YogAnga Retreat France, at St Izaire

YogAnga Retreat France: Ananda Mataji Hermitage at St Izaire carries the spirit of Santosh Puri Ashram, from the banks of the Ganga River all the way to the banks of the Dourdou de Camares River in the South of France.

For our European Friends who can’t travel all the way to India, but miss the daily routine of a sadhana retreat, we would love to invite you to join us in the South of France!

YogAnga Retreat France, Ananda Mataji Hermitage at St Izaire, is a chance to escape the everyday distractions and disillusionment of the modern world’s temptation, entertainment, and competition. Rediscover the forgotten art of living with traditional yoga, in complete wilderness, while you connect and commune with mother nature. Let your time at YogAnga Retreat St Izaire be an introduction to bringing Santosh Puri Ashram’s yogic traditions to your European sadhana experience.

Spend two weeks camping in the yard of Ananda Mataji Hermitage, on the banks of the Dourdou de Camares River, learning, practicing and transforming your consciousness with fellow aspirants and yoga masters.

Sadhana & Seva Typical Daily Routine Includes:

• Morning Dhuni Puja and Sanskrit Chanting
• Asana: practice led by Ganga Puri
• Karma Yoga: transforming a derelict ruins into a beautiful spiritual retreat center
• Satsang: teachings and question/answer sessions with Ananda Mataji, Ganga Puri, and guest teachers.
• Meditation: self or guided
• Evening Aarti

Upcoming Events at YogAnga Retreat France: Ananda Mataji Hermitage at St Izaire

Karma Yoga is an essential part of your sadhana journey at YogAnga Retreat France.

You will have the auspicious opportunity to contribute to the development and maintenance of Ananda Mataji Hermitage through seva. Karma Yoga (ie. seva) is the spiritual practice of selfless service, without an expectation of recognition or reward. While this may be new for those embedded in modern Capitalism, we guarantee positive affects on your soul and chakras.

We welcome Karma Yogi guests with skills in sustainable construction, carpentry, masonry, landscaping, organic farming and permaculture. Other tasks could include food preparation, caring for Ananda Mataji herself, or cleaning our communal indoor / outdoor spaces.

Monetary donations are necessary for creating a place to practice sadhana at YogAnga Retreat South France.

While there is no set price for your stay, like a hotel or guest house, we do encourage guests to office financial support during their stay at Ananda Mataji Hermitage. Running a retreat center in the modern west, is not unlike running any household. We also have expenses such as groceries, firewood, electricity, gas, etc. Contributions are welcomed.

What to bring with you?

• clothes according to weather
• bedding for sleeping (ground pad, sleeping bag, etc.)
• tent, tarp or bivy tent
• musical instruments if you play them
• your open heart
• collaborative state of mind

Where is Ananda Mataji Hermitage?

12480 St Izaire
Avéron
between Sainte Izaire and Broquiès

View map of the surrounding area.

3 km from Ste Izaire, take the Tunnel,

then the little tarred road on the left, before the metallic bridge,

Then follow to the end of this road, there is a hamlet.

Who is Ananda Mataji?

Ananda Mataji is Narvada Puri Mataji’s elder sister (Ganga, Mandakini and Alaknanda Puri’s Aunt).

Legend has it Ananda Mataji was sent to India to bring her younger sister back to Germany. Drove her VW bus for days overland to reach where Narvada Puri was staying on the island in Harki Pauri, Haridwar, Uttarakhand. She wound up staying in India and taking sanyas herself.

After many years doing sadhana in India, then later going back and forth between India and Europe, now well into her 80s, Ananda Mataji has settled in the South of France at what we now call: Ananda Mataji Hermitage.

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