This past October, at our annual autumn Yoganandaji retreat, Conscious Vitality: Harnessing Your Cosmic Power Through Yoga, held at Song of the Morning, our Golden Lotus Yoga teacher trainees—Connor, Lanie, Jan, and Joe, who previously completed Golden Lotus teacher training—took center stage. The weekend served as an immersive, hands-on opportunity for them to experience firsthand what it takes to host, lead, and hold space for others, bringing Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings and our shared Hatha tradition to life through their own unique voices.

Our fifth trainee, Susan, also contributed to planning the retreat. Although she was unable to attend in person, we could feel the energy of her devotion and support throughout the weekend. That IS the energy of the Hive!

The retreat welcomed six returning guests, one new attendee, local community members, and staff. As the weekend unfolded, a deep sense of connection naturally expanded beyond our registered group, so much so that by Sunday, even the guests on personal retreat felt inspired to join us for our closing ceremony. It was an unexpectedly joyful moment to come together as one unified group.

Each day throughout the weekend offered traditional Golden Lotus Hatha Yoga classes led by trainees Lanie and Connor and co-teacher trainer David. Each class offered a beautiful, heartfelt expression of posture combined with deep devotion and meditation that is unique to our style. Many guests claim it is what keeps them coming back. Golden Lotus Hatha is not like mainstream yoga. We honor our tradition, and people feel that in our classes.

Honoring another tradition of this retreat weekend, our trainee Jan led guests through our beautiful Pigeon River State Forest to Paramahansa Yogananda’s shrine. During the walk, participants were encouraged to gather natural items to create a mandala representing the mental patterns or attachments that hinder their progress in cultivating Conscious Vitality. At the conclusion of the weekend, they released their creations as symbolic offerings back to nature. Each year, we see such beautiful mandalas created, each holding its own unique vibration.

Another key feature of our retreat, hosted by Marilyn Beker, was a powerful self-reflection workshop that guided retreatants through structured writing exercises and self-inquiry techniques based on the teachings of our Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda. The workshop focused on identifying and working through internal blockages, allowing participants to deepen their personal sadhana and tap into their inner reservoir of Conscious Vitality.

Saturday evening, trainees Lanie and Connor led an invigorating introduction to the power of kirtan and chanting, with David joining in on the tablas. Incorporating many of Master’s quotes and sayings, along with the energy of repetition in chanting, the guests were offered a “felt” experience held in the intimate setting of the Lodge. The energy was palpable.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this retreat a success. We are grateful and humbled.

Jai Guru

“I am healthy, I am Health. I am strong, I am Strength. I am youthful, I am Youth. I am joyful, I am Joy. I am successful, I am Success. I am peaceful, I am Peace. I am immortal, I am Immortality.”

— Paramahansa Yogananda