New Year's Retreat
With Nayaswami Krishna Das and Peter Kretzmann
December 28, 2026 - January 1, 2027
Are you yearning to break out of old patterns and become the person you’ve always aspired to be? It’s time to unlock your storehouse of inner peace, bring in radiant clarity and vibrant joy as you step into the new year!
Refocus Your Life, Recharge Your Mind and Relax Your Body
Leave behind the ho-hum (or raucous!) atmosphere of New Year’s at home, and celebrate your spirit with a transformative New Year’s Retreat that’s joyful and renewing on all levels. Give yourself a powerful boost into the new year with purpose and solid tools to support your resolutions in all areas of your life.
This perennial favorite is the perfect way to take stock of the past year and prepare inwardly to achieve your goals in the coming year, all in a relaxed, supportive environment with other spiritual seekers.
Embrace the journey to becoming your best self!

This retreat is carefully and creatively designed to be an integrated and powerfully transforming 4-day experience.
Your New Year’s Retreat includes:
- Guided introspection to get the most out of the hidden (and not-so-hidden) lessons of this past year
- Guided goal-setting for next year, in which you’ll experience a unique approach to setting goals and making New Year’s resolutions that will work for you
- Creating your own Vision Board to help you focus on positive goals and your intentions for the upcoming year with Meerabai
- Ananda’s uplifting New Year’s Ceremony, which includes a fire ceremony, purification practices, prayers for world peace, meditation, and a very special tradition: chanting a powerful ancient mantra 108 times to bring in the new year
- Serene walks through the beautiful, peaceful hills of Ananda Village
- Kirtan and special gatherings with long-time Ananda members
- Plenty of meditation and yoga posture sessions to help you start the New Year healthy, joyful, and inspired.

Vedic Fire Ceremony with Extended Affirmations and Mantras
This evening is experiential with powerful spiritual practices to herald in the New Year. The ancient Vedic fire ceremony will include chanting the Mahamrityunjaya mantra 108 times. After each repetition, rice, which is symbolic of our past karma, will be offered into the sacred flame to be burned up and purified. This holy ritual gives all participants the opportunity to offer up all attachments to last year and set their intention for the New Year to come. The evening will also include: chanting, extended affirmations, meditation, and ringing of the gong to bring in the New Year.
This New Year’s Retreat goes beyond the ordinary, offering you a powerful boost for peace of mind and a rejuvenated spirit. Embrace the coming year with purpose and positive intentions!
Comments from New Year’s Guests:
This retreat allowed me to truly express what I felt was built up after years of struggle….Now that I have been introduced to Yogananda, The Expanding Light, and Ananda Village, I’m certain I can return to the energy when I make the effort. Thank you for helping me access the joyful spirit within me.”
—K. B., Midland, MI
An outstanding way to start the New Year! To clear away the old clutter of life, to begin anew with clearly defined and magnetized goals.
—C.R. San Jose, CA
I came with the desire to be different in 2017. I leave with 3 really easy, self-generated goals to meet and fulfill this inner calling. The program in deceptively simple yet incredibly powerful. Thank you.
—S.K. Palo Alto, CA
I have read countless books and attended many seminars on goal setting and achieving those goals. This program was by far the best for me—I think largely because of the spiritual integration. I hope to return next year.
—J.B. Sacramento, CA
About the Hosts
Nayaswami Krishna Das
Nayaswami Krishna Das books and manages the many guest groups that The Expanding Light hosts, leads pilgrimage trips to holy places in India and the U.S., teaches weekend retreats, and gives spiritual counseling to guests. He came to Ananda in 1978 and immediately found his home and purpose in life at Ananda. An exceptionally knowledgeable […]
Learn more about Nayaswami Krishna Das
Peter Kretzmann
Ananda Yoga and Meditation® Teacher, E-RYT 500 Born and raised at Ananda Village, Peter has served as a teacher, musician, and friend through Ananda Los Angeles and Ananda Worldwide. His particular passion is to share these timeless truths in a relatable and practical manner to inspire others in their own journeys. He also owns MeditationBench.com, a family-run […]
Learn more about Peter KretzmannCategories : Expanding Light, INTEGRATION, Salesforce, Specialty Retreats