What is Ananda Maya Retreat Center?

Ananda Maya Retreat Center is a place to immerse, seek and connect. It’s not a place to escape from life, but a place to retreat and to seek inner peace and balance. It’s a place for spiritual seekers that wants more than just scratching the surface. It’s a chance to meditate, to learn, and to reflect about the bigger questions of life like: Who am I? What is the purpose of life? How should I live my life? etc.

In these times of busyness and distraction, having time to care for yourself and listen to your heart and the calling of your soul is probably the greatest of all luxuries. This is what Ananda Maya Retreat Center is for – a place to heal, expand and connect.

Why visit Ananda Maya Retreat Center?

Meditation has become the second most popular practice after yoga, and we predict it will soon become number one. Why? Because it is the real deal. It’s the only way to fully understand oneself and get an insight into the secrets of the universe. It’s the only way to find that inner peace that makes us live in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. It simply makes us complete beings.

What to expect at Ananda Maya Retreat Center?

Well, as one of our students expressed it: you have to expect the unexpected, because the spiritual journey of looking within is a new experience for many. What will I find? What will I experience?

And looking within is exactly what you will learn and practice, and if you’re new to it, you won’t know where to start, or where to look. That’s what the daily routine is for. The daily routine grounds you in the life of the Retreat Center and provides you with a map, a direction and a system. The “destination” is your unique experience. When in doubt, follow the routine and have faith that something will happen, and it always will. And if that something turns out to be an emotional release or breakthrough, the routine will support you as you go through it. There will also be scope for individual guidance from Dada, the resident monk. Dada has lots of experience with all the ins and outs of the journey and he guides and shares wisely with everyone. Dada will be your main teacher trough the stay.

Most students easily adjust to the Retreat Center flow, while for others it may take a few days of unwinding when you first get here. Some may even feel they have got a mild flu, but this is the symptoms of a natural detoxification. It’s a good sign, and gradually the symptoms go away, and you find yourself easing into a flow of inner peace and harmony.

And remember, among the purposes of staying at a Retreat Center is to go back to basics and free yourself of the everyday indulgences that most of us carry with us during our everyday lives. Be ready for a simplicity.

The Teacher

The main teacher is Dada Satyamitrananda. Dada is an Avadhuta and has been a monk since the year 2000. He worked 16 years in Southeast Asia and has been in Mexico and Guatemala since 2016. Dada is a passionate teacher and loves to share about meditation, yoga, and the mystical world of tantra and spirituality. In 2007 he founded the ‘Ánanda Márga Yoga Academy’ in Singapore which received the status as a college. Dada loves music and the arts, and always travels with his guitar. Visit our YouTube channel to get an insight into Dada’s teaching!

Location

The center is located in the outskirt of Guatemala City, just 30 minutes from the Aurora International Airport. An Uber from the airport will cost you between USD 8-10. Located just 2 hours from the famous Guatemalan highlands, it’s the perfect location for reaching any of Guatemala’s famous tourist spots. 

Accommodation

We have single rooms, double rooms and separate dormitories for brothers and sisters.

Our Daily Routine

What is the food like at an Retreat Center?

The food is simple, tasty and healthy. Only sattvic vegetarian and vegan food is served. Sattvic food is without egg, onion, garlic, and mushrooms. It’s lightly spiced with sparse use of oil. You will be served 3 meals daily:

• Breakfast is often fruits, yoghurt, cereals and bread.
• Lunch is usually vegetables with frijoles, tortilla, rice, pasta or quinoa.
• Dinner is usually soup or vegetables with tortilla or bread.

During and in between meals there will be herbal teas, lemon water and plain water available.

Retreat Center Guidelines

• No meat, fish, onion, garlic or mushrooms/fungus.
• No alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or tobacco.
• No sex, even with your spouse.
• Plenty of sincerity
• Outside visitors are only allowed after taking permission from the administration.

How to Get There

All major airlines and budget airlines fly from the US to the Aurora International Airport in Guatemala. From the airport you can take an Uber which takes 30 minutes and cost $8-10.

Our Retreats

We conduct regular retreats. You can choose between 4, 7, 10 or 14 days retreats.

Ananda Maya Retreat Center is a non-profit organization. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to practice, which is why we keep our prices low. If the rates still exceed your budget, you are welcome to apply for our low-income discount.