Our Retreat Campuses
Ananda is a nonprofit spiritual organization offering two distinct retreat environments in the Sierra foothills of Northern California, each supporting inner growth in its own unique way. Together, The Expanding Light Retreat and The Seclusion Retreat provide complementary experiences of spiritual community and quiet solitude, all rooted in the universal teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.
The Expanding Light Retreat, located on 700 acres within Ananda Village near Nevada City, is a vibrant center for shared spiritual exploration. For nearly 50 years, guests from around the world have come here for guided retreats, yoga trainings, spiritual travel programs, and immersion in practices such as Kriya Yoga meditation and Ananda Yoga. Many visitors speak of a palpable sense of joy, peace, and upliftment—an energy that gently supports transformation, whether felt immediately or discovered over time.
The Seclusion Retreat, set on 72 acres of sacred land nearby, offers a quieter, more contemplative experience. Surrounded by forests, gardens, wildlife, and expansive views of the Sierra mountains, it is designed for deep reflection and solitude. Guests stay in private cabins or tent-bungalows, enjoy peaceful walking trails and gardens, and have access to a domed meditation temple with regular meditations and devotional chanting. Here, simplicity, silence, and nature invite a profound inward journey.
Whether you are drawn to the shared inspiration of a spiritual community or the stillness of seclusion—or a blend of both—our two campuses offer supportive environments for renewal, meditation, and inner awakening.
Ananda Village: Our Roots
Ananda Village, home of The Expanding Light, is an intentional community, with about 200 resident adults and children, situated amidst the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in northern California, just outside of Nevada City. It is one of the most respected spiritual communities in the world. Ananda was founded in 1969 by Yogananda’s direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda, who passed away in 2013. Swami Kriyananda’s spiritual successor is Nayaswami Jyotish. He and his wife, Nayaswami Devi, serve as Ananda’s Spiritual Directors. You can attend live classes with them online or in person.
Members are disciples of Yogananda and students of Kriyananda: we are Kriya Yoga meditators and vegetarians, and represent many nationalities, races, and ages.
Ananda Worldwide: Our Global Family
Ananda is a global spiritual movement, based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, who showed how everyone can realize God in their daily lives as a tangible, loving reality.
With 6 communities and over 164 teaching centers and meditation groups, Ananda provides places of learning, spiritual support, and fellowship. Find Ananda Near You
Our Spiritual Lineage
Ananda was founded in 1969 by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. Paramhansa Yogananda was the last in a line of Self-realized gurus starting with Jesus Christ. Before his passing, Swami Kriyananda named Nayaswami Jyotish as his spiritual successor. Jyotish and his wife, Nayaswami Devi, serve as Ananda’s Spiritual Directors, and travel frequently, giving classes and sharing Yogananda’s life-transforming teachings with spiritual seekers throughout the world.