A one-day retreat for Understanding Stress & Cultivating Inner Calm
Take time for yourself and join us for a restorative day at a peaceful Buddhist healing center, where yoga, science and meditation come together to help you understand the patterns of stress — and discover practical tools to meet them with clarity and calm.
Throughout the day we will explore how stress forms in the mind and body, how thought patterns shape our experience, and how simple practices from yoga and mindfulness can help us shift our relationship with them.
The day includes:
• Iyengar Practice, led by Ramanand Patel, Iyengar Institute of San Francisco, student of B.K.S Iynegar• Interactive workshop on stress and the mind• Tools for reframing thoughts using yogic philosophy• Silent walking meditation through the redwoods• Guided journalling for reflection with your special gift of a KARUNA Journal and Pen• Nāda Yoga session using sound and vibration as a pathway to calm the mind, release stress, and settle into a state of deep ease and balance.• Nourishing vegetarian lunch In addition to enjoying a wonderful break for the day in the majestic Redwoods, you will leave with a calmer nervous system, a new understanding of how stress works and practical tools to use daily to create a calmer, more resilient mind.
Location: Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel CA
Transport: You will need your own transportation, but we will organize car pools from the studio for those who are interested
Date and Time: May 3rd, 2026; 9am - 5pm
Food: Includes a vegetarian lunch and refreshments during the day.
What to bring: A yoga mat, comfortable clothes for practice, walking shoes, layers to account for changes in the weather, water bottle
Price:$165, with an early bird price of $145 if you book before April 15th, 2026
An overview of the rhythm for the day—designed to guide you from arrival into stillness, connection, and deep rest.
This schedule offers a gentle guide for the day. As with any practice, we allow space for things to unfold naturally, while keeping a clear start and closing time.
9:00 – 9:20
Arrival & Gentle Landing
Ease into the space, settle in, and connect.
9:20 – 9:30
Opening Welcome – with Kiran
9:30 – 11:00
Iyengar Practice & Pranayama – with Ramanand Patel
A grounding, alignment-focused practice followed by calming breathwork.
11:00 – 11:15
Pause/ Break
11:15 – 12:15
Workshop: Path to a Calm Mind (Part 1) – with Kiran
Understanding stress patterns and learning practical tools to regulate the mind and body.
12:15 – 13:15
Nourishing Lunch
13:15 – 14:30
Optional Silent Walking Meditation in theForest (or free time)
An invitation to slow down and reconnect with nature through a gentle, silent walk, or to take some time for yourself to explore the beautiful grounds of the Land of Medicine Buddha.
You may wish to visit the Gompa (main meditation hall), the Ksitigarbha statue, the Namgyalma Bell, the prayer wheel, the Mahabodhi Stupa, or the bookstore—many of which we will pass on the way to the forest.
Some areas include a gradual incline, though there is plenty to explore within the main centre if you prefer a more easeful pace.
14:30 – 15:15
Workshop: Path to a Calm Mind (Part 2) – with Kiran
Reflection, journaling, and integration.
15:15 – 15:30
Pause/ Break
15:30 – 16:45
Nāda Yoga Session (Yoga of Sound)
A deeply restorative journey into sound and stillness.
Rooted in the ancient practice of Nāda Yoga, this session uses vibration and listening as a pathway inward—softening the mind, settling the nervous system, and inviting a deeper connection to the subtle rhythms within.
16:45 – 17:00
Closing Circle
17:00
Farewell