Home > Spiritual Growth > Strengthening Your Inner Life > Inner Renewal Week - formerly Winter Renewal Week

Inner Renewal Week
Going Deeper Into God
Give your spiritual life a real boost
Take your meditation practice to a new level

7 days

Feb 6 – 13

Join a community of dedicated spiritual seekers and long-time meditators in a guided week of spiritual renewal. We welcome people of all spiritual paths to join us.

This is the time of year the Ananda community recharges its spiritual focus, and each individual works on deepening his meditation and inner life. This powerful time of renewal can be a turning point in your life.

The week includes classes on:

How to Embrace the Search for God
What Holds Us Back and What Moves Us Toward God
A Roadmap for Enlightenment
The Art of Living with God
The Science of Kriya Yoga
How to Deepen Your Meditation

Most of the classes are given by the Spiritual Directors of Ananda, Jyotish and Devi Novak.

You’ll also have focused time to work on your spiritual life, with:

Daily morning meditations with Ananda community meditators
Devotional chanting
Yogananda’s Healing Prayers
Kriya initiations for those eligible. (Email kriyayoga@ananda.org if you’d like to take Kriya initiation.)
A concert, “A Musical Pilgrimage into God Communion”
Afternoons free for walking, introspection, journal writing, massage (LINK).
Late afternoon guided practice of Yogananda’s Energization Exercises, yoga postures, and meditation

And, a special initiation into a Renunciate Order for the New Age, created by Swami Kriyananda in 2009.

During Inner Renewal Week, we’ll be offering initiation for those who would like to make a deeper spiritual commitment in your personal relationship with God, whatever your path. The vow is listed below:

The Pilgrim’s Vow of Intention

I understand, and intend from now on to live by my understanding, that life is a pilgrimage, of which the final goal is to find and merge back into God.

I will endeavor resolutely, therefore, to direct all my thoughts and actions toward that end.

I will offer up all material desires for purification in the fire of divine bliss.

I will offer up all attachments for purification in that cosmic fire.

I will search my heart daily for any lingering desires and attachments, and will offer them to Thee, my Cosmic Beloved.

I will strive to be an example to others of a pure, discriminating, and noble life.

I will offer the fruit of all my actions and labors to Thee alone.

Bless me, and direct my footsteps ever to the summit of Thy holy mountain.

During the week, classes will bring deeper understanding of this vow and the power of taking such a vow.

Throughout Inner Renewal Week, you can count on the warm, relaxed atmosphere for which The Expanding Light is noted: striving to meet the individual needs of each guest, honoring each person’s spiritual journey, and sharing together the joy of the spiritual journey. You will also enjoy deliciously healthful and satisfying vegetarian fare.

Please join us!

I have visited the Expanding Light many times during the past 20 years. I always love it, but Inner Renewal Week might be the very best week I've ever spent there. As Jyotish said in one of his talks, when you're speaking to a group who already have established spiritual practices, you start at a deeper level. That was exactly true for me. We started deep and went deeper and deeper. I came away not only energized and recharged, but focused and centered in my spiritual life.

— A guest from Sacramento

It's such a blessing to be able to see the talks from Inner Renewal Week on Ananda.org, as I am unable to travel there because of my paralysis (I'm in a wheelchair). I would love so much to be able to go there and meet all of you, and to meet Swamiji some day. I have fallen in love with everyone from watching the talks, and feel like you're all my brothers and sisters in light.

— Linda

Spiritual Growth Workshops:

Mindful Living

Ancient Sciences

The Arts

Strengthening Your Inner Life

Spiritual Relationships

Sacred Teachings

Register now: 2 easy steps

Prices are all-inclusive and cover accommodations, meals, classes or activities, and course materials.

Inner Renewal Week - formerly Winter Renewal Week starts the afternoon of the first date listed and ends with lunch on the last date. Please see our Daily Schedule.

See Transportation and Directions whether you are coming by plane, car, bus or train. Our Frequent Questions page answers many of the questions you might have about How to Go on Retreat.

To Register:

1. Choose your accommodation type. Click here to view options.

2. Click on Book Now below or call 1-800-346-5350
If you can’t find what you want online, please phone us at 1-800-346-5350. Only a small percentage of our rooms are available online.
You cannot reserve online 2 days or less before your arrival date or if you want a single shared room.

7 days(WRW)