Mount Madonna Center

Mount Madonna Center "You are in the mountains where there is fresh air and water, where there are trees and plants and streams. Sit with them and enjoy the creation of God.
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God and creation are not separate. The idea is to attain peace.”
- Baba Hari Dass, SilenceSpeaks Mount Madonna Center is a conference and retreat center located on 355 acres of mountain-top redwood forest and grassland overlooking Monterey Bay, between Santa Cruz and Monterey, in Northern California. We are a community designed to nurture the creative arts and the health sciences within a context

of personal and spiritual growth. Founded in 1978, Mount Madonna was inspired by Baba Hari Dass and is sponsored by the Hanuman Fellowship, a group whose talents and interests are unified by the common practice of Yoga. We offer a supportive community atmosphere for relaxation, reflection, and a wide variety of learning experiences. Book a personal retreat, attend a yoga retreat, or choose to host your own program and guests in a gorgeous environment and with a supportive community. Program participants are invited to join in all ongoing Center activities – celebration, work, and play. Amenities include yoga classes, hiking trails, volleyball, tennis, and basketball courts, a pond (we call it "The Lake") for swimming, a hot tub, a gymnasium for volleyball and basketball, and Ayurveda consultations and bodywork at the Wellness Center.

Looking back on our 48th Annual Liberation Retreat✨Together, we enjoyed daily Yoga, practiced among the redwoods, gather...
07/30/2026

Looking back on our 48th Annual Liberation Retreat✨

Together, we enjoyed daily Yoga, practiced among the redwoods, gathered for nourishing community meals, sang kirtan, and celebrated with a joyful Bollywood dance night—just a few of the many offerings that made this year’s retreat so special.

Thank you to Marina Midori Photography for capturing these behind-the-scenes moments!

07/22/2026

Next Saturday, August 1, join us for: The Five Great Elements in Practice & in Nature 🌿

We’ll hike to a quiet spot on the Mount Madonna campus, where you’ll enjoy gentle asana (postures) and a guided meditation with Lori Hansen beneath the redwoods. This unique experience cultivates awareness of the five elements of nature—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—both within and around you.

Link in bio to learn more & sign up!

Looking for more than just a job? Join the team at Mount Madonna and become part of a multigenerational community dedica...
07/16/2026

Looking for more than just a job? Join the team at Mount Madonna and become part of a multigenerational community dedicated to service, personal growth, and making a meaningful impact.

We’re currently hiring for a variety of open positions across our campus. Swipe through to explore each opportunity. You might just find your next chapter on the mountain. 🌲✨

Learn more and apply today: https://mountmadonna.org/about/career-opportunities/

We’re excited to introduce Silence Speaks: A Silent Meditation Retreat! This is four-day immersive retreat takes place N...
07/16/2026

We’re excited to introduce Silence Speaks: A Silent Meditation Retreat!

This is four-day immersive retreat takes place November 11–15 at Mount Madonna.

You’ll explore:
🧘 Guided daily meditation (sitting, walking, standing, and lying down)
🌿 Morning and afternoon asana (posture) classes
🌬️ Pranayama (breathing techniques)
📖 Teachings from the Yoga Sutras and Classical Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limbed path)
🎶 Sacred chanting and devotional singing
💛 Time for contemplation, reflection, and personal inquiry

Held in intentional silence, this retreat creates space to quiet the mind, reconnect with yourself, and discover what can emerge when silence becomes the teacher.

Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or simply curious about meditation, Silence Speaks offers a supportive, deeply enriching experience.

We can’t wait to welcome you to this new retreat!

Registration is now open. Learn more via the link in our bio.

06/25/2026

A beautiful glimpse into today’s Chair Yoga session with YTT 200 students, guided by Linda Marie Hurst✨

Chair Yoga is a unique part of our teacher training, inviting future teachers to expand their understanding of accessibility and discover that Yoga can meet people where they are. Through thoughtful adaptations and an inclusive approach, students explore how to create practices that are welcoming, supportive, and meaningful for a wide range of bodies and abilities.

06/17/2026

Did you know that camping is one of the accommodation options available during a Personal Retreat at Mount Madonna? ⛺🌲

Wake up beneath the redwoods, spend the day exploring miles of trails, join a yoga class, and enjoy the simple rhythm of life in nature. Camping is a great way to experience the mountain’s peace and beauty while creating a retreat that’s entirely your own.

Not able to stay overnight? A Mountain Experience Day Visit is a great place to start. Enjoy 20% off Saturday visits right now with code SUMMER20 at checkout.

What an awesome day at the Santa Cruz Pride Parade! 🌈We loved walking alongside our community in the parade and connecti...
06/12/2026

What an awesome day at the Santa Cruz Pride Parade! 🌈

We loved walking alongside our community in the parade and connecting with so many wonderful people at our booth throughout the day. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello.

Happy Pride!

Big news! 🎉 Mount Madonna has been nominated for Best Yoga Retreat Center and Best Meditation Center in the USA TODAY 10...
06/01/2026

Big news! 🎉 Mount Madonna has been nominated for Best Yoga Retreat Center and Best Meditation Center in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

If Mount Madonna has touched your life in any way, we would be grateful for your vote.

✨ You can vote once per day
✨ Every vote makes a difference

Thank you for helping us share the benefits of Yoga, meditation, and mindful living with others. ❤️

VOTE DAILY: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/mount-madonna-center-watsonville-california/

“What is meditation? Kicking out the perceptible creation.” - Baba Hari Dass
05/22/2026

“What is meditation? Kicking out the perceptible creation.” - Baba Hari Dass

05/21/2026

Today is World Meditation Day! A reminder that no matter how loud the world gets, peace is always as close as your next breath.

As Baba Hari Dass beautifully reminds us, “In every breath, there is a chance to begin again.”

If you’ve been looking for a moment to pause, let this be it. Step outside, close your eyes, and take a single, deep breath with us today. 🌿✨

Address

445 Summit Road
Watsonville, CA
95076

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