4-Day Silent Retreat for Inner Stillness, Renewal, and Moonlit Practice

Silence is not emptiness. It is a space where the body can soften, the mind can settle, and the deeper self can be heard again. Over four days, we will use the tools of yoga, pranayama, meditation, Yoga Nidra, mindful eating, and nature immersion to help you move from outward habit into inward presence.

The New Moon supports this inward movement. It is a natural time to listen, release what has become heavy, and plant intentions for the next cycle of life. At Still Mountain, the wide Sierra Nevada sky, oak woodlands, and nearby Sequoia forest become part of the practice.

Silence Is Introduced Gently

The retreat includes guided practices, quiet meals, nature walks, and self-study time so silence feels supported, not forced.

Nature Holds the Practice

Oak woodlands, open sky, and forest bathing create a living container for rest, reflection, and nervous system calm.

The Body Leads the Way

Gentle movement, breathwork, and Yoga Nidra help the mind settle through the body rather than through effort alone.

The New Moon Gives Rhythm

The retreat follows the inward current of the New Moon, a time for intention, renewal, and quiet beginnings.

This retreat is held by teachers rooted in lived practice, not performance. Kristin English brings decades of devotion to yoga, Vipassana meditation, natural movement, and the study of the body. Her work is grounded in service, presence, and the wisdom of nature.

Deepak Swarup shares from his own path of healing and conscious living. His work at Still Mountain is shaped by Yogic sciences, pranayama, meditation, and the belief that daily lifestyle choices can support a more peaceful and healthy life.

* Guided silent meditation and concentration practices.

* Pranayama and breath awareness to steady the mind and prepare for stillness.

* Gentle yoga and movement practices that reconnect attention with the body.

* Yoga Nidra and guided relaxation for deep rest.

* Sound bathing and simple sensory practices that support inward listening.

* Silent meals with mindful eating practices.

* Forest bathing in nearby Sequoia forest and quiet time on Still Mountain oak woodlands.

* Night walks and meditation under the wide Sierra Nevada sky, weather permitting.

The New Moon is traditionally a time for moving inward, setting intentions, and listening for what wants to grow next. In this retreat, the moon is not treated as a spectacle. It is a rhythm. It reminds us that rest, darkness, and silence are part of renewal.

Under the mountain night sky, we will reflect on inner and outer nature, allowing silence to become less of an idea and more of an experience.

IN SIERRA NEVADA

Supported By Nature

For many people, silence can feel intimidating at first. Nature makes the doorway gentler. The trees, open sky, moonlight, and quiet paths give the mind something simple and honest to return to. During the retreat, we will spend time outdoors in silence, practicing awareness while walking, sitting, breathing, and listening.

We will also forest bathe in a nearby Sequoia forest and spend ample time on Still Mountain’s oak woodlands. This is not a hike to complete. It is a slow return to the senses. The forest becomes a teacher of patience, rootedness, and presence.

Arrival Day 1 Settling into the Land

2-4P Check-in

5-630P Introduction to the 8 Limbs of Yoga

630-730P Dinner/orientation to house/silence begins

815-915P Tratak / Yoga Nidra

10P Lights Out

Day 2 Breath, Body, and Inner Listening

730-9A Gentle Morning Asana, Pranayam & Meditation:

9A Silent Breakfast & Mindful Walking

1030-1130A One Hour Seated Meditation:

1130A-130P Personal Time: Sneha/Self Massage (Abhyanga), Rest

130P Silent Lunch & Mindful Walking

2-415P Forest Bathing on the land: Guided/Tuning into the Land

430-545P Yoga Asana/Pranayam

6P Silent Dinner

745-930P Outer and Inner Star Gazing on the mountain/Tratak (sunset walk optional and then 830p Tratak platform)

Day 3 Nature, New Moon, and Deeper Quiet

730-9A Gentle Morning Asana,

9A Silent Breakfast & Mindful Walking

1030-1130A One Hour Seated Meditation: Embodiment, Maha Mudra, No Mind

1130A-130P Personal Time: Sneha/Self Massage (Abhyanga), Rest

130P Silent Lunch & Mindful Walking

3-4P Self: Meditation in Yoga Temple

430-530P Anulom Vilom/Brahmari & Yoga Nidra

530P Silent Dinner & End Noble Silence

6-8P Q & A in private or group

930P Lights Out/Deep Sleep

Departure Day 4 Integration and Return

6A Forest Bathing Excursion to Sequoias

645-915A Forest Bathing in the Sequoia’s:

10A Brunch & Departure

Please note: This is a sample Schedule and is subject to change depending on weather.

Yogic Eating in Silence

Meals are part of the practice. At each nourishing organic vegan meal, you will be invited to slow down, notice, taste, breathe, and eat with awareness. In silence, eating becomes less automatic. It becomes a simple way to return to the body and receive nourishment fully.

Comfortable clothing for yoga, meditation, and gentle movement.

Warm layers for cool mornings and evenings in the mountains.

Comfortable walking shoes for nature walks and forest bathing.

A shawl, wrap, or light blanket for sitting in meditation and on Forest floor.

A journal and pen for reflection.

A reusable water bottle.

Any personal medications, supplements, or necessary health items.

Toiletries and personal care items.

A flashlight or headlamp for evening walks.

A book for quiet reflection, if desired.

An open heart and willingness to slow down.

Kristin English

Kristin brings intuitive guidance and a gift for holding space for deep personal transformation.

Deepak Swarup

Land steward and long-time practitioner Deepak Swarup established Still Mountain as a practical refuge from modern stress. Grounded in his roots near the Ganges and a strictly vegan, Sattvic lifestyle, his approach offers straightforward tools for quiet reflection and lasting mental peace.

* A quieter relationship with your own thoughts.

* More comfort with stillness and silence.

* A steadier connection between breath, body, and attention.

* A deeper appreciation for mindful eating and simple daily rituals.

* A clearer sense of what you want to release or begin.

* More spaciousness before reacting to stress.

A Lived Experience of Silence

Not just a concept, but a felt sense of quiet carried through practice, meals, movement, and nature.

New Moon Reflection

A clearer intention for the next season of your life.

Nature-Based Rest

A direct experience of how silence in nature can support the nervous system.

Simple Daily Practices

Breath, movement, and awareness tools you can continue at home.

Mindful Eating Tools

A quieter way of relating to food, nourishment, and digestion.

A Path for Deeper Practice

The option to extend into two additional nights of quiet practice with minimal guidance.

Guests who want to continue the practice may extend for two additional nights after the main retreat. These days are quieter and more spacious, with two guided classes each day, mealtimes, and ample room for personal silence, walking, rest, and self-guided practice.

Please register for the 3-night retreat first, then contact us to discuss the extended stay so we can help shape it with care.

You are looking for a highly social vacation-style retreat.

You do not want periods of silence during meals, practice, or personal time.

You are seeking intensive cathartic processing or medical treatment.

You need a schedule filled with constant activity and entertainment.