Everyone is required to check in, whether your accommodations are on-site or off-site. Check-in is from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM on Wednesday, August 19. Retreatants arriving after 6:30 PM will register after the meeting with Gangaji.

Wednesday August 19
3:00 PM – 6:30 PM Check-in
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM Orientation Tours
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Dinner
7:15 PM First Full Meeting with Gangaji

On most days of the retreat there will be a morning meditation and a morning and afternoon meeting with Gangaji at 11am and 4pm. Videos or other programs will be held in the evening. You will receive a detailed schedule when you arrive at Santa Sabina.

Sunday, August 23
10:15 AM Meeting with Gangaji
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Retreat Ends

Conversational silence will begin upon rising Thursday morning and ends on the last full day of the retreat, Saturday at 6pm. This provides an opportunity for participants to connect verbally with one another, if they wish to. For those who desire to stay in silence, a silent dining area will be arranged, as well a recommended way to signal to others if you wish to remain in silence until the retreat fully ends the following day.

Parking

There is a small parking lot at Santa Sabina for residential retreatants, who will receive parking permits at registration. We will steer commuters to nearby parking at registration. We recommend that you arrange to car pool or ride share in order to limit the demand for parking.

Airports & Transportation

Santa Sabina is a little over an hour by car from either the San Francisco Airport or the Oakland Airport. To go by airport bus to the San Rafael Transit Center:

From the San Francisco Airport you can catch either the Marin Airporter or the Sonoma Airport Express. From the Oakland Airport, take the Sonoma Airport Express. You can take a short taxi, Lyft, or Uber ride from the drop off location or either company; however, the Sonoma Airport Express will drop you at the San Rafael Transit Center, which is a little less than a mile and a half away from Santa Sabina, so it it possible to walk.

Map & Directions

Santa Sabina Retreat Center is at 25 Magnolia Avenue in San Rafael. (Phone: 415-457-7727). It is easily accessible from Highway 101.

For detailed directions from your location, click Google map below.

Santa Sabina is a residential retreat center offering accommodation for up to 63 guests in comfortable double rooms and a limited number of single rooms. Rooms are located on the second floor. All bathrooms are shared. Meals are included in the room rate. Please note that space is limited at Santa Sabina. We recommend that you register as soon as possible to ensure your preferences. Rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are a snorer, please consider choosing a single room.

For this retreat, we also welcome non-residential attendees, and offer the option of a lunch and dinner meal package for commuters. Commuters are encouraged to use the Santa Sabina grounds during the day. There are areas for resting, reading, lounging, and solitude, as well as places to exercise, hike, and swim.

Healthy and delicious meals are provided by the Santa Sabina kitchen, and may include entree offerings such as sustainably raised salmon, free range chicken, steamed fresh vegetables, fresh mixed green salads, and homemade desserts. Local organic produce is used whenever possible. A vegetarian option will be available, as well as gluten and dairy free choices. A dietary poll will be emailed to you approximately three weeks before the retreat to list your preferences. If you have specific dietary needs or restrictions, please email us.

Meals begin with dinner on Wednesday, August 19, and end with lunch on Sunday, August 23, and include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Registration for "Commuter with Meals" will include your lunch and dinner only throughout the retreat, not breakfast. In addition, coffee, hot water, teas, and other beverages will be available throughout the day.