Mill Valley Meditation Retreats

Settle into quiet and spaciousness beyond the day-to-day rhythm of Mill Valley at Ratna Ling. Surrounded by towering redwoods and open natural landscapes, our retreat center offers a calming environment for rest, reflection, and mindful presence. Whether you are beginning your meditation journey or looking to deepen it, our teachers and surroundings support you in slowing down, reconnecting, and restoring your inner balance. Rediscover clarity and peace while immersed in the stillness of nature.

Calming the Mind: A Meditation Retreat

With George Wiegand and Karmyn Ojeda

September 17 - 20, 2026
For those interested in deepening their Meditation practice, Ratna Ling has designed three annual retreats for folks at different stages of the meditation path. This retreat is designed for those who seek more calmness and stability in the mind.

Re-Vision: Sonoma County Writers Camp

With Elizabeth Stark and Ellen Sussman

September 23 - 27, 2026
This camp will show you how to let the story teach you its secrets. We will begin by assessing what you’ve got–what’s evolved on the page. By discerning what your story wants to be, you will be able to build on what you’ve achieved.

Cultivating Compassion – A movement and meditation weekend

With Gretchen Donovan

October 2 - 4, 2026
What if you could make friends with feelings such as anger, sadness, envy or pride? This weekend retreat offers a supportive space to explore the nature of emotions through meditation, gentle yoga, and subtle energy movement, all grounded in Buddhist philosophy.

Elevate Your Essence: Yoga & Meditation Retreat

With Bex Urban

October 23 - 25, 2026
Practice peace with yoga poses and an intentional pause with Meditation. In this retreat we welcome back Master Teacher Bex Urban for a special yoga retreat at Ratna Ling! Take this mindful "time out” and step away from the distractions of your daily life to re-initiate yourself into more stillness.

The Inner Landscape: A Meditation Retreat in Nature

With Maria Helena Kubrusly

October 23 - 25, 2026
During this retreat, aligning the abundant natural beauty of Ratna Ling with Tibetan yoga exercises, meditation, and practices, you will learn to relax the body and open the senses. Let Nature teach you more about who you really are, and who you can be.  You can experience the interconnectedness of all existence.

The Art of Loss: Letting Go with Grace

With Gloria Baraquio and Lydia Hwang

October 30 - November 1, 2026
Join us for a weekend to make space for our grief, our loss, and our endings. We will use relaxation practices, reflection, ritual and celebration to honor the changes, endings, and the truth of new beginnings.

Begin Again: A weekend retreat

With Yvonne Kingsley

November 6 - 8, 2026
Join Yvonne Kingsley for a peaceful weekend of yoga and meditation as we slow down and surrender to the present moment. Through the alchemy of mindful movement, breath work and contemplation, we expand our capacity to meet the present moment with curiosity and equanimity.

Joy & Appreciation – A Thanksgiving Retreat

With George Wiegand and Karmyn Ojeda

November 27 - 29, 2026
For this special retreat, we are offering a sliding scale to allow you to give what you can. We hope you can join us! This Thanksgiving retreat is offered as a way to support folks who need some peace and quiet during this holiday. We invite you to take a sacred pause, to sit, to lay down, to be in nature, to meditate, and to come back to center.

Wintering – A relaxation retreat

With Clare Buckley

December 4 - 6, 2026
Join Senior Yoga Teacher Clare Buckley in the serene and beautiful setting of Ratna Ling and awaken to the experience of holistic wellbeing. In the serene and beautiful setting of Ratna Ling, we will explore embodied movement, breath work, energy work, meditation and mindful practices to deeply nourish energy pathways and to restore balance and equanimity.

The Gift of Writing: Introspection and Self-Reflection

With Cynthia Cummins

December 11 - 13, 2026
Book now and get $100.00 off listed prices. Offer valid until Sep 11, 2026.
As winter solstice approaches, we gather in stillness and allow quiet presence to lead us back to ourselves. In this Wild Heart Writing retreat, we begin by invoking the muse, releasing expectations and setting aside our inner critics. Clear, compelling writing follows, seemingly without effort.

Soul Retrieval Inner Retreat

With Sarah Koh

December 18 - 20, 2026
This inner retreat creates the space to truly slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with the quiet wisdom of your heart and body. What is your soul asking for? What is ready to emerge? What is ready to come to resolution and heal, allowing you to move forward with clarity? Through deep rest, unwinding, and intentional practices, you will create space to turn inward and reconnect with the deeper layers of yourself. As the body…

Starting Anew – A Mindfulness Retreat for the New Year

With Maria Helena Kubrusly

January 8 - 10, 2027
Imagine this coming new year how you want to show up for yourself, your loved ones, and your coworkers. Through meditation, you become more aware of the patterns that drive and motivate your actions. This January retreat is designed for you to get to know yourself better and consider how you want your next year to unfold.

Flow & Steep: A Qigong and Tea Retreat

With Dr. Cynthia Li, Daniela Cubelic and Pavi Mehta

February 19 - 21, 2027
Book now and get $100.00 off listed prices. Offer valid until Nov 20, 2026.
Rooted in qigong — one of China's oldest contemplative healing traditions — this retreat weaves together gentle movement, breath, visualization, sound, and stillness into a living practice.

Finding Emotional Health: A wellness retreat

With Helena Gold

March 4 - 7, 2027
Emotions are a natural part of being human—but when they feel overwhelming, they can leave us feeling ungrounded, reactive, or exhausted. Whether you find yourself caught in cycles of anxiety, anger, disappointment, grief, or emotions you can't quite name, this retreat offers a gentle path toward greater balance and ease. Together, we'll explore emotional wellness through meditation, mindful movement, reflection, and contemplative practices that help you understand the wisdom your emotions hold. Rather than resisting…

Nourish & Replenish: A Spring Yoga Weekend

With Leila Swenson

April 9 - 11, 2027
This Spring, awaken within and celebrate the vibrancy of renewal, hope, transformation, and growth with Leila Swenson... Join us for an invigorating and relaxing yoga retreat weekend in the stunning and magnificent coastal redwoods... An invitation to step away from the demands of daily life and enjoy space for self-inquiry, practice, community, and reflection!

MEDITATION RETREATS NEAR Mill Valley, CALIFORNIA FAQ’s

Our meditation retreats are thoughtfully shaped to encourage ease, insight, and renewal. During your stay, you’ll be invited to:

Settle Into Quiet – Step away from constant activity and let yourself attune to the quiet rhythm of the forest. The natural silence invites the mind and body to soften.

Develop Your Meditation Practice – With guidance rooted in mindfulness and meaningful tradition, you’ll learn techniques that help you cultivate presence and steady awareness.

Reconnect Inwardly – The peaceful atmosphere provides room to reflect and realign with what feels essential and true for you.

Let Nature Support You – The surrounding redwoods, trails, and fresh air naturally encourage grounding, clarity, and emotional ease.

Nourish Yourself Fully – Enjoy nourishing vegetarian meals, free of distraction or rush, allowing your body to rest and restore as well.

Bring Awareness Into Daily Life – Beyond seated meditation, you’ll have opportunities to explore presence in everyday movements, conversations, and moments of stillness.

Share Quiet Community – Simply being near others on a similar inward path can feel comforting and supportive, even without many words.

Open to Personal Growth – With time and spaciousness, it becomes easier to release old patterns and welcome new insight.

At Ratna Ling, your retreat is an invitation to reconnect with yourself in a way daily life rarely allows.

Yes — Mill Valley guests who are brand new to meditation are warmly welcomed.

Approachable Instruction:

Our instructors introduce meditation in a gradual, simple way so you can relax into the experience comfortably.

Gentle Environment:

There is no pressure or expectation here. Whether you’re new or returning, you’ll be guided with patience and understanding.

Foundational Practices:

Sessions may include breath awareness, grounding exercises, guided mindfulness, and short periods of quiet reflection.

Small Group Setting:

With a more intimate group experience, there is room to ask questions and learn at your own pace.

Holistic Support:

Time outdoors, nourishing meals, and rest are built into the retreat so the whole self is supported.

Shared Experience:

Many participants are also exploring meditation for the first time, making the retreat feel welcoming and approachable.

Meditation is a practice anyone can learn — and we’re here to guide you gently into it.

  • Sun Protection: Hat, sun block, sunglasses, breathable long-sleeved shirts, etc.
  • Rain gear, umbrella and good sturdy shoes during the rainy season
  • Appropriate outerwear for the season
  • Yoga clothes or clothes that allow you to move freely
  • Flashlight (it can get extremely dark outside at night and there is very limited outdoor lighting)
  • Water bottle
  • Alarm clock
  • Slip-on shoes or slippers for indoors
  • Insect repellent for summer retreats
  • Personal hygiene items such as your favorite shampoo, moisturizer, toothbrush/paste, soap etc. (Towels, bedding, shampoo and hand-soap is provided)
  • Calling cards for international calls. Domestic calls are complimentary.
  • Meal service is provided, however, you are welcome to bring additional snacks and beverages into your cottage.

To support a peaceful shared environment, we ask guests to dress comfortably and with thoughtfulness for the retreat space. We recommend avoiding clothing that is overly revealing or displays bold or inappropriate graphics. Simple, comfortable layers work well and help everyone feel at ease.

Retreat tuition helps support our retreat center, including comfortable private lodging, nourishing vegetarian meals, and guidance from experienced instructors. Costs vary depending on the retreat theme, duration, and lodging type.

For complete details, simply select a retreat from the list above. Each experience is designed to be meaningful, supportive, and enriching — an investment in your well-being and inner peace.

Guests often leave with:

  • A calmer and clearer mind
  • Reduced stress and emotional tension
  • Improved focus and sleep
  • A renewed sense of purpose
  • Time away from screens and constant stimulation
  • Peaceful connection with nature
  • A sense of community with others on a similar path

Many describe carrying a deeper sense of steadiness and clarity long after returning home.

Ratna Ling Meditation Retreats