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Pleasant Valley Sanctuary Retreat Center

5 (28 reviews) 777 Views Yoga Training Centre North San Juan, California

Pleasant Valley Sanctuary Retreat Center Reviews

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Sarah Lorraine
Can’t say enough great things! Such kind and genuine staff followed with the most incredible and uplifting classes! Highly recommend Suzanne!
Colleen Lohr
I went to my first class at this studio this week and what an amazingly positive experience! Daina is a wonderful instructor and I look forward to going back!
Lauren Kaye
Shine Yoga Studio has helped me more than I can say. The staff is absolutely the best and makes sure that everyone is welcomed and comfortable. They have helped me manage my anxiety and quit smoking along with boosting my self esteem. I would recommend this place to everyone who is interested in yoga. You ladies are the BEST!!!!
Dea Williamson
I really enjoy Shine yoga studio. I live an hour away but when I am in Moline I drop in for a yoga class. I have always felt welcomed by the instructors & others attending class. Studio space is very zen & inviting. Thank you Shine for the great services you are providing!
Aaron Elston Howard
I have to say that all the staff members at Shine are remarkable people in this community! You truly leave there feeling like you SHINE! Had a great Thai Massage Experience with Daina! If you haven’t booked an appointment with Daina I highly recommend it! Looking forward to trying hot bamboo massage with Megan!!
Jorja Hepner Beert
I am not 'good" at many poses BEST thing is I have learned is, THAT is fine . Doing a perfect or all poses is NOT the object . At 70 I am glad to say I believe these GENTLE classes have helped me with balance . A VERY important thing for older ones! Latest class have attended are restorative classes which concentrate on TRUE comfort and relaxation. using "props" EVERYONE can DO this and feel SO GOOD !
AJay Johnson
Shine is a beautiful atmosphere full of extremely friendly, knowledgeable staff. No matter your level of expertise, there are classes for you there. Even if you have never done yoga or think that your physical disabilities restrict you from exercising, I urge you to check out Shine. They can accommodate anyone and are glad to do so!! Great job Shine. We love you!
Kelsey Morgan
Drove an hour and a half to get massaged my Megan and she did AMAZING!! Seriously book with her; she really knows what she’s doing. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed in my life. I can’t wait to come back!!
Diane H
Attending the silent retreat at Pleasant Valley Sanctuary changed by life. The result of the retreat was a new found energy. I learned the tools to build a reservoir of peace. In times of stress I will draw on that plentiful reservoir. I really liked was their willingness to teach, the incredible food, the staff and the love they shared
ylmelamed
This was a really sweet place with kind staff, wholesome food cooked from the heart, and light yoga/meditation. If you are looking for a real program, this is not for you. But if you would like a spiritually-minded home base with free time to be in nature and to just be, this is a great option. It's also very cost-effective with the stunning Yuba River just nearby.
English_travel
I had a wonderful stay at Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. The teachers were fantastic, the food was delicious and the opportunity for reflection and relaxation was exactly what I was after. Thanks to everyone for creating such a warm and spiritual experience
Enrico R
Forget your problems, ego, smartphone, forget your work and the noise of the city and take the most transformative vacation you can(or hopefully not yet) imagine. Go back to the roots, fall into a deep sleep when the moon rises and wake up with the sunrise. Breathe. Different styles of yoga and meditation will deepen your connection to your body and the earth. Feel the community, connect with people who, like you, are there to experience the change and enrich their lives. Like for a good movie, I will not spoil it for you, but there are things I experienced at pleasant valley for the very first time in my life. Even if all the positive reviews will make the sanctuary more crowded in the future, I cannot avoid expressing publicly how precious the experience was, and how…
plainjh
I was looking for a silent meditation retreat that didn't have the luxury distractions of Esalen or the long waitlist of Vipassana. Pleasant Valley was totally and completely it. It's a small community and plot of land, but everyone is warm and helpful. There are only a few buildings, but they are well-maintained and spotless. Food was super healthy, vegan, and tasty. The activities were great -- yoga, kirtan, satsang -- but in particular the guided meditations by Simon formed the core of my experience. Highly recommended!
antamvo
My mom and I had the best time ever at our first yoga retreat! The staff and Georgia were incredibly kind and welcoming. We were fortunate enough to be upgraded to one of the gorgeous cabins and immensely enjoyed our time at Pleasant Valley. The practices and the food were fantastic. My mom and I also enjoyed the wild blackberries found along the creek. Hoping to come back again in the near future!
wja
We planned on our stay as a mother-daughter experience going to our first yoga retreat. It was more than what we expected--the community and staff were warm, friendly, helpful, caring and so interesting, each with his/her own experiences and gifts to share. We had the benefit of the alternating instruction of 2 wonderful yoga instructors with different styles, each sharing her/his philosophy and guidance. We also had the pleasure of participating in the Kirtan and the Cacao Ceremony with moving meditation (dancing!). We learned about how to meditate and mindfulness and are on our way to practicing meditation. We stayed in a yurt-style cabin that accommodated two--it was neat, clean and set away from the center of activity with a nice deck and view for relaxing. The internet…
Rachel W
Pleasant Valley is a stunning place, very calming and peaceful. I stayed in one of the two huts which are more secluded, very comfortable with my own terrace that looked out across the hills. You can also stay in tents which are placed around the land under cover which also looked very comfortable, one is even on the hill overlooking the creek and waterfall, absolutely beautiful. There is a regular bathroom and also outside solar powered showers which are wonderful, better to use in the afternoon once the sun has heated the water better. The food was delicious!! Cooked by a different staff member and introduced each day, it was mainly vegetarian and sometimes vegan but I never felt like I was missing anything being a meat eater. I was constantly asking how things were made so I…
Tullahought
A perfect location full of wildlife and beautiful scenery and hikes. The team at Pleasant Valley Sanctuary are very welcoming and Devin the yoga instructor is amazing. The food was so fresh and tasty I cannot say enough about this place.
Aditi K
My best friend and I shared a beautiful cabin with a skylight with large windows facing the valley. It was clean, quiet and extremely well managed facility. The food was delicious and cooked with love. Our instructors were excellent, tailoring the sessions to our needs and constantly ensuring we were following along. The yoga and meditation is tailored to each individual level with good instruction for a beginner and guidance for more experienced practitioners as well. After morning sessions, we also had a chance to hike and enjoy the local trails - absolutely gorgeous and refreshing. The retreat was all that we hoped for - rejuvenating for our minds, relaxing and peaceful with the right doe of adventure. Would love to go back!
Welltraveled
I can't say enough about this place. It was healing to my soul, light on my wallet, and in an incredibly beautiful location with great food. The price: can't be beat. I did the camping option and frankly, it was probably cheaper than staying at home. My campsite was on the bend of a dry river and was private, full of wildlife and incredibly peaceful. The location: being in the bay area it was extremely convenient to me as I needed a quick retreat and it was just far enough away that I could drive and still get a full weekend in. I will definitely be back. The experience: There is a yoga session every day and a meditation session (or three) depending on what day. There was no pressure to be perfect, but attending all the sessions you can is definitely recommended. The harder it…
LauraSBiswas
Pleasant Valley Sanctuary is exactly what I was looking for. I just completed 2 stressful years running a business with some difficult challenges, and I needed rest, rejuvenation, quiet, healing and support. I got all of that and more by joining in this beautiful community of like-minded souls who are committed to providing a sacred space for inner reflection, authentic yogic teachings, mindful massage, healthy vegetarian food, wonderful discussions of our respective spiritual paths and time to laugh and relax. The area is gorgeous - full of canyons of beautiful trees, the Yuba river, deer and other gentle creatures in the surrounding area.
pascale_cardozo
Stayed as a guest at the Sanctuary for 8 days in September ’15. I just quit my very stressful and demanding job and this was the perfect place to refuel my batteries, get deeper into my yoga practice and be welcomed by nature. Highlights: - Cabin: Nicer than I expected, including a futon bed, dresser and chair, fans and a nice porch with a view to spend time reading. - Vegan Food: Wonderful meals. Both brunch and dinner composed of several plates including fresh fruits and veggies. The staff and interns are well-versed and experimented in the vegan diet and options that are tasty, healthy and filling. - Medtation, Yoga, Satsang: I took part in daily morning and evening meditation, along with the yoga asana practice. Received guidance from both Jaime and Sirian on meditation,…
heytaybay
Magical is the only word I can use to describe Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. The staff and yogi's are incredible, the vegetarian meals are AMAZING, and the yoga classes are top notch. Also there is a beautiful river that you can take about a 40min walk to that is SO beautiful and peaceful (plus the walk is surrounded with beautiful mountain scenery!). Feel very blessed to have gone on a solo trip for 5 days here. Thank you pleasant valley sanctuary for making me feel welcome and at home. Namasté
Ella B
The Pleasant Valley Sanctuary is one of the most inspiring places I've been to! Seeing this small community living in a mindful way, not in India or Bali, but here in California! This is the place to connect to yourself and to connected to nature. The sky full of stars and the river is full of joy, a great place for a personal yoga retreat!
Jerome P
A great place to unwind, relax, become still and look inward through yoga, meditation, hiking, and reading. Great food, spectacular scenery and thoughtful people. I travelled on a personal retreat and participated in yoga, meditation, Kirtan, and meals. What Pleasant Vally does very well is not put any pressure on you to do anything. It's all about personal choice and some of my most rewarding times were spent at the dinner table in conversation with the staff and interns.
Alex H
I would 100% recommend Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. I had a wonderful week there staying in a tent to myself, practising yoga every morning and meditation. The remote setting and peaceful nature of both the environment and staff enabled me to master a level of 'calm' and meditation that I haven't been able to previously. I felt I learnt a lot in a short time, and met some amazing people, both guests and staff. The Pleasant Valley Family are filled with wisdom but also wit and don't take themselves too seriously, which made for a rich environment of spiritual development combined with fun and warm energy. I liked how laid back and open the program was to follow your own schedule or as much of theirs as you wished. My best retreat experience to date! :)
Georgia S
I chose to stay at Pleasant Valley Sanctuary because I was staying in the area and I really needed some retreat time. The first thing I noticed was how peaceful the land was. Clearly the ongoing energy of care for the land and spiritual practice has had its impact, and the land exudes deep rest - a direct invitation into solitude, meditation, and relaxation. That said, there is also the opportunity to very quickly and effortlessly integrate into the community here, so I really had the best of both worlds when it came to solitude and interaction. I was pleasantly surprised by the unassuming friendliness of the residents, and the way in which they live and work together in harmony. I experienced the atmosphere to be relaxed and informal, with no imposed expectations. The land…
N j
The one thing I want to mention is the fact that there are people who live full-time at Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. There are also individuals who intern there for a number of weeks, and live in tents on the property. It is especially important that I preface this review by saying this is from the perspective of a paying guest, and not as someone who calls the sanctuary their home or internship. While I did enjoy my time at the sanctuary - especially the beautiful Sierra Nevada Foothills region - I felt that the sanctuary has more to take care should they wish to have paid travellers stay on-site. While my cabin was clean, the shared bathroom for guests was not. The shower contained a mouldy sponge and floors/walls/shower/hand towels/toilet were dirty. Access to bathrooms at…
Masha R
Pleasant Valley Sanctuary is a wonderful place to recharge and renew yourself. It is peaceful and pleasant. The people I have met there and near there are just lovely. They are full of smiles and warm hearts. It was so nice sharing conversation and dinner with extraordinary people. I was volunteering at the sanctuary and that was a magnificent learning experience! I learned how to use new tools, how to use what was around, how to work efficiently and effectively. It was great, plus, one of the most beautiful rivers I have EVER seen. Thank you Kindly PVS for sharing your World with me :D
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