A Refuge In The Redwoods
Mount Madonna Center is a Yoga, Conference, and Retreat Center nestled among redwood groves on top of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Learn MoreA Learning Community
Our vibrant community nurtures personal growth through experiential learning, reflection, and dialogue around values, action, and transformative practices.
Learn MoreFind Your Center
The Center offers a beautiful, supportive space to return to your authentic self, and rediscover a deeper and more connected way of living.
Learn MoreLiving & Learning through Service
At the heart of our community, Karma Yoga, or selfless service, is a core value and practice that inspires our volunteer organization.
Learn MoreSupporting Transformation through Yoga
“Yoga is not one particular method. As soon as a person starts thinking 'I want to be a better person' that is the start of Yoga" - Baba Hari Dass
Learn MoreUnified Through Yoga
We are a learning community inspired by the example of our teacher, Baba Hari Dass. Located on 355 acres of redwoods and grasslands, our peaceful haven is a place where you can step back, slow down, and reconnect to your center, to nature, and to a more authentic flow of life.
At our core we offer a beautiful, community managed space for yoga retreats, personal practice, spiritual and personal development programs, and a variety of classes and workshops. Our modern meeting spaces evoke a rustic and tranquil atmosphere and provide a variety of settings to gather and practice.
Programs & Retreats
Step into a nourishing container for transformation for a night, a week, or more. We host a rich array of retreats, classes and programs taught by renowned teachers set in a rejuvenating environment.
Learn MoreMany Ways to Grow
Mount Madonna Institute
A private, non-profit educational institution providing high quality, professional and academic instruction and training in the fields of Yoga, Āyurveda, and Community Studies.
MountMadonnaInstitute.org
Host Your Group on the Mountain
We accommodate groups from 15 to 500 in a variety of beautiful, peaceful mountaintop settings. Our dedicated staff provides delicious vegetarian meals and full support for your retreat or program.
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Upcoming Events
Programs
Yoga Service and Community
Āyurveda
Jan 20 - 25, 2019
Living Happily with Your Lower Back: asana and therapeutics for teachers and students
In large part because of our modern lifestyles, the lower back – the sacroiliac and lumbar spine specifically -- can be a place of challenge and discomfort for many people.
Jan 25 - 29, 2019
Going Deeper: A Focused Meditation Retreat
This small group experience is devoted to a deeper level of meditation and purification for people who already have some knowledge of meditation and yoga. We utilize a simple diet, the observance of silence, and a cave-like atmosphere of seclusion.
Feb 8 - May 12, 2019
Foundations of Ayurveda
The introductory program begins on February 8th and meets one weekend a month through May. The fundamentals of Ayurvedic theory, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, lifestyle management, yoga, basic clinical assessment and Sanskrit will be discussed. Completion of this course may be applied towards the Ayurvedic Health Counselor certificate.
Mar 6 - Jun 9, 2019
Yoga, Service & Community
Our YSC 1 & 2 programs are designed for individuals who want to explore their own positive transformation while immersed in community with people whose ultimate aim is peace. Spend three or six months in experiential learning, while deepening self-awareness, interpersonal and practical life skills, and cultivating connections within a small group and our greater community.
Free Daily Yoga Classes
Join us for daily Yoga classes exploring meditation, asana, pranayama, and philosophy.