reveal a deeper dimension of our consciousness—pure awareness (which, according to the yogic tradition, is our real nature).
Meditation is, essentially, a contemplative practice by which the awareness of this pure awareness is emphasized.
Meditation techniques develop concentration, clarity, emotional purification, awareness, and a lucid insight into the true nature of things. Through a consistent meditation practice, we learn to witness and transcend the patterns and habits of the mind.
Cultivating the Witnessing Attitude, we (re)discover the natural means to cultivate more positive ways of being.
With regular work and patience, these nourishing, focused states of mind can deepen into profoundly peaceful and expanded states of consciousness.
Like yoga, meditation is also a term that covers many practices, approaches, and visions under its umbrella.
Meditation is not just a trance state or a relaxation technique. It is not even a visualization practice. Meditation is essentially a commitment to Reality—an aspiration to be aware.
The Sanskrit word Hridaya means Heart. Hridaya Yoga is a spiritual path whose main purpose is to create the proper conditions for the revelation our Real Self, atman, or the Spiritual Heart, as it is called in many traditions.
The Heart can be seen as the “meeting place” for all those who wish to live in a sacred manner. It was often affirmed that the Heart is our real home. Therefore, Hridaya Yoga is simply an invitation to be at home, trusting in what we really are, enjoying this centering and awareness.
The core of Hridaya Yoga consists of a specific form of meditation and the teachings about nonduality expressed in the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat.
The Hridaya Hatha Yoga practice and vision (as taught in the Hridaya Yoga Retreat: Module 1 Intensive) is in complete coherence with these contemplative attitudes.
In Hridaya Hatha Yoga, the asanas (postures) are performed while maintaining the inner spiritual attitudes recommended in the traditional texts of Tantra, Hatha Yoga, and Kashmir Shaivism. They are oriented towards getting intimate inner knowledge of the physical body, of its bio-energies, and of our Real Nature, the Spiritual Heart.
Ultimately, a transfiguration of the body appears, which helps us understand that spirituality is not about being free FROM the body, but about being free IN the body.
For more information about Hridaya Hatha Yoga, please visit this page.
Hatha Yoga practiced in a forceful and pushy way, without a loving awareness of the body, can be harmful. Some advanced Hatha Yoga techniques can be dangerous if practiced without proper preparation and the guidance of a qualified teacher. Some forms of so-called meditation, in which people are looking for trance-like states or are just lost in imagination, can be dangerous as well. This is why yoga should be learned only from competent teachers, such as those at Hridaya, who support you in developing awareness, lucidity, and common sense.
Hridaya Meditation is a practice inspired by the teachings of Ramana Maharshi.
It includes:
You can read more about Hridaya Meditation here.
Many yogic terms used throughout this website and in many of our meditation retreats and yoga classes are defined in our glossary.
Our Yogic Knowledge Base and Inspiring Articles also offer a wealth of useful information.
The science of yoga is very vast. The literature dedicated to these topics is immense, and although there are a few gems, many books are irrelevant. For a greater understanding of yoga and meditation, we have organized some of the available information for you.
Actually, at Hridaya, we speak about the integration of daily life into spirituality, since a real spiritual practice should change the old, selfish paradigms associated with daily life. Thus, yoga and meditation are not just a means to be more efficient in our daily tasks while we maintain old patterns. Rather, they encourage us to create coherence between our spiritual intuitions, aspirations, and daily lives. During our Module 1 course and in the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat, this topic is elaborated upon, and practical advice is offered. We also offer a special post-retreat integration course, From Retreat to Daily Life.
Yes. According to Classical Yoga, the very foundation of yoga consists of some common sense guidelines called yama and niyama. They are:
Apart from inspiring you to follow these traditional guidelines, at Hridaya, we suggest that you cultivate 14 fundamental attitudes as a way to create the proper conditions for Self-Revelation: Aspiration, Compassion, Courage, Enthusiasm, Generosity, Goodness, Gratitude, Humbleness, Love, Patience, Perseverance, Pure intention, Sincerity, and Wisdom.
“Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law.” -Immanuel Kant
The main reason we keep our prices low is that our teachings are rooted in traditional yogic philosophy, which emphasizes leading a simple life and respecting aparigraha, or non-greediness. Both as students and teachers, we learn to live in the spirit of yoga, in a decent, unpretentious, and natural way.
While the material aspects are not ignored, they are not our main focus. When we free ourselves from the obsession with material gain, the love and freedom of our being will naturally be emphasized and will blossom.
Another reason we are able to offer such reasonable prices is that many students and teachers support the community with their inspiration and natural gifts by working in different Karma Yoga (selfless service) activities.
We also have trust that life in itself is a generous and abundant offering when we learn how to honor and receive the gifts of existence.
While we offer accessible courses, we consider that the spiritual perfection that we essentially are should also be reflected in a high standard of quality for our teachings and services—there is nothing “cheap” about our offerings.
While this option is not excluded in principle, we want to ensure the smoothness of our administrative operations—guaranteeing a fixed salary for our employees and honoring our other financial responsibilities (rent, etc.). Sometimes the donation approach is rooted in a mentality of offering something that may not be good enough, but assuming people will donate according to their degree of satisfaction. Thus, complaining is somehow avoided. We are fully aware of the quality of the teachings we offer, and we are totally accountable for it.
On the other hand, we believe that anyone with a genuine spiritual aspiration should have the opportunity to learn meditation and yoga, regardless of their financial situation. Because of this, we offer discounts and scholarships, and we are always willing to support students who really need help.
Our centers present workshops on a variety of inspiring spiritual themes. Explore our full range of offerings here. Workshops supplement our course program by allowing students the space to go deeper into different aspects of the teachings. Please visit our Calendar for a comprehensive list of current workshops.
Yes! Find out more here.
The Hridaya teachings are being shared in many places around the world. Click here for a list of teachers, affiliated centers, and upcoming courses. You are also invited to join the Hridaya Community WhatsApp group to stay connected to the teachings and find other practitioners near you.
Please visit this page for transportation options.
For our suggested packing list, please visit this page.
The total price includes the tuition fee, accommodation, and food.
Kamala Center offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner during workshops and meditation retreats. These meals are included in the total package fee. Fresh fruit and tea are available at any time.
If you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or intolerances, please inform us in advance of your arrival. Meals are primarily vegetarian; eggs and dairy products are offered separately and in limited amounts. Drinking water at the center is safe.
You are welcome to bring your own snacks (such as nuts, seeds, or crackers) to keep in your room.
Hridaya Yoga Kamala Center welcomes visitors year-round, with each season offering its unique beauty. In our temperate climate, summer temperatures average 21 °C (70 °F) in August—ideal for enjoying the surrounding natural environment. Winter brings an average of -1 °C (30 °F) in December, and there are mountain resorts in the area for skiing and other winter sports.
Yes.
Kamala Center is located in Sânpetru, part of the metropolitan area of Brașov, just 8 km from the Brașov train station, in the heart of Romania near the Carpathian Mountains.
In Sânpetru, points of interest include:
In the Brașov area, highlights include:
From Brașov, you can also take trips to:
When planning your trip, please make sure you have a Romanian visa valid for your entire stay. For information about visa requirements for your home country, please visit this page.
The closest airports are Brașov, Bucharest, Sibiu, and Târgu Mureș. For more information about getting to our center, please visit this page.
Yes. Find more information here.
Please see our Payment, Refund, and Amendment Guidelines for complete payment and refund information.
For information on how to reach Hridaya Yoga France by bus, air, train, or car, please visit this page.
The Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat is a unique immersion experience that focuses on accessing our real and essential nature, atman, through an artful integration of meditation and yoga techniques.
The retreat was specifically designed to provide an understanding of Self-Inquiry meditation and to open us to the Consciousness of Oneness.
During this retreat, we address broad aspects of the Spiritual Heart from a variety of traditions, including esoteric Christianity, Sufism, and Kashmir Shaivism. The atmosphere is one of agape and strong spiritual support.
The retreat program and guidelines aim to create an experience that resembles a solitary retreat (such as one in a cave). Thus, the conditions are optimal to open toward deep states of consciousness, to amplify spiritual aspiration, and to support an interiorization that brings the awakening and blossoming of the soul.
In the advanced stages of their practice, all the paths of authentic spiritual traditions merge into the same ineffable Reality. The Hridaya Retreat refers to that same Spirit of Oneness and can be seen as a unique integration of Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, Tantra, Shaivism, and Dzogchen.
During the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat, you will be guided to this direct understanding, where the search for meaning ends in surrender to the domain of revelation.
No previous meditation or yoga experience is necessary as this retreat is designed for beginner and advanced meditators alike.You can find more information about the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat here.
The Hridaya Yoga Retreat: Module 1 Intensive is a holistic course that presents the main aspects of traditional yoga. The course is held monthly and unfolds over 3 weeks, with morning and afternoon practices and an evening lecture daily.
It offers a life-changing journey in which fundamental spiritual topics are introduced in both a practical and theoretical way. The practice of Hatha Yoga provides intimate inner knowledge of the physical body, bio-energies, chakras (energy centers), emotions, and mind. It creates the conditions for the revelation of our ultimate nature, and therefore, a contemplative mindset and the Witnessing Attitude are an important part of the practice.
Another important part of this journey consists of enjoying the experience of a sincere and heart-opening community that has represented for many students a revelation in itself, an (unfortunately, too rare) example of harmony, integrity, authenticity, and humbleness. Community activities include daily morning meditations, showings of documentaries and yoga-related films, bhajans (devotional singing evenings), pujas (traditional Indian devotional ceremonies), and evening lectures and Q&A sessions with experienced teachers. The Hridaya Community embodies the kindness, supportive attitude, and strength of connections found in a spiritual family or an ashram.You can read more about Module 1 here. For more information about the Hridaya vision, please visit this page.
The Sanskrit root of the word “yoga” is yuj, which means to “yoke,” “bind,” or “join together,” and also indicates “union” or “oneness.” There are many forms of yoga, so defining yoga in an all-encompassing way can be challenging.
At the spiritual level, yoga offers a means to purify our body and psyche, thus creating the conditions to reveal the True Essence of our Being, the Spiritual Heart. Ultimately, any path by which we realize that there is no separation between our deepest nature and the essence of the entire cosmos can be designated as yoga.
Therefore, yoga can be defined as both an empirical spiritual path and a philosophy, revealing the union between us (our individual consciousness or soul) and the Universal Consciousness or Spirit.
Apart from this ultimate aspiration, yoga also has countless “secondary” benefits on different levels. These include:
For more information about what yoga is, please visit this page.
Because Hridaya France is a recognized non-profit association, under the law, all those who use our facilities must be members. Our low €10 annual membership fee gives you access to our center for one calendar year—whether you’re joining a yoga class, participating in Karma Yoga, or attending a retreat or workshop.
Your membership fee not only provides access to our center but also helps support our mission of sharing the teachings of the Heart and creating a space for transformation and Self-discovery. We warmly invite you to join us and experience all the benefits that come with being part of this unique and welcoming community.Note that you may attend one drop-in morning meditation session or Hatha Yoga class before deciding if you want to become a member. And, if you purchase a membership for a stay with us in October, November, or December, it will be valid for the entire next calendar year.
For our suggested packing list, please visit this page.
Our prices are listed in euros. We only accept payment in euros.
Tuition fees do not include food or accommodation, but we offer both at our center. You’ll be able to select from available options when booking.
Our kitchen lovingly prepares simple, wholesome meals every day. We use fresh and organic products that are locally sourced whenever possible. All dishes are vegan. You may book meals when registering for courses.
We provide complimentary hot water. You are welcome to bring your own tea bags or purchase them from a selection in our Yogi Shop.
The area around Longeval is at an altitude of 480 meters, so the temperature can vary.
From June through September, the region enjoys warm, pleasant weather, with summer temperatures ranging from a refreshing 15°C (59°F) to highs of 40°C (104°F). Warm conditions often last into October before cooling down for winter, when snow is possible from December to March. Spring brings comfortable averages around 20°C (68°F), making it ideal for outdoor activities. July stands out as the warmest and driest month, while December is the coldest and May the wettest—so pack and plan accordingly for the season you choose to visit. It is worth bringing an extra layer of clothing even in the summer.
Internet is available in the communal areas in both the Château and our annex, Clair Joie.
Our center is perfectly equipped to host retreats, workshops, seminars, and other events. It provides a rejuvenating experience in a peaceful natural environment. We can accommodate groups of 10 to 100 participants and welcome programs that align with the spirit and values of our center. Find out more about renting our center here.
The Lac des Sapins (Lake of the Pine Trees), a beautiful lake with the largest ecological swimming pool in Europe, is located 15 kilometers from Longeval. Lyon, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is one hour away by car or public transportation.
When planning your trip, please make sure you have a French visa valid for your entire stay. For information about visa requirements for your home country, please visit this page.
We recommend that all visitors have health and civil liability insurance in case of accidents.
Please see our Registration Guidelines for complete payment and refund information.
The closest airports are Huatulco and Puerto Escondido. Both are approximately an hour’s drive from Mazunte. For more information about getting to Hridaya, please visit this page.
Important note: There will be construction work on the road between Pochutla and Huatulco until at least December 31, 2025, and the road will be impassable at certain times of the day. During this period, we strongly recommend that you travel via Puerto Escondido.
Our tuition fees do not include food or accommodation, but we offer both at our center. You’ll be able to select from available options when booking. Find more information about on-site and off-site accommodation here.
Yes! While there are many benefits to staying on-site during our programs, our students often choose to stay in nearby accommodations. You’ll find more information and a list of suggested local hotels here.
For more information about getting to our center, please visit this page.
Our phone number is +52 958 688 58 89. Please call if you need any assistance.
Please visit Google Maps for a map of the entire area.
For our suggested packing list, please visit this page.
There are two sharply defined seasons in Mazunte: the tropical/moist weather of summer and early fall, and the dry weather of winter and spring. In July, August, and September, the increase in cloud cover can push the average daily temperatures below those of the warm late April, May, and early June. The advantage of visiting in the summer/fall is the lush, green landscape. During the winter/spring you will experience the green and brown combination of dry landscape.
You can find current weather conditions here.
Yes! Our drop-in classes are a great way to experience Hridaya Hatha Yoga. Classes are offered on a sliding scale and are available in English and Spanish. Find our current schedule here or email info@hridaya-yoga.mx for more information.
Please note that drop-ins are not held during Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreats.
If you originally joined the Retreat for just 3 days, you are welcome to extend your stay if a 10-Day Retreat is running concurrently. Please send a note to the Retreat Coordinator by the afternoon of day 3 to ensure proper arrangements are made.
However, note that if you are staying in our on-site accommodations, extensions may not be possible. If you think you may want to extend, please speak with our front desk staff prior to the retreat for more information.
ATMs in Mazunte are very unreliable, and the nearest banks are in Pochutla, about 30 minutes away. We strongly suggest you change enough money before coming to Mazunte to avoid having to make a special trip to town. There are ATMs at the airports in Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, as well as in all major Mexican cities. If possible, try to get small bills, as many local businesses aren’t able to make change.
Look for your home country on this page to find out if you require a tourist visa.
Although health care in the area is generally affordable, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance before your trip. There are many travel health insurance plans available online.
We do not currently have yoga classes designed for children.
Children aged 7 and over may attend drop-in yoga classes free of charge as long as an adult accompanies them and they do not disrupt the class.
Children ages 13 and over may attend the Hridaya Yoga Retreat: Module 1 Intensive. For those under the age of 13, permission to attend must be granted by the Hridaya teacher who is responsible for that group, on an individual basis.
For those under the age of 18, attendance at workshops and Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreats requires the approval of Sahajananda or one of the experienced Hridaya teachers.
For more information about children attending classes, please email info@hridaya-yoga.mx.
Unfortunately, we are not able to assume responsibility for your children at this time, as we do not currently have facilities in place for childcare. However, we have had students with children who were able to find reliable local nannies and/or schools to accommodate them. To receive the most current childcare information, please email info@hridaya-yoga.mx.
On-site Wi-Fi is not available for students. Our programs provide an opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and connect with yourself, your fellow students, and the teachings, fully immersing yourself in them during your stay.
Should you need to contact friends or loved ones, internet access is now available in most restaurants, cafés, hotels, and resorts in San Agustinillo and Mazunte. There are also internet cafés that offer cheap hourly rates. And, if you purchase a Mexican SIM card, Telcel offers many affordable pay-as-you-go data plans.
While we have an abundance of love for all beings, we request that students not bring any pets into our center. We try to cultivate a conducive environment for meditation and introspection. Therefore, we request that you find a suitable off-site location for your pet while you are in class. If you want to stay on-site in our accommodations, we request that you do not have a pet with you. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Food is generally fresh and healthy, and many restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan options. There are many shops selling fruit, vegetables, juice, nuts, granola, cereals, and other grocery items. Avoid eating from the street, as there is a high risk of getting bacteria and parasites.
The area around our center (the villages of Mazunte and San Agustinillo) is relatively safe. Violent crime is rare, although opportunistic theft can happen. You can reduce its likelihood by remaining vigilant and not carrying valuables with you. We do our best to provide a safe environment at the Hridaya Center; however, we ask that all students exercise awareness regarding personal safety and the care of belongings. All personal belongings left at the school and in our accommodations are at your own risk.
For added security, students staying on-site may store valuables in our safe. You can store cash (up to $4000 MXN, $200 USD, or equivalent), credit cards, and passports. Although we offer safekeeping of your valuables, we do not assume liability if they are lost or stolen.
We would also like to warn you about some scenarios in which trusting foreigners often find themselves vulnerable to crime, and to provide you with some common-sense suggestions.
Our kitchen serves breakfast and dinner during yoga courses and three meals per day during meditation retreats. You can find meal plan prices on program booking pages.If you don’t eat at Hridaya, you should prepare to spend around $300 MXN per day.
If you eat out at nicer places, have a big appetite, etc., you will likely spend more. If you prepare your own food or eat at local comedores, you may spend about $150 MXN.
We do a silent meditation retreat especially when we feel an intense calling towards the depths of our being. Or, we do a retreat when we feel the need to stop our ordinary activities for a while in order to objectify the nature of our impulses and see the reasons behind our decisions and actions with more clarity and detachment.
In this way, we purify our subconscious mind and start to see more clearly what is false in our lives. We also get closer to the real meaning of existence.
Even though there may be difficult times during retreat, we have the feeling that we are going deeper down a path of truthfulness, clarity, love, and detachment from old patterns.
Often, this process may appear completely new to us. To follow its call, we feel the need for discipline and dedication.
In every Hridaya Meditation, we are invited to let go of our ego. We have the feeling of entering a path on which we cannot move forward other than in sacred solitude. It is as if we decide to leave behind our personal world of fears, worries, traumas, thoughts, impulses, and reactions to explore a new dimension—a world of awareness, peace, joy, and freedom. Thus, we begin an inner journey into our Real Nature, feeling that we step forward on a path we may have never taken before.
During a silent meditation retreat, the tendency to look outside for fulfillment shifts to exploring ourselves from within. This shift of awareness makes us discover the space of Stillness in which all thoughts arise and dissipate. It is what we name “the awareness of awareness itself.”
Awareness also brings more sensitivity to the mind, emotions, and body. In this openness, old, painful memories and patterns emerge, are embraced without judgment and with awareness and love, and, thus, are released. The abandonment of what we were identified with (stories, dramas, fears, etc.) brings the happiness of pure existence, the freedom of awareness. Meditation becomes an always-new, conscious surrender into the unlimited, unknown “land” of our inner universe, into the secret infinity that dwells in us.
This inner path can be compared with facing death. The letting go of attachments has the same significance as evoking death in any genuine initiating ritual. In initiations, death (which is a death of the ego) symbolizes the fundamental spiritual path that starts from the individual, limited consciousness and ends in the Consciousness of Oneness.
Most often, it can be a long process with different stages. But the fundamental and fascinating phase is the conscious step from personal to transpersonal, from limitation to absolute freedom, from manifestation to transcendence.
The program and the guidelines of the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat are meant to create the proper conditions to experience the calming of the mind and the blossoming of the Heart—the inner organ of direct Spiritual Knowledge.
It gives us the taste of the essential “dimension” of our being—Stillness.
During the retreat, you will learn techniques to:
Our aspiration is to support you in a genuine journey meant to bring a profound understanding of the real nature of existence.
Ultimately, there should be no expectations, because what we really are cannot be reduced to some physical or mental effects. The spiritual journey is not like a mathematical equation in which, when doing the same operations, you always expect the same effects.
Nevertheless, what we are “doing” in a retreat is simply creating proper physical and psychological conditions in order to let the Divine Reality be revealed in our Heart.
It may be quite possible that you will experience some profound energetic or psychological effects during meditation. Do not cling to them. In the openness of your being, much more than that is happening.
In a silent retreat, it is much easier to free ourselves from the countless distractions of daily life. The mind becomes calmer, and we rediscover the beauty of simplicity, of nature, of pure presence. The retreat offers us the space and time to stop and meet ourselves in a deeper way.
Silence and solitude open us to the Stillness that is our Real Nature. The genuine touch of Stillness brings regeneration, clarity, strength, rest, and trust.
Stillness exists beyond the layers of words, thoughts, and emotions. Stillness is the ocean in which all sounds and movements appear as waves. Sound and silence, movement and immobility are inseparable in the embrace of awareness and Stillness. Thoughts depend on the Stillness of pure awareness, exactly as waves depend on the ocean.
Through the power of time, everything returns to Stillness. Being settled in this center—Stillness—brings significance, vigor, and enthusiasm to any aspect of life. When we lose our connection with Stillness, we become inefficient and weak.
When agitation ceases in our being, we can know this directly, in an intimate and obvious way. Through Hridaya Meditation, the awareness of the difference between thinking and just Being emerges in a natural way.
If thoughts and activity are formative for the personality, Stillness is trans-formative in the sense that it reveals to us the uniqueness and beauty that it is, that we are.
“In silence, the lines of the mouth are like the closed wings of a butterfly. When the word starts moving, the wings open, and the butterfly flies away. […]
Silence reveals itself in a thousand inexpressible forms: in the quiet of dawn, in the noiseless aspiration of trees towards the sky, in the stealthy descent of night, in the silent changing of the seasons, in the falling moonlight, trickling down into the night like a rain of silence, but above all in the silence of the inward soul,—all these forms of silence are nameless: all the clearer and surer is the word that arises out of and in contrast to the nameless silence.”
–Max Picard
“It is in the sanctuary of nature’s silent places, with mindful attention, that the true liberation of the heart can be obtained.”
–Buddha
Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreats are designed for everyone, from those who have never tried meditation to advanced meditators.
The daily schedule starts gently, with meditation sessions broken into short, one-hour (or less) segments, increasing to longer sessions by the end of the retreat. In addition to meditation sessions, each day’s schedule includes a morning Hatha Yoga class, lectures, and time for questions and answers (with written questions).
In meditation, there should be no effort or difficulty, because all that we have “to do” is to remain in the center of our being, and each time we observe that we are taken away by thoughts, sensations, emotions, etc. we simply come back, again and again and again, without reaction, frustration, or tension, but with serenity and patience.
The great Jnana Yogi Nisargadatta Maharaj speaks about the naturalness and simplicity of meditation, which is essentially a Self-awareness.
“Q: … there must be a way for all to tread—with no conditions attached.
M: There is such a way, open to all, on every level, in every walk of life. Everybody is aware of himself. The deepening and broadening of Self-awareness is the royal way. Call it mindfulness, or witnessing, or just attention — it is for all. None is unripe for it and none can fail.”
There is an orientation session held the day prior to the start of the retreat, in which we go over all guidelines. Retreat participants must attend; registration is not possible after this session. For more information, please read the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat Guidelines.
Retreats are led by Sahajananda and other experienced Hridaya Meditation teachers. Please refer to our Calendar for list of upcoming dates and presenters. If no teacher is listed for the date you are interested in joining us, you may contact us for more information.
We offer silent meditation retreats regularly at our centers in France, Mexico, and Romania. Please refer to our Calendar for a list of upcoming offerings.
You can find the current schedule on the landing page for the retreat you are interested in joining.
Find current pricing information on the landing page for the retreat you are interested in joining.
It is best to book your retreat as early as possible, as spaces often fill up quickly. We allow registration until the orientation session the day before the retreat. It is not possible to join a retreat after 7:00 am on the first day.
You can find more information about the 49-Day Pratyabhijna Retreat here.
Dark retreats are meditation retreats in rooms completely devoid of light. In many religions, traditions, and medical systems (Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Ayurveda, Hermeticism, ancient Greek medicine, etc.), they have been known to induce profound shifts in consciousness and to bring many beneficial effects.
In India, they are called Kaya Kalpa (“body transformation”) and are seen as a highly regenerative practice on the physical level. Since the purpose of such a retreat should be more than just bodily rejuvenation, we prefer the name “Dark Retreat.”
We invite you to deepen your meditation practice by experiencing a private retreat in our Dark Room in Mazunte, a space especially prepared to admit no light and designed with a proper ventilation system and air conditioning. During the retreat, we can provide meals and other support for your spiritual practice.
For more information about Dark Retreats, please visit our Dark Room Retreats page.
Having a previous meditation practice (such as having attended a 10-Day Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat) is strongly recommended before starting a Dark Retreat.
To participate in a Dark Room Retreat at our center in Mexico, you must submit an application and have an interview with our Dark Room Coordinator. This helps ensure that the retreat is a good fit for your current process and intentions.
If this is your first Dark Room Retreat, we recommend you start with a minimum of 1-3 nights and a maximum of 7 nights. Once you build experience, you may be inspired to do longer and longer retreats—our students have done 2-, 3-, and even 7-week Dark Room Retreats, with profound results. We also recommend that you plan to spend a few days at our center before entering the Dark Room to get familiar with the community and begin to settle in. It’s also a good idea to arrange accommodation and transportation for before and after your time in the Dark Room.
A Dark Room Retreat is not guided—you will be able to create your own schedule and manage your own practice. As you will be completely alone during the retreat, it’s important that you already have a steady meditation practice.
Please visit our Dark Room Retreats page for more information.
Module 1 aims, through its vision, methods, and attitudes, to make the teachings of the Consciousness of Oneness resonate more deeply within each of us. Our highest priority is to keep the universality of the message, beyond dogma and biases.
The teachings of Module 1 unfold over four stages:
Week 1 – Introduction and Subtle Structures
Week 2 – Purifications
Week 3 – Spiritual Transformation and Grace
Week 4 – Integration In Daily Life
The curriculum of Module 1 includes:
Yes. The Module 1 course meets for 18 days. Each day includes two Hatha Yoga classes, an optional hour of meditation, and an evening lecture. The program is designed both to stretch your body and to expand your consciousness.
Although the schedule is intensive, the Hridaya approach is contemplative. Asana sessions are designed to promote relaxation and happiness rather than effort or strain. Because of this, Hridaya Hatha Yoga is perfect for all levels of practitioners, and every student is encouraged to honor the limits of their physical body while going deeper in awareness.
Please visit the course description page for the current schedule.
No, the Module 1 course is a good fit for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
It is best to reserve your spot as early as possible to avoid the disappointment of the course being fully booked when you would like to attend.
No. For the most transformative experience, we recommend attending the full Module 1 course in one visit, but you may come for 1-2 weeks at a time. Attending in order is ideal as the course progresses sequentially, but feel free to register for the weeks that best suit your schedule. Note that you must complete Week 1 or Week 2 before doing Week 3.
Please refer to the Module 1 page for current pricing information.
Note that we offer low-income discounts and scholarships for those with sincere financial constraints.
The course fee includes attendance at all class sessions (meditations, Hatha Yoga practices, and lectures). It also includes a course booklet, support from teachers, and participation in optional evening events.
Food and accommodation are charged separately. For more information, please contact us.
After Module 1 finishes, we encourage you to participate in a 3- or 10-Day Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat. You are also very welcome to continue to deepen your Hatha Yoga practice by joining Module 2.
Yes! We welcome returning students who wish to deepen their practice by repeating Module 1. Once you have completed the course, you may repeat it by donation at our centers in Longeval and Mazunte. (Subject to availability; minimum 50% donation in Mazunte.) Contact us for more information.
In order to graduate from Module 1, you must complete at least 16 of the 18 days of the course. Please note that a “complete” day means attendance at all 3 class sessions (morning and afternoon Hatha Yoga practices and evening lecture).
No. To create the best container for all students, it’s best if the group remains as stable as possible. If you’re inspired to try Hridaya Hatha Yoga but don’t have enough free time, we invite you to join a drop-in class or the Yoga and Meditation Discovery Weekend.
While we honor each student’s background, we require that everyone starts with Module 1 in order to ensure a comprehensive understanding of traditional Hatha Yoga theory and practice, Self-Inquiry meditation, and the Hridaya approach.
Hridaya teachers also have a responsibility to provide you with a proper foundation, explain fundamental yogic concepts, and gradually guide you deeper in meditation and the more advanced forms of Hatha Yoga involving the intense arousal of Kundalini Shakti.
In order to enroll in Module 2, you must have graduated from Module 1, completing at least 16 full days. In order to attend higher levels, you must have graduated from the preceding level. Successful completion of Module 2 requires attending at least 10 full days of the course. For Modules 3 and higher, attendance at a minimum of 8 of the 10 core classes and 6 of the 8 intensive practice classes is required to proceed to the next level.
Please visit our Calendar.
In France, Module 2 meets for 12 days over a 2-week period. In Mexico, Module 2 meets for 13 days over a 3-week course cycle. (Note that the content of the course is the same in both centers.) The course day includes a long morning Hatha Yoga practice and an afternoon or evening lecture.
In Mexico, as the course days are subject to change each cycle, please contact us for the current schedule.
Modules 3+ meet for 18 4-hour sessions over a 3-week course cycle. Find out more on the respective landing pages.
We strongly recommend that you maintain a vegetarian diet for the duration of your stay. Please also refrain from smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and using drugs while participating in our courses.
Yoga practice (both Hatha Yoga and meditation) helps tremendously in letting go of old habits and, even, addictions.
It purifies:
Every module of the Hridaya Yoga Retreat is associated with an optional diet experience (juice cleanse, macrobiotic diet, fast, etc.). Additionally, traditional yogic cleansing techniques (kriyas) are taught to accelerate this inner purification.
Traditionally, yoga practice included a vegetarian diet. Practicing yoga with a different diet may be less efficient and even risky, especially when performing advanced Hatha Yoga practices that involve the awakening of Kundalini energy.
Therefore, it is for your health and safety as well as for the efficiency of your spiritual practice that you choose to follow these recommendations.
Meditation is a means of transforming and, even, transcending the mind in order to reveal a deeper dimension of our consciousness—pure awareness (which, according to the yogic tradition, is our real nature).
Meditation is, essentially, a contemplative practice by which the awareness of this pure awareness is emphasized.
Meditation techniques develop concentration, clarity, emotional purification, awareness, and a lucid insight into the true nature of things. Through a consistent meditation practice, we learn to witness and transcend the patterns and habits of the mind.
Cultivating the Witnessing Attitude, we (re)discover the natural means to cultivate more positive ways of being.
With regular work and patience, these nourishing, focused states of mind can deepen into profoundly peaceful and expanded states of consciousness.
Like yoga, meditation is also a term that covers many practices, approaches, and visions under its umbrella.
Meditation is not just a trance state or a relaxation technique. It is not even a visualization practice. Meditation is essentially a commitment to Reality—an aspiration to be aware.
The Sanskrit word Hridaya means Heart. Hridaya Yoga is a spiritual path whose main purpose is to create the proper conditions for the revelation our Real Self, atman, or the Spiritual Heart, as it is called in many traditions.
The Heart can be seen as the “meeting place” for all those who wish to live in a sacred manner. It was often affirmed that the Heart is our real home. Therefore, Hridaya Yoga is simply an invitation to be at home, trusting in what we really are, enjoying this centering and awareness.
The core of Hridaya Yoga consists of a specific form of meditation and the teachings about nonduality expressed in the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat.
The Hridaya Hatha Yoga practice and vision (as taught in the Hridaya Yoga Retreat: Module 1 Intensive) is in complete coherence with these contemplative attitudes.
In Hridaya Hatha Yoga, the asanas (postures) are performed while maintaining the inner spiritual attitudes recommended in the traditional texts of Tantra, Hatha Yoga, and Kashmir Shaivism. They are oriented towards getting intimate inner knowledge of the physical body, of its bio-energies, and of our Real Nature, the Spiritual Heart.
Ultimately, a transfiguration of the body appears, which helps us understand that spirituality is not about being free FROM the body, but about being free IN the body.
For more information about Hridaya Hatha Yoga, please visit this page.
Hatha Yoga practiced in a forceful and pushy way, without a loving awareness of the body, can be harmful. Some advanced Hatha Yoga techniques can be dangerous if practiced without proper preparation and the guidance of a qualified teacher. Some forms of so-called meditation, in which people are looking for trance-like states or are just lost in imagination, can be dangerous as well. This is why yoga should be learned only from competent teachers, such as those at Hridaya, who support you in developing awareness, lucidity, and common sense.
Hridaya Meditation is a practice inspired by the teachings of Ramana Maharshi.
It includes:
You can read more about Hridaya Meditation here.
Many yogic terms used throughout this website and in many of our meditation retreats and yoga classes are defined in our glossary.
Our Yogic Knowledge Base and Inspiring Articles also offer a wealth of useful information.
The science of yoga is very vast. The literature dedicated to these topics is immense, and although there are a few gems, many books are irrelevant. For a greater understanding of yoga and meditation, we have organized some of the available information for you.
Actually, at Hridaya, we speak about the integration of daily life into spirituality, since a real spiritual practice should change the old, selfish paradigms associated with daily life. Thus, yoga and meditation are not just a means to be more efficient in our daily tasks while we maintain old patterns. Rather, they encourage us to create coherence between our spiritual intuitions, aspirations, and daily lives. During our Module 1 course and in the Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat, this topic is elaborated upon, and practical advice is offered. We also offer a special post-retreat integration course, From Retreat to Daily Life.
Yes. According to Classical Yoga, the very foundation of yoga consists of some common sense guidelines called yama and niyama. They are:
Apart from inspiring you to follow these traditional guidelines, at Hridaya, we suggest that you cultivate 14 fundamental attitudes as a way to create the proper conditions for Self-Revelation: Aspiration, Compassion, Courage, Enthusiasm, Generosity, Goodness, Gratitude, Humbleness, Love, Patience, Perseverance, Pure intention, Sincerity, and Wisdom.
“Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law.” -Immanuel Kant
The main reason we keep our prices low is that our teachings are rooted in traditional yogic philosophy, which emphasizes leading a simple life and respecting aparigraha, or non-greediness. Both as students and teachers, we learn to live in the spirit of yoga, in a decent, unpretentious, and natural way.
While the material aspects are not ignored, they are not our main focus. When we free ourselves from the obsession with material gain, the love and freedom of our being will naturally be emphasized and will blossom.
Another reason we are able to offer such reasonable prices is that many students and teachers support the community with their inspiration and natural gifts by working in different Karma Yoga (selfless service) activities.
We also have trust that life in itself is a generous and abundant offering when we learn how to honor and receive the gifts of existence.
While we offer accessible courses, we consider that the spiritual perfection that we essentially are should also be reflected in a high standard of quality for our teachings and services—there is nothing “cheap” about our offerings.
While this option is not excluded in principle, we want to ensure the smoothness of our administrative operations—guaranteeing a fixed salary for our employees and honoring our other financial responsibilities (rent, etc.). Sometimes the donation approach is rooted in a mentality of offering something that may not be good enough, but assuming people will donate according to their degree of satisfaction. Thus, complaining is somehow avoided. We are fully aware of the quality of the teachings we offer, and we are totally accountable for it.
On the other hand, we believe that anyone with a genuine spiritual aspiration should have the opportunity to learn meditation and yoga, regardless of their financial situation. Because of this, we offer discounts and scholarships, and we are always willing to support students who really need help.
Our centers present workshops on a variety of inspiring spiritual themes. Explore our full range of offerings here. Workshops supplement our course program by allowing students the space to go deeper into different aspects of the teachings. Please visit our Calendar for a comprehensive list of current workshops.
Yes! Find out more here.
The Hridaya teachings are being shared in many places around the world. Click here for a list of teachers, affiliated centers, and upcoming courses. You are also invited to join the Hridaya Community WhatsApp group to stay connected to the teachings and find other practitioners near you.
Please visit this page for transportation options.
For our suggested packing list, please visit this page.
The total price includes the tuition fee, accommodation, and food.
Kamala Center offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner during workshops and meditation retreats. These meals are included in the total package fee. Fresh fruit and tea are available at any time.
If you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or intolerances, please inform us in advance of your arrival. Meals are primarily vegetarian; eggs and dairy products are offered separately and in limited amounts. Drinking water at the center is safe.
You are welcome to bring your own snacks (such as nuts, seeds, or crackers) to keep in your room.
Hridaya Yoga Kamala Center welcomes visitors year-round, with each season offering its unique beauty. In our temperate climate, summer temperatures average 21 °C (70 °F) in August—ideal for enjoying the surrounding natural environment. Winter brings an average of -1 °C (30 °F) in December, and there are mountain resorts in the area for skiing and other winter sports.
Yes.
Kamala Center is located in Sânpetru, part of the metropolitan area of Brașov, just 8 km from the Brașov train station, in the heart of Romania near the Carpathian Mountains.
In Sânpetru, points of interest include:
In the Brașov area, highlights include:
From Brașov, you can also take trips to:
When planning your trip, please make sure you have a Romanian visa valid for your entire stay. For information about visa requirements for your home country, please visit this page.
The closest airports are Brașov, Bucharest, Sibiu, and Târgu Mureș. For more information about getting to our center, please visit this page.
Yes. Find more information here.
Whatever you call it, it’s that which calls you to look within.
Sign up for the Hridaya Newsletter to enliven your routine with exclusive, inspiring content that encourages you on the spiritual path.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.