Ananda Village

Home to The Expanding Light Yoga and Meditation Retreat, Ananda Village is one of the most successful spiritual communities in the world and is part of the world-wide organization of Ananda. Ananda Village was founded in 1968 by Swami Kriyananda, one of Paramhansa Yogananda’s foremost disciples, to fulfill Yogananda’s vision of “World Brotherhood Colonies” – spiritual communities based on the twin principles of “plain living and high thinking.”

The Ananda community is situated on 700 acres of meadows and forests amidst the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California just outside Nevada City. Today, 250 people reside here, including adults and children of all ages.

As a guest at The Expanding Light you are invited to tour the community and visit the numerous sites and attractions the Village has to offer. Tours of the community are offered every Sunday and can be arranged upon special request. Some of the Village's interesting sites include:

  1. Meditating at Hermitage gardens

    The Crystal Hermitage

    At the Crystal Hermitage guests can enjoy the spiritual heart of Ananda. Tour the beautiful gardens, small chapel, and the Shrine of the Masters – a small museum and gift shop housing holy relics from India and Ananda's line of yoga masters.

  3. Massage

    The Center for Radiant Health

    Here, guests can enjoy massage, body and energy work, Ayurvedic therapies, craniosacral treatments, career coaching and astrological readings.
    More about our healing services...

  5. Teacher and students with a gung-ho attitude

    The Living Wisdom School

    Ananda’s private school offers instruction for grades K-12, with a focus that supports the unity of all religions. As well as traditional academics, the curriculum includes universal spiritual values such as respect, kindness, cooperation, and responsibility.

  7. Master's Market

    Master’s Market

    A natural foods market with a deli, bakery, and cappuccino bar that also features homemade pizza on Friday nights, a local favorite!

  9. Meditating at Sunset Ridge

    Sunset Ridge

    One of the highest points on the property, Sunset Ridge offers a majestic, sweeping 360 degree vista of the Sierra Nevada foothills. A 10-minute walk from The Expanding Light, Sunset Ridge provides an inspiring view of the setting sun and night stars.

  11. Hansa Temple

    A unique architectural building which houses Ananda’s Sunday Service, Thursday Healing Prayers. Sunday service, a favorite among guests, includes choral music, prayer, affirmation, meditation, chanting, a sermon, and two special ceremonies: a Vedic fire ceremony for purification and The Festival of Light.

  13. Rajarsi Park

    Rajarsi Park

    A complex that houses a number of Ananda businesses including the management offices for the community; the Healing Prayer Ministry – with 600 members worldwide who do healing prayers for those in need; and Crystal Clarity Publishers, which produces books, DVDs, and CDs by Paramhansa Yogananda, Swami Kriyananda, and others on topics related to yoga, meditation, and Self-realization.